End of the Line (Book 2): Stuck in the Middle (19 page)

             
I was the middle child. Lori was six years younger than me. Ellie was four years older and Mary was two years old than her. Lori had been a surprise since my folks had given up on kids after I was born. I used to call her an obnoxious jerk but she loved and respected me when I came out. She invited Cam and me on the same invitation for her wedding not as my plus one. Despite pressure from my parents not to do that. My mom even called me and told me to consider coming alone. I didn’t. At the wedding, my dad politely shook Cam’s hand. My mom said hello but nothing else.

I wish
ed I had a chance to patch up things with my mother. At least I knew at the end she loved me. Lori and Ellie had come to my wedding. Mary didn’t only due to financial issues but sent me a nice gift. My parents didn’t come or even send me wishes.

I changed in the light of dusk. I could try reading by the fire.

              After changing I pulled up the blinds to take a look around. I was surprised to see a light barely illuminating the dark sky. I couldn’t see how far away it was. It could be down the block or a mile away. It could be bright or dim because every light looked bright in the pitch black night. I could smell wood burning but I wasn’t sure it was from our fire or out there. I wondered if the woman came from it. I’m glad we’re not the other survivors. I thought tomorrow we could do a quick drive-by before heading to the docks. There was nothing I could do now. I wasn’t about to go out at night.

             
I headed to the other room and stripped the blanket. I made my way to the master bedroom and knocked on the door.

             
“Come in,” said a female voice I recognized as Gwen.

             
I opened the door and flashed my light to the floor. I didn’t appear to wake the others or if I did, they didn’t complain.

             
“I was getting a blanket for Manny and I found another. Do you want it?”

             
“No, we found a sleeping bag and a bunch of blankets in the closet.”

             
“Great.”

             
“Do you want me to find out if he’s into you?” she asked. “I’m pretty blunt and to the point.”

             
“I know.”

             
“I’ll be embarrassed instead of you if I turn out to be wrong.”

             
“Thanks.” I thought about Cam and about Eric. “But I’m don’t think this is a good place to make a move.”

              Despite having first watch, at dawn, I was in the kitchen making breakfast when Felicia walked in alone. The others were in the living room getting dressed.

             
“Is that coffee?” she asked when she came in.

             
“Lukewarm,” I said. I gave her a cup that she sipped.

             
“Terrible.”

             
“I think Starbucks is closed forever.”

             
“Manny is gay,” she said, without changing her tone. “I overheard Gwen and you talking. I thought you’d like to know. Please don’t hurt him if you decide you want a relationship. He’s a good man, stayed with us when Joel came to us with stories of the world getting better.”

             
“I’m not looking for a relationship right now but if it happens, I promise I won’t hurt him.”

             
Felicia didn’t respond. Dave came in and I was able to avoid continuing the conversation.

             
“We should all get ready and go to the marina. I’ve already let everyone know it’s time to go.”

             
I didn’t get a chance to respond. I heard the sound of voices. Gwen came into the kitchen with Manny. I heard other voices in the hall and the living room.

             
“Is that coffee?” Gwen asked.

             
No one responded, but Felicia poured her a cup. Gwen drank it without complaint.

             
“I want to check out the lights I saw, first.”

             
“What lights?” Manny asked.

             
“I saw them last night in the distance. East of us. Maybe even in town.”

“Maybe it was a fire
,” Dave said, grabbing a cup of coffee.

             
“It could have been or other people. We should at least look.”

             
Dave looked annoyed. “That woman ran. We need to get to Harbor. We’ve already lost two people. We can always come back and checked it out.” Dave actually sounded reasonable, but I wanted to look and I wanted to do it now. Who knew if the people here were permanent residents or moved around?             

             
“She also saved me. We can be at the docks in 10 minutes. Give me an hour. If I find nothing, no harm done.”

             
“Jim—“ Dave paused, his tone condescending. “We should just go to the dock.”

