Breathless Bodies (13 page)

"I'm sorry she did that and I'm sorry it still pains you." I smiled at him.

"As long as she pulled her head out of her ass then we're fine. Did she ever tell you why she was so angry with me?" He shook his head and I shrugged. "Let's get our stuff together and get out of here. The sooner we start; the sooner we have a good shelter." We all agreed and headed back to the vehicles.

The biggest problem would be what to do with the rest of the elk. After much debate, Bea and Ernest agreed to put it in the back of their SUV if it was wrapped in a tarp. Malcolm and Samuel would take my truck off of the tow dolly and pull the flatbed of lumber. Before we had left the bunker so very long ago, I had had the sense to put a few boxes of nails into the truck so we could at least start building something right away. What we would build, I had no idea.

Kato was driving the RV up an almost nonexistent road when the radio sparked to life again.

"Please, I'm the last one left. If anyone can hear me I'm in Silverthorne." I snatched the handset and started talking.

"We can hear you. We're in Hartsel. I repeat, we can hear you and are in Hartsel." We sat at the galley table and waited expectantly for response.

"I can hear you." The voice sounded like they were about to cry. If I had been alone for this long, I would too.

"Please help me! I have no idea how to survive out here." I looked at the faces around me. Niobe spoke first.

"No, I don't think anyone should be going after them. We have enough things to get done here and we can't spare anyone." She made a good point.

"Okay but how do we save them?" She shook her head at my question.

"How do you know if you can even trust them?" I looked at her and wished she didn't make so much sense.

'"At this point in time, every hand is needed." Kato spoke from the driver's seat. I looked at Steven and Liz. She stretched next to my brother and sprawled on the couch.

"I'm happy with having more hands. Maybe this person used to be a farmer or weaver. You never know." Liz said.

"The end decision is yours Alex. You're in charge here" Niobe said. The voice on the radio was asking if we were still here, panicking.

"Please answer me." I lifted the handset

"We can't spare anyone to save you, but you are welcome to join us. We are heading into the mountains west of Hartsel to build a shelter. Follow the tire tracks by the log yard." There was a long pause as the radio crackled. Finally, a response came.

"I have a golf cart. I'll be there as soon as I can. Who am I talking too?"

"My name is Alex." I said. Before I could ask them, they replied.

"I'm Michael. See you soon Alex" I replaced the handset and leaned back on the sofa. Wordlessly, my mom passed me a flask and I took a swig.

"So we have someone else coming to join us. How do you expect to feed them?" My mom asked. I looked over at her.

"When we get to the spot I have a special task for you, Liz, and Steven." Steven perked up and asked if he had to do any work. Lazy bones.

"Yes, you still have to work. You three get to start working on where we're going to be planting. Choose a plot of land and start clearing out weeds and such. There are some tools in the truck and we can go into a bigger town if need be. It's still spring so I want to get things growing, a lot of things that can be preserved against winter. I don't know about you guys, but fresh veggies sound amazing to me." A round of groans told me that I might be the only one who missed my broccoli.

The camper came to a stop and we looked out the windows. A flat parcel, about three acres total, surrounded by trees gently sloping down the hillside. A small stream ran along the northeast side of the clearing so digging irrigation furrows would be easy. All in all, that place looked perfect. I grinned and shook Kato's shoulder.

"You guys did amazing." He gave a small smile at the praise and opened the RV door. Malcolm was driving the truck to the uppermost area of the clearing. After they parked, he and Samuel came over to the rest of us and we stared at the area. Bea, Ernest, and the teenagers parked by the trees and joined us.

"Well, let's get some fishing poles." Ernest said. Scott and Daniel followed him to the tow behind and grabbed the things they would need. As I watched them walk to the stream, I shook my head with a smile. Even in the straights we were in, some people never change. I looked at Beatrice and she was watching her husband with loving, misty eyes. They had been married for a little over fifty years and still acted like newlyweds at times. I sighed again and went to start planning the building with the boys.

