Better Lucky than Good (Records of the Resistance) (19 page)

"When I first met Clay, he kicked my ass..." Kevin said, inducing laughter from the group.

"But shortly after realizing that I was one of the living, he learned of our situation. It took only seconds before he had agreed to help us. I didn't have to ask, but something tells me that Clay is the type of person who is compelled to offer." Kevin's tone had returned to being serious, quieting the room again.

"Clay, I don't know where you came from. But I'm glad you came here... From the bottom of my heart, thank you." Kevin said, finishing his speech while looking directly at Clay.

The hollow building suddenly erupted with the sound of energetic clapping, followed by the raising of several glasses towards Clay.
 

Melanie had been right all along. All of these people did depend on him. While it's timing was less then ideal, learning of Brooke's welfare still remained as something he had to do. Although their relationship had been more akin to friendship mixed with sex, and the two had never been really well suited for each other; Clay still had a connection with Brooke. He owed her an attempt, at the very least.

Understanding that informing the community now would likely result in an abrupt ending to the nights celebration, he had little choice but to get it over with.
 

Clay stood to his feet and cleared his throat. Everyone again falling silent.

"Thank you, Kevin. I really don't know what to say in response to that. I suppose I'd like to begin by apologizing to all of you." Clay said, while the sea of faces before him responded with confused expressions.

"It occurred to me during Kevin's speech, that I've been insensitive to you all. This has been a small community, destroyed by the outbreak. Many of the infected who we have fought against, were all likely well know to you. I'm sorry for that." Clay fumbled his words as he spoke, unsure of what exactly he should say.

The mood quickly switched from jovial and celebratory, to one of mourning. Many of those around Clay lowered their heads, remembering their loved ones while others stared absently into the distance. Clay ceased to speak for a moment, allowing the group to have a brief moment of silence for the sake of their lost friends and family. The short period would also allow him to collect his thoughts and discern an appropriate way to break the news of his leaving.

"Unlike all of you, I am not from around here... I grew up in the big city. Fortunately for me, I don't have much in the way of friends or family to worry about. However, I do have someone that I need to look for..." Clay said, pausing again; this time to judge the reactions of the people, to his words.

No one had as of yet, offered any sort of protest towards his statements.

"I need to leave you all. I will be going into the big city, accompanied by Mel. We will be heading to a suburb on the edge of town, where I once lived. Should everything go according to plan, we will only be gone for a day, maybe two at most... I hope you all understand. The odds of this person having survived this long are slim and should they be alive I need to reach them soon... I'll be leaving tonight, at midnight." Clay finished.

Having expected a sea of protestation, Clay was surprised to instead receive nods of approval from the group. As Clay was in the process of returning to his seat, Tim rose to his feet.

"Clay... I lost my entire family during the outbreak. However, because of your actions, I now belong to another family." Tim said while spreading his arms out, indicating that he was speaking about the people who were arranged around the table.

"It wouldn't sit right with me if you and Melanie went off on your own... So, I'm coming with you. You'll need a wheel man anyway, in case you have any trouble on the road." Tim said, before returning to his seat beside Lindsay.

Clay could tell by the look on Lindsay's face that she wasn't thrilled about the notion of Tim venturing off, but by the way that she gently placed her hand on his shoulder made it evident that she was proud of him.

Kevin, who had been sitting next to Clay, stood to his feet.

"I would also like to go with you. Although I don't have any special skills to contribute to the expedition, I would like to repay the favour you did for my family." Kevin offered.

Clay sat silently for a moment, pondering the fate of the group should he fail to return. If that occurred, the removal of Kevin from the community would have disastrous results in that it would leave the people leaderless.

"I appreciate your offer Kevin, but I can't risk bringing you along with us into the city." Clay began.

Kevin opened his mouth as if he were about to argue against Clay's decision, but was quickly cut off by the wave of Clay's hands.

"I need to leave someone here that can keep our efforts to fortify this building moving forward. I need you to stay here. Should we fail to return, someone is going to have to carry on what we've all started." Clay said, putting his hand on Kevin's shoulder.

"I'll gladly go in his place." Jamie said, rising to his feet.

The hand of the young woman seated next to Jamie, was grasped by his own.
 

Clay nodded in approval to Jamie's request. "Both of you need to go with Mel and find yourselves some suitable firearms. Mick will assist you in modifying them to your liking, in any way that he can." Clay said, while looking towards Mick.

"I'll be right here, whenever you guys are ready." Mick said assuredly.

"We've only got a few hours before we leave, so I suggest you all get some rest. I hope that everyone else will carry on with the celebrations. You've all earned it." Clay said.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come along with you guys?" Kevin asked.

Tim and Clay were all standing around a small sedan belonging to Kevin, which had been parked outside the rear entrance to the department store. The night was overcast, and Clay had determined that traveling to the city with the vehicle's head lights illuminating the road would only serve to attract the attention of any nearby infected. It was dangerous enough to travel by means utilizing a combustion engine. However, the complete darkness afforded to them by the moonless night would make it difficult for any undead to pinpoint their exact location. It had also proven equally difficult for Tim, who was currently working blindly in the dark in an attempt to disable the vehicle's lighting.

"No, Kevin. We can't afford to lose you, if this trip goes south on us. You'll have Tom, as well as the others to organize tomorrow, anyway. We need to get this renovation under way." Clay replied to Kevin.

"Well, will you at least take Chance with you? It would be useful to have a little advanced notice about any incoming infected." Kevin suggested to Clay.

