Respect for the Dead (Surviving the Dead Book 1) (21 page)

              Wes and Steve listened hard, there was a loud smash.  “Damn they hit something.”  Wes moaned.  Several moments passed.  Steve and Wes listened hard.  “Nothing!"  No gunfire, nothing.  They’ve had it.”  He groaned. 

“Wait!”  Steve held up a hand.  Wes listened.  The truck’s engine could be heard accelerating.   The two men smiled at each other.  Both thinking the same thing, “There are others out there, Beth could be ok.” 

The moment ended with the reverberating crash of a trash can being knocked over.  The man at the top of the stairs tensed and raised his weapon.  Steve and Wes followed suit.  The three swept the area back and forth trying to locate the source of the sound.  “Psst.”  The bald man pointed at his eyes then to the bus to the boy’s left.  Wes spotted a shadow moving under the vehicle. 

Being the smallest, Wes quickly and quietly edged down the stairs.  He cautiously approached the bus.  Steve made a sound behind him.  Wes turned to Steve cautioning him not to get too close. He waved back that he understood. 

Readying his weapon Wes crouched down and peered under.  He could see two legs slowly dragging along the side of the bus.  It was heading for the gap and the entrance to the makeshift courtyard.    He followed the legs with his gun.  Steve spied the head of the zombie through the school bus windows.  It was a man with dark messed up hair.  He seemed to know where he was going and the bus was unexpected barrier.  The zombie kept bumping into the side and bouncing off to stumble several feet then bump into the bus again. 

Wes moved to the front tire ready to take the undead creature down.  Steve spotted in his scope to the gap in the busses, the other man glancing over but keeping watch over the rest of the compound.  The zombie appeared in the gap.  He did not appear to be injured in any way, but was definitely one of the walking dead.  The creature bounced off the front of the bus.  It stumbled forward for a pace or two, then paused.  Steve’s finger tensed on the trigger.  The ghoul looked around.  It sniffed at the air, groaned slightly, then continued past the gap.  Steve followed its progress through the next buses windows until he lost sight of it. 

Wes came hurrying back up the stairs.  “Why did it keep going.  I swear that it could tell we were here.  Not that I’m complaining mind.” 

“I’ve seen a few of em do that.”  The sentry stated.

“Do you want a break?”  Steve asked the man. 

“Thank you no.  I just got on point recently”

“Former military.”  Steve whispered to Wes, “good person to have.” 

“I wouldn’t say no to a coffee though.”  The man commented as Steve and Wes turned to re-enter the church. 

“Black?”

“Yes please” 

Wes nodded and went through the door.  Steve took a moment to look up at the bright blue sky.  He said a quick prayer for his father, and one for his missing sister.    

Disgusted, Matt threw the filth and blood soaked empty money bag he had used the clean the floor out door.  He couldn’t help but laugh as it smacked into the face of a zombie wandering down the road.  The surfaces were clean but the smell lingered.  Stancy had refused to help out in any way so Matt ended up doing what he could.  Shaking his hands and rubbing them on his jeans he shuddered.  Hector pulled the door closed.  The sound told Devin he could speed up a bit.   

The mid-morning sun was already high in the sky.  Devin had already tried several routes out of town only to find all of them blocked. He was aware of the increasing grumbling from the back.  Beth had volunteered to give up the front seat to someone else, suggesting they take it in turns. Gillian was now seated in there with Beth now crammed in the back with the others.  She did her best to keep upbeat.  Devin and Gillian put on a brave face but Matt seemed to be the only one truly positive.

At each blocked road, zombie packed route, or flaming debris Matt would just sigh and say, “Well that was obviously not the way to go.”

After the third time they turned around heading back toward the dead city Stancy had had enough.  “Oh shut up, what are you?  One of the God opens a window type?”  She demanded. 

“No!”  Matt shouted back, his façade failing.  “I just don’t see the need to be negative all the time!  Like you.”  From there it started to spiral out of control until Hector put a stop to it.  In the tense silence that followed Beth grudgingly couldn’t help agree with Stancy.  Matt’s constant reassurance was kind of annoying.  She also agreed with Matt, Stancy’s negativity was doing nothing to help.  In the end she decided she would rather have Matt’s overly optimistic view even if it leads to constant disappointment.    

After a while Devin attempted to roll the stress from his shoulders.  He flexed his fingers and cracked his neck.  He had been driving for hours.  He had suggested someone else could drive, but as no one else knew the town as well and no one wanted the truck to actually stop for a driver switch, so Devin remained in the driver’s seat.    

