The Swamp (17 page)

Ch
apter 14

              Sam awoke the same way. The early morning sun was just starting to break through the trees as he reluctantly let go of her hands. Rebecca lay there asleep, she looked almost angelic in the morning light, despite the dirt that streaked her face. Sam stood and stretched.

             
“Good morning lover boy,” said a mocking voice. Sam turned to see Mike sitting cross legged and watching him with a giant grin on his face. “Did we sleep well?”

             
“Can it.” Sam said, as he felt a flush creep up his face “You jealous?”

             
“You bet, stud muffin, Can we sleep holding hands tonight?” Mike’s joy was obvious.

             
“What happened to ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ soldier boy?” Sam joked back.

             
“Oh they repealed that we can wear all the pink camo we want now a days!”

             
They both laughed at that. Sam finished stretching and asked, “Have any ideas last night?”

             
“Nothing that was feasible, you? Other than about Rebecca I mean.” Mike responded, once again poking Sam.

             
“Quiet or she will hear you. I am a married man after all.” Sam said, the thought of his wife bringing the mood down.

             
“Maybe,” Mike said studying him, “But how long has it been? Working on three months since you last spoke to her? We don’t know how much time we have left. Hell, any of us could be lunch by this time tomorrow. That’s something I learned during my time in the military.”

             
Sam thought on his words for a few seconds, “I’m sure you are right, and maybe one day…” was all Sam could say.

             
“Well anyway,” Mike changed the subject, “On a lighter note, we are still held captive by cannibals’ intent on eating us for Sunday supper. Let’s tackle that first.”

             
“That’s something we can agree on.” Sam said, and looked around the compound. He spied Joe on the porch, leaning on his cane. He was glaring directly at Sam and his eyes looked angry.

             
“He looks pissed,” commented Mike, “Id say he saw you and her holding hands this morning.”

             
“I am not his,” Rebecca’s voice surprised them, they didn’t know she had woken up “He can get as mad as he wants.

             
“Exactly right,” agreed Mike, “You know that, I know that, and Sam knows that, but this guy isn’t accustomed to being told no. Sam has better watch his back.”

             
The thought sent a cold chill down his spine. The man on the porch continued to stair daggers at Sam for another fifteen minutes before turning and going back inside. His absence didn’t improve Sam’s nervousness.

             
Finally Mike spoke, “Aw, don’t worry about it, I will protect you.”

             
“Well thank you,” Sam eyed the tough chain holding them back, “I feel much better now.”

             
Around noon the congregation had their meal. Joe again led the prayer: “Our Heavenly father. We thank you for the food that you continue to provide for us. Thank you for the safety you provide. Please lord save us from the traitors and jezebels of this world who torment us day and night. Please dear God bring your mighty wrath down on those who oppose us. Please watch over our friends in the fields who forage for us even now. In God’s name, we pray, amen.” And then to the gathered mass, “eat, my friends, that it nourishes you in Gods eyes.”

             
Sam couldn’t help but notice Joe had locked eyes with him through the entire prayer, the threat was obvious. Joseph didn’t come over to talk to the prisoners that day, but he did yell across to them “Big Feast planned for the day after tomorrow, my friends.” He said it with that smile on his face, that big psychotic smile.

             
“Ok guys, I want you to eat me.” Sam said seriously. “When they bring you plates of me, eat it and use that energy to get the hell out of here.”

             
“Sam, you aren’t being eaten, I won’t let that happen.” Mike said, and for a second, Sam was able to believe it, but then shook his head.

“I don’t think anyone can change it at this point.”
Sam said sadly. “But I damn sure hope I give them gas!”

             
No one said anything for awhile, all lost in their own separate thoughts. Eventually Rebecca broke the silence. “Maybe I should go call him down and just join his stupid cult.”

             
“Why ever would you do that?” Mike asked, truly puzzled.

             
“Maybe if I give in to him, He will let you two go.”

             
“Not a chance,” Sam insisted “You do that and he will still kill me and Mike.”

             
“He’s right Rebecca, There’s nothing you can do at this point, and we aren’t dealing with a sane man here.” Mike confirmed.

             
“But there has to be something we can do,” Rebecca said, her voice almost a pout, “There just has to be.”

             
“Don’t give up on him his goose isn’t cooked just yet.” Mike said brightly, and Sam could help but smile at his poor choice of words.

             
“You aren’t picturing me as a giant goose now are you, Mike? How hungry are you?” Sam joked, deciding it was time the conversation took a positive turn.

             
“Maybe I am, maybe I am not.” Mike said noncommittally.” But would you mind rubbing yourself in butter for me?” Mike was able to keep a straight face.

             
“Of great, next you will ask me to shove stuffing up my ass.” Sam responded and Mike laughed.

             
In the next cage over, Rebecca sighed loudly at the gallows humor and rolled her eyes, “Why don’t men ever grow up?” she asked no one in particular.

             
“Hey don’t feel left out, I’m picturing you in this really nice Mother goose outfit.” He said and made a wolf whistle. Rebecca blushed and made as if to cover herself.

