Z14 (Zombie Rules) (49 page)

“I can’t wait for my
spanking.” She said, and stuck her tongue out at me before she started shooting. At least she had her ear plugs in. Mac ran up beside Julie and stood over her protectively and started picking off targets.

I concentrated on the ones who seemed to be in better shape, and the whole time I was wondering if they were people who had recently become freshly infected.
Julie seemed to pick up on what I was doing and started shooting them as well. She knew what I was thinking more than I knew what I was thinking.

“Red!”
I shouted while I ejected the empty magazine and slapped a full one in, locking it in place and releasing the charging handle.

“Green!”
I shouted right after Julie shouted red. I glanced at everyone before resuming shooting. Fred and Bo looked like twins. They were relaxed and casual as they shot into the horde. Bo reloaded without saying anything. I’d get Fred to say something to him later. Little Joe was standing behind Fred with an arm full of magazines, handing them to Fred and Bo when they needed them. Terry and Andie were crouched down beside each other, their shoulders touching, shooting in tandem. There was nothing like a firefight with zombies to bring two people together. I grinned and resumed firing.

Suddenly, I heard a horn honking behind me. I turned in irritation. Wanda was still in the
Toyota truck and she pointed frantically to her right. There was another wave of zombies coming from the opposite direction.

“Andie, Terry, six o’clock!” I shouted. They turned together and started firing without missing a beat. I ran back to our truck, retrieved an ammo can, and slid it across the floor to Joe. “You know what to do, big guy!” I shouted and resumed shooting. After a minute I glanced over at Joe. He was crouched down beside Fred
’s legs, loading empty magazines. I grunted in satisfaction and continued shooting.

When the last one fell, I reloaded quickly, pulled my earplugs out, and looked everyone over.

“Is everyone okay?” I asked. I looked at Julie first, she blew me a kiss. Fred gave a curt nod. Andie and Terry gave us a thumbs up, and then traded a fist bump. Mac looked harried, but otherwise okay. I made a quick count. There were one hundred and sixty-seven. Too many for comfort, it seemed to defy logic. I shook it off and looked around.

“Aright, where is our dumbass friend?” I asked, more to myself than anyone else. As I was looking around, Julie pointed.

“What do you think?” She asked as she pointed out a woman’s boutique halfway down. It had a broken window, and although I can’t say how freshly broken glass was different from old broken glass, it looked freshly broken.

“Yeah, maybe.”
I looked at her with I hoped was a stern expression. “This time, please stay with Fred and provide us cover. I can only spank you so much.” I said. Mac heard me and frowned questioningly. “Andie, Terry, let’s check out that store.” I said, pointing. Fred gave me another nod and stood watch.

We found them in the back, locked in a restroom. There were four or five dead zombies lying around, and five more scratching at the door, totally oblivious to the mass
ive firefight that just occurred. We killed them quickly, efficiently. Andie ran toward the door.

“Careful Andie, he might shoot through the door.” She looked at me in understanding, stood to the side, and knocked.

“Hey dumbass, are you in there?” She said loudly. After a moment, the sound of the door unlocking was heard, followed by it being opened a crack. We could see someone peeking out, and it opened wider. Rowdy emerged.

“What the fuck, Rowdy?” Andie asked in exasperation. “Where’s Cindy?”

“She’s in here. She’s not doing very well.” He said anxiously. I pushed passed him and walked in. Cindy was lying on the bathroom floor, semiconscious, covered in sweat and ashen faced.

“What the hell happened?” Terry asked. I already knew the answer. I could see it on her neck and arms. There were
at least three distinct bite marks. Trickles of blood oozed out of them.

“We got jumped.” Rowdy replied. “I fought them off as be
st I could, but Cindy got bit.”

“Oh shit.” Terry muttered as
Andie gasped.

“Rowdy,
help me carry her. We’ve got to be quick.” I said, and looked at Andie. “Run ahead and get every cigarette lighter going. Tell them what happened.” Andie took off at a run. Rowdy grabbed Cindy by the shoulders and I grabbed her legs. Terry covered the rear as we made our way back to the trucks.

Fred leaned forward with a red hot lighter as we sat Cindy down by the Volvo.

I looked at Rowdy. “Hold her down.” I said as I grabbed her legs in a bear hug. Fred jabbed the red hot coils into the wound on her neck, and held it there for a few seconds. The smell of burning flesh permeated my nostrils. Cindy began screaming as Bo jabbed another one onto one of the wounds on her arms. When Wanda saw this, she began screaming and tried to pull the two men away from her daughter.

“You’re hurting her!” She screamed. I
let go of Cindy’s legs and grabbed her.

“Listen to me,” I said calmly. “She’s infected. We have no idea how to treat her. We either take a chance that cauterizing the wounds will help
, or we put a bullet in her head right now. Your choice.” Wanda looked at me and began crying. “It’s the only way, Wanda.” I said quietly. “If there is any chance of saving her, this is it. She’ll have a couple of scars, but she’ll be alive.” Mac came up beside Wanda and put an arm around her. Joe ran up with another hot lighter. Fred took it and continued cauterizing the wounds.

I rode in the bed of the dually with Cindy as the convoy made its way to the radio stat
ion. I had no emotional attachment to Cindy. If she turned in my presence, I’d not hesitate to kill her. Rowdy drove, and kept looking back at us. At one point, he almost rear-ended Julie.

“Pay attention to the road, Rowdy!” I yelled. He nodded quickly, but adjusted the rearview mirror so he could watch me.

We made it back to the radio station and Big Mac gingerly lifted Cindy out of the bed of the truck. She was still semiconscious and sweating profusely as Mac carried her inside. All of us followed. When Mac gently laid Cindy on a bed, I motioned to her. She followed me outside. Fred and Bo followed me.