             
“We have to start reaching out to other survivors. We have to start rebuilding.”

             
“I’ll come with,” Manny said.

             
“So will I,” Gwen said, then winked. I was hope she listened to me and hadn’t planned to set me up.

             
“You’re outnumbered Dave. I promise we’ll be back in one hour. I need you to get everyone ready to go as soon as we get back.”

             
He didn’t say anything. He looked pissed but I knew he would do it.

              I was glad when Paul joined us. Gwen could be stubborn and I wasn’t ready for her to play matchmaker.

             
Manny drove and I gave him directions to where I saw the light which had been west of us. I passed collapsed houses that looked like they had been flooded. I thought of all the storms and how no one was here to pump water.

             
“Not to agree with Dave,” Manny said as he made a right, but stopped because a tree was in the way. He didn’t say anything. Instead he backed up and made a left instead. “But this is a needle in a haystack. That light could be miles away. That woman could be anywhere.”

             
“It’s not a big deal. I just want to take a look around. Give me two miles and then we’ll head back.”

             
Manny didn’t respond. He looked out the window, staring at the town. The elements hadn’t been good to it. The air smelled like the sea with a mix of burning and mildew. Not surprising. Not only did I see houses collapsed but also burnt down. No firefighters to put it out. I added another thing to my mental list, two or three people to act as firefighters and a disaster plan.

             
The one thing I didn’t see were zombies. It was like that young one had been in only one in all of Greenport. I started to wonder if any people lived here. Zombies were attracted to people. Maybe the young zombie had been the woman’s friend and when she killed him, she left. She could have had a car or some kind of transportation.

             
Besides the town didn’t look habitable. Manny went down another road.

This time it was blocked. Not by a tree but an entire house had collapsed and bricks scattered
across the road. If this was a town on the coast, I wondered how Harbor had fared against the elements.

I looked ahead and saw brownish smoke.

              “Look!” I said and pointed. No one in the car responded, but Manny changed direction to follow it. He went two more blocks until we got to a shopping area filled with antiques and boutiques and the occasional hardware or drug store. No sign of a house where the smoke was coming from, then Manny suddenly hit the brakes.

             
“There, Jim,” He said, putting the car into park.

I looked out of Manny’s window. I didn’t see any people but I got my answer.

              Down the block was a Whole Foods, well it had been once; the smothering remains smoked into the sky. The only thing remaining was a charred sign that had fallen into the parking lot and burnt cars. Because there was a field on one side and a parking lot on the other, the fire hadn’t spread. Last night the burning I smelled hadn’t been from the fireplace but here.

             
I didn’t say anything.

             
“Sorry Jim, you aren’t going to find her,” Manny said, putting the car back into drive. “Let’s go home.”

              I was never so happy to see the
Renewal
in the distance, docked at Harbor Island, even with her broken sail. They had made it and now we were going home. I didn’t know what our home would look like but right now I didn’t care. I stood on the docks of Greenport. Harbor Island was so close I could swim on a nice day. I pulled out my radio.

             
“Care Bear to Papa Smurf come in?”

“Jim,” said Tanya’s voice. It surprised me she was up so early. “You all okay?”

              I told her about Harry, about Millie, about Father Vic and the boys and the people who stayed with them.

             
“I got only good news. We’re at Harbor.”

             
“I can see. We’re at the dock in Greenport. What about the farm?”

             
“That’s the best part. Only two people were here and glad to see us. The farm looks like it’s in good condition. This guy Ricky-- he worked here said it ain’t that weeded. A little hard work and the fields should be ready for planting.”

             
“No sign of Joel?”

             
“Nope. Maybe he didn’t come here, maybe he settled somewhere else. Mean you can’t drive to the island, ain’t no road.”

             
That also meant we still didn’t know where Aisha was.

             
“Mike and Henry got a speed boat working. They should be out there in an hour. You hold tight. We’ll get you home.”