Chapter 17

A
t the end
of the day, we were exhausted but very happy. We had a plan for a watershed to be started immediately. My mom had found wild carrots to throw into the elk stew Bea made so we ate heartily. Full bellies and happy thoughts lulled some into passing out around the fire. I went to my truck and grabbed my wallet. Sitting in the passenger seat, I took out the picture I had of our family. It had been taken a few weeks after Kendrick was born. We had gone to Morro Bay in California as a weekend vacation, one of the happiest times of my life. I could remember it almost like a movie in my head.

Lin was playing in the surf while I sat on a mound of sand. Kenny was close to my chest and sound asleep, his soft baby scent mingling with the tang of the ocean. Sean was out in the deeper water where the waves broke. I was gazing down at sleeping son when I heard a garbled scream. I looked up in fright and couldn't find Lin.

"Lin?" I called, standing to walk to the water. I couldn't find her so I walked closer to the sea. She bobbed up about twenty feet to my right in water deeper than she was tall. I ran in her direction but before I got to the water, Sean came up right behind her and lifted her onto his shoulders. I sank to my knees and took a deep breath. Kenny had slept through it all, lucky little stinker.

We went back to our spot on the beach and dried Lin off, wrapping her in our arms and an oversized beach towel. The love I felt in that moment for our family was bigger than the moon. A man with a camera came walking by and wanted to take our picture, for a small fee of course. That was the last day I had felt that we were a family. When I looked up from the picture, the sun had sunk into the trees. It was serene and peaceful and I never wanted it to end. Then Malcolm walked up to the truck out of breath. He hunched over his knees and gasped out a sentence.

"Headlights coming this way." I left everything on the seat and headed for the others.

"Wait. I think it's that guy with the golf cart." I stopped and turned to him. He motioned for me to follow so we walked back the way he had come.

"It's going slow, so I don't think it's a car. I'm not sure though." At the top of the trail we could see the headlights as they stopped moving. Through the twilight there came some significant cursing and a loud thunk, followed by more cursing. In the dimness a figure was struggling up the trail, following the tire tracks.

"I think that might be our guy." I said as the figure walked towards us. It took the person about ten minutes to reach us and another two to get their breath back.

"Well, I'm sure glad you folks are a patient lot. The name's Michael" He held out his hand and we shook all around. He was a little taller than I, but three times the girth of Malcolm. Not all in muscle, mind you. With fawn colored hair and dusky blue eyes, his baby face made him seem harmless.

"Well come on, let's show you the rest of the camp. Do you have any skills?" I asked him. I was hoping he did construction but that was highly doubtful.

"I'm a plumber. Darn good one too if you ask me. I can plumb just about anything. I remember this one time I got a call about this woman's son shoving her good towels in the toilet. He flushed a good seven or eight of them before she found out. Anyway I get there and there's water everywhere and this little boy is as happy as a hog in slop. I figure he's about four so he can give me a hand snaking this thing out. Well, that was a bad idea. When I went out to my truck to get my snake, this little brat takes a few of my tools and flushes them too!" I looked at Malcolm as we walked back to camp and I think we both had the same thought about our new rambling friend.

When we got up to camp, Michael was still talking about the boy and caulking was now involved.

"Hey there buddy, you want a bowl of stew?" Malcolm cut him off with a bowl of food under his nose. His eyes went wide like he hadn't had a decent meal in years. Almost as soon as he took the bowl, the stew was gone. He belched loud enough to make it echo around the clearing.

"Pardon me." He said, blushing a bit. "I've been living off of chips and snack foods so it's been awhile since I had good food. My last good meal was the night my wife tried to kill me. She made the most amazing meatloaf I had ever had. I think she was going to ask for a divorce though. She never went out of her way to make a good meal. Anyway, I was wiping my mouth when she came back inside from getting a few beers. I thought she had had a few without me but then I noticed her left arm was missing." He looked at the ground with raised eyebrows and pursed lips. "Ah well, we're all better off. Could never get the damn woman to shut up." He let out a laugh and clasped Malcolm on the arm. "At least you got yourself a pretty one." He nodded and smiled then went to the fire for more stew. I glanced at Malcolm and he grinned boyishly like he just got a new puppy. Before he could say anything I cut him off.

"Don't.... just don't." I shook my head and walked away while he laughed.

