Surviving The Dead: Heartland Zombie Apocalypse Vol. 1 (28 page)

Crystal smiled, “Thanks Mac, but your not exactly the first.  I've been talking to various individuals to figure out what to do.”

“Go ahead Crystal just put what your proposing out there.”, Hester encouraged.

“Okay.  First, I would like to retain my seat on the council.  Second I've spoken with Hester, Carol and Hazel and I would like to organize an education program for our kids.  I'm thinking of not only the basics, but also survival training, first aid, and self defense.”

“So did you also think about a replacement?”, asked Joe.

Crystal nodded, “Of course.  In my mind the best candidates are Bill, Amy, and Blade.  Bill really prefers being our chief of security and Amy agrees with me that Blade is the best choice.  I haven't spoken to him yet.  I didn't know if we would be putting it to a public vote again or leave it as a council decision.”

“Crystal unless someone has a different thought, I see no problem with you keeping your council seat.  I also think you should talk with Blade and see if he is open to the job.”, Mac concluded.

At the end of the week a day of festivities was planned.  With the garden bounty coming in dinner that night included a variety of grilled and fresh vegetables.  In addition with the flour and sugar salvaged from Lexington, they were able to have a variety of baked goods and pastries. 

At the conclusion of the meal Mac stood up to address the group, “To start with how about a big thank you to Tobin, Nana, and everyone that pitched in on this fantastic meal.”

As the applause quieted down Mac continued, “I also ask we take a moment of silence to thank Hank Cross whose sacrifice helped bring us this bounty and whose efforts kept us safe behind these gates.”

After a respectful period Mac proceeded, “Thank you.  It also saddens me to inform you that Miss Innes, for personal reasons, is stepping down as our captain of the militia.  She will be replaced by Corporal Byrnes.  I'm sure you kids will be excited by this, Crystal has volunteered to organize an education program for you.”

Crystal briefly took the floor, “I have some ideas that will make this a fun program for you guys.  Tomorrow after breakfast if all the parents or anyone with teaching experience will join me at daycare we'll start to figure this out.”

As Crystal took her seat Tobin stood up, “I finally wore Crystal down and she has consented to be my bride.  We don't have an exact date set, but it will be soon.  When we get it all sorted out your all invited.”

Tobin blushing sat down and Mac led the community in a round of applause and well wishes for the couple.  Mac then turned to Blade and asked him to say a few words.

“I can't hope to replace Crystal as captain.  That is a title that will always be hers, but I will do my best to follow her lead.  I am pleased to announce that Juan Garcia is our newest patrol leader and since these two seemed to be joined at the hip his co-leader is Lup Pittman.”  Blade turned towards Percy, “Gunny we have five new recruits for you as well.”

“Alright folks enjoy the evening.  I know it is mid-august, but tomorrow we are back to business as usual.  Winter is coming and we got to get ready.”, Mac concluded.

Fort Irwin the Mojave Dessert

Lieutenant Colonel Mathias Mayhue was meeting with Major General Norman Armstrong.  Fort Irwin housed so many non-combatant families that in the early days of the outbreak, creepers flowed through them like water and a lot of good men were lost saving the few that they could and controlling the threat.  Colonel Mayhue resented the General's resistance to just fire bombing the houses.  He saw no sense in wasting the lives of good soldiers to rescue worthless civilians.

“Colonel we've received word from Camp Pendleton they are about down to their last.  It is time that we join forces and bug out.”, General Armstrong stated.

“Do we have a destination sir?”, Mayhue asked.

“Its been awhile, but my last report from Colonel Osgoode was he was establishing a survivor stronghold in southern Nebraska.”, the General responded.

“Southern Nebraska is a bit vague can you narrow it down a bit?”, Mayhue questioned.

The General was irritated at his orders being questioned, “That is all I have soldier.  We'll have to hope they got comms up and can guide us in.  In any regard Nebraska has no where near the population we got here and worst case there are some world war II bunkers we could hunker down in.”

Colonel Mayhue stood behind his commander and studied the map.  Slowly he pulled his knife and sunk it too the hilt in the General's lower back severing the spinal cord, “A little thing I picked up in Cambodia, called a head on a stick.  I need you to look like your turning makes selling my story a little easier.  I have no interest in wasting my men going after a bunch of jarheads, they can save their own bacon.  You can bet your ass I am not going to chase halfway across the country dragging a bunch of civilians along either.”

Colonel Mayhue quickly pocketed the General's insignia and called out, “Sergeant Major.” 

As SGM Stuart Redding entered the Colonel continued, “Sergeant the General is infected and is starting to turn.  He got it from the civilians.  Get our men loaded up we leave in fifteen.”

“The civilians sir, what do we do about them?”, Sergeant Redding asked.

Mayhue scoffed, “Burn em before they turn, same goes for anyone outside of our unit.  Their all lost anyhow.”

Stu had been with his commandeer for so many years that he had long past given up questioning his orders, though his actions of late were a little over the top even for the Colonel.  As he and the Colonel pulled out of the blazing compound, with nearly a hundred men, screams of the burning people they left behind followed them.  Stu looked inquisitively at Colonel Mayhue as he affixed the General's insignia to his uniform.

“Field promotion.”, Mayhue responded to the unasked question.

“Where are we headed sir?”, Sergeant Redding queried.