             
It was freezing at the dock, and ice cold wind air ran through my hair. I had a hat and jacket on but it didn’t help.

After talking to Tanya, we took
refuge in a restaurant that smelled like moldy food but not of the dead while we waited for Mike to arrive. I half hoped the woman would show up but when Mike pulled in with the slick six-person speedboat, no one had made an appearance. Not even the living dead.

             
I shook Mike’s hand when he arrived. Henry didn’t get out of the boat. I wanted to hug them both. It had only been three days since we left the boat but it felt like a week.

             
I sent Dave, Rose, and Paul on the first trip. I helped them on the boat and watched them get smaller and smaller as they headed to Harbor.

             
“It will be good to get back to the group,” Manny said, holding his jacket close. He looked at me and smiled. It lightened his face. I wanted to kiss him, but I didn’t think this was the time.

I was eager to start some town building but I wasn’t so eager to have the final chat with Eric. Although I’m fairly certain he would agree with me wholehearted. I hoped we might stay friends but even that was a long shot. Not as long as he held a grunge against Grace and my friendship with her.

              I watched the speedboat on the horizon, glad to see Harbor in the distance. I was ready to start my new life.

I was surprised when Manny took my hand, pulled me in, and kissed me gently on the lips.

              I heard Gwen snicker.

Part 3 Tanya

Chapter 13

Harbor Island

              Living on an Island was cool but I didn’t like not havin’ a bridge. They got a docked ferry to take cars across
but it was pretty big to get movin’, not to mention a lot of wasted gas. Mike and Henry talked about building some kind of car float to get across, but neither of them knew ‘bout ship building.

             
I waited at the marina for Mike to come back with the rest of the group. I missed Jim. That white boy was gone for three days but it felt like forever.

             
Grace stood with me with her favorite rifle on her back, not that I think there was gonna be trouble. We killed only three zombs since we got here, all old ones, and there was no signs of other people ‘cept the ones we found at the farm. Saw some feral animals including horses but they ran when we come near. Saw a lot of fucking birds cause of a wildlife refuge not far.

             
I joked with Grace that without zombies she might be out of the job. She told me in that snotty way that we always needed a gun and figured she be the one dealing with the horses.

             
She was wrong. An old woman named Lucy worked with horses her whole life and talked about how to best get them. She didn’t think they were feral just escaped from farms and stables.

             
I never dealt with horses, rode them once when I was a kid. When I was seven, I got to go to camp once on some kind of scholarship thing cause I did good in school and mama was happy to get one kid out of her hair for a few weeks. One time we got to ride horses. I liked my ride but I was terrified of falling. I only went once that day.

             
I knew we gotta start looking at bikes and horses to get around. Gas gonna run out eventually.

             
Last night we stayed in the main house along with the two people we found, Frannie and Ricky. Both worked on the farm and buried the staff of twenty in the back. Frannie was young, pretty, flirty, and blond. Ricky was in his forties, Spanish and had a cool mustache. As far as I knew they weren’t involved.

             
The farm used to be a big manor with slaves and such, and had a main farm house with seven bedrooms and a slave quarters with eleven rooms. I told Mike there was no way in hell I was staying in some slave quarters in which Ricky told me it hadn’t been slave quarters in 300 years. Frannie said it had been upgraded with amenities in the 1950’s for farm hands and migrant workers and it was pretty cozy. Still I needed Jim to sort out sleeping arrangements. The house wasn’t far from the road. Across the way was a bunch of smaller houses, but I figured we stay in the manor house. If we shared rooms we should all fit. Mike already took the foreman’s room cause it was big and a smaller one next to it. He figured on giving the big room to the bunch of kids and he and Hannah could have the small one for themselves. Dena wasn’t getting her own room, but the room was pretty big, and she could have her own bed. Sure, she’ll bitch, but now she can do it in private.

             
There ain’t enough beds in the main house. Figure Jim will sort it when he gets back.             

