The Birth Of Decay (7 page)

             
I
drove throughout the night and was miles past the exploded shelter we once called home.  I took back roads and county highways.  I kept the semi truck at sixty miles an hour and did not stop for anything.  Claire cleaned the cab up while Ricky and I started talked about the good ol’ days.  We were all tired and pushed ourselves for the sake of the kids.  I eventually found an old barn and parked the truck inside.

             
After I had put the truck in park I turned around to get a better look at the sleeper-cab.  The cabin was huge and had everything we needed.  There was a small sink with a two-burner stove next to it.  Claire and the girls were lying on a queen-sized bed at the back of the cab and next to them was a small shower.  Ricky and I walked into the cab and continued to look around.  There was a twin-sized bed against the wall and above it were cabinets and storage compartments.  I looked at Ricky and motioned for him to follow.  We grabbed our guns and walked out into the barn.

             
We started walking around the barn and made sure we were secure.  We closed the barn door and brought down the large flank of wood that secured it.  I lit a cigarette for Ricky and myself and shook my head.  “I can’t believe we are on the road again.”  I said with disappointment.  He took a drag and peeked through a small hole on the barn wall.  “We drove a lot of miles; I just hope we left them other people who were coming to our shop behind.”  He said. 

I made a lot of turns and kept off all major roads; I felt confident we were far from there radar.  “Let’s get some sleep and lock ourselves in the cab, keep your gun at your side.”  I said.  We climbed back in the truck and locked our doors.  Ricky jumped onto the twin bed, covered up with the dark maroon blanket, and put his handgun under his pillow.  I made my way to Claire and the girls and layed next to Claire.  She held my hand and I fell into a deep sleep.

              I woke up to the sounds of distant gunshots and crawled out of bed.  Ricky also jumped up and we got out of the truck.  “What’s going on?”  Claire asked.  I walked over to the barn door and peered through the large cracks.  I noticed a few cars driving down the road; a few people had there hands out of the windows and was firing guns into the air.  I held my breath and watched them disappear further down the road.  After a few minutes, Ricky and I climbed back into the truck and started it up.  “What did you see?”  Claire asked from the bed.  I put the truck into drive and looked back at her and the girls.  “Just some driving down the road, they didn’t pay any attention to this barn. Now hold on!”  I said.  I floored the truck, broke through the barn door, and drove over the shattered pieces of wood.  I drove up to the four-way intersection and turned West.

             
Ricky opened the glove compartment and pulled out a map.  “This will come in handy.”  He said.  He opened it and I drove around a small pile of cars in the middle of the road.  Ricky ran his finger along a few points on the map, looked out of his window, and read a passing road sign.  He looked back down and studied his map.  “We are roughly thirty miles north of Des Moines Iowa.”  He said.  I nodded and he shoved the map back into the glove compartment. 

I noticed an exit sign for a town and I looked down at the gas gauge and realized it was getting low.  I didn’t want to get stranded and took the exit.  I pulled up to a small town and noticed the car pile-ups and zombies walking aimlessly around the debris.  I slowed down, pushed up against a couple of the cars and zombies, and used the strength of the truck to force them out of my way.  A few zombies surrounded the truck and scratched at the metal with their rotting hands.  I continued to push through, noticed a gas station in the distance, and broke through the crowd.  I drove the short distance, pulled up to the diesel fuel pump, and looked at Ricky.  “Cover me!”  I said.  I looked back at the girls.  “We’re just getting fuel, stay in here.”  Claire nodded and picked up one of the stuffed toys and started playing with her daughters.

              Ricky and I jumped down from the truck and walked over to the pump and started filling the tanks.  Ricky walked around and watched for signs of danger.  I dragged the pump to the other side and started filling the other tank.  I peered up at the late evening sky and noticed the heavy clouds moving quickly above us; a storm was moving in.  I looked around the parking lot and noticed a green car parked in front of the gas station.  I looked over at Ricky.  “Take over.”  I called out and Ricky ran over and grabbed the pump.

