Transformation: Zombie Crusade VI (6 page)

When all was ready, and everyone had their armor in place and helmets strapped on, Luke hopped up on a conveniently-placed stump, nocked an arrow, and ordered the troops to begin shouting. Their voices echoed around the surrounding countryside, floating through the freezing air in every direction, and, within minutes, attracting the attention of a local pack hiding in a nearby wood-line. The flesh-eaters’ howls were louder than the human cries, and soon the nervous soldiers could hear the monsters calling from at least three different locations around the settlement. Then the first of the beasts appeared.

A pack of twelve came running from the south, so close to the riverbank that Luke wondered how his people hadn’t been spotted when they’d passed through a few hours before. Three more packs quickly emerged from the woods to the west and north, adding twenty-six hunters to the first dozen. Luke knew that even inexperienced fighters, armed, armored, and protected by the fortifications his warriors were waiting behind could handle five times the number of creatures heading their way. Fortunately, his troops didn’t know that; this encounter would provide good experience without actually endangering anyone. He was pleased to note that most of the raw recruits were obviously frightened as the monsters closed on their position.

Luke was hoping to stay out of the battle, and Zach was anchoring the line at the southern end with orders to let the new soldiers do the killing; if a breakthrough could be forced, that was the weakest place in the line. But Luke was fairly certain that his rookie troops could handle the hunters, and if not, he and Zach would clean up their mess. All of the flesh-eaters were in prime condition, some of the healthiest creatures he’d ever seen, but the stakes were too high to jump through. Given time, some of the larger monsters would have been able to push the wooden poles aside, or the smaller beasts would have wiggled through the barrier. But there was no time for either of those possibilities to unfold.

The rookies missed their targets more often than not, but nobody cracked and tried to run. If anything, Luke was surprised at just how viciously his new soldiers fought the monsters they’d been hiding from for so long. The hunters howled and snarled and frantically grabbed for the humans just out of reach, but the troops roared their defiance and continued to plunge their pikes through the stakes. Most of the thrusts missed the brain, but the soldiers were learning on the job, and they proved to be quick learners. Many of the creatures were pinned in place by a combination of sharpened poles and the deadly steel-tips of the pikes until the most capable fighters were able to administer killing blows. Everyone managed to bloody their weapons to some extent, and the battle was finished in less than five minutes. Every hunter lay dead amid the tangle of spikes and broken spear shafts, the monsters apparently so conditioned to victory that they hadn’t learned to retreat in the face of overwhelming, lethal resistance. As the last flesh-eater died snarling on the blood-soaked ground, a ragged cheer went up from the novice-soldiers. Their shouts of triumph were almost immediately matched by a loud roar from the people of the settlement.

Luke smiled as Zach stepped close and whispered, “Wimpiest fight I’ve ever been a part of.”

“You kill anything?”

“Naw, I punched one big hunter in the mouth a few times until the guy next to me finished pissing his pants and stuck a spear in its mouth.”

Luke laughed as he and his friend looked around at their victorious troops. The soldiers were hooting and shouting, high-fiving one another and boasting of their exploits during the fight. Luke knew it had been easy. He knew the recruits needed a lot of work. But that didn’t stop him from feeling a sense of pride as he turned to Zach and declared, “It’s a good start.”

By mid-afternoon bow-hunters had brought in four cows and one deer, while gatherers had collected over a thousand pounds of canned goods and staples from homes that had been beyond their reach while the infected still roamed the area. The people of the settlement prepared a feast for the soldiers who’d freed them from the packs that had been slowly strangling them, and after the meal, Gracie played the role of herald and informed the community of events that had taken place since the flesh-eaters had forced them inside their fortress. The people listening around the fires were furious to learn that the virus was man-made, and that the person who’d unleashed it was now trying to force all survivors to accept his rule. When Gracie finally came to the point in the story where Luke had accepted recruits at the oxbow-settlement, an obvious rustle of movement and soft whispers spread through the crowd. She waited for the people to quiet down before explaining how they could help.

