The Emissary (Horse Women of the Zombie Apocalypse) (7 page)

They went to the horses, tightened cinches and packed their gear. They left the area at a trot, the truck idling behind them. Hector stood in the truck bed, using binoculars on their back trail.

The road ran along a river bed, it was beautiful country in the full flush of spring. There were occasional houses and signs for subdivisions. The road curved upwards, opening up in a small town with a mile long main drag. At the far end, a narrow iron bridge spanned the river. Muerto milled in the street or sprawled on the ground. The sisters stopped at the top of the hill.

"This sucks," Alexis said to Tyler as the truck pulled up beside them.

"We'll go ahead and clean them out," Tyler offered.

Dani made an indignant noise and wagged her head at Tyler.

"How about you follow us and pick up our arrows? You fire a shot, you'll have every stinker in the county after us."

"Enough, Dani," Alexis said, but she used the wrong tone of voice.

"They've been treating us like mall bunnies." Dani shot a look at Zack. "It's time we showed them better."

"Fine," Alexis said. "Beth and I will take point. You and Julie come next, and the guys take drag." She gave Tyler a flirty little smile, then said in a honey-sweet voice, "It would be nice if you'd pick up our arrows."

There was a snicker from inside the truck.

Tyler turned red.

He shot a look at Dave. "Yeah, Dave can do it. Tommy can cover him. Hector and Zack will guard our back."

"Works for us," Zack said.

"Places, everyone," Alexis said. "It's show time."

The pack horses went between Toby and Scout, the truck behind them in a close formation. Beth strung her bow, taking a fistful of arrows from her quiver.

"I'll take the first shot," Alexis said to Beth as they walked the horses down the street. "After that, have at it."

The muerto turned at the sound of hooves on pavement.

"Gotcha."

They were at close range when Alexis fired at the nearest, taking it out with a shot through the eye. Beth took down the next. More muerto rose to their feet while others came out from between buildings. The two sisters were in the center of town, heading for the iron bridge, already the street was blocked by muerto.

The horses picked up their feet fastidiously.

"Hey, back here!" Julie shouted. Two muerto closed in on Julie and Dani, one on either side.

Alexis turned enough to see the problem. "Back to back, right turn," Alexis ordered, swinging Patch to the right. Beth pulled Mist around so the horses walked in a tight circle, head to tail. Beth shot the next closest muerto in front while Alexis shot two threatening Julie and Dani. When Beth came around she saw Dani drop the lead rope to arm her bow.

The amazement on the guys' faces was very satisfying.

Alexis swore. Beth signaled Mist to do a spin to see the problem. Beth scanned the street until she spotted it.

It was huge.

A fat male nearly seven feet tall, in the center of a seething pack that was coming down the street at almost human speed.

Beth's reaction was automatic - she shot it. The arrow went through it's shoulder, just above the collarbone.

It howled.

Beth reached for another handful of arrows, but the quiver was empty.

"I'm out," Beth said. She set her bow aside, reaching for her machete. Three years of constant drilling kept her calm while the muerto swarmed closer.

"Got your machete?"

"Ready." The handle was warm in her hand. The weight was soothing. It would be just like chopping pumpkins back home.

"Stay on my right," Alexis ordered. She could use her machete left-handed.

Another howl came from behind them.

"Ambush!" Hector called out, then he swore in Spanish.

"FALL BACK!" Zack shouted from the truck.

"Tyler! Hold your position," Alexis shouted, not turning. "Hear me?"

"I've got your back," Tyler replied.

"Forward march!" Alexis raised her machete.

*

Chapter 7

The horse's advanced on the swarm, necks arched, chin to chest, haunches well under them. Unshod hooves hit the ground in cadence, a deadly march of controlled power. Nostrils flared red and lips raised to show long yellow teeth gnashing the bit, dripping foam.

An arrow took the howler in the gut.

"Missed!" Dani swore.

The howler pulled the arrow out, then snapped it in two, shrieking in fury.

Shots rang out behind them.

The muerto charged in slow motion. The formation held, Alexis and Beth in front lopping off arms and heads. The two leading horses plunged forward, a wedge of snapping teeth and striking hooves.

Patch grabbed a muerto by the shoulder, shook it like a rat, then flung it a dozen feet. Mist leaped in the air to lash out front and back, sending muerto flying, heads pulping on the pavement, splattering caustic slime everywhere.

Cantering in short strides, the fighting pairs plowed toward the howler, littering the pavement with twitching limbs and headless bodies. Muerto were all around them, clawing at their leather chaps. Beth stayed focused on what was right in front of her. When Mist's teeth crushed the arm of the closest muerto, Beth took it's head off.

The howler waited for them, blocking their way to the bridge.

Patch went up on his hind legs, leaping forward, front legs bashing heads. He did four leaps, clearing the way to the howler. It swiped at Patch's head. He ducked, back on four feet. Alexis swung at it's neck.

It dodged.

Beth had to catch her balance as Mist leaped, hind legs lashing out, to crush muerto heads like pumpkins. The horse landed wrong, a hind leg slipping on slimy pavement. She was unable to catch herself. Her hindquarters slid out from under her. Beth was pinned to the ground with the howler slashing at her face.

Beth swung with all her might, taking off the taloned hand. As the howler recoiled, an arrow took it in the mouth, knocking it backward. It's head splattered clear fluid as it hit the pavement.

Mist scrambled up. She stood with her weight on her front feet. Beth stayed calm only by an act of will. Patch and Alexis covered their left. Dani and Scout moved to cover their right. Bullets from behind them cleared either side of the street.

Beth had no time to look at Mist's legs. She prayed Mist hadn't broken a leg.

"Nothing broken," Julie shouted from behind her. "She's just scraped."