I headed to the truck to see if we had any spare tents. With our group growing larger by the day, it was becoming a bit of a challenge to make sure everyone was comfortable. While I shifted things around, I thought about what Darius had said. It was going to get difficult to support everyone. I couldn't expect everyone to follow me blindly, but Darius did. I'm not him though.

With the commotion of the new comer, everyone had wakened and were standing around greeting him. I walked into the group and cleared my throat. Everyone turned and looked at me.

"I know it's getting pretty late but I think it's time we established a chain of command. Like our own little government. I don't really know how to do this sort of thing so does anyone have any ideas?" As I looked around, Bea stepped forward.

"First we should figure out what positions we are going to have. I don't think we need a whole government." We all gave a small chuckle at that.

"I think we should take a vote on what positions we need. That way we all agree on things. But as for tonight, does anyone have objections to Michael sleeping by the fire?" Malcolm looked from person to person and we all shook our heads. Michael put a knuckle to his eye.

"I sure do appreciate this, folks. It's been so hard being on my own, I can't tell you how it feels to me to be welcome again. And not by people that want to eat me." Daniel went to pat him on the back only to be enveloped in a bear hug. The big man shook with happy tears until Daniel choked out a need for air. Michael let him go and sat down.

For the rest of the night, we sat around the fire eating the elk stew and figuring out what positions we would need. I, for some odd reason, was appointed leader. Ragnar was second in command, then Malcolm. Kato and my mom were in charge of provisions and Samuel weaponry. We got to know Michael, who had a never ending supply of optimism. He fit into the group very well and seemed to make everyone brighten up a bit, even Niobe. The dog seemed to like him as well, sitting in Michael's lap for almost an hour. When the moon was high, we finally called it quits for the night. Kato and Malcolm took the first watch while the rest of us rested. I gave my mom the bed in the RV and decided to chance the outdoors.

I was walking back to the fire with my sleeping bag when I overheard Niobe and Samuel inside the camper. I couldn't hear them very well over the sound of mom snoring so I stepped closer a window, careful to not make noise.

"I don't care what you think Niobe, it's wrong. They have done nothing but help us and you want to repay that by slaughtering them?"

"No, they won't be slaughtered. They'll be put into slavery for Darius. Now if they put up a fight, then they'll die." At the sound of Darius name, my stomach dropped to my toes. What were they planning? I pressed my ear to the side panel.

"I can't let you do this. These are good people that just want to live their lives in peace." I felt the camper move as Samuel walked away from her.

"What are you going to do?" Niobe hissed. "What, you're going to go tell our oh so noble leader what my plan is? So what, go ahead. While you're at it, why don't you tell her about why her kids were taken in the first place. You might love her, but I can guarantee that it won't be mutual." She gave a malicious laugh before the sound of a slap rang through the trailer.

"The only reason the kids are gone is because you and your fuck toy stole his truck. Did you ever think there would be a tracking chip in it? You know Darius as well as I do." He sounded like he wanted to choke her. She laughed again.

"Oh please, it was you he was looking for. Ever since you left, he's been obsessing over finding you. He was planning on going straight to Iowa but he wanted to find you first. And I'm glad I found you before him. I've missed you, you know." She sounded soft and sweet, if a viper could sound like that.

"Well it isn't mutual. You're a cold hearted bitch. I never wanted anything to do with you and I still don't."

"I'm cold hearted? Darius and I had a nice little talk about you. He told me how you were his right hand man until a few days after the virus spread. He told me how you just left his wife in the truck to die while you ran. You ran away like a bi-"

"Shut your mouth woman. You don't know whole story. And I don't have time to tell you. Either you stop your friends from coming or I kill you here and now." I heard the sound of his knife coming out of its sheath. Niobe let out a small gasp and I assumed Samuel pressed the knife to her neck.

"Alright, I'll stop them. I'll even start being nice to that weakling. On one condition. Tomorrow morning, you have to tell everyone why your ran from Darius." There was silence for almost a minute. Then Samuel spoke.

"Alright. I'll talk to them in the morning. And if you don't call off your men, then everyone will know who you really are." The camper moved again and the door opened. I had moments to scramble behind the RV before Samuel stepped outside. I leaned against the bumper and tried to calm my breathing. My blood was thundering in my ears at the memory of what I had heard. I didn't realize Samuel had found me until he spoke.