“Our preferred recruits are single people in good physical condition, and our first priority is to make sure that your settlement keeps plenty of qualified people here who can continue to protect it. We ask that farmers and anyone familiar with agriculture remain in the settlement to put a crop in the ground this spring. We’ll also need to round up all the domesticated animals still roaming around and get them in the hands of some capable caregivers. We all have important roles to play, and we have to depend on each other if we’re going to defeat the enemy.”

Several people raised their hands to ask questions, but Gracie waved them off and motioned for Luke to come forward. He stood up from where he’d been sitting a few feet away and addressed the crowd. “Those of us who’ve survived the outbreak now face two existential challenges: hunger and General Barnes. Food from the old world will keep us going for a while, maybe a year or two, but eventually we’ll need the folks capable of agricultural production to feed the people fighting the war. The Allied Resistance can’t take everyone who wants to volunteer; we need good fighters in the settlements too. Please, talk it over with your family and friends tonight, and those of you who want to join, and meet the criteria, come see us in the morning.”

“This is so exciting!” Thelma whispered to Andi as they were escorted aboard a small yet luxurious jet.  Andi rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses, unable to think of an appropriate reply.

Barnes was already on board, and Andi felt her skin crawl at the sight of him. He looked up from his papers when he heard the women approach, and his thin lips curled into a sinister smile as he watched Andi secure her luggage and take a seat directly across from him. “Welcome, ladies,” he boomed cheerfully, “I’m so glad you could accompany me on what would have been a dreadfully boring flight.”

Thelma had trouble looking him in the eye, but she gushed, “It’s an honor, Mr. President. Is there anything I can get you?”

“As a matter of fact there is,” he answered with a fake earnestness that reminded Andi of a televangelist. “Once we get in the air, I’d love for you to personally prepare our in-flight food. I’ve had the kitchen well-stocked, and no one has a way with pasta and vinaigrette like you do. I’m craving a fresh pasta salad, a variety of cheeses, and something creative for dessert. Can you handle that?” 

Thelma nodded enthusiastically, and she managed to reverently meet his gaze. “Again, Mr. President, it would be an honor.”

“I’d be happy to assist you—” Andi offered, hoping for an opportunity to keep her distance from Barnes.

“But then who would keep me company?” Barnes cut in. “No, dear, you can stay here, and we’ll engage in some scintillating conversation.”

Sliding her sunglasses on top of her head, Andi raised her eyebrows and batted her eyelashes. “Can I expect to stay inside the plane all the way to California?”

Barnes laughed merrily. “I’d forgotten how much I enjoy your company, Ms. Carrell. You can certainly expect to remain on board all the way to our destination.” The captain’s voice announced that they were ready for take-off and reminded his passengers to fasten their safety belts.  Barnes reached over and patted Andi on the knee. “Buckle up, my dear. Safety first.”

It was Andi’s turn to laugh. “I’ll try to be more careful this time. At least Thelma and I didn’t have to dress alike, so you’ve demonstrated growth in your sense of fashion—maybe your sense of safety has improved as well.”

Thelma looked confused, even though she was smiling vapidly at Andi as the plane sped down the runway. “I certainly wish I could wear the same clothes as you, but I haven’t had a figure like yours in thirty years, if ever.”  

As the jet rose into the air, Andi concentrated on trying to will an engine failure that would send all of them hurtling to the ground to explode in an impressively fiery crash.  She gave up when they reached cruising height, and Thelma trotted off to make lunch.

After a morning spent interviewing the dozens of volunteers and putting them through some physical tests, Luke and his lieutenants accepted thirty-five new recruits into their small, but growing army. The rookies from the oxbow settlement were now considered veterans, and training the incoming group proceeded at a faster pace than when it was four working with thirty-two. Plenty of weapons and armor were available to outfit the new force in a uniform manner, but even though they quickly looked like soldiers, they still needed to learn how to fight the way Luke wanted them to.

