Surviving Day By Day (Book 1): So it Begins (18 page)

Walking back over
,
he stepped behind Ceara and wrapped it around her shoulder. “Here this should keep the night chill off your back.”

Ceara looked at Charlie,
“thank you” she said with a smile.

Charlie went back to the van and pulled out two large cans of Dinty Moore stew. “I’ll hold off on this till Dad gets back but I figure this might be supper.”

Tabitha finished with the last little bit then rolled some of the smaller rocks down into the stream with her stick and her boots. The sun had set and it was dark now. A half-moon was shining bright upon the creek and the path. When she was sure she had done all she could she turned and began to make her way back to
camp.

Alden slipped through the bushes almost like a ghost. His footsteps were light on the leaves even though he wore a pair of Corcoran Jump boots with lug soles He moved stealthily along quickly
,
only stopping to take a sniff of the air and scan his immediate area. He missed having his dog with him, Tonto’s sense of smell was ten times what Alden’s would ever be, but he knew his little bakery back at the camp would need protection and Tonto was the key to that.

It didn’t take long for him to pick up the scent, “G
oddamn them sumbitches stink!” h
e said to himself.

“Must be a dozen or more that are at least a month old.”

Alden squatted down, laying his bag of traps beside a log. Reaching in, he pulled out a pair of night vision binoculars. He knew with the sun setting he would need an edge,
p
lacing them around his neck he grabbed a second pair of regular binoculars and scanned the area. Smelling them was one thing, if the wi
nd was right, which was for him.
H
e could smell them long before he saw them. The problem was that those who were freshly dead did not give off the odor that those who had been dead for a week or longer did and he sure did not want to walk up on one before he was ready.

He could see the tribe Ceara had mentioned down in a meadow. They seemed to be agitated.
Scanning the area he could see
the reason, somehow they had cornered a large bull which at the
m
oment
was holding his own against them.

As he watched more and more we coming out of the woods and he knew it wouldn’t be long before the creature was overwhelmed. An idea suddenly struck him. Grabbing his gear he took off to the right and circled around behind the bull. It had conveniently placed it back up against a large set of rocks. Alden knew that was one of the reasons he’d picked this park.

He figured he’d be able to get the deadheads trapped into some of the formations making it easy to take them out in groups rather than one by one. As he reached the edge of the rock formation he stoppe
d and took out a claymore mine., p
lacing it down and
at
an angle to fire away from, but as close to the bull as he could. Slipping a timer on it he knew he had to move fast now.

Bolting around the boulders he slid down the other side and placed two more in a cross fire angle. Hearing the bull roar he took a quick glance and saw it had thrown two more deaders into the air. The guts
were
hanging out fr
om where he had gored them
. “Just keep it up big fellow don’t let them get you.”

Alden moved back and climbed atop the rock. The
b
ull below was snorting and bellowing warnings and the deadheads just kept coming.
A noise behind him suddenly caught him off guard. Grabbing for his knife he spun around just in time to take the deadheads left arm off at the elbow. Another slash coming back and the head rolled back down the rock. Three more were working their way up to him. He glanced over as he saw the mob moving towards the bull. “SHIT, I HOPED I HAD MORE TIME BUT …… FUCK IT.”

Alden grabbed two claymore and set the triggers. Taking them he threw them into the back of the mob. Just as he figured
would happen,
a couple reached down to grab them. The mines went off scattering bb’s and body parts all over.

He pulled the trip wire setting off the other mines then turned to deal with the deadheads behind him. One had made it to the top of the boulder crawling on its hand and knees. Alden kicked it square in the teeth and sent it reeling backwards knocking one
of
the others down
. H
e watched as the two bodies rolled back down the boulder.

He moved for the third as it looked up
, he
drove the knife up into its jaw out through the back out its head. It was or had been a very cute blond girl. Grabbing her long hair he pulled the knife out and let the body fall to the ground.

Moving quickly but carefully down the boulder he watched as the two untangled themselves. The one he’d kick he wasn’t to
o
worried about
,
as
its
lower jaw just hung by a few strands of muscle and tendons. Alden kicked the first one again sending him reeling backwards dislodging
its
jaw from what few pieces of tissue that had held it together.

As he moved for the second one, a large black man very muscular with huge hands he grabbed for the machete on his belt arming himself with two blades he lunged and crisscrossed them. The force of both blades separated the man’s head from his shoulders. The head rolled down the hill as the body seemed to just hang in animation for long time swaying back and forth as dark blood flowed out of the neck.

