Don't Dare Call Them Zombies : Books 1-4 (42 page)

“I'll be fine,” I told her. “I need to make sure this facility is secure.”

“
We’re surrounded by fenced walls,” she said. “We’re fine.”

“You have been stuck in a secure building at a nuclear power plant for most of the apocalypse. I know you’re smart, but you don't know what is fine and what
isn’t when it comes to those freaks. I’ve had too much experience to feel at ease,” I said.

“Just hurry back,” she said. “Later on, we can go check on Jennifer.”

“Okay,” I said.

I watched as Roy led her down a hallway.

Walking out of the building, I saw Linwood and a few other people from the church carrying a number of boxes. They walked inside, and I noticed that a few of the boxes were filled with my belongings. As soon as they set the boxes down, I started to search through them. I saw my backpack of ammunition from the tackle shop, additional knives from the Grocery World meat department, and various items from the nuclear power plant.

I made sure the firearms on my person were fully loaded, and I grabbed a Geiger counter.

“Thanks for bringing in all this stuff -- I'm going to walk the perimeter of the compound,” I said. “We need to make sure this place is secure.”

“Good,” Linwood said. “Be careful.”

I proceeded to walk outside. I really needed a jacket myself, but I was intent on not letting the cold air slow me down. As I took readings with the Geiger counter, I saw that the levels of radiation were very low. The information both cheered me up and concerned me. If the radiation levels were low we would be relatively safe from radiation sickness. However, if the levels were too low, the freaks might start getting active again.

The wind had pick
ed up some more and made howling and moaning sounds as it flowed between the structures of the facility. Walking around the perimeter I found only a couple “hot spots” that flashed blue on the indicator. It took almost a half hour to walk around the compound. As far as I could tell, it was secure. However, the compound made me feel uneasy. Because so many people had evacuated, it was almost empty.

On the way back to the dormitory, I decided to check the building where I had met Captain Flint. I tried the d
oor and I found that it was unlocked. Fumbling around on the inside wall, I found a light switch. It activated a single light in the middle of the foyer. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I hoped to find some useful piece of information. Perhaps there was a way to find out what relocation center my mother and Jennifer's sister may have been taken to.

I remembered where Captain Flint’s office was and found that his door was also unlocked. Turning on a lamp, I saw his desk had a handwritten note lyin
g on it. I picked it up and started to read.

“If anyone reads this note, I hope that they are able to use the facilities of this compound to survive as long as possible. If you are reading this note, please feel free to use the military internet connection
to stay in touch with the other facilities. My password is at the end of this note. I waited as long as I could for the survivors of the church to arrive, but I was forced to go ahead with the evacuation.”

The note continued to describe some of the resour
ces of the facility. I realized that Candy or I might be able to use the connection to find out where my mother had been taken. I thought about typing the password into the already turned on computer on his desk, but I realized I needed to check on Jennifer.

I made my way back to the clinic and walked into the room where Jennifer was resting. The room was dimly lit, and absolutely quiet.

“You need to leave,” I heard a voice call out.

It was Nurse Beth.

“All the patients are resting,” she said.

“I want to ch
eck on Jennifer,” responded.

“
She’s fine. You need to get some sleep,” she said.

“Okay,” I said.

I exited the clinic and proceeded to the dormitory. Upon entering, I saw Ms. Suzy sitting in the lounge.

“I was wondering when you would show up,” she said.

“I haven’t been gone too long,” I said.

“Well, Candy is acting funny.
She’s insisting on examining everyone. I have never seen anyone so eager to take my blood pressure,” she said. “I had to almost shout at her to get her to go into her room.”

“It may be h
er way of coping. She told me she likes to keep busy when she feels stressed,” I explained.

“It's so cold out there now, Hank. Come and warm up with some coffee – I have a pot brewing in the kitchen,” said Ms. Suzy.

We went into the small kitchen area, and I was immediately comforted by the aroma of the coffee.

“Help
yourself,” said Ms. Suzy.

“Thanks very much – I’m going to get Candy a cup, too.”

I filled two styrofoam cups and walked down the hall looking for Candy's room. Finally, I saw a door cracked open. Trying to balance the two cups of coffee, I knocked on the door.

“Anyone in there?” I asked.

“Hank!” I heard Candy's voice call out.

I opened the door and found Candy sitting on her bed.

“It's good to see you!” she said, standing up. “I was getting worried.”

“I brought you some coffee,” I said. “How are you doing?”

She took the coffee and started to drink.

“I'm alright,” she said. “I just can't rest for some reason.”

“That's understandable,” I said. “You have gone from your own office at the power plant, to a Sunday School room in a strange church, and now to this place.”

“My mind keeps racing,” she said. “I just can't stop thinking.”

“Maybe you shouldn't be drinking the coffee then,” I said.

“No,” she said.
“I needed this.”

“I walked the perimeter of the compound. The radiation levels are low and I don't see any openings where the freaks could sneak in,” I said.

Candy motioned for me to sit in the one chair in the room. I sat down, and I began to tell her about the note in Captain Flint's office. I also told her about how I had tried to check on Jennifer, but Nurse Beth wouldn’t let me.

“You need to be resting,” she said.

“Well, like you, I can't rest,” I said.

“Jennifer told me to take care of you,” she said. “I am your physician, and I'm telling you to get some sleep.”

“You’re not a doctor,” I said.

“Well, I'm close enough,” she said, with a laugh.

