Resurrection (7 page)

Chapter 16

Mark pulled off of the road at what had been a truck stop. It was abandoned now and derelict with several abandoned eighteen wheelers sitting around, immobile and dead. Their dirty windshields glared at him like ancient beasts, fossils relics of a time impossible to recall.

The trucks and passenger vehicles scattered around the lot were a silent testimony to what had once been a bustling business. He sat in the pickup and imagined the lot full of people filling their tanks with fuel. He felt he could still smell the odor of burning diesel from the semis as they sat idling at the pumps.

He pulled a weapon from his belt and tugged on the glass front door of the store; it was locked. He laughed to himself at the absurdity of such an obsolete notion much akin to his thoughts on time. Whoever locked it apparently intended to return at a later date possibly after the dead returned to their eternal resting places.

He peered through the window and discovered that inside the building nothing had been touched and the shelves were full of food. He sent a trash barrel crashing through glass and stepped cautiously inside.

Cash registers sat silent and dark. The place had been abandoned quickly as someone left a twenty dollar bill and a fountain drink and a bag of pork rinds on the counter.

Broken glass crunched under his boots, he checked behind the counter and inside the cash drawers which were empty. He took the twenty as well as the pork rinds and stuck them in his pocket and made his way down on of the aisles dumping items from the shelves into a plastic bag that he found on the floor.

It was then that he felt a pistol muzzle against the back of his head.

“Don’t move or you’ll find yourself toes up, put the pistol down on the counter there; slowly.”

Mark lay the weapon down and put his hands in the air.

“Who the hell are you?”

“My name’s Mark.”

“In the habit of entering locked buildings are you?”

“I’m sorry, it looked abandoned and I needed food.”

“Well now you now it wasn’t abandoned and you’ve broken the door and now every Tom, Dick and dead guy can walk right in.”

“I’m sorry I—“

“Forget that, get over there and sit down.”

Mark sat in one of the booths while the man stood across the aisle from him.

“Is that you’re truck out there?”

“Yes.”

“Well you’re the guy from the roadside park; you’d be shacking up with a bunch of Wasters right now if we hadn’t come along. Where did you come from?”

“I left Louisiana a few months back.”

A few of months damn you must drive like grandma.”

“No I just took my time.”

“How are things out there?”

“Not good, getting worse every day,” Mark answered nervously eying the pistol pointed at his face.”

“Been pretty quiet around here, until now that is. You’re the first person, live person I mean to come down that road since I don’t know when.”

“Yeah well I’m hoping to stay that way if you know what I mean,” Mark said waving his hand at the pistol.

“Don’t do anything stupid and maybe you will. Who’s with you, are you expecting anyone else?’

“Anyone else; no I’m alone.”

“Okay, well let’s have a look at that truck of yours. No quick moves pal this thing has a hair trigger”

Mark maneuvered his way out the door and toward his truck. The man looked inside and saw all the weapons in the back.

“You were expecting a war? Looks like you’re ready if one comes your way; good thing I got the drop on you; but wait, you had all of these weapons and nearly lost it to a bunch of Dead Heads.”

The man looked toward the derelict semis and whistled. Four men dressed in combat uniforms came out of hiding with rifles pointed at Mark and quickly joined the other man by Mark’s pickup.

“He says he’s alone.”

“What’s in the truck,” one of the men said with a deep English accent.

“Have a look for yourself,” Mark said.

“Nice, very nice mate, but where did you get all of the guns?”

“He’s the guy at the rest stop last night!”

“Look guys as much as I like reminiscing I would like to be on my way if at all possible.” Mark said.

“Look Veto we just saved your bacon, you ain’t going nowhere.” One of the men spoke up.

The others in the group gathered around the truck for a look and Mark took advantage of their inattention and pulled a revolver from his coat.

“Okay, hold it all of you,” he said waving the revolver. “Move away from the truck.

“Would you look at that, the bugger’s got a gun,” The man with the English accent said laughing.

