Infected: They Will Eat You!: A Story of Family Survival in a Zombie Apocalypse (27 page)

Jesse just looked the side window of the RV. Life was different, no computers, no cell phones or pads no TV or Radio or internet. Shoot, there was no electricity except what we could generate with our small solar panels. Now there were abandoned vehicles along the roads, empty houses, empty towns and the
infected
. And there were those other things. This was not a video game. The guns we carried were real, permanent accessories to our wardrobe. The world my boys were growing up in had changed drastically. Saturday soccer games and biking around the neighborhood were things of the past. The camping we were doing we made as fun as possible but it was dangerous our life, not a weekend getaway. The RV we traveled in was now our home, packed with food and water, clothes, weapons and ammunition. And the hummer with the M60 mounted on the roof was an ever-present reminder of our predicament.

“My butt’s numb, let’s pull over, over.” I said into the radio.

“Roger, over.” Caleb replied.

I pulled the RV to a stop in the left lane of the road, Christine rolled up to our right. It felt good to stand and walk around. “We past Imperial a few miles back. In about twenty miles we’ll come to Holyoke.” I said pointing to the atlas. “There we’ll head north on 385 then make our way to 80 and take that to Cheyenne.

“We have a few hours of light and the road is clear, now would be a good time for you to try driving the RV.”

Christine looked at me with furrowed eyebrows, “I don’t know about that.”

“But the roads are clear and they’re mostly straight….”

“I need to learn so OK….”

“Just take it slow and get the feel of it and you’ll do fine.”

I helped her get situated and left Jesse as co-pilot for her then got in the hummer with Caleb. “Maybe I don’t want her to learn to drive the RV” I said working to get the seat right, “it’s a lot more comfortable than this.”

“It’s not as cool,” responded Caleb smiling, “no pig.”

Travel went slow at first as Christine got used to driving the RV. It took a few miles for me to get used to the hummer and trailer as well but soon we both were comfortable and making good time. The terrain was flat and roads straight on the northern plains and we could see for miles. There was not a lot out there but what there was we could see from far off.

By midafternoon the wind had picked up considerably and we could see a storm ahead to the northwest. The RV started to slow then stopped. “That wasn’t too hard was it?” I asked walking up to meet Christine and Jesse.

“At first it was but once I got the hang of it I was fine. This wind is making it hard though and my arms are tired.” she said.

“If that storm hits us I’d like to have some shelter and not be out here in the open.” I said.

“I want to switch back, I think the hummer would be easier for me to drive in this wind.”

“Sure, we’re coming up on a town, we’ll stop there for the night.”

Soon we were approaching Pine Bluffs, the storm was getting close and the wind was pushing the RV around. In the mirror I could see the trailer on the hummer tailing back and forth at times so I pulled to a stop under an overpass and got out.

“We can stay under here for the night, it’s fairly sheltered or we can drive around looking for a place to park inside.” I said.

“I don’t want to drive in this wind.” she answered.

We settled into the RV for the night and within ten minutes the storm was on us. We watched the lighting and rain through the RV windshield as the thunder boomed and cracked around us and the wind sent objects flying across the openness.

“Do you think it’s a tornado?” Christine asked.

“It’s just a storm.” I answered reassuring her.

-——————————————

The storm passed during the night and left a calm morning with clear blue skies and a fresh smell. I walked around outside drawing the air into my nostrils with a long deep breath and held it for a couple seconds then let it out slowly through my mouth. “
Almost as good as a cup of coffee.
” I thought to myself.

The Sun was starting to break the horizon covering the area with enough light to see a fair distance so I scrambled onto the overpass with rifle and binoculars for a look around. Nothing moving toward town that I could see. I scanned a farm off to the left, nothing.

We hadn’t been in danger from infected in days, had only seen a few since Farmer City and I was glad we had not run into any people. People always seemed to complicate life and with the current state of the world my fear was any
living
we met would cause us nothing but trouble.

“Hey dad.” Jesse greeted me walking up behind me.