“Ok this is no go.  We’ll try to get to the bridge to Tire Hill.”  Devin grumbled while putting the truck in reverse.  He had tried to push a couple of cars out of their way to get to the open road just beyond a three car pileup.  The cars did not budge.   He was beginning to feel the frustration from the others as well as the feeling of being trapped. 

“We could try to make it out on foot.”  Gillian suggested half heartedly, “Find another vehicle?” This idea was not met with enthusiasm.  Devin pulled forward and headed around the block toward another two lane bridge a couple of miles away.  This one he hoped was still open.  If it was they could finally get out of the city.  Where they were going to go he didn’t know he just needed to get out.  Needed to be anywhere except this familiar but dead city. 

Glumly Gillian stared out the side window.  The side streets slowly slid by.  Her mind wandered to her friends and family.  Then suddenly something caught her attention as they passed a burnt out car buried in the blackened front of a house.  “Stop! Stop!"  Go back, back up.”  She cried. 

Devin slammed on the breaks and immediately apologized to everyone in the back.  Gillian was jumping up and down in her seat.  Devin backed the truck up to be even with the side street.  Several feet down the alley they saw an ambulance.  Its rear doors hung open; a stretcher lay on its side a little way away from the doors.  “There might be something we can use in there.”  Gillian slapped her hands on the side of the door.  Hector and Beth had both pressed their way up front to see what the commotion was about. 

“What do you think?  Worth the risk?”  Devin asked.

Beth and Hector looked at each other, “Definitely.”  They both confirmed. 

Devin hesitated then eased forward, shifted into reverse swinging the wheel he backed down the side road toward the Ambulance.  Matt looked out the small window in the back door, his directions took a few scraps on fences and garages to get the lefts and rights straight.  Beth and Hector picked their way to the back doors with Hector taking over the navigating from a grumpy Matt.  Beth stood ready bracing herself against the door waiting for Devin to get close enough.  Gillian appeared at her side.  Her face was anxious but she seemed ready. 

“Max!  Come on we need you.”  Hector growled, while the police officer tried not to be noticed.

Giving up on his attempt to stay in the safety of the heavy vehicle, Max got to his feet and readied his weapon.   Matt was also ready to leave the truck.  Gillian noticed, “Sit down.  We are more than enough already.”   

“Why can’t I go?  How come she gets to go and I don’t?  Matt protested pointing at Beth.  “I think she is only a year older than me.” 

“That may be true, but she is much more mature.”  Hector shrugged. 

Matt began to protest when Max interrupted offering to give Matt his weapon, “If the kid is crazy enough to want to go out there, let him.  Hell the girl wants to get herself killed, why not him?” Gillian immediately shouted him down, followed with protests from everyone except Stancy.  In the end Hector made sure Matt stayed in the truck making it clear what type of person he thought Max was.  Max simple grunted at the affirmation and Beth’s disgusted look.  Gillian didn’t care if Matt was pissed or Max was annoyed she only cared that Matt was not leaving safety. 

Matt on the other hand was less than thrilled, “I’m a year behind her,” he said again pointing at Beth.  “I should be allowed to go.” 

“Don’t whine, it doesn’t help your cause.”  Beth advised.

“I’m not whining,” Matt whined. Gillian gave him a look that caused him to immediately shut up.  Hector fought the urge to laugh. Beth, on the other hand, couldn’t contain her smile until the four of them were laughing.  The truck stopped and so did all levity.  The doors opened and the smell of burnt wood and death filled the back of the truck.  Gillian rushed forward, anxious to get to the ambulance and back to the safety of the truck.  Max stayed at the back doors nervously sweeping the area.  Hector jogged backward, keeping the other side of the truck in view.  Beth tried to keep up with Gillian. 

“Slow down, I can’t cover you if you are moving too fast.” Beth hissed.  Gillian nodded but fear was evident throughout her body.  The distance was minimal but felt like miles.  Beth glanced at the overturned gurney.  It was, as she knew it would be, covered in blood.  Feet and lower legs were visible under one of the open rear doors.  They were clad in what appeared to be a paramedic’s uniform.  Beth waved, getting Hector’s attention she pointed to the legs.  Hector nodded but waved her on.  She raised her eyebrows in question shaking her head and pointing at the legs. 

“Top of his head is gone.  Pretty sure the brain is also gone.”  Hector whispered waving her on. 

Gillian clamored loudly into the back of the ambulance.  Beth cringed at the noise, moving up to the side to make sure they were not surprised. 

“Should we take the whole thing?”  Gillian poked her head around the side.

“See if the keys are in it.” 

“Not in the ignition.”

“Hector, see if your guy over there has the keys.”  Beth suggested.

“No joy.  I wonder where his partner is.  He might have them” Hector began looking around. 