Mayhue answered curtly, “Nebraska.”

“Mister Gant you have one hour to complete, your not going to let me down are you?”, Cynthia warned.

Joe Gant struggled to contain his irritation, “Don't get your ….. yes we will be all cleared out of here in plenty of time.  I wouldn't dream of throwing your schedule off.”

Cynthia clutched her clipboard and dashed off to deal with the next crisis.  She had volunteered to be Tobin and Crystal's coordinator, but this has grown into so much more.  The whole community seems to be rejuvenated over the thought of this wedding.  Everyone wanted this to be a special affair and for a little while pretend the world was back to normal.

Jim Staddler wheeled himself about the compound going over the marriage service in his mind.  A few short weeks ago he had all but despaired.  He and the rest of the small number of survivors in Lexington were barely hanging in there.  Each day the commitment to stay alive to hold on to the belief that a miracle would happen was slowly chipped away.  Here in this community there was hope again, Jim began to believe there was a plan again.

Bill Parsons had been working up to this every since Joyce Carter had come to them.  He and Sara had stopped being husband and wife even before the outbreak.  Bill did not live with Sara and considered their marriage over.  Sara on the other hand played the fact that he was chief of security to the hilt.

As lunch ended Bill went over to Joyce, “Miss Carter may I speak to you a moment.”

“Certainly, but only if you call me Joyce, Chief.”, Joyce replied.

Feeling a little like a schoolboy Bill stammered, “Joyce, umm I was hoping, if you don't have other plans, that you would accompany me to the wedding this evening?”

“What will Sara say about that.”, Joyce said teasing.

Bill reddened, the problem with a small group is that everybody knows your business, “Oh I'm sure she will have a lot to say, but I can't let her mouth run my life.”

Joyce lightly touched Bill's arm, “Then I won't let it run mine, I would be pleased for you to be my escort Bill.”

Zephram Nordstrom raced back to the lake and dove in clothes and all.  He scrubbed away the weeks of accumulated grime.  Climbing out of the lake Zephram stripped, sharpened his knife and then used it as a razor to hack away his beard.

“Careful don't cut yourself Zeph you want to look respectable. That couple needs to trust you till you get close.”

Zephram combed his hair with his fingers than tied it back with a piece of string.  Finally he dressed himself in his one spare set of clothes.  Cleaned up he began to make his way back to the camper.

“You look good enough Zeph get your ass a movin, when you get to the camper call for help.  Folks just can't resist helpin out a fellow in need.”

“And when I get in close?”

“Get rid of the guy.  You keep him around to long and he'll be a problem.  The girl you can pump for information and maybe we can use her somehow to get Jilly back.”

“Yeah, yeah, … I like that.  End the guy and pump the girl.”

Zephram made his way back through the woods to where the camper was parked, all the time keeping a running dialogue with himself.  As he closed Zephram noticed the campers had attracted the attention of others.

“Zeph see those chompers.  Change of plans, the only thing better than lookin desperate is comin in the hero.”

Kip Lang was a network analyst.  He understood computers, people not so much.  It seemed like everyone he knew expected a certain behavior from him.  If he ever broke that mold then his actions were questioned no end.  On the couple of occasions he brought a young woman home to meet his mother she would come up with a long list of why she was unsuitable for him.  When he stood up to the school yard bully and later the office loudmouth somehow he was always perceived as being in the wrong.

Kip bought the camper to give an excuse to have something to do.  To his surprise once he was around strangers he could be himself.  Overtime he developed a small community of camping enthusiasts and found that he was invited to weekend camp outs and then to some of the more extended occasions.  The day the shit hit the fan, Kip was preparing for the beginning of summer with a week long excursion.  Proudly wearing his camp fest T-shirt, he had just finished packing his camper when his pal Chuck called.

“Kip you about ready to leave man?”, Chuck asked.

“Just finished packing.  I was going to check in at work as I leave town and I'll see you in a couple of hours.”, Kip responded cheerfully.

“Screw work, you haven't seen the news then?  Kip there is some kinda super bug hit.  Stay away from the city, pack up all the food and water you can and get out fast.  Folks are going crazy.”, Chuck urged.

As Chuck explained the situation Kip turned on his TV and was shocked by what he was seeing, “Holy crap Chuck is this for real?”

Chuck let out a sigh, “Looks like.  Kip you got any guns you might need em?”

“You know I was never into guns all I got is my old target bow.”, Kip answered.

“Better than nothin, grab it too.  We are all going to try and meet up at the National Forest.  Kip if we don't make it, it's been a real pleasure knowin you.”, Chuck said sadly.

Kip who had spent so much of his life an outsider was brought near to tears by his friends statement, “Same here Chuck, but I'll be seeing you in a few hours.”

Kip took an extra hour packing up extra of everything.  When he first got in to camping he had bought a ton of MRE's and freeze dried foods.  His camping friends ribbed him a bit about it and when he tasted it he understood why, but now it might be necessary.  The roads even out where Kip lived were starting to get congested, but once Kip hit the back roads he saw almost no traffic.  When he was closing on his destination, he saw a car pulled over to the side.

Kip slowed in case someone needed help and as he did so a young woman stepped out of the car and waved him down.  Kip brought the camper to a halt.  He cautiously looked around in case the woman was bait, getting him to stop so her gang could take his camper.