CHAPTER 6

Once the recruits had received their new gear and training assignments, they were instructed to take the rest of the day off and report for official boot camp at sunrise the following morning. For the first time in weeks, Luke and Gracie found themselves alone, without a pressing list of responsibilities dictating their every move. Zach and Maddy had secretly arranged for the newlyweds to spend the duration of their stay in a large, well-kept camper that boasted comfortable mattresses and a fully-functioning bathroom. Gracie was speechless when Maddy handed her the key.

“Go on, and take a real shower while you’ve got the chance,” Maddy prodded. “There won’t be much hot water, but if you’re quick about it, Luke might even get a shot at washing off some of that hunter-stink.”

“Hey,” Luke objected, “you don’t exactly smell like a bed of roses yourself.” 

Zach laughed out loud. “Dude, you’re not supposed to tell a woman she smells bad. And you probably shouldn’t say that to Maddy either.”

Maddy punched Zach in the arm but otherwise ignored him. “The owners of this fine residence were more than happy to let you two have it for as long as we stay here.” Luke started to speak, but Maddy cut him off. “You can’t refuse it; they’re both too old to fight, but they want to do something to feel like they’re contributing to the cause. If you don’t stay here, you’ll be insulting the nicest old couple I’ve met in years, and probably the entire community.”

Gracie couldn’t hold back a small smile as she took the key from Maddy. “You and Zach each have to promise to try out the shower at least once before we hit the river.”

“Fine with me,” Maddy agreed, “but I think Zach will need convincing. He’s like a dog—I think he’d wear poop for perfume, and I’m certain he bolted whenever it was bath time back home.”

Zach barked convincingly.

Maddy rolled her eyes. “See?”

Zach grinned. “Come’ on, Maddy. I’ve got two steaks with our names on them, and I’m starving.” He turned to Luke and reached out to shake his best friend’s hand. “The kitchen is pretty stocked in there, including a couple sirloins.” He pressed a small package into Luke’s palm and winked.  “We’ll see you two at dawn.”

Gracie threw open the door to the camper and squealed in delight. “Luke, you have to see this place!”

Luke felt a flood of conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted to rush in and sweep Gracie off her feet, but another part of him wanted to turn and run.

Gracie knew her husband; she poked her head out of the door and gently stated, “Just get in here, babe. We’ll be fine.”

Luke did his best to sound casual as he stepped around Gracie and into the camper. “Of course we will—” He stopped in his tracks when he saw what the community had left for them: a wall of personal letters and thank-you notes, several gift-wrapped presents, a few bottles of wine, and a three-tiered white cake with a plastic bride and groom on top. “Who did all this, and when did they have the time . . .?”

“I’m sure that Zach and Maddy had a hand in it, but most of these letters seem to be from the settlers here,” Gracie answered, her eyes welling up with tears. “Oh, Luke, look at this one.” She held out a child’s drawing with a little purple stick-figure labeled “me” next to some triangles on the bottom of the page, and above that “Mommy” and “Daddy” were floating up in “Hevn.” Right underneath heaven, a smiley-face with sunglasses, and extra-long arms where ears would normally be, reached out protectively over the land below.

Luke sat down at the small table and rested his head in his hands. Gracie slid in beside him and put her head on his shoulder. They sat quietly until Gracie whispered, “Sometimes the loss is too much, and I feel like the world will never recover from all the suffering and hurt. I try not to think about my parents, my brother—I can go for days without thinking about them.” She sat up and turned Luke’s head to face her. “Do you think my mom could still be alive? Would Israel have been a good place to be when the pandemic broke?”

Luke didn’t know how to answer. “I wish I knew. I want to say yes, for the security there, and the Israeli spirit, but I don’t think anywhere was a good place when the infection started to spread.”