Alden landed and rolled turning to watch the huge creature. It fell backwards on the first deadhead smashing
its
body down on the rock. Alden winced from the crunching noise as he heard the bones snap and break in the first deadhead from the weight of the second. Alden walked over
to
the first one
, now lying
under the second still clawing and trying to move but to no avail
;
the weight was too much.

Its eyes stared at Alden and the arms continued to try and claw upward. It’s mouth, or what was left of it still snarling and attempting to bite at him. Raising his boot he brought it down forcefully and crushed the head.
Alden moved back around the rocks to the front. There he saw what was left of the deadheads. Bodies torn apart and scattered
,
some were still trying to claw and move to where the bull was now
lying
. It too had suffered from the explosions. Alden set about the grueling task of killing each of the ones that still showed life or movement. Taking his knife and driving it into the brains of every one of the deadheads. His mind went numb as he did his grisly duty.

Some of them were children, a little girl in a pink saffron dress still holding the remnants of a doll; young woman in a yellow summer dress with an apron on. The man in a nice business suit wearing a pair of black loafers, and some were just old like the farmer in the bib overalls and the grandmother wearing an old print dress with a shawl around her shoulders. Those were the hardest.

He could tell just
by the way they dressed
,
who may have been good decent folks
. T
hey did not deserve this curse but some like the ones in the Hell Angles vests and th
e ones who sported gang tattoos;
he had no problem with their end. Alden finished with his work then turned back to the bull. Walking over he examined the side facing up. The hide had taken a lot of shrapnel but there were no signs of being bitten. Taking off his web belt he tied the legs together then pulled with all his might and rolled it ove
r. “Thank the powers that be.” h
e said as he saw there were no bite marks on that side either.

The suns last rays gave way to night as he finished the chore of butchering. It had been many years since he’d carved up a cow, but after a few minutes it all came back. Slicing off large portions then dicing them up into steaks. He knew it wasn’t as sanitary as being in a shop
,
but he didn’t think
the children
would care too much about that.

Pulling a poncho out of his pack he wrapped the steaks up carefully taking only what he figured they could eat in the next week. He’d cook it all
,
some for tonight
;
the rest he would build a smoker using one of the poncho’s and some wood to form a tent then a small fire inside to cook what would be left over. He wasn’t sure he had enough salt to do the job but it
would have to do.

As he packed everything back up, he took out the night goggles once more putting them on. As he picked up his pack and put it on he heard the growls he knew would be coming. Turning he saw the first set of many eyes that would be coming through the trees. He couldn’t tell from this distance if they were coyote’s or just wild dogs but no matter he had no intention of finding out.

He moved out of the area slowly avoiding the animals as they worked their way towards what was left of the bull. Even the Birds were circling in for a taste of the burger king burger he’d left. “Yeah you fuckers can thank me later
,”
he said as he moved off back towards the safety of his camp.

A couple of hours went by before he returned home having to back track to avoid the onslaught of night creatures who smelled the dead. He wondered how many would gnaw on the deadheads and if it would hurt them. He had been aware that Tonto had bitten more than his share and to date had suffered no ill effects. His mind went back to the first one he saw his dog take down and ho
w he felt at the time. Could he or w
ould he have been able to kill the only friend he really truly had left in this world? Thankfully Tonto had not become infected though Alden had kept him locked in another room while he slept for almost two weeks before he was sure.

As he got to the camp he saw that
Charlie
had learned a thing or two from him after all. The fire was low but well-built with little smoke rising and the light was almost minimal. He slipped past the latrine and smiled as he came upon the group, looking at his
watch with its glowing dial, “Let’s see it’s now eight o’clock;
I know that’s a bit late for supper but how would you all like a nice T-Bone steak” he said with a slight grin.

Tabitha came out of the woods and watched as the old man came around the shower and said the words T-Bone steaks. Her eyes lit up and she smiled big, “HELL YEAH!!!!” she shouted surprisingly but immediately stopped and with a confused dog look continued, “Wait! Where the hell did you get T-Bone steaks from???! They damn sure better not be from no damn zombies!!”

Charlie looked to Ceara, “Well I guess our gourmet dinner will have to wait til
l
another night.”

Charlie got up and walked over putting the cans back in and pulling out an old round wire grill from a Weber grill set. Walking back over he set it by the fire and went to find something to hold it with. Searching around the shower house he found two concrete blocks, “Hell yeah these will work great.”