“Let’s just hope he doesn’t come back, or if he does he can use them.”  Gillian noted from the inside.  She was stuffing almost everything in reach into a bag she had found.  Beth saw movement in the window of the building across from them.  The curtains in the window swung as if someone had just passed by them.  

“I think we are going to have company soon.”  Beth growled. 

“Over here too.”  Hector warned. 

Gillian was out of the ambulance heading back to the armored car.  She threw the bag in, turned to return to the ambulance and was caught by Beth and Hector.  Max brushed past, jumping into the back without a word.  “Dear god.”  Gillian gasped.

The road in front of the ambulance was filling fast with the undead.  From the building, Beth had noticed, came the other paramedic and an older woman dressed in a house coat.  Both showed bites to their face and arms.  “It’s like a block party in hell.”  Beth cried. 

Gillian was pushed into the back of the truck, Hector and Beth close behind.  The doors snapped shut and Devin was off again.  The moans of the dead following them as they sped off down the street.  Gillian sat looking through the bag she had acquired bemoaning her inability to have retrieved more. She had been able to salvage bandages, antibiotics, pain killers, and several other useful first aid items.  Matt tried to reassure her she had done all she could. 

“It would have been better if you had gone back for more.  Then the zombies could have eaten you.  Then I would have more room and the peace and quiet of not having to listen to you bitch.”  Stancy interjected. 

The uproar in the back was deafening with Stancy giving as good as she got in the way of shouting and name calling.   The crowded conditions had worn to the last raw nerve.  When it had calmed to a muttering of vicious names and threats Beth crawled up into the empty passenger seat.  “We need to find a place to rest and stretch our legs.”   

“No shit, really? We’re only packed in here like sardines.”  Stancy sneered.

Hector rose, his face contorted in rage.  Beth decided to end this before it returned to chaos and something happened that they would all regret.  She turned in her seat and replied cheerfully. “You can always get out and walk.” Devin stifled a laugh which earned him a glare from Stancy.  Beth noticed Gillian covertly give Stancy the finger as well.  “I never thought I would meet someone more horrible than the living dead.”  Beth mumbled.  She truly disliked the woman.

“Well? Any ideas where to go little missy?”  Stancy retorted in a false happy tone.

This did nothing to improve Beth’s opinion.  She thought about several places she wanted to tell Stancy to go and was about to make a suggestion when, “We need to find a place where there weren’t too many people, ya know, before.”  Max commented. 

“How about the old bra factory down by the river?  That has been closed for years.  There wouldn’t be anyone there.”  Trevor suggested. 

Devin thought for a second and nodded.  He eased the truck down a side road that didn’t seem too badly blocked off.

              Steve returned to the darkness of the church but felt considerably less comfortable than he did outside.  Several people stopped whispering and stared at him as he passed.  He knew they were thinking he and Wes had acted too quickly the night before.  He wasn’t even positive if he was right but he had seen too many of those “People” with bites that couldn’t have been fatal.  He felt that if a person was bitten they would turn.  The problem with his theory was waiting to prove it could be fatal.  Deep in his own thought he caught Wes as he was on his way to take coffee to the man still on guard outside. 

              Hey,” Steve muttered looking around at the others in the room, “hurry back I want to take a look around, ok?”  Wes also took in the demeanor of their fellow occupants, nodded and was gone.  Steve slowly made his was way to a door he had seen the older woman come out of.  He felt the eyes of the others follow him.  Light burst into the room for a moment then the darkness resumed.  Steve knew Wes had returned.  He didn’t need to look as he felt the presence next to him. 

“Not liking us much are they?”  Wes murmured as they passed a man who pulled his children closer as they passed. 

Approaching the door the duo stopped quickly as it abruptly opened revealing Father Michael.  “Whoa!  You scared me.”  He hissed, hand over his heart.   

“Yeah we seem to have that affect on people around here.”  Wes grumbled.  Steve swatted Wes, but the Priest just laughed. 

“Yeah it seems that they don’t have enough to fear.  So they decide to worry about someone who is trying to keep them safe.”  He said loud enough for everyone in the church to hear.  This was met only with undistinguishable muttering.  Wes gave a weak smile, and Steve began to feel a little better.  He knew the Johnsons were on his side but it was nice to know the Father was in his corner as well.

Father Michael ushered them through the door into a well lit and more modern hallway than the stone work of the church.  The floor was tiled and the walls were painted cinder block.  Several doors led off the hall several feet away.  They were very institutional with little windows in them above the handles. 

“This is the school isn’t it?”  It was a statement more than a question that Wes made.  He stepped up to one of the small windows looking around. 

