The Dead Divide Us (Book 1) (11 page)

Robert was about to knock again, Jan was already thinking of breaking down the door, when they heard a quick few footsteps from inside. Then they heard the door unlock.

“Mom!” Robert exclaimed with joy, fear now fleeting from his mind.

“Robert, oh my goodness.” Rita Landry said, with tears filling her eyes. They met in the threshold for a strong hug. Jan simply stood idly by, smiling at the sight.

“We were so worried. Our television is broke. Paul called us to see if we were okay here. Your father and I didn’t even know what was happening; we’ve got the old radio tuned on in the kitchen….” Rita was blabbering on until she noticed Jan Goodman was also standing on her porch.

“…Jan? What a surprise! Are you okay? I mean your family, where are they?” Rita asked.

“It’s good to see you Mrs. Landry. Fran is back at the fire company with the two girls.” Jan said; now back to his jolly ways.

“Susie and Carol? The little ones.” Rita asked.

“Yep.’Cept they ain’t so little anymore. Susie is almost in junior high school.” Jan added.

“That’s wonderful. Come in, come in. Please.” Rita said, backing up and motioning them to come inside.

Robert looked over to his truck, still running.

“Ok, but we can’t stay long. We are here to take you and dad back to the fire company.” Robert said.

“Come in, we’ll talk. Get out of the cold already!” Rita said with motherly charm.

Robert and Jan entered Rita and Thomas Landry’s farmhouse.

Standing in the foyer, the warmth of the house felt good to both Robert and Jan. Before them was a large staircase that led straight up the second floor. A picture of each of Rita and Thomas’s children hung on the wall heading up the staircase. Paul and Roberts’ pictures were taken recently. Paul with his family; Ruth and the boys. Robert’s photo had him standing next to his Bronco. The picture of Felicia was taken shortly before she had been diagnosed with brain cancer. In her photo she was holding her brass trumpet; it was her high school band picture. Robert didn’t like the picture of Felicia, she looked too happy. He felt it wasn’t fair to her, seeing her so happy in that photo, knowing that her days of joy would end soon, and so terribly. Plus, looking at that picture of Felicia with her trumpet, Robert could recall vivid memories of Felicia practicing the instrument. He could still hear her trumpet, blaring away the tune “
This Could Be The Start of Something New“.
Robert quickly changed his frame of thought
, the walls
.
The walls and moldings on the inside were a bright white, a contrast from the outside of the house. Robert wasn’t sure he’d ever noticed that great contrast before.

“Please take off your jackets and make yourself comfortable.” Rita said, moving past the stairs, toward the kitchen.

“We can’t stay here long, Mom. I just said that.”

Robert and Jan both kept their jackets on and followed Rita into the kitchen.

“Robert! And is that Jan Goodman?’

Jan leaned forward, reaching over the kitchen table and shook Thomas Landry’s right hand.

“Hello Mr. Landry. How goes it?” Jan said, again in his jolly tone.

“Fairly well Jan. It’s good to see you both are safe.” Thomas said, sitting at the kitchen table. The kitchen was an old style farmhouse setting indeed. This was the one room in the entire house the Rita and Thomas deliberately did not remodel. The off white sink, old fire-view stove, classic refrigerator with icebox built into the bottom. There was even still a large ancient cutting table built on top of a series of waist high drawers. But the most impressive part of the old style kitchen was the large stone fireplace built into the north wall. A medium fire now roared there. A pot hung over the fire, cooking something delicious for sure. But what?

“I’ve got beef stew over the fire, plenty of it boys.” Rita said, cheerfully.

Before Robert could remind his mother again about the need to get them back to town, Robert noticed the radio sitting on the center of the kitchen table. It wasn’t turned on.

“Hey did you guys listen to the radio?” Robert asked, quickly.

Robert’s father reached for his pipe with his right hand, the pipe was already packed and ready to smoke.

“Of course we did, but for the past hour all we can pick up is a recording of some person reading off safe points in the area. Colton Fire Company is on the list.” Thomas said, while filling his immediate area with pipe smoke.

“Is it really that bad Robert?” Rita said her son, worried.

Robert looked at Jan and they both raised an eye to one another.

“Yea it’s bad.” They both said.

It was then that Robert had finally noticed something different in the kitchen; his father. Thomas was sitting close to the fire, but not close enough for him to be sweating as bad as he was. Robert could swear that his father’s face was flushed now, different from when he had entered the room.

As Thomas’ pipe continued to billow out smoke, a lit ash flew up out of the pipe and into the air. Robert watched as this hot ash danced around the air, back and forth like a leaf on the wind, and slowly crash land onto Thomas’s lap. The ash landed on Thomas’s left hand.