Placing the blocks on either side of the fire he placed the Grill across it. He looked to Tabitha, “Hey would you mind? There is a camping box in my van over there, you’ll find plates and silverware could you get it while I get this fire down a bit.”

H
e turned back to the fire moving the wood around to get the coals up so they could cook the steaks…..

Colt was looking at the ground as he made his way toward the cabin Beth was in, the axe hanging limply in his hand almost letting the blade drag the ground. He didn’t even hear Beth until she was almost in front of him and smiling praising him about the axe. Without thinking he swung the axe over his shoulder thinking he might look manlier. “Well I just found it out back and thought it could be of use, and it is more quite than the kaboom of a gun.”

He waved toward the cabin he had checked, “That one
is all clear, how about yours?”

Colt realized he was looking over Beth and at first told himself he was looking for injuries but noticing her soft eyes and cute curves had nothing to do with injuries.

He turned walking toward the center house wondering just how fucked up he was. His wife wasn’t truly dead a month and here he stood thinking about another woman and what she would look like naked. He told himself it was just the circumstances that they were in, no other people and both had lost everything. He didn’t look back at Beth, just called to her, “Ok …so let’s check this one out then we can worry about keeping the place safe till we are ready to move on.”

Slowly Beth took in a deep breath. She was exceedingly tired and her legs were beginning to feel like jello.
She was beginning
to miss her bucket seats in her car. However
,
Beth knew that Colt was right. There would be plenty of time to rest once the perimeter was cleared and then protected. “Colt, the cabin that I checked off is cleared out. There was only one that I had to put down
,
and the rest of the rooms honestly looked as though they have been uninhabited for quite a long time.”

Taking a few quick steps she made her way up beside Colt as they both were turning the corner where his truck was now visible. Just then she heard a low growling noise and thought at first it was another one of the infected but was relieved when
she realized it was her own stomach growling.
S
he laughed out loud while patting her tummy, “You know Colt…. I can’t remember the last time that I have eaten.”

Looking around Beth wanted to make light of the situation and could sense that Colt was a bit edgy. As she looked back from the woods to Colt she inquired, “You think the KFC is open or maybe and you never know…….. there might be a Pizza Hut around and they may deliver.”

Colt had to laugh, “Yeah I wish they were open
,
but I think for now
,
we are stuck with whatever we have and what can foods may be in the cabins. Let’s get this one done and I will fix you dinner. How’s that sound?”

Before Beth could answer there was a noise in the cabin they were nonchalantly walking up too. Colt lifted his arm stopping Beth, “I think we have company and it ain’t my boss coming for dinner.”

He pointed to the side of the cabin, “You go around back, there was a door I saw when I was walking up, I’ll go in the front door. Only shoot if you have too. Do you want the axe?”

Just then he held up a finger, “Hang on just a sec.”

Colt jogged over to the Rover opening the passenger door he hit the glove box button, the door popped open and he pulled out the butcher knife he had taken from the house. Looking at the handle made him think of Jessica, she had bought the set when they had first bought their house. Speaking to nothing more than air, “Sorry baby, not quite what you intended them for but we need them, please forgive me for everything I do.”

Slamming the door shut he ran back over handing the knife to Beth, “Here you go.”

Grabbing the handle of the butcher knife she looked at Colt, “Thanks! That is the nice thing that I have noticed about knives….you don’t have to reload AND they are
as
quiet
as that axe
.”

Smiling softly she nodded her head and headed off to the back of the cabin. When she got to the door, she paused and put her ear to the door to see if she could hear if the subject was close to her end of the house. Heaven only know where the subject was inside the dwelling and the last thing that Beth needed after opening the door was one of the subjects lunging at her.

If that did happen she would definitely throw the knife to the side and grab her Beretta from the back of her pants. She listened tentatively and could make out some faint sounds coming from behind the door. Nothing to loud so she wasn’t tempted to pull out her weapon. Instead she took a couple steps back and reached forward and grabbed the door knob. She first thought about kicking the door in to catch them completely off guard but then by doing that she would have to fix the door hinge and with it getting close to dusk she didn’t want to risk that. Taking in a deep breath she slowly turned the knob then pushed open the door fast. Beth looked inside and could hear at least one subject bumping and thudding around inside but did not have a visual yet.

With cat like precision she crossed the threshold and made her way towards where the sound was coming from. After taking a few more steps she saw the backside of the subject making
its
way towards the front of the cabin where Colt should be. She thought about turning around and going towards the front of the house to help Colt head on. But instead she decided to come up from behind since she only had seen one subject.

