Dead Hunger IV: Evolution (45 page)

Flex could feel Bell’s breath on the back of his neck as he leaned forward to join in on the lesson. 

“Okay, push it and the display changes to a camera mounted on the barrel of the gun, making the screen the sight.  Fire on the fly in any direction.”

West pushed the magazine release and lowered it.  “Easy swap.  This is a good design.”

“Smooth as a baby’s bottom,” said Flex.  “I can say that without soundin’ like a perv because my wife is pregnant.”

“Congrats, man,” said West.  “It’s a big deal these days.  Just wish we could get rid of these things before we start repopulating the planet.”

“Our kids are sure going to grow up in a different world
,
”
said Bell.

“Yep,” said Flex.  “One with no internet,
no landscaping
and the walking dead
running amok
.”

Flex took the radio from the seat and pushed the button.  “Eddie, I know you’re on, kid.  Wouldn’t be like you to turn it off.  If you’re listening to me, turn the car around.  You hit a group like we hit earlier, and both of you are done for.”

Flex put the radio back on the seat and turned
left onto Centre Street
.  The truck immediately
hit
a patch of
black
ice and the steering wheel
became
useless for a moment.

“Shit,” he said, regaining control of the truck.  He straightened it out and accelerated.

“They
have to
be on
channel
nineteen, right?” asked West.

“Yep,” said Flex.  “Not sure why t
hey’d change it.  Nobody’s using any other channels
as far as I know.”

Flex knew the two-way in Gem’s car was on channel nineteen, because that had become Concord’s main communication channel.

“Sheridan, is that you?  Over.”

Flex looked at West and took the radio from the seat.  Common practice in Concord had become when someone heard something important, they echoed it into their own radios for others within their range to hear.  Kind of like a repeater system.
 
It wasn’t a bad arrangement, and people were pretty good about sharing news and announcements.

“
This is Flex
.  Who’s this?  Over.”  He didn’t normally say
over
, but apparently the fella on the other end was old school.

“This is Ed Black.  Over on
Essex Street.  You looking for Gem?”

“No, she’s at the bar.  Why?”

“I saw her car
and I caught the tail end of your transmission.  Didn’t sound like you were talkin’ to Gem, but thought I’d chime in anyway.”

Flex’s heart began to race.  “When?”

The
over
shit was over
with
.

“Not fifteen minutes ago.  I was hangin’ on my porch with Sally.”

“Have I met her?” asked Flex.

“Haven’t had reason to introduce the two of you.  She’s my shotgun.”

“Thank God for that.  Which direction were they headed, Ed?  What street?”

“They were on Washington, headed northeast.  I’m right across from the law school.”

“Do you think they heard from the other kids?  Why would they go that way?” asked West.

“Good question,” said Flex.  “No chatter about it.  I think everyone knows they’re missing by now.  Jimmy and Nikki, that is.”

“I knew,” said Bell.  “I’d have gone hunting for them with you guys
earlier
, but hearing what happened, I think I’m glad I didn’t.”

“Yeah, that was a shit storm,” said Flex, making a right from
Centre onto Essex. 

“We’ll be passin’ by you in just a minute, Ed,” said Flex.  “Tell Sally to stand down.”

“She is,” he said. 

As they approached Washington, a bright, blue light flashed at them, and they looked over to see the almost indistinguishable figure of Ed Black seated in a rocking chair
holding what must have been a mini LED flashlight
.  He waved as they passed, and all three waved back.

West reached up and spun the gun as a sort of salute, Flex guessed.

“Snow’s coming harder,” said Flex.  “If it gets going, we’re not gonna be pushing very hard.”

“So the sooner we find them the better,” said Bell.
  “But the clouds look like they’re headed east, and there’s not much more in the west, so that’s good.  I’ve been wrong, and this time I welcome it.”

“Put out another call on that radio,
Waylon
.”

West handed the radio to Bell, who pressed the button.  “This message is for …”  He released the button.  “What are their names?”

“Louis and Eddie,” said Flex.

“Louis and Eddie,” he repeated with the button pressed.  “Look, guys.  I know you got the best of intentions, but you’re putting our lives at risk, and everything, including finding your friends, is gonna be easier in the light of day.  Turn the car around and head back to the bar, and let us know when you do it.”

“Good,” said Flex.

Suddenly, Eddie’s voice came over the radio.

“They could be dead by then.”

In the background, they heard Louis say, “I said radio silence, Eddie!”  He sounded pissed.

Not as pissed as me, if I have to fight for my goddamned life tonight
, thought Flex.

“Gimme that radio,” he said.

Bell gave it to him.

Flex pulled the car to the side of the road.  “Keep an eye out, guys.”

Bell and West covered both sides of the car.  Flex didn’t see any reason to keep driving in the wrong direction if the kids were headed somewhere else entirely.

“
Waylon
’s right,’ said Flex.  “You’ve got us out here huntin’ for you, and I guess the first thing I gotta tell you is you’re gonna have to face Gem about stealin’ her car.  I don’t know if you’ve forgotten her.  She’s the hot Latina with the Uzi.”

“We’re safe in this car,” said Eddie.  “It’s ballistic steel and airplane glass, right?”

“It is, so I guess if you got into trouble, you could hole up in there indefinitely, right?  Is that your idea?”