"I don't know how much you heard, but I would really like a chance to explain myself." Samuel sat on the bumper and stared at his feet. Clutching my sleeping bag to my chest, I said the only thing that came to mind.

"You'll have your chance. Tomorrow morning with the rest of the group." I stood up and walked over to the fire without looking back.

Michael was lying on one elbow, staring at the fire with a happy expression. As I unrolled my sleeping bag, the dog came over and sat patiently.

"We need to come up with a name for you pup." I sat on my bag and the dog came over, laying its head on my lap.

"How about Gunther?" Said Michael. I glanced over at him and he smiled back.

"He can't have an ordinary name. I mean, Fido doesn't sound cool nowadays, does it?" I looked at the pup as I scratched him behind the ears.

"Yeah, that's a good name. Gunther." The dog looked at me and Michael, snuffled, then went back to sleep. We both laughed and settled down for the night.

Dawn was just breaking when Niobe woke me. That she didn't have a knife to my throat surprised and pleased me.

"I found some berries, but I don't know what they are. Can you come take a look?" You woke me up for this, I thought as I stood. We walked some ways into the trees before she stopped by a small bush. It was a boysenberry bush, but the berries were still red. They would be tart but edible. I told her this and she just nodded. As I turned to walk away, she stopped me.

"Look, I know I haven't been the most. . .friendly of people. And I know you heard Samuel and I talking last night so I'm not going to try and sweet talk you. I was going to have a few friends of mine from the old days come here and raid the camp, then take off with them. But Samuel is right, you guys just want to be left alone and raise your families and crops. I'll help you get your kids back, then I'm gone. I don't expect to be treated as a friend, but we can at least work together." She stuck out her hand as a symbol of truce. We shook on it and walked back to camp. I wasn't sure if I could trust her, but I had to at least try.

When we returned, everyone was gathered around the front of the camper waiting for momma Bea to make the morning coffee. Ragnar looked over at Niobe and I with a raised eyebrow. Gunther came loping up to me and head butted my knee, demanding scratches.

"Well, I see you're feeling better buddy." I leaned down and rubbed his shoulders, happy to see him recovering so well. Gunther licked my hand and trotted off to the fire, tail swinging low.

"Alright everyone, give me some room." Bea said, carefully balancing a pot of coffee and cups on a tray. She walked over to the fire pit and placed them on a flat boulder, letting everyone fight over it. Mom and Ragnar were first to the pot, elbowing others out of the way. I laughed at them and went into the RV, knowing there was more in there and I wouldn't have to risk an eye for it.

After I poured my cup, I sat down at the table and turned on the radio. I sorted through the channels until I thought I heard something. I slowly turned the knob back, leaning closer to hear. The static was so thick I almost missed it. I could barely hear the voice, if that's what is was. I fiddled with the dials, trying to get the signal to come in stronger. There it was, a man's voice. What was he saying? There was another voice, a woman. Two women. Another man. They were laughing. I strained my ear to catch any words. Was that a gunshot?

"Group meeting." Steven came banging through the door, scaring me so bad my coffee spilled all over my lap. I jumped up and glared at my brother.

"I'll be right there." I growled at him. The coffee soaked through my jeans, running down my leg. All I could do was shake my head and walk outside. The others were already standing around in a half assed circle facing Samuel. So this was it, I thought. Story time. Samuel nodded to me and cleared his throat.

"As most of you know, I used to work with Darius. I've known him for years, before he went crazy with this take-over-America idea. A few days after the virus was released, he asked me to take his wife and a load of weapons to a safe house in Wyoming. We were on our way there when we got a flat tire. Ironic, right?" He scoffed and shook his head. "I told her to stay there and got out of the truck without looking around, in too much of a rush to get going again. I was jacking the truck up when I saw a set of boots on the other side. Before I could open her door, they were inside, dragging her out. There was four of them, scavengers that wanted nothing more than what was between her legs. I didn't know what to do, I froze." He paused and took a deep breath, the anguish in his earthy eyes almost too much to bear.