Colt went onto the porch and had second thoughts, “Couldn’t they just sit in the other cabin and pick these off as the came out?”

But he knew that wasn’t the smart way to do it. Suddenly Jessica was in his mind, “Colt just take a deep breath, you are stronger than you think.”

He bit his lower lip and turned the handle, stepping in he let his eyes adjust for a few seconds. He went to the living room, flash backs to the other living room made him jumpy. No one was in here though, he wondered if they had just heard a raccoon or something. He went to the window looking out hoping to see a little critter scurrying away. Just then Beth yelled, “COLT!”

He spun around to see the monster right there, he had no time to lift the axe or go for his gun, “GOD DAMN IT!”

Beth was there, right behind the monster and all Colt could think was she would get bit and it would be Jessica all over again, “NNOOOOOO!!!!!!”

Just as he was about to shove the monster to the side it collapsed on h
im forcing him to the floor, the knife he had just given
Beth
,
poking through the monsters right eye. Colt shoved the body to the side and felt a twinge in his shoulder, reaching up he pulled away seeing blood, “Oh MY GOD
,
AM I BIT??? Did the Mother fucker bite me??? Beth
,
you have to shoot me!!”

Beth put both hands on his shoulders, “Colt, you didn’t get bit, the knife just caught you
…
you’re ok.”

Colt had the good graces to blush, “Sorry I just saw blood and thought… well you know what I thought. Ok, I guess if there were others in here they would have
come
out with my not so quiet screaming huh? Sorry about that. But good news is this cabin is now clear!” He tried to smile at Beth.

With her hands on Colt’s shoulders she helped guide him back up on his feet. “Yes Colt, the cabin is clear and I suggest that you sit in that chair over there while I take out the papers and the trash….”

She started laughing and thinking of that song. Hopefully Colt would laugh as well but she didn’t see if he did or not
,
she had already turned her back and made her way back to the back door to close it. After it was closed she slid the dead bolt and pulled the shades so that the back end of the cabin was secured. Quickly she made her way back up to where Colt was and noticed that he was still shaking a little and tending to his wound.

She decided that she would make idle chit chat while she got the body outside. “You know Colt, I was a girl scout and I
’m
bet
ting
you were a boy scout too. I
only say that because of
the way
you’re
taking care of and cleaning your wound there.
”

She smiled as she rolled the body in a rug, “
This cabin kind of reminds me of them good ole days back in Kentucky where I was born and raised. On many a weekends during the summer we, my family and I would get together and go down on Kentucky Lake where we would get George
,
Ben, Brenda and the rest of our cousins and go out on the family pontoon boat.”

She continued speaking not really thinking that Colt would respond because she was trying hard to keep his spirits up while getting the stinking carcass out of the cabin. Once she opened the door she then positioned her backside up against the door and pulled at the body by grabbing his wrists. Beth worked fast and within a matter of minutes she had the body out the door and before she realized she had drug the body out to
the tree line behind the truck.

Colt went to the bathroom as soon as Beth was out the door, he knew he should have helped her but he had to see the wound for himself. Pulling his shirt off, he wiped the mirror of the dust that had built up. He turned on the cold water to hear the pipes rattle loudly and spit out dark brown water then it ran clean. He thought if nothing else they could take cold showers tonight.

He soaked his shirt and twisted it getting the dirt out of it the best he could then wiped the wound. He saw the cut and knew Beth was
right;
it was just a clean knife cut. He knew he was being a baby but he also knew he had more knowledge of how the
monster was
once infected. He would rather Beth just shoot him and be done with it. He slung his shirt over the shower rod to let it dry. Colt was surprised but his belly was growling now too, he made his way to the kitchen to see what might have been left.

He looked in a few cabinets before he found just the
thing
, “Bingo!” There sat two big dusty cans of
chicken noodle soup
. After a few drawers he found the can opener and a pan. He opened both cans and poured them in the pan. He reached to turn on the burner, “Shit!”

He went out on the front porch, “Hey, Beth I think we got dinner but you got a choice…. cold soup or we have to build a fire in the fireplace to heat it up.”

He was actually smiling. Beth put her hands on her hips as she walked up, “Mister you promised me dinner and I want it hot!”

Colt was glad she was smiling too. “Ok
,
ok warm it is, do me a favor… I got matches out in the car, will you get them and I’ll go grab some wood and kindling. I
do
at least know how to build a fire.” Within the hour they sat eating warm soup and watching the sun set.