             
I watched the dot that became the speed boat. I saw Jim in the back. When he saw me a big smile crept across that face. He looked pretty happy. Manny Hernandez the friendly soldier was with them and I laughed when I saw them holding hands. Gwen was behind them.

             
’Never been so happy to hug a white boy which I did as soon as he got off the boat. He hugged me tightly too.

             
“Missed you,” I even hugged Dave when he got off before. I missed that asshole and not just for the sex.

             
“Me too.”

             
“Glad you safe. Gwen, I’m sorry about Justin.”

             
“He was a good guy,” she said, her voice low. “He didn’t deserve that.” I liked Gwen who before this I might have called her uppity cause she talk better than me, but now we equals.

             
“We’re ready to get things up and running,” I said, changing the subject. “The people who worked here, one was a farmer, one was going to school for it. Didn’t know they had farm school, ain’t that funny?” I knew nothing about farming ‘cept what I read.

             
I didn’t like the idea of working fields but Jim knew his shit about division of labor. At the Costking, I never felt overworked. I wondered what Grace will say when I tell her she’s gotta work. I looked at her. She looked bored but I knew she was happy to see Jim, him being her only friend.

             
We got two cars working at the farm. Ricky and Frannie kept theirs gassed up and running. Mike planned to search the towns looking for hybrids. No reason to waste gas. I got in the back of the car Mike was driving. Ricky was driving the other. Grace got into the passenger seat but said nothing. No welcome to Jim, but I knew she was glad to see him. Couldn’t fucking believe she volunteered to come to the dock.

             
I wasn’t worried too much about that now. It was important the others were back. We were all together and we could start making this a town.

             
“Are you tired?” I asked Jim.             

“A little. Yeah.”

              “Tomorrow morning I want to gather everyone together. The house got this big room. There is also a cantina. We should start a council again. Make up roles—“

             
“Way ahead of you Tanya,” he said and smiled which made me feel good. “Tomorrow is fine.”

              I didn’t know why I got nervous. Always thought government was a stupid thing. Always thought it was the man and did nothing for us.

             
Instead of me getting up on a stage, we sat at a table. The big meeting room had a bunch of chairs, not enough so some people stood and others sat on windowsills. Ricky said the room was for staff meetings and used to be a parlor.

             
Jim spoke first.

             
“Good morning, everyone,” Jim said. His sounded shy and a little shaky.

             
“Good morning,” said many voices at the same time. That only made Jim more nervous. He looked like a spooked puppy. “Before I let Tanya speak, I want to talk about how we plan to organize this community.” His voice sounded a little less shaky. “There something over 35 of us. We are planning to create a council to make decisions on what we should do. Tanya’s been running my group for a while and she’s good at it. I think she should stay leader at least for the time being. When we used to live in Costking, we had a leader and a council of four additional people. As of now, I want to make that council, Gwen, Felicia, Mike and me. Everyone okay with that?”

             
No one said anything. Getting Felicia to agree was pulling teeth but we needed someone from her group. She said she was done with leadership but last night Manny convinced her to accept for a little while. Told her it was a cushy bureaucratic job. I didn’t like her. She gave me the creeps. She ain’t ever sad, mad or happy. Even Rachel was sad.

             
“So it’s okay. We promise to be completely open. We’ll have regular open meetings to get everyone’s feedback. Let’s make everyone’s term six months? How’s that sound?”

             
Dave wasn’t pissed about not being on the council. He looked relieved when Mike stepped up.

             
“As far as housing and rooms, if you want to stay in the main house, we’re going to have to double or even triple up in each room. Frannie and Ricky were here before us and it’s not fair to them to make them share. However Frannie willing to share to stay in the main house and Ricky says he’s willing to move to his own room in the bunkhouse. Those who want privacy, there’s quite a lot of rooms in the bunkhouse. I can’t promise there won’t be sharing. If it’s a lot, we’ll have a lottery on who gets their own room. The only room off limits is the bunkroom for the foreman. It’s pretty big and we are already making it a dorm for the five kids. I want to put anyone over 60 in the main house. Sorry to sound ageist. I don’t think the cold would do you good.” I expected hands but no one said anything. Jim told me last night a lot of the people from the camp were like sheep. They always did what they were told.