             
I pulled my handgun out and slowly made my way to the car and peered in.  I did not notice anyone in the car and I looked at the store.  I looked inside and did not see anyone, zombies or the living.  I ran in and went up to the beef jerky and grabbed as many bags as I could carry and tossed them next to the cash register.  I crawled over, grabbed a grocery bag, and stuffed the jerky in.  I turned around, grabbed a few cartons of cigarettes, and jumped back over the counter.  I ran out of the store and noticed Ricky walking towards me.  I held the bag up.  “Sorry man had to do a little shopping.”  I said.  He shook his head, we jumped back in the truck, and drove out of the town.

We drove into the night surrounded by nothing but fields and flatlands.  I looked off on the side of the road and noticed a house with its windows lit up.  I slowed the truck down, stopped a few feet away from their driveway, and shined my headlights at their house.  Ricky and I stepped down from the truck and pointed our guns at the house.  I noticed the curtain open and  quickly close.  The front door slowly cracked open.  “I got a gun!”  A man yelled. 

I didn’t want a shootout with this stranger and swallowed hard.  “We come in peace!”  I yelled back.  A few seconds later a man poked his head out and quickly hid back inside.  “How many of you are there.”  I took a few steps closer.  “Three adults and two children!”  I answered.

             
The man peeked his head back out.  “Turn off you headlights!”  He said.  I looked back at the truck and Claire switched the lights off.  “What do you want with us?”  The man asked.  I turned around and looked back at the house.  “I just need a place to park for the night.  I can offer you supplies in trade.”  I said.  I noticed the barrel of a rifle slowly lower and he stuck his head back out.  “I’m coming out!  My son will be watching us from the window and he has a gun!” 

I looked at Ricky and we both lowered our guns.  The man slowly walked out onto the porch and narrowed his eyes; he was trying to get a better look at us.  I raised my hands and slowly walked up to the porch.  Ricky soon followed and stood beside me.  The man wore an old straw hat and had a large beard.  “My name is Jacob, that’s my boy Amos.”  He said proudly.  I extended my hand and he gave me a strong handshake.  I relaxed my body a little.  “My name is John, this here is Ricky and my girlfriend Claire and her two daughters; Beth and Claire Jr. are in that big truck there.”  He turned back and looked at the half-opened door.  “Its alright dear, they just need a place to park for the night.”  He said loudly.  He turned and looked back at me.  “Crazy stuff going on in the world today.  I rode into town the other day and noticed they had no electricity and they started chasing my horse and me.  I managed to get away, but I’m never going back again.”  I nodded my head.  “Well like I said, I can give you some guns and ammo for you and your family.”

              He smiled and shook my hand again.  “You just drive about a mile behind my house, you will be fine there.  We will talk early in the morning.”  He said.  I nodded and Ricky and I walked back to the truck and climbed in.  I drove to the field in the back of the house and threw the truck into park.  “He said we can stay here for the night.  I offered him supplies for trade.”  I said.  I turned off the truck and we locked the doors. 

I walked back in the cab and sat on the edge of the bed.  Claire crawled up from behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist.  I rubbed her arms and looked back at the kids.  “You guys hungry?”  I said.  They both smiled shyly and I got up, grabbed a bag of beef jerky, and handed it to Claire.  She took the bag and opened it for the girls.  “Ricky, you want some jerky?”  I asked.  He lay down on his bed and looked over at me.  “Hell yes I want some jerky.”  He laughed.  I tossed him a bag, took one for me over to the bed, and sat down.  We all laid around and ate.  We turned off the lights, told ghost stories with good endings and eventually fell asleep in Jacob’s quite field.

              The following morning Jacob and his family invited us to join them for breakfast.  Ricky, Claire and I laughed and shared stories of our pasts and Jacob and his family shared theirs.  Jacob told me he was about to leave with his family last night until we showed up.  I apologized and he told me there was no need. 

I looked around the room and noticed all of their possessions packed in boxes.  We completed the meal and I offered them coffee; they were pleased with the offer and Ricky and I ran out to the truck and brewed coffee with the trucks coffee maker and filled their cups.  We all sat around the table and drank in conversation.

