This Dying World: The End Begins (18 page)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Adam couldn’t believe his luck.  He had only been walking for an hour before he heard a heavy diesel engine coming his way.  He was beginning to wonder if he would be able to survive the day.  There were so many more of the things walking around since they had left Janesville the previous night.  He found himself hiding in the trees most of the morning since he had been thrown out of his last ride.

His outrage grew every time he cowered within the branches.  He couldn’t believe that bitch would throw him out. 
What did she expect?
he thought to himself.  It was just him and Amy, the way he knew she always hoped it would be.  But when he made his move, the bitch went psycho on him.  If she hadn’t pulled that gun on him, he would have given her everything he knew she wanted, and more.

“Fucking slut!” he whispered under his breath as he climbed out of his latest hiding spot.  There were only a couple of the monsters this time, so he didn’t have to wait long.  He ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair, wishing he had time to grab his hat.  He was lucky the crazy bitch didn’t shoot him when he reached for his bright orange jacket though, so he took what he could get.  He thought the day had finally taken a turn for the better.

He was starting to question how good his luck was, however, when the ambulance turned a corner and barreled towards him.  The engine screamed as it bore down on him.  He backed off the road thinking that whoever was driving was intent on running him down.  He lurched into a run when he heard the brakes lock and the tires skid to a halt, the driver frantically waved him towards her.

“Jesus, I thought you were aiming for me!” he said as he opened the passenger door.  He was taken aback by her visage.  She was pretty.  In fact, she was pretty damned hot despite the seriously nasty shit she was covered in.

“Get in!” she shouted.  “They’re coming!”

“I know, I know,” he said as he lazily tossed his bag into the cabin.  “Chill out girl, there’s only a couple of them.  I just watched them go by, I’ll protect you from them,” he grinned and winked.

“Not them dumb ass!” she snapped.  “Them!”  Rosa pointed back towards the way she had come.  Adam looked back and suddenly felt like a boulder had lodged itself firmly in his gullet when a horde of creatures turned the corner.  They moved with singular purpose, to reach the ambulance and the warm meat inside.

“Oh shit!” he gasped.

“You getting in?” the woman shouted.  “I’m leaving with or without you!”

Adam’s feet suddenly felt lighter than air as he bounded inside.  The woman didn’t wait for the door to close before her foot firmly planted itself on the accelerator.  Adam scrambled to lock his seatbelt into place before the crazy woman killed him with her driving.

“Where the hell did those things come from?” he asked, his head whipping around like a nervous deer.

“There’s a hospital down that road,” she answered.  “Until yesterday, most of those monsters were friends.”

“You like a doctor or something?” he asked.  Adam looked her over.  She was even hotter than he thought.  He could look past the rotting sewer smell for the time being.

“No, I’m a nurse,” she answered simply.

For the second time that day he was amazed at his turn of luck.  Not only was he saved by what had to be the hottest nurse in the state, but she was driving a pharmacy with more drugs than he could have ever imagined getting his hands on.  He would have to play this smooth.

“What’s with the goofy grin?” she looked at him questioningly.

“Nothing, just happy you came along when you did.  You saved my ass.  I’m Adam,” he said, extending his hand and giving her a serpents smile.  “Adam Hadaman.  I’m very happy to meet you.”

“I bet.  I’m Rosa,” she said shaking his hand.  “What the hell were you doing walking in the middle of the road?  I’ve been out of the loop with news, but I’m thinking it’s dangerous everywhere.”

“We tried to hold out in my ole lady’s crib.  But things went to shit and we hit the road.”

“We?” Rosa asked.

“Yeah, I was with some friends and my girl,” he lied.  “But the cowards took the car and left me hanging.  I’ve been walking ever since.”

“I see.  Well you survived this long, that’s something I guess,” Rosa said turning her attention back to the road.

She bought everything he said.  He was never with any friends, and Amy wasn’t his girlfriend.  After two years in juvie and a three year stint in county lock up, the one thing he could do well was lie.  He knew how to manipulate and con his way in and out of almost any situation, and he was good at it.
This end of the world thing may not be so bad
, he thought to himself as he leaned back into his seat.

“So Rosa, where are we headed?” he asked.  “You’re right about things, it’s shitty everywhere.”

“Well, I live outside of Janesville.  Maybe there,” Rosa replied.