“I don’t need to tell you what to do if she turns, do I?”
I asked. Mac slowly shook her head.

“You want one of us to stay here, so you won’t have to do it?” Fred asked.

Big Mac shook her head, but stopped and looked at Fred. “I’ll be the one to do it, if it comes to that, but I’d be most appreciative if you’d keep me company.” She said. Fred looked at her, and then us.

“It looks like I’ll be staying here tonight.” He said.

             
I slapped Julie on the butt as we got undressed. She let out a yelp and looked at me in wonder. “That’s for disobeying your husband.” I said and finished undressing. We got in bed and snuggled up against each other.

             
“Aren’t you going to spank me some more?” She asked provocatively.

             
“No.” I said. “You’d like it too much and I’m punishing you.” She snorted and wiggled her butt up against my crotch.

             
“Are you sure?” She asked.

             
“I’m sure.” I said harshly, even though I could feel myself getting aroused. “You’re supposed to listen to me. You could have provided firepower from the safety of the truck. You know I worry about you and our unborn son.”

             
Julie sighed, reached back, and began stroking my thigh. I instinctively kissed her on the nape of her neck. “Okay, I can understand the concern you have for our unborn
daughter
. I’ll try to be a better wife.” She said, and wiggled up against me some more. “I think you should punish me now.” She cooed. I didn’t see how it was punishment, but agreed anyway.

              I sat on the opposite bunk watching Rowdy snore. An empty bottle was loosely gripped in one hand. When we got home yesterday evening, he skipped dinner and locked himself inside his bus. It took me almost ten minutes to jimmy the lock. It was obvious he was feeling guilty, but it was no excuse. After trying for several seconds to wake him, I grabbed his arm and pulled him off of the bunk. He landed in a heap.

             
“What the fuck, Hoss?” He said when he looked up at me.

             
“Get yourself cleaned up. Julie has breakfast going and then we’re going to go visit Cindy.” Rowdy groaned loudly.

             
“I can’t go back there Hoss, those women are going to kill me after what I did.”

             
“You might be right. But you’ve got to face the music, no pun intended.” I said.

             
“You’re a funny boy.” Rowdy mumbled as he struggled to stand.

             
I went back inside and peaked inside Andie’s bedroom. Andie and Terry were naked, and intertwined in each other’s arms. I quietly shut the door back, and then knocked on it loudly.

             
“Breakfast in ten!” I said through the door and walked down the hall to Joe’s room. I repeated the announcement. He was sleeping on the top bunk of his new bunk beds, and had his head under the pillows. Fred had taken one look at the bunk beds and advised us he would be sleeping in the Volvo’s sleeper until he got his house built. Joe stuck his head out when he heard my voice. I gave him a wink and walked back into the kitchen.

             
“I don’t think you have to endure Andie making goo-goo eyes at me anymore.” I said with a grin. She looked at me questioningly. I told her what I saw. She nodded in approval.

             
“It’s about damn time. I thought you were the one who was going to have to give her a good fucking, the way it was looking.” She said glibly. “Now we need to find someone for Kelly, or I’m going to have to stud you out to her as well.” I stared at her, perplexed. Sometimes, it was hard to tell when she was serious and when she was messing with me. She smiled sweetly and continued cooking. I set the table while we waited for everyone to make their way to the kitchen. Joe was the first one to walk into the kitchen.

             
“Good morning, buddy. Did you sleep well?” I asked.

             
“Zach, I think Andie was having bad dreams last night.” He said. I looked at him. “She was screaming, a lot.” Julie burst out in laughter.

             
“Yeah, that must be it, Joe.” I said. “Don’t worry though, I bet she’s all better now.”

             
A minute later, Terry and Andie came into the kitchen. They sat down quietly beside each other. Andie looked at Terry and smiled. I grabbed the coffee pot and poured everyone a healthy dose.

             
“What do you need me to do?” I asked Julie.

             
“Sit on your butt and stay out of my way.” She replied as she cooked some eggs. “You can wash the dishes after I’m through.”

             
“Okay. Don’t forget to make Fred a plate. I’m going to pick him up after breakfast.” I said. Julie looked at me like I was two steps behind, which I’m sure I was. I looked over at the others.

             
“Yesterday, y’all were awesome, especially you, Joe.” Everyone voiced their agreement.

             
“Can I go with you to get Fred?” Joe asked, as Rowdy came inside. He looked awful. I hoped he was merely hung over and not getting sick. He poured himself a cup of coffee.

             
“Ah, Joe, not this time. I need to talk to Fred and Rowdy about some stuff, but don’t worry, we’re coming right back home.” He looked dejected, but didn’t say anything.

             
“Say, Joe.” I said. “Terry there is a soldier. If you ask him, I bet he’ll give you some military training on his Army rifle.” Joe’s eyes lit up and he looked at Terry.

             
“It would be my pleasure,” Terry said. “But, you have to help me with some of the morning chores first, okay?” Joe nodded his head vigorously.

              Rowdy and I rode to the radio station in silence. He was very pale, and I had to stop once for him to lean out of the truck and throw up.

             
I stole a line from Andie Griffith. “You beat all, you know that?”

             
“Not now, Zach.” He said, in between groans.

             
“If not now, when? When do we have a talk about your actions, Rowdy? Should we wait until after someone else gets all fucked up?” I said. Rowdy held his head in his hands and groaned. “All you had to do was ask me. Hell, I would have gone with you guys. We could have found somewhere else besides that big mall with all of those fucking zombies.”

             
“You don’t get it, Zach. I was trying to get some alone time with her, and impress her.” He coughed. “Pull over!” He managed to choke out. I stopped immediately. Rowdy barely got the door open before he heaved again. When he was finished, I reached into the glove box and retrieved a tube of toothpaste. It was almost empty, but it was all I had.