“Yes but more than that, we have some truly excellent resources here.”  Father Michael smiled. 

“What would those be Father Micha…”

“Father or better yet Mike is fine.”   The Priest interrupted with a smile.

“Um right…Mike…What other resources?”  Steve continued.  He felt uncomfortable calling the Priest by his first name, having been raised, if only barely, in the Catholic Church. Mike only smiled and beckoned them down the hall to the first door.  The door had a radiation symbol on it that read “fallout shelter.” 

“Well that is good if they bomb us.  I think the zombie want to eat us not nuke us.”  Wes said before he could stop himself.  Steve swatted Wes again, a glare on his face.  He shook his head about to apologize.  Mike merely waved off the comment.  

“Right I think bombings are the least of our worries, but if they get into the church we can fall back to here and be safe.  More than that we have plenty of food, water, medicine and even fuel for cooking.”  Mike said bouncing on his feet a  laugh playing just under the surface of his face. 

“That is great!”  Steve tried to sound enthused. 

“I can see you want to explain so, I’ll bite.  Why do you have so much stuff?”  Wes asked.

Mike’s smile burst through, “Glad you asked.  The previous pastor, well he was a bit paranoid.  He believed in God and in being prepared.”

“Did he see signs of a coming apocalypse?”  Wes asked a little frightened, “I mean is this, you know,” Wes voice dropped to a whisper, “Revelations?  With the resurrection of the dead and all that?”

Mike’s smile faltered, “I don’t know.  If this is the end of days, then can you explain why you were left behind?”  He looked from Steve to Wes. 

Steve felt he knew why he would be, but Wes looked confused as if searching his memory for a transgression great enough. 

“Didn’t think so.”  Mike stated.  “No this is something we did, something man made.”

“Or nature just got sick of us destroying the world and decided to show us who was boss.”  Wes suggested.

“Yeah or that.”  Mike shrugged.  “Anyway come down a take a look.”  He took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door.

“You keep this locked?”  Steve asked.

“Yeah, the door locks on its own.  That way we could keep the kids out,” he paused for a second then shook off a thought, “now, I guess it is just to make sure no one decides they need it more than the rest of the group.” 

“Good plan.”  Wes noted with a nod.

Steve was uneasy with the door being locked.  “Is there another key?” 

“Yes.” The tone of suspicion could not have been clearing in Mike’s voice.  “It is in my office in the church.  Mrs. Miller knows where.”         

“Hey I just want to make sure someone knows where it is in case something happens to you.”  Steve exclaimed, holding up his hands.  An awkward silence hung in the air for a few moments. 

“Right then, well maybe Steve and I will just have a look around the rest of the school then.”  Wes suggested trying to ease the tension. 

“No, no nonsense. You’re right.  It is good to know who would have access if…something… happened.”

Wes knew that Steve meant “something” as being killed by zombies, but he had a feeling Father Mike thought the danger might be something closer and living. 

The key clicked in the lock and the door squeaked open.  Mike reached in and flipped a switch bathing the descending stairway in light.  “After you.”  He gestured.   

Wes, looked over at Steve, it was clear he was as uneasy as Wes.  Since the conversation had turned a little odd, Wes couldn’t help but think the priest was about to lock them in.   He knew they scared the other survivors in the church, maybe this is what Mike thought was a good solution.  Get rid of the trouble makers.  Wes was about to suggest they just leave when his fears were calmed Mike entered the stairwell.  “Look at this will you?  This is all re-enforced concrete.”  Mike motioned to the walls.  “Usually the stairs aren’t built this tough in these old shelters but this one…Well, they did this one right.”  He patted the wall as the three men continued down the stairs. 

Reaching the bottom Wes stood face to face with a heavy steel door.  “Excuse me.”  Mike’s former cheerfulness had returned as he turned the metal wheel unlocking the door.    Wes relaxed, a little, nodding to Steve as he slipped a hand onto his gun.  He noticed Steve doing the same.  They knew each was ready to do what they had to and they had each other’s back.   Mike didn’t seem to notice. 

“First it was the cold war.  That is why this was built.  After that it was Three Mile Island.  Then there was Y2K.  After that was Bird Flu, Swine Flu, and Terrorist.  It didn’t matter what the current threat was, Father Dan took it seriously.  He kept this place well stocked and always ready.  He renamed it the fallback shelter instead of fallout.”  Mike smiled, flipping on the lights.   

Steve and Wes marveled at the supplies.  Food, bottled water, medical supplies, several rows of cots, chairs and a library.  At the other end of the room was another door. 

“What’s in there?”  Wes asked, pointing to the portal. 