“Ouch!” Thomas yelled, pulling his left arm up from underneath the table.

That’s when Robert and Jan saw it. There was a rather large bandage underneath Thomas’s sleeve, just below his left hand. The bandage even showed some red, the increasingly seen color of blood.

“Here let me help you with that Hon.” Rita said, trying to block the boys’ view.

“Wait a minute.” Robert said and his mother stopped. Robert walked over this father and took hold of his left hand.

“Jesus.” Jan said, already fearing the worst.

Robert pulled back his father’s sleeve to reveal the large blood stained bandage.

“Dad, Mom, why didn’t you mention this?” Robert asked, as he then pulled the bandage back halfway. There was a huge chunk of flesh taken out of Thomas’s arm.

“Hey! That hurt!” Thomas yelled, pulling his arm away from Robert.

“How did you get that bite? That looks like a bite!” Robert asked, now frantic with fear.

“Dear, this is why I’m afraid we can’t go with you.” Rita said.

“What?” Robert said.

“The bleeding has mostly stopped but I fear that your father is getting sick. I’m going to have to take care of him here.” Rita said. She did consider herself a good mom-doctor.

“How did you get bit Dad?” Robert asked again.

Thomas exhaled slowly, but Rita was the one to speak.

“We heard a few noises this morning, wasn’t that long ago actually. Well the horses were in their stable and I could hear Sundance making a fuss in there…” Rita said, but was cut off by Thomas…

“Some bastard broke into the stables; he bit my arm when I tried to kick him out.”

Robert and Jan both felt sick. It was surely one of the infected freaks that had given Robert’s father that terrible bite. Robert figured that being bit by one of those things and living through it didn’t mean you’d live for too long. Or you’d become one of them.

“That fucker might even still be out there.” Thomas blurted out.

“You mean he’s still in there? In the stables?” Jan asked, bewildered.

Just then, seemingly out of nowhere, a loud horn went off. It was coming from the front of the house. Everyone in the kitchen snapped to attention, all were very confused about what they were hearing. Then the horn stopped suddenly.

“All right, you in the house. Come out.” The voice called out, it sounded like a voice that was being pumped through a mega horn, like one in those old police movies.

Robert and Jan quickly made their way to the front door and peeked out from behind the small curtains behind the glass window.

Major Frost was standing there; bullhorn in his hand. Behind him were two armed soldiers and an army Hummer. Robert watched as one of the soldiers walked over this his Bronco, reached in and turned the keys, killing the engine.

“Come on out boys. We need to talk.” Major Frost said, with a large grin growing on his face.

Chapter 6: Town Meeting

1

With a piping hot cup of coffee in his hand, Paul Landry stood in the kitchen of his neighbor Roy Benton’s house. He was fully dressed, waiting for Roy to gather the rest of his things. Paul was an entire country away from his brother Robert. The distance could be felt and measured, longingly fearful, a void of complete helplessness.

“How are you on your coffee Paul?” Kirsten Benton asked, Roy’s wife. She was still wearing her night-time flannel and looked as though she hadn’t slept. Not surprising under the circumstances.

The morning hour had barely come, dawn was only a waking infant, and the red sky was chasing the darkness of night out past the mountains. Paul’s head buzzed and stung from lack of sleep. Having the entire family share his youngest son’s bedroom had allowed them to rest, but Paul and Ruth were up almost as soon as they had fell asleep; Paul to attend the meeting and Ruth to see him out of the house. The boys continued to sleep in childhood bliss which both parents hoped would last more than a few hours. The time of the morning was so early that Paul didn’t even want to look at a clock, although he was glad the night before had come to pass. Fear had disillusioned them that night. Fear and uncertainty, both of which were looming over the small logging town of Green Falls, Washington.

“The coffee is great, thank you Kirsten.” Paul replied.

“No prob
Pauly-boy
.” Kirsten always said that, it was her little joke over the years. It was nice to see she still had a sense of humor through all of this.

“I don’t have to go to school today, right Mom?” Alexis asked. The nine year old girl had just walked in from out of the darkness of the hallway. She was fully dressed, as she might actually be going to school that day. Alexis’s red hair was almost blinding, exactly like her mother’s. Paul observed that watching Kirsten and Alexis stand next to each other while holding conversation, was like watching two lit matches dance side by side. He remembered telling Eddie that once and laughed into his coffee mug.

“What’s so funny over there mister?” Kirsten questioned.

“Huh? Oh nothing.” Paul said.

Alexis walked over to Paul and looked up at him through her tiny wireframe glasses.

“Are Eddie and Shawn okay?” She asked Paul. The simplicity and sincerity in her voice almost broke Paul‘s heart right there on the spot.