“Not a good idea.  That’s where we came from.  That place is dead,” he said.

“I see,” Rosa said under her breath.  She stared blankly out the window and down the long road winding though the rural landscape.  The groan of the engine filled the cabin as the two of them retreated into their own thoughts.

Adam had no idea what to do next.  He wasn’t a survivalist, and he doubted the woman next to him was some kind of commando on her days off.  He started to think he would be better off taking the ambulance from her and fending for himself.  He glanced over at her, sizing her up to decide if he would have to leave her behind or take her along for himself.  It would always be helpful to have a pretty woman with him to make the apocalypse more bearable, whether she agreed to it or not.

“You know what?” Rosa shot up and started rifling through her pocket.  She produced a small pill bottle wrapped with the pharmacy label.  “Maybe this will work.  I don’t know him other than his daughter being a patient this morning.  But his insurance is military.  I know it’s a long shot, but it’s all I have.  If he’s military, he might still be alive.  He might even have contacts to get help.”

“Chris Foster, huh?” Adam read off the information on the bottle.  He looked over at her once more, and decided to go with things for the moment.  “Sounds like a pussy to me.”

“I hope not,” Rosa said.  “For both our sakes, I really hope not.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Faith, get in the house,” Chris said, looking down his long access road.

“Daddy, why is there an ambulance here?” Faith asked.

“I don’t know, but get in the house until I say so.  Tell your mom to keep an eye out,” he said.  Faith ran back to the house, calling for her mom as the front door slammed shut.

Chris retrieved his AR-15 from his truck.  It wasn’t his favorite weapon by far, but it traveled well for short distance supply runs.  He was making quite a few of those lately.  He had just returned from one such trip to check on his old friend and neighbor, Jake.  Chris was not in a good mood.

The vehicle slowed as he drew his weapon out and into plain sight.  He readied the rifle, pointing the barrel towards the ground with his finger resting above the trigger.  He didn’t want to look threatening, just intimidating enough to make any potential trouble think twice.  It appeared to have the desired effect, as the vehicle slowed to a near stop.

Chris waved the ambulance forward.  He could make out two occupants, but that was it.  The bright sunlight glared off the windshield blocking most of his view.  The rig idled closer to him until he put his hand up, motioning them to stop.

“Turn off the vehicle and toss the keys on the dash,” he said, raising his weapon towards the driver. 
No need to take chances
, he thought to himself.  The engine cut off, and suddenly Chris realized how loud the diesel engine was.  Anything with working eardrums in the immediate area could have heard it.  This day was getting better and better.

“Put both hands on the dash and don’t move.  Do exactly as I say, and we’ll get along fine.  Make any movements I deem threatening and you will have a very bad day.”  He side stepped in a semi-circle, sweeping towards the driver’s window.  He stayed at least ten feet back, more than enough room for him to react in case these newcomers decided to challenge him.

“Please, Mr. Foster,” a woman’s voice came from inside.  “I’m the nurse who treated your daughter.  I barely made it out alive.  We’re tired and hungry and really have nowhere else to go.”

“You, I remember.  I don’t know him,” Chris said motioning with his weapon toward the passenger.  “What’s his story?”

“Yo, I can talk for myself,” the man said irritably.

“Good for you.  But I wasn’t talking to you, was I?  I was talking to the one person out of the two of you that I have had the chance to meet face to face,” Chris replied

“I picked him up on the side of the road,” Rosa said clearly trying to diffuse the situation.  “His name’s Adam.  His friends abandoned him.  He’s been okay so far, but I’m sure he doesn’t like having a gun pointed at him any more than I do.”

“I’m sorry, but situations being what they are, I believe I’ll defer to my more cautious nature.  I have a family to protect,” Chris said, lowering his weapon slightly.  “Go ahead and pull around to the back of the house.  I’ll be walking behind you.  When you get to the back, park in the carport and kill the engine.  Do not get out until I say so.  Am I clear?”

“Man, this is bullshit!” Adam piped in.  “I don’t need to be treated like some POW by some farmer playing Army.”

Chris eyes grew cold.  He locked his sights on the belligerent passenger, flipping the small switch from safe to lethal.  He leveled the weapon squarely at Adam’s head while finger slipped inside the trigger guard.  Adam looked as if he had just swallowed the business end of a pissed off hornet.