"We can't. The suburb that I used to live in is a maze of eight-foot privacy fences. Chance has to weigh at least one-hundred and thirty pounds. There is no way that we can toss him over those fences, especially if we have to get out of town in a hurry." Clay replied.

"I think I got it..." Tim said, standing himself upright from underneath the car's hood.
 

Kevin moved to the driver's side door belonging to his previously fully functioning car. After opening it and slumping himself halfway into the driver's seat, he turned over the engine's ignition. The car shuddered for a moment, having sat stationary for over a month now, but soon came to life.
 

"I guess the trickle charger from inside worked..." Tim said to Clay, having to speak over the noise generated by the exposed engine.

Tim dropped the hood of the car and motioned to Kevin that he should turn off the engine.

"Glad we're going to have you with us, Tim. I had never considered that none of these cars would have the juice to start. When Mel and I first saw them, we had planned to use them to get out of the city." Clay said, slapping Tim on the shoulder.

"You wouldn't have gotten very far, that's for sure. I stowed another one in Mel's pack, just incase you guys need a vehicle to get out of the city. All you need to do is attach the cables to the battery of whatever you trying to start. Give it a minute or two, then try to start it. It only holds enough of a charge for one or two tries, so make 'em count." Tim said, being able to speak more quietly now after having Kevin turn off the car's engine.

"Thanks..." Clay replied. "I hadn't thought of that either..."

"It likely won't hold enough of a charge for anything larger than a car this size. But if you come across a heavy duty pick-up, or any commercial sized transportation, you should be able to start it anyway. Industrial batteries hold one heck of a charge." Tim said.

"Yah, I don't see anything larger then a pick-up truck being an option. I've never driven anything bigger." Clay replied.

Melanie strolled through the back entrance of the store, with her large pack slung across one shoulder and her rifle cradled in her remaining free hand.

"I can..." she said, while approaching the three men.

"My parents owned a small hobby farm when I was a kid. My dad taught me how to drive his tractor." she continued.

Kevin began to laugh in response to Melanie's matter-of-fact tone.

“Well, you're just full of surprises, aren't you?" he stated, after quieting himself.

"How far behind you, is Jamie?" Clay asked.

He was quickly growing impatient. Clay had wanted to reach the edge of the city while it was still dark and if they didn't leave shortly, they may arrive as the sun had begun to rise. The suburb directly abutted a low crop of soybeans, due to it being one of the areas of the city which had been freshly developed. Crossing that field while it was flooded with daylight would give every infected in the area, an opportunity to spot them. It would be in their best interest to infiltrate the city covertly, and to avoid engaging any undead.

"He's coming. He had to pick up the shotguns from Mick." she answered.

"Good. Are you ready to go Tim, or do you need to get your stuff?" Clay asked.

"Nope. Said my goodbyes and threw my bag in the trunk when I came out to fill the gas tank, and pack the extra fuel." Tim answered casually.

Tim had readied himself before the others, so had attended to the party's gasoline requirements while they had been busy packing. He had syphoned enough fuel from the other two vehicles to fill the gas tank of Kevin's sedan, and enough Jerry cans to ensure they would have adequate fuel to make the return trip. He had also brought along equipment which would compliment his role for the duration of the journey. Tim would be responsible for maintaining the vehicle's operational capabilities while in transit. He had assembled a bag of essential tools and supplies that could be utilized to return their transportation to a road-worthy status, should something fail. Tim had also adhered to Clay's instructions, regarding appropriate armament for combating the infected. He had procured for himself a box of shotgun shells which had been found in the apartment building, as well as having a shotgun, whose barrel had been shortened to make it more conducive to tight maneuvering. Tim had also brought along the four-pound sledgehammer which he had carried on their trip to the lumberyard. Tim, while being a large man, had chosen such a lightweight hammer because it would allow him to recover faster from an attack, and would fatigue him less should an encounter last more then a few minutes.

"Mel, what's in our bag?" Clay asked, turning to Melanie who was currently loading her pack into the back seat of the four-door sedan.

"About five-hundred rounds of twenty-two caliber ammunition, a few bottles of water, the trickle charger that Tim gave me, and another bag for you." she replied.

Clay had made it clear to Mel, that she was required to pack lightly. He had a gun cabinet of his own at home and they would need to be able to carry everything he had been storing inside of it.

"Good. And weapons?" Clay asked further, intending that the group should encounter no surprises while outside of the department store.

"My rifle and a machete. I know it's not exactly great for crushing skulls, but with a couple swings, I'm pretty sure I could lop a head off with it. It's also the only thing that I can comfortably swing." she answered.

"Good. It'll have to do and it's better then being unarmed. If it comes down to it, swing low and try to disable your attacker. They might not feel pain, but they won't be capable of walking if you split a leg muscle in two." Clay replied.

"A shotgun and a hatchet... And I'm carrying your canoe pack because it contains everything we need to survive, if we get stranded and have to walk back." Jamie said, appearing out of no where from behind the group.

"I figured that you were going to ask anyway..." he continued.

"Good. You're ready, then?" Clay asked to Jamie.

"Sure am." he replied, while handing Tim his newly modified shotgun.

"Alright then. If everyone is ready to move, let’s get loaded up. Remember to unroll the windows and keep the muzzle of any loaded firearm pointed outside." Clay said.

Tim sat himself into the driver's seat of the sedan, placing his hammer on the floor, with its long handle coming up between his knees and tucking his unloaded shotgun between the seat and the closed door. Melanie and Jamie, both began unrolling the rear windows before entering the car and sat themselves into their respective seats after they had finished; Melanie sitting directly behind Clay and Jamie behind Tim. Clay and Kevin were all who now remained outside of the car.