              I set my cup down and looked across the table at Jacob.  “Have you had to kill any of the zombies yet?”  I asked curiously.  Jacob took a sip from his cup and gave me a confused look.  “Is that what you call those people?”  He asked.  I leaned foreword in my chair and felt my wound throb in sudden pain.  “Shit.”  I quickly looked at Jacob.  “Sorry, I don’t mean to cuss in your home.”  I said after realizing I had cussed.  He stood up and walked over to me.  “What kind of wound is it?”  He asked.  I leaned back in the chair and looked up at him.  “Gunshot.”  I said.  His wife stood up and walked over to the cabinets.  Jacob smiled and looked at my shoulder.  “My wife knows herbs and medicine.  Take off your shirt and bandages.”  I looked over at Ricky and Claire.  “Its okay let me help you.’  He said.

             
He helped me pull my shirt off and his wife walked over with a couple of glass jars filled with herbs and dark colored paste.  Jacob gently took off the bandages and looked at the wound.  “You see, it’s infected.  It May have been another day or two before you started getting really sick.”  He said.  I started to panic and was getting ready to get up from my chair when his wife grabbed my hand.  “It is alright, this will cure you right up.”  She said gently.  I nodded nervously and sat back in the chair.

             
I do not know why I was freaking out; I guess the reality of the wound was settling in.  She dipped her fingers into some of the thick brown paste and rubbed it gently onto my wound.  She then repeated the process until my shoulder was completely covered.  She washed my bandages, rang out all of the water, and wrapped them tightly around my wound. 

             
I thanked them and picked up my backpack.  “You guys are truly great.  You gave us a place to hide, fed us breakfast and tended to my wound.  Thank you again.”  I said kindly.  I opened the backpack, pulled out two 9mm handguns, two boxes of ammo, and laid them on the table.  “You guys will need these.”  I said.

             
Amos looked over at my backpack and his eyes widen.  “Jeez Mister, your like an army.”  He said.  His dad placed his hands on his hips.  “I don’t know if we really could shoot a person down.”  He said.  I stood up and shook my head.  “They are not people Jacob, their dead.  The souls are long gone.  All that remains are the decayed.”  I said.  He walked over to the kitchen window and peered out.  “Perhaps you are right, but I just don’t know if I could gun them down.”  He said distantly.  His wife walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder.  “I’m going to get the horses ready, our brothers and sisters are going to start wondering why we haven’t showed up.”  She said with concern

             
I motioned for Claire and Ricky that it was time to leave.  I put the backpack on the table and looked at Jacob.  “Thank you again Jacob, you are a blessing.  We will be on our way. Before we leave I just wanted to say; those decayed are not of God anymore, they are straight from hell.”  I said.  He looked back at me and nodded. 

Claire gathered her kids and headed out to the truck.  Ricky headed out onto the porch and I shook Jacob’s hand again and walked up to the door.  “We will be just south of St. Joseph Missouri, just look on county road 752.”  He said.  I offered him a smile and ran out to the truck.  We got back on the road and continued driving southeast.  I started thinking about how the Amish would thrive in this new world and how they despised technology anyway.  I hoped that Jacob and his community could except the challenges ahead and realize they are not killing; for the decayed are already dead.  

             
W
e kept on the back roads and avoided many of the towns.  Mile after mile the odometer turned as sign after sign passed by my window.  We parked and rested where we could, mainly behind homes and in barns.  It had been roughly a week since I gave Jacob those guns and my shoulder was feeling much better.  Every night Claire would help me clean my wound and it was healing nicely.  I had my full strength back and was glade to be alive, even in this world full of the decayed. 

I noticed a small town in the distance and read the sign on the right, Westcliffe Colorado.  I slowed the truck down and passed the few houses and buildings.  Further down the road we noticed a small dinner with some of the decayed walking around the parking lot; we now officially called them Decayed.  We got to the edge of the small town and I noticed a large church made from brick.  I pulled around the side of the church and parked.