All of the men turned and glared at Mark but none of them raised their weapons and instead stood talking amongst themselves.

“I need all of you to step away from the truck and nobody gets hurt,” Mark said excitedly.

None of the men acknowledged him nor did they make any moves away from the truck.

“Did you not hear what I said, move away from the truck; now!” Mark yelled.

“Yeah we heard you but we weren’t sure if you were serious or not.”

At that point the man who got the jump on him inside the store stepped over and put his hand on Mark’s shoulder.

“Maybe that’s not such a good idea, why don’t you just give me the weapon and let’s continue our little talk?”

“Don’t touch me, just step back or I’ll—“

“You’ll what mate, Pull the trigger? Go ahead but I can assure you you’ll be dead before you hit the ground.”

“Ok Nigel, step back. Alright Mark or whoever you are, I don’t believe you drove all the way from Louisiana to end up dead in a truck stop parking lot in Texas now did yak? Just give me the weapon and let’s talk.”

Mark reluctantly handed Darrin his backup pistol.

“Now then that’s better, everybody calm down for a minute. So you’ve got a truck full of guns, present circumstances aside what’s with all the weapons?”

“I used to work in a gun shop and things went a little crazy so I loaded as many guns as I could and left; figured I might need them later on.”

“You were right about that.”

“I might sell a few if you’re in the market.”

“We are always in need of weapons and ammo but we ain’t got any money, hadn’t really had a need for money lately, besides if we wanted your guns we’d just take them. Look we can’t just stand here wasting time, everybody this is Mark, Mark this is our resident English gentleman Nigel, and this is Eric, Pop Bottles, don’t know why he’s called that he won’t say, this here is Jorge and I’m Darrin. We may know of some folks who might be interested but we need to make certain that you can be trusted first; just in case.”

“Why don’t you have him follow us to the gym and we’ll see what he’s got and then later you can contact Tom,” Nigel said.

“It’s gonna get dark soon so we’ve got to get off the streets for a while,” Pop bottles said looking at his watch.

“Mark we need to sort this all out but we can’t stay here and do that because the sun is gonna be down soon so if you can find it in yourself to trust us we’re going to a hideout for a few hours, that is unless you want to continue on your way alone,” Darrin said.

Mark looked around at the group and then nodded in agreement.

Chapter 17

“Pull up in here,” Nigel said and after lowering the door on the garage the group walked to the gym. Once inside Pop Bottles put a chain around the door handles and attached a large padlock.

Darrin folded himself into a chair in the middle of the basketball court and lit a cigarette. “Not supposed to smoke on school grounds but oh well I never liked that rule anyway, I never liked school for that matter” he said laughing.

Nigel approached Mark and pushed him with the barrel of his rifle toward a chair. “Have seat old boy and lets us get acquainted shall we.”

“Imagine our surprise when someone new arrives in town, usually only thieves and murderers come off the road but never in singles; they’re usually part of a group,” Darrin said offering Mark a cigarette.

Mark waved his hand and leaned back in his chair. “Well it’s just me, me and I’m neither of those things you just mentioned.”

Just then they heard the sound of Wasters at the doors.

“And so it begins,” Nigel said.

“No matter where we go they always manage to find us, they’re like bloodhounds,” Pop bottles said waving at the monsters through the glass.

“I guess maybe our guest wasn’t alone after all, seems he brought some friends with him,” Nigel said chuckling.

“Okay enough of the bullshit, who are you guys, I’ve told you a little about myself now I want to know you are and what you’re doing here?” Mark yelled his voice echoing through the cavernous gym.

Darrin exhaled a cloud of smoke and flicked his ash in an empty can beside the chair.  “We live here, this is our home” he said.

Nigel pushed Darrin with his elbow. “Don’t tell him anything we don’t know if we can trust him.”

“You really want to sell some of those guns?” Darrin said.

“Yeah or trade a few for some supplies,” Mark said.