Gracie nodded and wiped her eyes. “I know this sounds crazy, but do you think we could go there someday? I mean, do you think it would even be possible?”

Something tickled in the back of Luke’s brain, and he furrowed his brow.

Gracie squinted at him. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that some time, some day, I will take my wife to Israel.” He smiled. “And I’m thinking about starting those steaks Zach mentioned while you try out that hot shower.”

A noise in the distance cut through the pounding in the hunter’s head, and he instinctively turned to sniff the crisp evening air. Hunger pushed aside the confusing thoughts and images that had dominated his mind for an unknown period of time—hours? Days? He’d been paralyzed by memories and growing self-awareness ever since he’d encountered the strange and powerful pack leader near the river, but now all he wanted to think about was Food.

The lone hunter followed the sound and soon caught the scent of a campfire. He almost howled at the discovery, but stopped himself when he considered the possibility of sharing whatever meal lay ahead. Though massive, he moved quickly and quietly toward his target. The hunter couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten, and even the smoke rising on the breeze carried the scent of something that made his mouth water.

Humans.
The word popped into his brain.
Humans
. They had existed in his mind as something basic—Food. The primary, most satisfying of all foods. Now that his mind had started labeling things, he could begin to truly consider the distinctions in the world around him.
Humans. Best food.

The hunter clearly heard the bleating sounds of several humans before he saw them—three large, noisy males around a fire. It occurred to the hunter that humans were usually cawing and moaning at one another—a fortunate habit for prey. Humans could be such easy targets, but they also could be dangerous. Even though almost every fiber of his being was screaming to charge and devour the Food, the hunter froze and considered his options. He decided to wait and watch for a minute to determine his best course of action.

Gracie emerged from the shower in a white terrycloth robe, with her wet hair slicked back and a big smile on her face. “That was the most luxurious thing I have ever experienced in all of my life,” she declared. “I’ll finish making dinner while you get cleaned up. There’s even a laundry bag for our dirty clothes—we’re supposed to set it outside and somebody will wash our stuff and bring it back.”

“I hope they’ll bring our clothes back—we can hardly lead the Allied Resistance wearing bathrobes, at least not until it warms up,” Luke joked playfully. He was unexpectedly and immediately distracted by the thought of Gracie without her clothes.

“Babe, why are you just standing there? Get a move on; I’m starving.”

Luke grunted a response and started to take a step toward the hall, but he stopped to admire how Gracie’s dark eyes sparkled as she gazed at him. He inhaled slowly and breathed in the scent of his beautiful wife, accented by soap and fresh-smelling shampoo. Even though she was still across the room, he could feel the warmth radiating from her body. He was mesmerized by the sight, smell, and sound of her.

Gracie locked eyes with her husband, and a warm current of electricity radiated through her. Luke seemed frozen in place, so she walked towards him slowly.

“Gracie, I . . . I . . .” Luke whispered hoarsely.

Gracie put her finger up to Luke’s lips. “Shhh. Just listen for a minute. Tonight is perfect; you don’t have to worry. You know I trust your gut feelings without question, but now you need to trust mine. You aren’t going to hurt me; we’re meant to be together. Someday, you and I are going to have a family, but for now, we’ll use that protection Zach gave you.”

Gracie’s proximity overpowered any remaining objections in Luke’s mind. He decided he had no choice but to trust his wife.

Sensing that Luke wasn’t offering any argument, Gracie continued, “You are going to go take a shower, I’m gonna figure out a way to keep the food warm, and we’ll meet in the bedroom in ten minutes.” She stood on her tiptoes and pulled him close for a gentle, lingering kiss.

Luke was intoxicated by Gracie’s sweet breath, and the soft kissing grew more urgent. Gracie pulled away, breathless. “Maybe you should skip the shower . . .”

“Tempting,” Luke closed his eyes and took a step back as he replied, “but I’ll be too self-conscious about smelling like a barn. We’ll go with your original plan—I’ll meet you in the bedroom in ten minutes.”