“Yeah, it is.  We’ll find them, though.”

“How much food and water did you bring?”

No reply.

“Guys?  You did bring food and water, right?”

Still no answer.

“You guys on WAT-6?”

“No,” said Eddie, sounding nervous now.

“Jesus fuck,” said Flex.  “Look.  If you have some idea where Jimmy and Nikki are, then we’ll go after them with you.  If you don’t, then turn the fuckin’ car around and we’ll go out at first light.”

“Flex,” said Bell.  “Drive.”

Flex looked out Bell’s side of the car and saw two figures moving slowly toward them in the inch-deep snow that had begun to stick at least an hour ago.  They were still fifty yards away, and Flex realized he’d forgotten to take WAT-6.  He knew that neither Bell or West was on it, either.

“Are those male or female?” he asked as he dropped the gear shift into drive and pulled forward, knowing that neither West nor Bell knew the significance of the question.

“Men,” said Bell.  “I think.”

Flex fished in his shirt pocket and found a small baggie.  He pulled it out and saw that it contained only two wafers.

“Either of you take WAT-6 within the last few hours?”

“Not since this morning,” said Bell. 

“I had one maybe five hours ago,” West answered.

“We might have to chance two-thirds each,” said Flex, handing the baggie to West.  “See if you can divide these up.”

West flipped the sun visor down and slid open the mirror, which activated the light.  He pinched the small wafers between his fingernails and snapped each one into pieces.  “There.”

“You’re gonna pass out if you eat one,” said Bell.

“
Yep,” said Flex.

He pulled the truck over and scanned the horizon.  Nothing.  He hi
t
the unlock button, got out and ran around to the passenger door, opening it. “Slide over, captain.”

West slid into the driver’s seat and Flex got in the passenger side.

“
You said you’re
five hours in, right?” asked Flex.  “
You sure?
”

West checked his watch.  “Exactly five hours.  I was on a patrol earlier, so I know exactly when I took it.”

“Wake me gently,” said Flex, chewing his portion.  West popped his in his mouth, and Bell took his.

Flex awoke groggily to West shaking him by the shoulder. 

“Hey
,” said Flex.
 
“
Good.  I guess if it was enough to knock me out, it’s enough to protect my ass.”

He leaned back and saw
Waylon
dead asleep.  He reached back
to shake him by the shoulder, when West put a hand on his arm.

“Wait.  Let him sleep.”

Flex didn’t know what to make of the idea.  “Why?”

“While you were
both
out I pulled a fast one,” said West.

Flex looked at him.  “What do you mean?”

“I told Eddie and Louis that you forgot you were past your time on t
he wafers and passed out driving.
”

“Brilliant … I think,” said Flex.  “What did you say happened?”

“We hit a telephone pole.  I said Bell knocked his head and you guys were both unconscious.
”

“Well, we’d better hit a fuckin’ pole then, you think?”

“Gently, I assume?
” asked West.
 
“
Just to make it look good?”

“Hell yes, gently.  I’m as bad as Gem if you hurt my baby.”

*****

Chapter Fourteen

Hemp walked around the chamber and opened the valves.  “Let’s go get Kev.”

Hemp glanced at
Blue Eyes
.  The head sat in its dome, her dead gaze following them across the room.  The crown that had been detached with Hemp’s saw had been fitted back on, easily removable.

Despite her containment and inability to attack or satisfy the endless craving she suffered,
Blue Eyes
gnashed and twitched as though she could.

“That thing gives me the creeps,” said Scofield.  “Just the thought of it would, but seeing it is a thousand times worse.”

“Wait until I get started on it,” said Hemp.

Kev still lay secured on the cot, awake.

“Hey,” he said.

“How do you feel?” asked Scofield.

“Still have the headache.  It’s a bastard.”

“We’re taking you into the lab,” said Hemp.  “Putting you in a
hyperbaric
chamber.”

“Why?”

“Why not?” asked Hemp.  “I don’t know what will happen.  But I know it won’t hurt you.”

Hemp caught
Victoria
’s eye, who was serving stew to a man and woman Hemp did not know.
  She finished doling it into their bowls, put the utensil down and went over to him.

“Hey,” she said.  “What can I do?”

“You have the key, right?  To the cuffs?”

“I do,” she said, reaching into her apron pocket.  “Getting released, are we?”
Victoria
asked Reeves.

“Good behavior,” he said, forcing a smile.
  “Is the stew good?”

“Preservatives rock,” she said, patting his arm.

“When he’s done with me, I could use some.  I’m hungry as hell.”

Hemp glanced at the doctor, but Reeves didn’t seem to notice. 

Hunger was as much a symptom as a headache. 

When
Reeves’
arm was free, he sat up on the cot and gently swung his legs down, placing his feet carefully onto the floor.

“I’m stiff,” he said.

Hemp looked behind him.  “Good thing Gem didn’t hear that.  She’d have had a
lewd
comeback
for sure
.”

Despite his pain, Reeves laughed.  “Let’s get in there.  You don’t do anything for no reason.”

They
made their way to the lab, and Kev saw the chamber.  “That
thing
?”

“Yes. 
It’s a
Hyperbaric
Chamber.  We’ll provide you oxygen, and nothing else.”