             
“Please let me know what your preference is. I have paper and pens in the back. This won’t be forever. I want to expand into the town, eventually give people more space. Right now I think we need safety in numbers. I don’t know how many zombies are still on the island. I won’t stop you if you want your own house but I think we better stay together. Any questions?”

             
“Can we pick your roommates?” Lucy asked. As leader I was trying to learning everyone’s name and a bit about them. Lucy was in her sixties, loved horses and was one of the few camp people to ask hard questions. Jim got me a couple of books about leadership that he found over the last few months. I’ve been reading them. Hannah helps sometimes with the hard ones.

             
“If you want to stay in the main house, tell us who you want to room with or anyone you aren’t.” He looked at Eric when he said that. Eric looked away. He wouldn’t have to fill out shit. We all know who didn’t want to be near.

             
“Everyone clear on the housing?”

             
No one said anything.

             
“Next up is occupations. We’re all going to help with farm work, but we also need people to keep this town running, we need law. That’s going to be Mike if no one minds. If you’re good with a gun, I need you with him.

             
“We’re also going to have an infirmary. It’s going to be in this room. Once its set up, we’ll have meetings in the cantina. Hannah will be in charge with Felicia. Anyone have any medical background, please assist.

             
“We also need electrical and plumbing, that will be Dave. He needs apprentices. Henry is in charge of transportation. Lucy is going to be in charge of livestock. Frannie and Ricky will be foremen of the farm. Joyce is going to handle cooking. Manny is fire chief. It’s okay to be on more than one group. But keep it to two because we really need farming. Does anyone have any questions?”

             
No response.

             
“Then I’m going to give it to Tanya.”

             
One of my least favorite things to do is make speeches. I don’t like words, I like action. I wrote up something short which I hope will be enough.

             
“Listen up. I don’t want to keep you long. I don’t gotta a lot of rules except for these three. One you gotta do your fair share. Two you can’t be trouble. I ain’t got a problem if you got an attitude, a chip on your shoulder or cry yourself to sleep, but it can’t interfere with your work. Third, we’re looking for good people, not ones that will do us harm. You don’t hurt other people for any reason ‘cept self-defense. We’re here to rebuild and I need people willing to do that. I ain’t an ogre. If you sick or old, I ain’t gonna make you work the field. Jim’s gonna try to divide up the labor fairly. I’ve known him for a year. He’s fair. We’re good friends but I don’t expect him to play favorites ever. And I know I don’t sound educated, and I’m young, but I’m approachable. You tell me if somethin’ wrong. I’m here for all of you. Any questions?”

             
No one said anything. They were all good sheep.

             
“Okay, sign up to your groups. Jim will be working on housing and you’ll know your space—“ I looked at him.

             
“In two hours, then we needed strong abled bodies people to move beds around. In the coming weeks we’re going to hit other houses and furniture stores for beds and newer mattresses.”

             
“Thank you,” I said. “And if you got any questions or stuff, afterwards, don’t be afraid to ask.”

             
Then the weirdest thing happened. Most of the audience stood up and gave me some applause. Even Grace clapped slowly. Even her clapping looked snobby. I thought about bowing or something, but instead I sat next to Jim.

             
“Did I do okay?” I whispered to Jim as I watched people move around the room.

             
“You did fine, what about me?”             

             
“People like you.”

             
“They like you too.”

             
“I don’t speak good.”

             
“You can practice.” I thought about Maddie. I was thinking about taking some tutoring with her but it never happened. Now it was too late. Hannah helps me when she can.

             
Annemarie, who was at the security table, waved Jim over. I saw Grace sitting alone in the back. I figured this was a good a time as any to talk to her.