“Of course they are Lexis. I think we’ve decided to have you guys stick around here while your dad and I go off to that town meeting.” Paul said, and then turned to look at Kirsten.

“We talked it over again this morning and we think it’s better to keep the kids away from the meeting.” Paul told Kirsten.

“I know, Roy said you guys had talked it over. We agree, because if it turns into a shouting match, that’s no place to have them.” Kirsten said.

“Yeah, I think Shawn is already a little too scared.” Paul said.

“So are they coming over here?” Alexis asked excitedly.

“Yup, you guys can spend the morning together. Right here.” Paul said. Alexis smiled and then went racing out of the kitchen. In her excitement, she almost ran into her father, at the last second sidestepping him and saying “Sorry Dad! Eddie and Shawn are coming over!”

A smile fleeted across his face as he turned to watch his daughter race by; the normalcy of her behavior allowed him a brief reprieve from the gravity of the last day. .

“Morning Paul.” Roy said. He was holding a few rolled up blue prints in his hand and had tipped them in Paul’s direction with the greeting.

“Good morning, what do you have there?” Paul asked.

Roy Benton bent down to kiss his wife on the cheek and placed the rolls of paper down on the table. Kirsten went over to the counter and poured a fresh cup of coffee for Roy.

“These, my friend, are blue prints. Evacuation and contingency blue prints, to be exact.” Roy said, sounding proud. He immediately sipped his coffee as Kirsten handed it over to him.

“Evacuation and contingency? Are you serious?” Paul asked.

“Yes.”

“Well where did you get those?”

“The internet.”

“What makes you think the town or the Mayor doesn’t have a plan?”

Roy gave Paul a condescending look.

“Paul, you really think that old bastard has ever thought of anything that doesn’t involve his immediate well-being?” Roy said. And he had a point.

Green Falls mayor Tim Schacht was an old-timer for sure. For the last thirty years, he had been mayor. No one ever really ran against him, the town was just too small for an election process it seemed.

The mayor, for the most part, did do enough to ensure the town of Green Falls functioned smoothly. There wasn’t a
whole
bunch to do as acting Mayor in order to accomplish the task, but Tim Schacht was more or less competent. Truth be told, Tim was only interested in one thing--hunting. As long as all of the town’s ducks were lined in a row, all local government officials were pulling their duties, and the townspeople were content with street cleaning or snowplowing policies; that meant Mr. Mayor himself could disappear off on a hunting or fishing trip. The sad part, or positive part depending on how you look at it, was that Green Falls had
never
needed to deal with evacuation or contingency plans. Paul wasn’t sure what to expect anymore.

“I’m just bringing alone these blueprints as a precaution.” Roy said, and then finished his coffee in one big gulp.

“Good idea, you know how these people look up to you Roy.” Paul began, “They’ll be looking to you for answers I bet.”

“Yeah, well I don’t really have any of those do I?” Roy said; sounding a little defeated.

Kirsten walked back over to the kitchen table, gathered up empty cereal bowls and took them to the sink. Stopping to lay a hand on Roy’s shoulder, she smiled at her husband and said, “They can’t expect you to have the answer sweetheart, but at least you have
something
for them to consider”

“Speaking of answers,” he said to his wife “did you find anything?”

“I scoured the internet just twenty minutes ago, nothing new at all.” She said.

Paul finished his coffee, and brought the empty cup over to the sink.

“I know. Ruth has been trying the internet none stop.” Paul said.

How are they?” Kirsten asked, concerned.

Paul inhaled deeply.

“She can’t get through; she’s been at it all morning.”

Although Paul was definitely privy to a shit ton of insider knowledge, the last call from Robert surely proved that, he and Ruth had decided that morning to
not
say anything right away to the children (including Alexis). Paul was going to fill Roy in on that whole mess during the car ride to the town meeting. While the children played in the Benton household, Ruth was going to discretely tell Kirsten the story.

Roy walked close to Paul, looking him directly in the eyes, face to face.

“Did you bring your piece along?” Roy whispered.

Paul had not brought along his gun. After last night’s debauchery of fear and misinterpretation, Paul felt it best that he store his handgun away again.

“No, I’m not carrying Roy. It’s a fucking town meeting.” Paul said, rather disturbed by Roy’s question. Roy backed off a ways with his hands up slightly.

“Ok man, no biggie.” Roy began, “But I’m bringing mine, in case.”

Before Paul could shake his head in disgust, there was a knocking at the back door. Kirsten rushed over, peeked out, and quickly opening the back door.

“Come in, come in.” Kirsten said.