“That is the generator room.  There are hundreds of gallons of fuel in there.  I estimate we could run on the generator for a couple months if we had to.”  Mike responded.  “I guess to answer your previous question, yeah we did see this coming…in a way.” 

“I’m thankful you did.”  Steve said patting Mike on the back. 

Steve and Wes spent several minutes looking through all the supplies.  Wes spent a long time looking over the well stocked shelves of the book cases.  “Not a lot of new stuff, but a descent selection.”

“Did you want to borrow one?”  Mike asked, smiling around at the supplies. 

“No.  That is ok, thanks.  I have one with me.”  Wes explained thinking back to the latest wizard chronicle he had in his pack.  The one he hoped to loan to Beth soon.   He turned around taking in the whole room.  It was spacious and clean.   The cots looked comfortable and the seating area open and inviting.  “Why aren’t we down here right now?”  Wes asked.  “I mean we could take it in turns to call people to the church, but wouldn’t it be safer, ya know, down here?” 

Mike looked pensive, “I guess it just feels too final.”  He gazed around room.  “I keep hoping to hear something.  Keep hoping there is an end in sight.  We tried to get out of town.  We loaded up a couple of the buses.”  Mike paused staring at spot on the wall.  “We made it to the hospital, where we tried to pick up some friends and relatives.  We got there just after the army lost control.  They were on us before we knew what was happening.  I was in the bus we were going to use to transport them…They swarmed the other bus.  I could see the blood, hear the screams.  I saw friends running from the back door get tackled and killed.  The other bus didn’t wait.  He was gone…I don’t know what happened to them.  We got away.”  Mike turned his attention to Wes and Steve.  “We picked up anyone we could on the way back here.  Built the barricade and called to anyone to come to safety.”    

“We were all over this town,” Steve whispered, “we never saw a bus.  I think they got away.”

Mike smiled his thanks, but the look he wore told Steve he didn’t believe that outcome.  He followed them out through the thick steel door to the stairs.  “I keep listening to the static on the radio.  I just pray I will hear they have solved this.  I…just can’t believe this can happen.”  He noted as they climbed the stairs back to the hallway. 

Back above ground Mike smiled sadly at Steve and Wes.  “I have to get back to the others.  Feel free to look around, if you see something we need to fix, please let me know.”  He waved them as he headed back toward the heavy oak doors leading into the church. 

“What do you think?”  Steve muttered to Wes.

“I don’t know.  Better in here, than out there.  All the same I don’t like the idea of that door being locked.”  The pair walked down the hall in silence away from the church further into the school.  Through the high steel mesh reinforced windows they could see a few of the undead wandering down the street.  Wes stopped to watch what had once been a young man around his age.  He moved toward the window to see if he could recognize the unfortunate soul.  The face was too torn and caked with gore.  Wes stepped back frowning. 

“Um, Gentlemen?”  Father Mike called from the end of the hall.  Steve and Wes turned, watching him approach.  He looked grim as he walked up to them.  He glanced out the window at the small group of undead.  “I’m sorry for the way I acted a moment ago.”  He sighed. 

“We understand, you don’t know us and you were trusting us, then thought better about it then thought better about it again.  Hey this is a really messed up thing going on out there.  I get it.”  Wes stated.

Steve agreed just wished his friend was a bit more articulate.  “Seriously?  I don’t know what my sister sees in you.”   

Mike blew out a sigh of relief and then continued.  “I…I was wondering if you two might…um might help us.”  He stuttered distractedly.  His gaze moved from Wes and Steve to the zombies as they wandered further down the road.  Wes didn’t see why the priest was so unnerved.  The small group didn’t seem to notice the church and school or its inhabitants. 

“How can we help?”  Steve asked.

“Well, I was hoping…you seem to be a good shot.  I was hoping you would continue to help keep us safe…. and help call others to us.”

Steve could sense there was something Mike was not saying.

“Could you perhaps go to the bell tower and keep a watch?”  He asked. 

“Is this to help keep the church safe or is it to keep the others from worrying about us?”  Wes asked.  Steve slapped Wes on the shoulder giving him a stern look.  Mike looked slightly embarrassed.  Steve caught on quickly.  The others in the church were scared of them after the incident the night before. 

“Honesty is always the best policy I guess.”  Mike nodded to Wes.  “Yes the others are a bit uneasy.  I was hoping you would take a shift in the bell tower, perhaps thin these devils out.” 

“How long do you want us gone?”  Wes asked.

“Just until this evening if you don’t mind.  I’m sorry to have to ask.” 

“We understand.”  Steve grumbled.   

“Hanging out in a drafty bell tower is better than just hanging out here.”  Wes noted.  “Come on let’s check it out.”