             
“Pervert” She yelled at mike.

             
The crowd around the house had stopped their work and began to watch them. Several crossed themselves at the loose language they used. One even pulled a heavy crucifix from under her shirt and pointed it in their direction, as if warding off an evil spirit. This of course made the three laugh all the more. Even one of the other prisoners was smiling when Sam looked from cage to cage.

             
They continued to joke for awhile, and their spirits were high. It was nice to be able to be with friends who could make you forget your troubles. Sam thought back to his isolation in the beginning, back at the swamp, and compared it to now. Then he had been safe, free, and alone. Now he was the opposite, endangered, trapped, and with friends. He wasn’t sure which he preferred. He wished he had known Mike and Rebecca before all this happened.

             
“Do you think we would have been friends in the old world?” he finally asked aloud.

Mike and
Rebecca heard the question, but neither answered for several minutes. It was mike that broke the silence. “No way of telling, I pretty much stuck to my marine buddies. Had you not rescued me from that tree we probably never would have talked if we passed on the street.” Mike said honestly, but added, “I think I would have been the worse off for it.”

             
Rebecca, emboldened by Mikes candidness, spoke up, “I was stuck up like all my college friends. No way would I have talked to you old guys!” She said. “But times have changed, I think back to how immature we were back then.”

             
“We all do that Rebecca,” Sam said, “just normally not until we are a little older. You got pushed into growing up a lot faster, you didn’t have it easy like us old guys.”

             
“Exactly, all we had was A.I.D.S. and the cold war to worry about when we were growing up back in the 80s,” Mike added, playing off the old guys part of her and Sam’s comments “well that and those pesky dinosaurs.”

              “That’s not what I meant guys, to a 19 year old, you guys are ancient.” She said in defense of herself and immediately regretted it.

             
“Wow, now I am ancient,” Sam said in mock outrage, “I think I preferred old!”

             
“And what does that make me?” Mike asked, “I guess I’m dirt’s great grandfather.”

             
“Stop, you guys know what I mean!” she said

             
Sam hunched his back over, and cupped his hand to his ear, “What was that missy? Speak up.” He said in a wizened old man’s voice.

             
“Never mind,” she answered in a huff, “I don’t want to be friends after the apocalypse either.” She crossed her arms and starred at them, but eventually broke down and laughed with them.

             
They continued the day in pleasant conversation, taking turns picking on each other. But as the day waned, Mike began to grow more withdrawn and quiet. Both Sam and Rebecca asked what the matter was, but he wouldn’t answer and just claimed to be lost in thought.

             
Sam knew something was up with him, but just decided to drop the subject. Mike would talk to him about whatever was up in his own time. Sam gave Mike his space and scooted to Rebecca’s side of the cage.

             
“So what did you study, you know, back in college?” Sam tried to make conversation.

             
“Accounting, believe it or not just about the most useless end of the world training you can get.” She said and rolled her eyes.

             
“No.” Sam replied, “Mines worse, far worse.”

              “What about you? What did you do before all this happened?” She asked

             
Sam laughed “You would never believe it.” He said and shook his head, “Never in a million years.”

             
“Tell me, it can’t be that bad,” She urged, “Computer programmer, Art teacher, or shoe salesman?”

             
“None of those actually, much worse,” Sam paused, “I was a mortician, but what good are funeral directors when the dead don’t stay that way?”

             
She stared at him for several seconds, disbelief in her eyes, as she waited for the punch line.

             
“No really, I swear,” Sam reiterated “I sold caskets and embalmed people.”

             
Her eyes pierced him for a moment, and then she began to laugh so loud that even Mike was brought out of his malaise and Sam had to explain, Mike had a good laugh.

             
“It’s actually kind of fitting when you think about it. You still can give the dead eternal rest, and make them look snazzy in the process.” Rebecca said.

             
“Not a lot of use to us now, I have a good future I hear as dinner. There seems to be a lot of demand for that.” Sam replied ruefully.

             
“Cheer up buddy. Nobody is going to eat you.” Mike said, “Trust me on that one.”

             
“I wish I had your confidence in that.” Sam shook his head.

             
“I wish I had a smoke.” Mike said wishfully, and leaned back against the corner of his cage and closed his eyes. “I am going to catch a little sack time, you two hold down the smooching sounds tonight.”

             
“Shut up, asshole” Rebecca said, Mike have obviously touched a sore spot.

             
“You are going to regret calling me that,” Mike said with a chuckle and then was quiet.

             
Dark was falling, so they decided to follow Mike cue and lay down. Their hands again found each other and they settled in. Sam found the worries of the previous night and chewed them over in his mind. Tonight though he found it easier to let them go as he looked up at the stars and marveled at the display god had made.

             
“The stars are magnificent tonight.” He said to Rebecca, but got no answer. He turned to her and saw her eyes closed, her breath slow and even. He looked back to the stars and promptly went to sleep.

              He walked into the funeral home and found the stairs. He was tying his apron as he walked into the prep room and was surprised to see three bodies filling all the tables, his partner, David, must have had a busy day yesterday to arrange this many new clients.