Darrin stood up and pulled Marks pistols from his waistband and gave them to him. “Maybe tomorrow we’ll meet some people we know and see about those guns but for now it’s time for us to earn our keep.”

Darrin and the others spread out and covered the entrances to the building and Darrin indicated that Mark should follow him.

“How many of those things have you killed Mark?”

“I don’t know fifty or so if I had to guess.”

“Well were about to let you add a few more to that tally. Alright boys let’s roll!”

Darin kicked the door open and drew his knife and stabbed the first few wasters in the head; black liquid spewed out and spattered onto Mark’s shirt. He stood in the doorway stunned while Darrin worked his way forward slashing and stabbing his way through the mob of Wasters.

He turned to Mark and waved his rifle at him as one of the Wasters was almost on top of him. Mark stuck the barrel of his revolver in the creature’s mouth and a .410 shotgun shell exploded and buckshot ripped through the back of the thing’s head splattering the wall behind with gore.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Darin yelled. “Let’s see what else you got!”

Mark pulled his other firearm and began firing wildly into the crowd of Wasters and they started dropping like flies. Darrin grabbed one and pulled the creature close and slashed its throat and pulled the head from its body.

One of the creatures grabbed hold of Mark from behind and overpowered him. It grabbed him and held him fast in a bear hug and he could feel his ribs starting to crack. Just then he felt it release its grip on him and turned to see Darrin pulling his knife from its head.

“Alright, playtimes over time to go full auto on these bastards,” Darrin screamed.

Suddenly his rifle ripped open the night, flames exploded from the barrel and the Wasters started falling in a spray of coagulated blood and entrails. Darrin looked at Mark who stood silent.

“Yeeeehhaw!” Darrin yelled as the last of the Waster’s fell to the pavement. He relaxed his grip on the trigger and the sound of his rifle could be heard echoing off the surrounding buildings until it dispersed somewhere in the darkness.

Darrin lowered his rifle and approached Mark. “That’s what we’re doing here, you asked and I showed you” he said pushing his fist into his hand. “Let’s eat.”

Nigel passed Mark a can of red beans and rice. “I figured this might have you feeling like you were back home in Louisiana,” he said handing Mark his Ka-bar.

“So Mark where’d you say you were headed,” Darrin said.

“I didn’t,” Mark said between mouthfuls.

“Oh yeah that’s right; so where are you headed.”

Mark thought about his question for a moment before answering. “New Mexico,” he said after a few mouthfuls of food.

“New Mexico? What the hells in that graveyard?”

Nothing special, just thought I’d get out in the desert and mountains and get away from all of this,” he said waving his hand.

“Sounds like a plan. Look tomorrow we’re gonna take you to meet some folks and let em take a look at your goods but for now we rest, Nigel you take first watch and Pop Bottles you relieve him in two hours.

Chapter 18

Mark pulled the Ford truck into a dusty road off the main highway and stopped at the cattle guard. He got out and looked around but all he could see for miles was more of the same; nothing.

The graveled road led out into the scrub and disappeared around a small hill. The rain had slowed for a change and a small sliver of sunlight shone through the thin clouds.

He leaned against the window of the truck and Darrin pulled in behind him and got out; the others followed.

“Someone is going to meet us here?” Mark said.

“They’ll be along directly,” Darrin said.

Soon, in the distance a truck rolled around the hill. It came to a stop on the other side of a cattle guard and two men got out. Both were dressed in blue jeans and western shirts with western hats and spurs. Mark did not move but kept his hand on the .45 under his jacket.

“Howdy Darrin, Nigel, Pop Bottles” the man said shaking hands with each one across the cattle guard.

“This here’s Mark,” Darrin said. “He’s the one I radioed you about.”

“I’m Tom and this here’s Foley and in the back of the truck there is Carlos and Two Gun; you can‘t see them for the tinted windows.”

Toms stepped around Mark’s truck and peered into the back.” Man you’ve got a few weapons in there,” he said.