"You all right?" Dani asked as she shot muerto.

"Fine."

Mist gave a little kick, as if testing her legs. Then she picked up a rough march, letting Beth know she was back in action.

"We're back."

"To the bridge!" Alexis took the left hand side of the center line. She let out a blood-curdling Apache war-cry, that others echoed.

"Charge!"

Alexis and Beth surged forward, bowling over muerto, lopping off heads. Dani and Julie shot arrows behind them, the pack horses tight in the center of the formation. The truck was right behind them, the guys shooting behind and beside them.

Beth was only a few muerto away from the bridge when she smelled gasoline. They plowed through the last of the muerto. The bridge was clear. The short iron span was narrow, barely more than one lane. Hooves echoed hollowly, the sound distorted. Mist had a hitch in her stride.

"Take point," Alexis ordered. She swung Patch back towards the truck.

Beth scanned the road ahead. It went up the hill and around a curve. The creek went left, the road right. The bridge was clear - all the muerto in the area were behind them. She was nearly across the bridge when she heard Alexis order a halt.

Beth turned Mist around in time to see David use a soaker gun to spray behind them. Zack lobbed a Molotov cocktail into the mass of body parts. It smashed with a 'poof.' The bodies popped and burned, with a horrendous stench.

Fire was the only way to mop up on the run.

"Is Mist okay?" Dani and Scout were beside them. Dani looked at Mist's hind legs. "She's skinned up."

"She's pretty sore." Beth stepped down to check Mist's legs. Julie was behind Dani, looking sick with fear. "You okay, kid?"

"No." Julie leaned over to throw up.

"I think we can stop here for a minute," Tyler said, standing by Alexis on Patch, looking at Julie with sympathy.

"Not on my account." Julie wiped her mouth with the back of her hand before she reached for her water bottle.

Beth grinned. Julie was a tough kid.

There was blood and bruises on Mist's cannon bones, nicks on the fetlocks and a good bit of hair gone. The last two days had been rough on Mist. Beth didn't want to ask more of her beloved mare.

Dani handed her a jar of salve and a wet rag. "Here. Once you get it cleaned up it won't look so bad."

"I don't want to ride her. She's done enough." Beth said softly.

"Julie'll give you Stinker-bait. There's a top-notch mount." Dani sucked in her cheeks to keep from giggling.

Beth snickered as she doctored her horse.

Alexis came over, running her hands over Mist, checking for other injuries. She gave the mare a pat on the rump before kneeling next to Dani.

"Just lost some hair?" Alexis asked softly.

Beth nodded.

"We can't stop here, you know."

Beth sighed. "I know. I want to give her a break."

"There's always Stinker-bait."

"Great minds think alike," Dani snickered.

"Tyler says we've got another twenty miles to go." Alexis sighed. "But we don't have to fight our way through another town."

"Thank God for small favors," Beth said.

"I'll tell Julie." Alexis stood up.

"Julie killed the howler," Dani said. "Our baby sister is a hell of a shot."

Beth grinned. "No lie? I'm impressed."

"She got arrows from David. He jumped out of the truck to get them to her."

"Brave kids," Beth said.

"Did you hear Zack?" Dani gave her a little nudge and a raised eyebrow. "He was reloading when you went down. He yelled your name." Dani winked. "I think he's sweet on you. Lucky you, eh?"

Beth scoffed. "The horse hater? I'm thrilled."

The three sisters heard hooves on pavement. It was Julie and her pack horse. The little buckskin and white filly wore a hackamore but no saddle. She followed Julie quietly, but her eyes showed white rings.

"Nice shooting, kid. I owe you." Beth gave Julie quick shot to the arm.

Julie blushed. "Thanks. I couldn't let it get you." She held out the hackamore rein and a full quiver of arrows. "Lil' Stinker is a handful. Good luck."

Mist laid her ears back, popping her head up, giving Lil' Stinker the evil eye.

"Now, sis, take a break." Beth gave Mist's reins to Julie. "Thanks." Beth let the filly sniff her, before she hopped up bareback. "I'm ready."

"Can you take point?" Alexis was asking a lot of a green filly, but sometimes a bold rider could give a timid horse courage.

"I can try," Beth said, signaling Stinker forward. The filly took a few tentative side steps, her ears flickering indecision. Beth crooned encouragement until Lil' Stinker's stride was firm and forward.

The others fell in behind Beth. The echo of hooves on the bridge made a lot of noise. So did the fire roaring behind them. Beth looked back. No muerto were left standing. None came out of the buildings.

They'd cleared out the tiny town. Maybe some refugees would find the town and settle it again.

Better live humans than dead ones.

*

Chapter 8

The road rose to the right, curving along hillsides above the creek which wound in loops like a crazy snake. The valley was too steep for housing developments so there were very few muerto.

Lil' Stinker was gaited. She glided up and down hills. As long as the road was clear, she was happy to go forward. But anything on the road made her nervous, including sticks, tires, and yellow lines.

When encountering a lone muerto, Lil' Stinker danced nervously, ready to bolt. Beth shot the muerto. When it fell, the filly crouched, legs spread out, ready to leap in any direction except forward.

Julie, Toby and Mist trotted around them.

Lil' Stinker goggled, snorting. Beth rolled her eyes. Lil' Stinker pulled herself up and shook herself off, then crab-stepped around the muerto.

"I'll get the arrow." David offered from the back of the truck. Beth could tell he was laughing.

"You're making us look bad," Beth told Lil' Stinker. In punishment, she made Lil' Stinker stay behind Mist for several minutes. Lil' Stinker fussed the entire time, tucking her head to her chest and swatting her tail to express her annoyance. As the youngest horse, she was the lowest on the pecking order. Leading the herd had given her temporary status.