              “Ricky and I will make sure this place is secure.  We’ll be right back.”  I said.  Claire gave me a kiss and Ricky and I jumped down from the truck.  We pulled out our handguns and looked around; nothing but a thin layer of snow and some dead leaves crunched beneath our feet.  I walked up to the back door and turned the knob; I was glad it was unlocked.  We walked in cautiously and looked around the large kitchen.  There were a couple of stoves and pots and pans stacked on heavy shelves.  I walked up to the large double doors and pressed my ear against it.  I looked at Ricky and nodded.  I swung the door open and pointed my gun around at the empty pews.  I looked down the middle of the isle and looked at the empty podium.  Ricky ran past me and opened a door on the left of the podium.  “We are clear.”  He called out.  I let out a breath of relief and went back outside to get Claire and the girls. 

             
We grabbed some of our supplies and started filling the kitchen with all of our bags.  I made sure the large doors were secure and checked each window.  We discovered a two bedroom home attached to the church and Claire started cleaning it up.  The girls ran around the church with their stuffed toys and explored. 

             
I stood in the Kitchen and Ricky pointed to the large shelves with food.  “They must have fed the poor here, look at all of this food!”  He said with excitement.  I walked around the room and noticed most of the food items were canned and would be very useful in our survival.  “This is great!”  I said.  Ricky walked over to the sink and tried turning on the faucet.  “Damn thing doesn’t work!”  He said with frustration in his voice.  I noticed our weapons backpack and stared filling my vest with ammo.  Ricky walked over and started filling his vest; he did not say a word, he knew what I was thinking.  I found Claire in the small house and told her we were going on a run.  Ricky and I searched for water and whatever else we could grab.  We kissed and Ricky and I were off.

             
We pulled up to the small dinner and noticed the decayed were still wondering around.  I pulled out my handgun and looked over at Ricky.  “Let’s clean this place up.”  I said.  Ricky nodded and we jumped down from the truck.  A female decayed staggered over to me and swung her arms violently.  I aimed my gun and shot her in the head.  She fell to the ground and I fired another shot between her eyes. 

...We will keep on the back roads and keep the hunt going...

I shook my head and heard the voice over my truck radio call out.  Ricky shot a decayed in the face and ran over to me.  “Was that the radio?”  He asked.  I climbed in the truck and turned up the volume.  “Ricky finish off the other decayed, I’ll listen.”  I said.

             
…
Well, I still find it funny; we are going to upload the new virus before we loose satellite capability…. Those damn zombies will be a challenge then… (Laughter)…. Give us a few minutes and it will be done…

             
I grabbed the receiver.  “Who the hell is this?  You are the one responsible for this mess… You son of a bitch!”  I yelled.  I heard Ricky fire a shot at the other decayed and he got back in and sat in his seat.  I motioned for him to be silent and we waited. 

             
… (Laughter)…Well hello stranger, are you having fun with this zombie mess?  We are.  Just wait and see what happens next… (Static)…

             
“Hey!  Stop doing this shit, people are in danger! Hello?”  I yelled into the receiver.  “Damn!”  I threw the receiver down and shook my head.  Ricky put his hand on my shoulder.  “Let’s just focus man; the kids will need water soon.”  He said calmly.  I sat there for a moment and stared down at the receiver.  He was right; nothing good comes from anger.  I shut my door and started the truck.  We drove around town and looked for the decayed.  We would roll down our windows and shot them down.  We spent an hour killing off any decayed we spotted and the streets were eventually cleared. 

             
I pulled up to the gas station and tried using the pumps; it would not pump.  “Damn!  The electricity is all dead and this thing won’t work.”  I said in frustration.  Ricky walked over to a few manhole covers near the pump and knelt down.  I ran over to him and noticed he had opened the diesel cover.  I ran up to the store and slowly walked in.  I looked around and could not find any hoses.  I grabbed some food and cigarettes and filled a few bags.  I ran back outside and loaded the bags in the truck.  I walked back to Ricky and shook my head.  “I couldn’t find any hoses in there; we may need to check in another store.”  I said.  I looked over at the air pump and noticed the hose tied to its side.  “Bingo!”  I laughed.  Ricky gave me an odd look and I ran over to the air tank and pulled my hunting knife from its holder.  I un-wrapped the hose and cut off each end.  I ran over, handed Ricky an end, and dropped it onto the ground.