“Let’s get a few things straight asshole,” Chris started, his voice hard as steel.  “I never
play
Army.  4
th
ID.  That means infantry.  That also means I can shave a fly off your eyelash from this distance.  I can see in your eyes you think you can take me.  You would be wrong.” Chris paused, letting his words sink through the layers of stubbornness.

“Secondly,” he continued.  “This is my house.  This is my property.  People who stay here earn their keep.  This woman here is a medical professional.  She is an asset.  She also had the foresight to bring a mobile hospital with her.  Not to mention the fact that she helped my daughter when she was sick.  As far as I’m concerned, she has already earned her place here.”

“You,” he continued.  “I have yet to decide on, and you have not made great strides to appeal to my generous side.  If I didn’t need more hands here, your ass would already be walking.  So I’m going to ask you one simple question.  The correct answer will allow you to stay for now.  Otherwise, the road you came in on will be the one you will be leaving on.  Are you going to be a pain in my ass?”

“No,” Adam meekly replied.

“Will you do what it takes to stay?” Chris asked.

“Yes,” Adam looked down to his lap.  He tried to sound humbled, but Chris saw the jaw muscle twitch, and his eyes narrow.  Adam was pissed.

“Good,” Chris said  “Let’s get one thing straight.  You do anything to harm me or anyone else on this farm, you had better square yourself away with your creator.  Because I promise you will be meeting him that day.  Am I crystal clear?”

Adam nodded without another word.

“Alright.  We have an understanding then,” Chris said flipping his weapon to safe. He pointed the rifle towards the sky, taking on a less confrontational stance.  He was willing to bet this wouldn’t be the last confrontation he would have with Adam.  The extra help around the farm would be a blessing, but Adam would be someone to watch.

The engine protested as Rosa tried to start the ambulance again.  It sputtered and groaned until finally it caught.  Chris followed closely behind them as they continued on the wide drive that brought them between the house and a large barn towering over them on their right.  An old broken stone silo stood guard by the wide double doors in front, a pile of loose stones lay at its base where they had fallen ages ago.

The place had the look of a once busy farm.  The barn had several doors and vehicle bays that looked wide and open enough to drive trucks through.  The packed dirt and gravel road between the house and barn was certainly wide enough for heavy equipment.  But age and weather had taken its toll on the old building.  It looked like it had been several years since the farm had seen such heavy traffic.

Chris motioned the vehicle into the car port just behind the house.  The ambulance turned in, making a terrible grinding sound as the wheels cut into the turn.  Chris had doubts that the thing would ever start again.  It looked as if vehicle had been used as a ram, and the engine was about to give up the ghost.  The engine cut off, and as he instructed, the two passengers stayed inside.

“Come on out,” he said, slapping his hand hard on the back door.  He kept his weapon pointed to the ground and his arms relaxed.  He made his point, and continuing to appear confrontational wouldn’t do anyone any good.

Chris got his first good look at Adam as he slid out of the passenger side.  He was shorter than Chris by at least six inches.  His blonde hair stuck to his head with the grime and dirt of someone who desperately needed a shower.  His frame was well defined and toned.  He had the physique of someone who spent too much time in the gym, and not enough doing real work.  Chris would solve that problem.

“Look,” he started.  “I know you’re both tired, and probably hungry.  We’ll take care of that in a little while.  But I need to be sure neither of you are dangerous.  You need to be checked for bites,”  Rosa opened her mouth to protest, but Chris waved it off.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be the one checking you.  My wife is just inside, and she can look you over.  If you don’t agree, I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay.  I hope you understand, Nurse Men…dosa was it?”

“Medina, but please, call me Rosa.  And I completely understand,” Rosa answered.  “It makes sense, thank you for taking us in.”

“You took care of my daughter, that carries a lot of weight with me,” he replied.

“How is she doing?  Feeling any better?” Rosa sounded genuinely concerned.

“Better.  She’s still really tired, and doesn’t want to eat much.  But she’s doing better.”

“Kids bounce back fast,” Rosa smiled, handing Chris the pill bottle.  “I brought these for her.”

“Thank you.” He took the medication, rolling the bottle around in his hands looking as if he was suddenly lost in thought.  “Really,” he looked into her eyes. “Thank you so much.”

“It’s no problem.  She’s a doll,” Rosa smiled.