Gracie nodded and herded Luke down the short hall, “Didn’t I already tell you to get a move on?”

“I thought that’s what I just did,” Luke teased over his shoulder.

“Actually, I think that’s what I just did, but we can reevaluate in ten minutes,” Gracie said as she gave Luke a little shove through the bathroom doorway.

The shower felt as luxurious as Gracie had described, but Luke had no desire to linger. He was scrubbed clean and towel dried several minutes ahead of schedule.

The bedroom was separated from the rest of the camper by a thin curtain that Gracie had partially pulled off to one side. As soon as Luke emerged from the shower, he saw her silhouette through the fabric, and every muscle in his body began to tingle. When Gracie saw him, she smiled, slipped out of the robe, and dropped it ceremoniously on the queen-sized bed. For Luke, the rest of the world ceased to exist for the next few hours.

“I don’t know why we had to make camp out here; we should’ve just stayed on the houseboat,” the youngest of the three men complained bitterly.

“Stop whining, Joey, or I’ll send you out alone to gather more wood for the fire.” The stocky man spit, then took a swig from his half-empty bottle of excellent scotch. “I swear you’re the most annoying little bastard I’ve ever met.”

“Just because I’d rather stay safe on the boat than run around trying to shoot little animals? Hunting is such a hillbilly sport . . .”

“And just where do you think meat comes from, pretty boy? You certainly are no vegetarian.”

The young man squirmed. “Maybe not, but you don’t need me out here. I’m no hunter.”

The large man laughed derisively and grumbled, “And I’m not sure what use you are; Simon, why the hell did I let you talk me into bringing this buffoon with us?”

The prematurely balding thirty-something looked up from the tattered paperback he was reading at the mention of his name. “What are you two arguing about now?”

“Josephina here wants to go back to the houseboat,” the older man snapped. “You won’t object if I give him one of our flashlights and send him on his way, right?”

Simon sighed. “Look, Judge, I know he gets on your nerves, but he does a nice job cooking for us and cleaning up after us, and I’d feel bad if he got lost or eaten or some such thing.”

“Hey, don’t talk about me like I’m not here,” Joey interjected.

“Just stop arguing with the Judge, okay?” Simon stood and stretched. “You’re alive today because he let you come with us—it’s his boat, his supplies, his rules. Got it?”

“Fine, Simon, but only because you’ve always been good to me. We were a great team when we presented our cases in court—”

“You didn’t present anything, Joey-boy,” the Judge corrected him. “You were a lowly case manager for the Department of Child Services; you don’t even have a college degree for Christ’s sake.”

“Simon worked for the same agency,” Joey protested.

“At least Simon here made it through law school. You just pranced around the courthouse in skinny jeans, trying to act important when you didn’t know your butt from a hole in the ground.”

“That’s not completely fair,” Simon offered with a smirk, “he really did know his butt from a hole in the ground.”

The Judge rolled his eyes, “Well, you should know.”

Flustered by the direction of the conversation, Joey raised his voice, “And I knew enough to get you to sign off on emergency removals from the good neighborhoods. I knew enough to keep myself out of the hood!”

Simon chuckled. “It really was pretty impressive how all of your cases were middle-class parents who lost their kids at the mall one time, or who forgot to fasten a car seat. My favorite was the professor who fell asleep on his couch and his two-year old wandered down to the neighbors where she was mauled by a Chihuahua. How many stitches did she need?”

Joey puffed out his chest. “Thirteen. Thirteen stitches and thirteen months of supervised visitation after thirteen weeks of the little girl being in foster care. That guy thought he was too good to need services for his daughter, but I showed him that no-one thinks he’s better than me and gets away with it.” He looked at the Judge. “I made up a bunch of quotes from the neighbor and said that the professor didn’t show any remorse for his daughter’s injury—you granted me an emergency order to put the girl in foster care. It was awesome. Did I ever thank you for that?”