             
I started the truck and pulled up closer to Ricky and the hose.  I turned off the truck and jumped back out.  I opened the fuel tank and Ricky gave me a thumb up.  I put the hose in my mouth and tried getting the gas to come up.  A tried a few times and had no success.  I dropped the hose and shook my head.  “We need to find a hand pump.”  I said.  He walked over to the truck and looked at me.  “I noticed a hardware store down the street.”  He said.  We drove off and headed to the shop.  I pulled up and took the keys out.

             
…Boom… Virus loaded… I just wanted to say to my friends out there; have fun….

             
I shook my head and grabbed the receiver.  “You son of a bitch, we will find you!”  I yelled.  I dropped it back down and Ricky and I walked up to the store window and peered in.  We noticed movement in the back of the store and I motioned for Ricky to open the door.  I pointed my gun at the back of the store and Ricky swung the door open.  I walked up cautiously and my hand started slightly shaking; I hated not seeing who was back there.  “Hello.”  I called out.  Ricky walked up and pointed his gun too.

              After a few seconds, a man slowly walked out with his hands in the air; he must have noticed the gun pointing at him and was smart enough to use caution.  “Don’t shoot!  I am alive!”  He said.  I kept my gun pointed and watched him come out the shadows and stop a few feet in front of us.  “My family and I don’t have anything, please don’t hurt us!”  He cried.

             
I noticed he was thin and rather pale.  His messy blonde hair looked like a rats nest and he had an unpleasant odor coming from him.  I kept the gun on pointed at him and put my right hand out.  “Shh, I’m not going to hurt you.”  I said calmly.  He wiped a few tears from his eyes and looked at me with his pale eyes.  “Please help us; we have been eating nothing but old crumbs in this damn place.”  He said sadly.  I put my gun back into my vest and Ricky did the same.  “How many do you have?”  Ricky asked.

The man motioned for us to follow and he walked to the back of the store.  Ricky and I followed and I reached up and held the handle of my gun; just in case it was a trap.  I walked into an old office and noticed a thin woman covered in dirt holding a baby in her arms.  Her eyes looked tired and tear covered.  I put my arms out and slowly walked up to her.  “It’s okay, we have food and shelter.”  I said reassuringly. 

             
I heard the baby start crying and she lowered her shirt and started nursing it.  I knelt down in front of her and and smiled.  “What’s your baby’s name?”  I asked.  She looked at me.  “My name is Sandra and this is my baby girl Ruth.”  She said.  I put my hand on her shoulder.  “Let’s get you guys to the church and cook you a hot meal.”  I said.  The woman started crying and her husband helped her and the baby up.  “What’s your name?”  I asked the man.  He helped his wife out of the office and looked back at me.  “Ted.”  He said in an exhausted voice. 

I handed Ricky an empty backpack.  “Find a pump and fill that thing up with flashlights and batteries, I’ll take them to the truck.
”
  Ricky ran off and got the supplies.

             
We drove back to the gas station and managed to get the pump working.  I held the hose up to the tank and Ricky started pumping.  Ted and Sandra watched curiously out the window as we topped off the last tank.  I opened one of the side compartments on the cab and tossed in the pump and hose.  I was getting ready to jump back in the truck when I heard a car driving down the road.  “Ricky, car!”  I yelled. 

Ricky and I hid on the side of the truck and noticed an old brown truck drive erratically down the street and smack into a pole.  The bumper smashed and smoke rose from the crushed hood.  I looked closer and noticed the man behind the steering wheel was biting it.  I could hear him grunting and his left eye was missing; the dried up black blood showed it was an old wound.  He violently opened his door and looked around.  He noticed our large truck and started limping towards us.

              ...I hope you like the new upgrades… I figure zombies have the right to drive...

             
I heard the voice call out on the radio and I pointed my gun at the decayed and fired a few shots; hitting him in the neck and chest.  I got closer and Ricky shot him in the head.  The man fell onto the ground and we jumped back in the truck.  “What the hell was that?”  Ted cried out from the cab.  I shook my head and we drove back to the church and got everyone settled in.