“Adam?” Chris started, turning his attention towards the man leaning against the back of the ambulance.  His arms were crossed, and he looked like a bundle of irritation.  “You ready to get checked?”

“Man, whatever.  Let’s just get this over with!” Adam snapped.

“Adam, will you just relax,” Rosa scolded.  “He’s taking us in.  You could at least try to lose some of that attitude.”

Adam deflated as Rosa turned and walked away.  It seemed she had taken what little fight he had left.  Chris turned and tried to stifle a laugh.  No matter what happened with Adam, he could see himself getting along with the fiery green eyed nurse.

“Hey Joe!” Chris called out.  “Can you give me a hand with something?”

“How the hell did you know I was out here?” a booming voice came from around the house.

“Because you make more noise than a break dancing moose,” Chris called back.  “Come out and meet our guests.  One of them needs a bite check.”

Joe emerged from the other side of the house, cleaning his grease covered hands with an old red rag.  He was taller than Chris, with unkempt brown hair.  His face was the kind of red someone would earn by working outside in the cold too long.  He had on a blue mechanic’s uniform, stained with years of oil and grease.  He was by all descriptions, a big man.  He had broad shoulders, long arms, and hands that could crush coconuts.  Even though he walked on grass, his heavy boots clumped as loud as if he had been walking on concrete.  Holstered to his side hung a very large gold finished semi-automatic pistol.

“Howdy!” Joe called out with a friendly wave and a big grin as he made his way over to the group.  “Very nice to meet you.  I’d shake your hands, but I don’t think you want any of this crap on you.”  He held out his palms, displaying the caked on gunk he had been trying to clean off.  He went back to work with his rag, until he finally gave up, stuffing the oily cloth into his back pocket.

“Well, your generators out.  I can’t fix it without the right parts, and I think all the parts stores might be out of business for a while.  We’re lights out once the grid hits the shitter,” Joe said turning to Chris.  “How often do you maintain that thing?”

“They need to be maintained?” Chris asked.  Joe looked at him as if Chris had just asked him if he liked to breathe air or if water was actually wet.

“Looks like we’ll have to wait for your brother to get here to hook up that solar deal you got in the garage,” Joe said shaking his head.  His face suddenly changed, drawing down with concern.  “Any word from him?”

“No.  Nothing since last night,” Chris said gravely.

“I see.  What about Jake?”  Chris didn’t answer, his eyes trailing to the ground.  “Oh.  I’m sorry, Chris,” Joe said patting his friend on the shoulder.

“Well,” Joe began again.  “Let’s get this over with.  I’ll take…” Joe stopped, looking around at both newcomers.  “I’m sorry I haven’t been introduced.  You are?” he asked thrusting his hand out to Adam.

“I’m Adam, this is Rosa,” Adam said, instantly regretting shaking Joe’s hand.  He sighed deeply as he stared at the newly deposited oil on his palm.

“Oops, sorry about that,” Joe said shrugging his shoulders.  “And it’s a pleasure to meet you Rosa…oh my God, you are one pretty lady.”  Joe’s eyes widened, his jaw hanging open as he stared at her.  She smiled back at him, her cheeks reddening.

“Smooth,” Chris said cocking his head at Joe.  “I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive my nitwit friend over there.  Sometimes he really doesn’t have a filter between his brain and his mouth.”

“He’s fine,” Rosa laughed.  “At least he speaks his mind.”

“Endlessly,” Chris sighed.  “Let’s go inside, Anna can look you over while I start making breakfast.  Eggs and bacon sound good?”  Chris barely got the words out before the chorus of “Yes” hit him.

“Good, cause there wasn’t another option anyway.  Joe, when you’re finished with Vanilla Ice over there, why don’t you show him how to collect eggs,” Chris said before leading Rosa through the back door.

**********

“What’s with that guy?” Adam asked as Joe led him to one of the barn’s side doors.

“What do you mean?” Joe asked as he opened the door.  Adam stepped inside, relieved at the little warmth in the room.  He had no real desire to stand outside wearing nothing but his birthday suit in the middle of December.

“Rambo over there,” Adam said, thumbing towards the house.  “We pull up in his driveway and he puts a rifle in my face and starts barking orders like he’s some kind of drill sergeant.”

“Don’t let him bother you too much.  He’s under a lot of stress right now.  His brother is on his way, but we lost touch with him last night,” Joe said as he turned on the lights.