“I'll make a deal with you. I’ll go into the next room and try to get some sleep, but you have to try and calm down and go to sleep yourself,” I said.

Her fiery hazel eyes peered into mine. I somehow knew what
she’d say next.

“Won't you just pull the mattress in here from one of the other rooms?
” she asked. “I could sleep on the floor and you could have the bed. “I don't want to be alone. You’re really the only person here that I totally trust, other than Jennifer,” she said.

“Candy, I don't think that's a good idea,” I said.

“Please, I know you’re engaged to Jennifer, and I'm not trying to come onto you. I just don't want to be alone,” she pleaded.

“How about this,” I said. “Would you sleep on the sofa in the lounge if I promised to stay in the room until morning?”

“There is a recliner in there I could sleep on,” I said.

“Okay,” she said.

We finished our coffees, and went down to the lounge carrying blankets from Candy’s room. Ms. Suzy had left. Candy settled on the sofa, and I leaned back in the recliner. It was very comfortable. I closed my eyes and before long, I was asleep.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” I heard a voice say.

I opened my eyes, and Candy's pretty face was in front of me.

“It's time for breakfast,” she said.

I looked around and about a couple dozen people filled the lounge. Many of them had pulled out chairs from the rooms. They were sitting down and talking to each other.

I then saw Candy rush back to the kitchen area only twenty feet away.

“Do you like omelets?” she called out.

“Sure,” I said.

I rubbed my eyes and watched as she hurriedly worked in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

“Do you need any help?” I asked.

“No, I'm helping her,” I heard Kay Bridges say.

Kay then walked across the room and joined her.

In a few minutes, we all ate breakfast together. A few members of our group ate in their rooms, but most of us remained in the lobby.

“This is very good,” I told Candy. “Jennifer would like some of this.”

“She needs to eat soft foods for a few days,” she said. “I've already sent some Cream of Wheat over to her.”

After breakfast, I helped wash the dishes and clean up. Bright rays of sunshine were coming through the windows.

“It's a pretty day,” I said. “Maybe we could get Jennifer into a wheelchair?”

“Maybe,” Candy answered. “It depends on what the doct
or says.”

A few minutes later, we were walking out of the dormitory and headed towards the clinic.

“Thanks for sleeping with me last night,” Candy said.

“For the record, I
didn’t sleep with you,” I said. “I'm engaged, and anyway, I'm not that kind of guy.”

“Just wait until Jennifer hears...” Candy said.

“Don't you dare!” I barked at her. “We didn't do anything last night.”

“We both slept in the same room together,” she said.

“It was in the lounge on two different pieces of furniture!”

She laughed and rushed ahead of me, her red hair swaying as she ran.

By the time I got to Jennifer, Candy had already been talking to her.

Jennifer was finishing off her bowl of Cream of Wheat.

“Hello, Jennifer,” I said.

“Hello sweetie,” she responded.

“How do you feel?” I asked.

“I feel so much better,” she said. “This Cream of Wheat is so good!”

“I'm glad you liked it,” I said. “Kay and Candy cooked breakfast for everyone.”

Looking at Jennifer's face I could
see she was in a good mood. Although her hair looked a bit oily and not all of her color had returned, she looked much more vibrant.

“I was just told you slept with Candy last night,” Jennifer said.

I suddenly felt embarrassed, and I was not sure if she was teasing with me or not.

“I
didn’t sleep with her,” I said. “I promise.”

“Yes you did!” Jennifer said. “I know Candy
wouldn’t lie to me.”

“Look, we were both in the common area of the dormitory. I slept in the recliner and she slept on the sofa,” I said
.

“Nothing happened,” I added.

The two women giggled.

“Oh, so now you’re teasing me,” I said.

“I'm sorry, Hank,” Jennifer said.

“It's okay,” I responded. “But you know I
wouldn’t cheat on the woman I love.”

“Relax and loosen up a little,” Jennifer said. “
You’re being too serious. I know you wouldn't cheat on me.”

“Good. I would never cheat on you Jennifer, I love you,” I said.

“I love you too,” Jennifer said. “But next time, just know that I don't mind if you sleep in the same room together. As long as one of you is on the floor, of course.”

I could see that Jennifer and Candy were becoming friends. It made me feel awkward, because despite the fact that Jennifer was the woman I loved with all my heart, I
couldn’t deny an attraction towards Candy.

“Hello,”
I heard a voice say from behind us.

I turned around and looked. It was Dr. Lopez.

“I don't think Jennifer will need another blood transfusion,” she said. “But I would like to get one more round of antibiotics in her. She’s a lucky woman to have friends like you. A couple more days and she wouldn’t have survived.”

“Thank you for everything, Dr. Lopez. I appreciate all you have done very much.”

“You’re welcome,” she said quietly. The doctor looked tired. I could see that she was almost limping from fatigue.

“I need to go check on another patient,” I'll be back.

“Wait, one question,” I said. “Do you think it would be safe for us to put Jennifer in a wheel chair? It's a pretty day outside and it might do her some good to breathe some fresh air.”

“What are the
radiation levels?” the doctor asked.

“Very low,” Candy said.

Dr. Lopez reached towards a glass cabinet, took out a small bottle, and pierced it with a syringe. She then injected the contents of the syringe into Jennifer's IV bag.

“Once
she’s done with this bag you can take her, but please try to keep her out of the cold. I’ll want her back for a checkup in a few hours,” she said.