It was Ruth and the kids. Ruth had dressed them ready for the day and was carrying their winter jackets as well. The brisk January day promised a high temperature of no more than 45 degrees. Ruth, dressed in jeans and a large Virginia Tech hoodie, looked worried and pale. No doubt her parents and family in Wisconsin were on her mind. Paul couldn’t help the overwhelming feeling of losing control.

“Hi Ruthy.” Roy said, succeeding in trying to sound cheerful.

“Hey, boys; Alexis is in the living room. I think she’s trying to play monopoly by herself.” Roy added. Eddie and Shawn immediately raced off to find Alexis. Shawn was holding tightly onto his plush wrestling doll, it was acting as his safety blanket. Kirsten took the boys’ jackets from Ruth and offered her a cup of coffee.

“No thanks, it’s prolly best I avoid the caffeine rush.” Ruth said, with a grimace.

Kirsten put a comforting hand on Ruth’s back.

“It’ll be alright. Do you want to try and call them again from our house phone?” Kirsten asked. Ruth looked to her with teary eyes. “Ok. But I’m telling you, all it does is ring.” Ruth added. Paul walked to his wife and put a comforting arm around her.

“How about their cell phone?” Kirsten asked.

“My mom has one, but that keeps going straight to voice mail.”

“You know there is a really good chance your folks went to a safe zone. Like what Robert’s going to do.” Paul said.

“That’s right. Speaking of which, how is Robert doing out there? Have you heard from him lately?” Roy asked. Paul and Ruth looked at each other and Roy knew something was wrong.

“God, what is it?” Roy asked.

“I’ll tell you on the ride over to the town meeting.” Paul said. “Things might just be a lot worse than we all originally thought.”

2

As Paul and Roy left the house, Paul told his sons to be good for their mother and Kirsten. Ruth had again tried to call her parents in Wisconsin and, once again, all she got was an earful of a dozen rings. She had comforted herself by believing they had left for safe harbor; rejecting the idea of anything else.

A light drizzle had started to fall on them as they walked down Roy’s long driveway. Roy’s gray driveway was starting to turn black with the precipitation falling down on it. Living in Washington State for some time now, Paul was no stranger to rain. Roy’s Nissan X-terra was parked facing out, close to the street and once they reached it, Roy opened the car door to the back seat and threw in his pile of charts, maps, and blueprints.

“Paul you gotta tell me what you know, is Robert okay?” Roy asked, as he slammed to back door closed.

Before Paul could reply, Glen Fry and Warren Blakely popped out from behind the SUV; out of nowhere it seemed, startling both Paul and Roy. Glen and Warren were talking a mile a minute and both were holding hunting rifles.

“Roy, now see here, what have you heard since morning?”

“I haven’t seen no frequent news. We at war?”

“This town meeting really going to help?”

“We need answers more than anything, I think.”

“Billy close to county line says he seen a big ole army truck rolling around.”

“I’ve got rations to last my family two solid months.”

“Well I’ve got ammunition to last a lifetime.”

“Oh please, now you’re talking like a dim-wit.”

“Don’t test me Glen, not today.”

“Warren, you sorry son of…”

“Guys!” Roy yelled, ending their bickering. Paul had known Glen and Warren since he had moved out west. Both men were long-time residents of Washington state and very much fit the bill of what people refer to as
mountain folk
. They were good neighbors though, but they always seem to argue with each other.

“Warren, explain that part about Billy Hawkins again.” Roy said.

“Oh well ah, I phoned Billy up at his gas station. You know the one he owns way up near city limits.” Warren started.

“Yeah, of course.” Roy said.

“Well, Billy-Boy says that at 5:30 this morning two big ole army Hummers came cruising on by. He said they kept to the main road, like they was staking out a claim.”

“Or circling our town.” Paul said.

“Exactly.” Glen added.

“Ok, have you guys been talking to anyone else?” Roy asked.

“Yeah sure, a few people.” Warren said.

“Has anyone in town seen an army presence?” Roy asked.

“Not to my knowledge.” Warren answered. “Me neither.” Glen added.

Roy took a silent moment to think. For the first time that morning Paul was able to fully hear the rain. It was a beautiful sound to him.

“Listen guys; don’t tell anyone this new information please. I’ll add this to my list of things to bring up during the meeting.” Roy said although he was sure
everyone
in town knew about the army trucks already. In this small of a town, news and rumors spread like hot butter.

“Ok Roy.” Warren said.

“Sure thing, boss.” Glen added.

“Your families okay?” Roy asked.

“Yep, I got Suzie parked behind our front door with the 12-gage.” Warren said proudly.

“Same here, Marge and the kids are watching over my house.” Glen added.

“Good, why don’t you two ride with us then? But please, store your rifles in the trunk.” Roy said. “You couldn’t have picked a more concealable weapon?” He then asked them.