“Hi. What are you doing up?” I asked.

“I had to pee and saw there was coffee made so I knew you were out here.”

“Look at this.” I handed him the binoculars. “Over toward the field past the railroad tracks there’s a pile of big hay bales. Just to the left of them…..what is that?”

“It looks like a car.” It was a small SUV parked near the collection of large wrapped hay rounds.

“See anything unusual or anything that
just a car
wouldn’t have?”

“Like what?”

“Not sure. I think something’s odd about it but can’t tell what.”

“There could be something on the ground on the other side of the car but I can’t see. I can’t see in the windows either and can’t tell if anything’s inside.”

“The windows….”

“Yeah, they’re blurry.”

“Foggy? Let me see.”

Jesse handed me the binoculars and I focused on the windows. They were fogged up. “What happens if you breathe on glass?” I asked him.

“It gets foggy.” he answered.

“Exactly. There’s someone in that car.”

“Could be an infected.” he suggested.

“I haven’t noticed any foggy windows when I’ve seen infected shut up in cars, have you?”

“No, I don’t remember any.”

“This is something we need to check out.” I said scanning the area around the car then further away. “There’s an area of tall grass along the road over there to the right of the car. It’s about 300 yards away, think you can cover me from there?”

“Cover you?”

“I want to check out the car and want you to cover me from a distance.”

“Oh, can I see?” he took the binoculars and studied the grassy spot and then looked at the car then back. “Yeah, or that lump by the railroad tracks.”

“OK, wherever you like. Get your stuff, grab the radios and headsets.”

He scurried off down the bank while I continued to watch the car. The Sun had come up and was shining through the windshield but there was still no sign of movement. This was probably just me being paranoid but I didn’t want to be surprised by anything, dead or alive.

It only took Jesse a couple minutes to return Caleb following close behind.

“What is it dada?” Caleb asked.

“There’s a car over there that looks strange.” I answered, “We’re going to check it out. Since you’re up you stay here and watch. Make sure nothing happens to the vehicles and cover us if we have to make a run.”

“I can’t go?” Caleb asked.

“No, cover this area and watch.” I said.

Jesse and I took off in a trot through the ditch along the road. We reached the intersection 100 yards from the car, he headed right toward the tall grass, I waited ‘till he was settled then went left circling around the car through a field of uncut straw.

There was still no sign of movement when I called Jesse. “You ready? over.” I asked.

“Yep, but I can only see the side and front of the car, over.”

“That’s OK. Look around and make sure nothing comes out of the bales and if I get out of your view let me know, I want you to be able to see me the whole time, over.”

“OK, over”

I started moving closer to the car first in a crouch then crawling on hands and knees ‘till reaching the edge of the field 50 feet behind the car. I went prone and scanned area through my scope. The windows were defiantly fogged up, a sure sign of warm blooded inhabitants.

“I’m in position behind the car, the windows are foggy so keep alert, be patient, we’re going to wait, over.” I informed Jesse and Caleb.

“Roger.” I heard Caleb say.

“Ok.” replied Jesse.

Waiting and watching is a learned skill, something neither the boys nor I were masters of and our twenty minutes of surveillance felt like three hours but it finally happened. “I see movement inside, over.” I informed them.

The rear door of the driver side slowly opened and a man stepped out and looked around. He was mid 20’s or maybe 30 short hair and a couple weeks’ worth of whisker growth. He stretched and walked to a bale and started to pee. That was my opportunity, “Don’t move.” I said just loud enough for him to hear.

He jumped back startled looking around.

“You can finish but keep your hands in the open.” I instructed.

He zipped his pants up then stood with his arms out to his sides slightly bent with his hands open. All the time he was scanning the field looking for the person talking.

“I can see his head but nothing else, over.” I heard Jesse say.

“Move to your left away from the car.” I instructed.

He hesitated.

“You are not in danger unless you do something stupid. You have multiple guns trained on you right now, move to your left away from the car.” I instructed again.

He slowly walked into the open. “I can see him now, over.” said Jesse.