Mark nodded his head in agreement

“Well, you wanna follow us back to the camp because supper will be ready shortly and we’re awful hungry. And you can keep that pistol ready if it makes you feel more comfortable because Carlos and Two Gun got us covered if you know what I mean. So were gonna get back in the truck and turn around and you try and keep up with us.”

Tom turned the dually around and headed back down the road. Mark started the Ford and watched in the rearview mirror as Darrin and the others backed out and drove away before he crossed the cattle guard and started up the road.

Twenty minutes had passed before he saw any signs that there was anything out here other than grass, cactus and jackrabbits. They passed several decrepit structures before they came upon some buildings set back into some cottonwood trees.

The lead truck came to a stop and the occupants got out and Tom approached Mark’s vehicle.

“Well this is it, ain’t much but, why don’t you come in and meet the others,” Tom said.

Mark got out of the vehicle and followed Tom.

“This here’s Two Gun and Carlos I told you about them earlier, this is Mark, Tom said.

Marks shook hands with the two men and continued with Tom to the house. Tom introduce him to several men who were sitting outside around a fire pit cooking a whole hog,

The house was filled with men and women, all armed and children sat on the floor playing. Tom introduced Mark to everyone in the room and then brought him into a parlor where some women sat talking. When he entered the room went silent and one woman stood up and approached them.

“Mark this is Isabel.”

She was tall with long black hair which was tied up in a ponytail. Her dark skin and eyes betrayed her Mexican heritage. She was a beautiful woman, in her early thirties and very feminine but her attire and her manner exuded a toughness born of hardship and trial.

She extended her hand and Mark lightly shook it and then she quickly pulled hers back.

“Nice the meet you Mark,” she said.

“Mama, mama,” a young boy cried as he ran into the room.

“What is it Mijo?” Isabel said kneeling.

“Luz popped my balloon, she took it and now it popped,” he said holding up the limp piece of rubber.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean to, we’ll get you another, now run along and play,”

“Okay mama,” the boy said.

Isabel smiled at Mark and then introduced him to the other women in the group.

We’ll be around later Isabel but right now we have some things to do,” Tom said.

Tom took Mark by the elbow and led him back outside of the house and across the yard to a set of four outbuildings situated toward the back side of the main house.

“Isabel is the one to talk to if you want to sell some of those weapons,” Darrin said. “This is where you’ll be sleeping…”

“Whoa, hold on a minute, am I staying or something? I mean no one discussed that with me,” Mark said.

“There won’t be any word about selling any of those weapons tonight I mean it’ll be tomorrow morning before anyone gets to look at them and I figured you might be ready for a hot meal and some uninterrupted shuteye before we get down to business.

“And what if I don’t want to stay?”

“Well in that case you leave here and you leave Texas tonight and we keep the guns including the ones in your waist band and the one strapped to your ankle and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Stay here and you get a square meal or you can go back out that front gate with no weapons and take your chances and you will be escorted out of Texas and then you can deal with the Oklahoma boys and I hear they ain’t right in the head. Now I’m gonna leave you to ponder on that. That’ll be your bunk for the night and supper is at six.”

Mark was silent, he was turning over Tom’s words in his mind and then he laid his pack on the bunk.

“Now if you should decide that you really don’t want to stay I would not make a decision to leave in the middle of the night that might be a bad idea. Why don’t you get a little rest and when you hear the bell come up for supper; okay.

Mark nodded and Tom left him alone. He walked to the window behind his bunk and saw children playing in the woods beyond the bunkhouse. Men sat huddled around fires playing guitars and banjos and others were target practicing in the distant field.

He eyed his truck sitting where he had left it and checked his pocket for the keys. Who are these people, do they think that I can’t shoot my way out of here? Who do think they are messing with? I fought my way out of Louisiana and I could hold my own here.

He counted the men he saw on the grounds but stopped at twenty–five and then he realized that he would never make it out alive. Maybe it would be best to wait until morning; like Tom said.