“Stop.” I said, “Is there anyone else in the car?”

“No.” he answered looking nearly right at my position.

“Is there anyone else with you, in the car or not?” I asked.

“No.” was all he said.

“I see something moving in the car, over.” Caleb said.

“Put one over the car in one of the bales, over.” I instructed.

Within seconds there were two quiet thuds and the man jerked his head around looking toward the bales.

“It would be easy to have one of those go through the car window.” I said calmly, “Walk over and open the front door.”

Once again he hesitated then slowly walked to the car and opened the door. I could see blankets but not much else.

“Now the back door.” I instructed.

He opened the door stepping forward shielding the interior of the car just a bit. There were more blankets that moved lightly.

“Back away. Those in the car get out slowly with your hands in the open.” my voice raised to a demand.

A young woman stepped out with her hands above her head and moved next to the man.

“Anyone else?” I asked.

They both shook their heads.

“That your wife?” I asked observing their rings.

He nodded his head.

“Is there anyone else with you, here or close by?” I asked.

They both shook their heads.

“If I feel my people are in any danger at all I’ll end this quickly. If there’s anyone else around you’d better tell me know…..kids?” I said.

“No, no one.” he answered.

“Guys, keep your eyes peeled, I’m going to look around, over.” I said in the radio.

I stood up and paused. “See any movement? over.”

“Nothing, over.” answered Jesse.

“Nothing, over.” said Caleb.

“There are rifles trained on both of you and the car. Don’t move.” I instructed as I moved forward a few steps, “Slowly move apart three steps.”

They moved apart looking at each other as they did.

“Now reach down and lift your shirt up so I can see your beltline……turn around slowly.”

They did as instructed without pause.

“Good. Now reach down and pull up your pant legs.”

They had no weapons on them that I could see so I moved toward the SUV. It contained blankets and clothes a couple boxes of canned food and bottled water but no people.

I backed away and faced the couple. “What are your names?” I asked.

“Randy, this is Sarah.” the man spoke up.

“You live here?” I asked.

“No, passing through.” he answered.

“From where to where?”

“Freemont, trying to get to Salt Lake City.” he said.

“Why Salt Lake?” I asked.

“We have family there.” he answered.

“OK. You can put your hands down. You understand that either of you can have a bullet through you at any moment, right?” they nodded, “Don’t be stupid, we are not interested in hurting anyone unless we have to protect ourselves.

“Seen any infected around here?”

“It was almost dark when we stopped two days ago, we haven’t seen any here.” he said.

“Every town we passed we saw them, many of them.” Sarah added.

“That’s the same with us.” I added wanting to chat to put them at ease, “They tend to stay where they were when it happened and not wonder off unless something attracts their attention.

“Cowboy, keep your head on we’re coming back, over. Pulga, when we start back you can head to the intersection, I’ll pick you up there, over.” I used nicknames the boys had used at times playing soccer.

“You’ve been here two days?” I asked.

“We’re almost out of gas.” Randy responded, “We pulled over here thinking we could get some at the station up there.” he motioned toward the truck stop a couple miles away.

“But those things are there….” Sarah added.

“Sorry to make you walk but that’s what’s going to happen.” I said to the couple, “Won’t be far. I’ll drive your car, you walk in front. Understand?”

“Yes.” they said in unison.

“We’re heading toward the highway, you can start walking.” I said as I got in their SUV and started it up. Yep, the fuel light came on.

Jesse was crouched in the ditch at the intersection when we pulled up. “Hi.” he said and he popped up a big smile on his face. He trotted around the car and got in the passenger seat. The couple looked at each other then back at the car with a puzzled look on their faces.

“When we get to the onramp you just keep walking, I’ll drive around and park under the overpass.” I instructed out the window. “You’ll see someone ahead, he’ll tell you where to go, got it?”

They nodded and we started moving again. When we parked Christine was standing outside the RV, Caleb was looking over the railing of the overpass and the couple was walking down the slope toward us.