Z14 (Zombie Rules) (23 page)

             
“Your personal life is none of my business, but I’d certainly like to know your first name.”

             
“It’s Sarah.” She responded after a moment. “But if you call me that in front of the others, I’ll kick your ass. Alright, I’m switching my headset to Los Angeles approach frequency.” He heard an abrupt click as she pulled her jack out of the intercom and plugged it into the radio console. Fred looked at her and smiled, which he realized he had not done in quite a while.

             
We drove up to the truck stop before dawn. I put Macie on the roof of a building across the street. She was armed with my trusty Winchester, which I had found a new scope for. After taking a look at her field of fire, I found an out of the way place to park, and waited. I had the two-way radio on with instructions to Macie only to call if there is an emergency. I knew she was going to get cold, but it couldn’t be helped.

I felt like I only closed my eyes for a
minute, but when my the alarm on my watch went off at five minutes before noon, I realized I had slept for over three hours. Between the hard days of work on the farm and my two beautiful, lustful girlfriends, I found myself needing more sleep to keep my energy up. I started the truck and sped to the truck stop.

             
The Captain and Andie were awaiting me when I arrived. I shook hands with him and began setting up a grill. “I had a cow that died for one reason or another. I managed to get to her before she rotted, so I have some good steaks. I brought a few extra.”

             
“Zach, you are indeed a valuable asset.” The Captain said. Andie stared at me quietly. He looked at her and motioned. “I’m afraid we didn’t bring much, it’s been a hard winter, but we have a few cans of Del Monte vegetables. Andie brought a sauce pan. I believe she can boil them up on the grill.”

             
“It sounds good, Captain.” I said with a nod, but I was thinking, two cans? If a couple of cans of vegetables were the only food product they brought, they really must be hard up.

             
“Oh, and I want you to know, we’ve been successful in rounding up several head of cattle. We’ve got them fenced in and they are doing very nicely.” He said.

             
I nodded. “That is awesome. Your group has been busy.”

             
“Yes indeed.” He responded. “We have definitely made positive strides in these past few weeks. In addition to the cattle, I believe we have eradicated most of the infected bastards in our immediate area. How about you?”

             
I dabbed at my face with the sleeve of my jacket. “We’ve had some small successes. After the coyotes killed our chickens we’ve killed most of them off and fortified the coop. I got a smoke house built, and our garden has done reasonably well. Oh, and we’ve killed some zombies, but we haven’t seen very many, lately.”

             
The Captain held up a finger. “That reminds me. We’ve never discussed the fuel run into Nashville. Did you notice all of the rotting corpses? There must have been thousands of them. There were more dead bodies than there were zombies.”

             
This time I pulled a handkerchief out of my pocket and dabbed my face before speaking. I explained my theory about zombies dying off.

             
“Do you really think they are going to die off completely?” Andie asked.

             
“I do. A human body that is decomposing cannot simply continue to live. Although, I thought they would all be dead by the end of the summer. I was partly wrong, there are still plenty out there, but they are dying off. All of those corpses are proof.” I pondered a moment. “I’m wondering now if these zombies we’re seeing are the result of freshly infected people.”

             
The Captain nodded somberly. “Food for thought, young Zach. Food for thought. What about all of the rodents?” He asked. “Hell fire, there must have been a dozen rats for every corpse.”

             
“Yeah, they’ve got a hell of a food source now and there are no humans out there spreading rat poison. They’re going to be a problem for a while. It’s the same with mosquitos and flies.”

             
We finished our meal in silence. The food was unseasoned and bland. My cooking would never earn a Michelin star, but it was a filling meal nonetheless. After eating, the Captain looked around and grunted contentedly.

             
“I don’t know if it was the fine meal we just had, but I have a good feeling about this place.” He said. “What do you think, Andie?” He asked. I thought back to the last time he asked her opinion. She said I was full of shit and an idiot.

             
“I think it will work.” She said as she looked at me. I looked over at the Captain. He noticed it as well. After a minute, he spoke.

             
“I’m sensing there is something going on between you two. I noticed it the other day as well. Would I be right?” He asked evenly. I spoke first before Andie tried to lie.

             
I set my plate down. “We have a small confession to make to you Captain. After the fuel run and the tense situation at the rendezvous, Andie asked to meet with me. I was skeptical, but agreed. We met a few days later and talked at great length. You’ll have to ask her, but I believe her intentions were to smooth over any perceived conflict between you and me.” He looked suspicious and stared at me.

             
I cocked my head. “To be honest, after the fuel run I was through with you. I got the feeling you were going to try to rip us off, but Andie convinced me otherwise.”

             
His face was without any expression which would give an indicator of his mood. “You thought I was going to steal your fuel? Why would you think that, Zach?” He asked.

             
I met his stare. “Well Captain, your behavior made me suspicious.” I said.

             
The Captain looked at me a long moment before slowly nodding. “Fair enough.” I noted he did not try to defend his behavior. I also had not overlooked the earlier comment where he referred to me as an asset rather than a friend.

             
There was a minute of silence as Andie and I watched the Captain. He sat stoically, fingers interlaced, staring at some unseen object. I was wondering what he was going to do next. Did he have his own sniper hidden somewhere, waiting for the signal to shoot me? He then turned and looked at the expanse of the truck stop. There were abandoned semis and cars scattered throughout the lot. The back lot was completely full of abandoned trucks and there was trash everywhere, along with several corpses.

             
“Have you been inside?” He asked.

             
“Nope.” I said. “I imagine there might be a surprise or two waiting in there.” As if on cue, a couple of zombies stuck their rotting faces up against a plate glass window and began scratching at it. Andie pointed and laughed.

             
“There’s the welcoming committee.” She said.

             
He gave a smile which may or may not have been contrived.

             
“I’ve been in here before, back a few years ago. That is a trucker’s restaurant right there.” The Captain said as he pointed at the window. “Beside it is a fast food restaurant. I always thought that was odd. On the other side is a convenience store. There is a locker room and showers in the rear. The semis park in the parking lot out back.” He looked around while scratching his crotch. “It’s going to take some work.” His thoughts were interrupted by Andie clearing her throat. She pointed at her watch and tapped it with her index finger.

             
“Zach, I’m afraid we’re going to have to leave. We have a meeting of sorts.” He said cryptically. I was curious of whom he might be meeting with, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. Maybe I could meet again with Andie and she’d tell me about it.

             
“No problem. I think I’m going to look around here some more.” I pointed at the zombies. “I’ll take care of those. I don’t think there are any others. Oh, I have some equipment where I can drill out the locks, so I won’t break any of the glass.”

             
“Excellent.” He said. “If I’m going to live here I want all of the creature comforts I can get.” He smiled pleasantly.

             
“Andie, do you have that present for Zach?” I arched an eyebrow as Andie trotted over to their Jeep. She trotted back a moment later carrying a book. I took it and looked at it.

             
“It’s a collection of short stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe.” The Captain said.

             
“My favorite is The Tell Tale Heart.” Andie said as she stared at me intensely. I picked up on the hint.

             
I nodded. “I’ll enjoy reading it. Thanks Captain.” We shook hands and they left a moment later. I stood there a few minutes appearing to be interested in the zombies in the window. I was using an old spy trick. At least, it was in every spy book I had ever read, and I’ve read a lot of them.

             
The plate glass was acting as a mirror. I used the reflection to scan the area behind me. It was a big parking lot, which limited what I could see. I turned around casually and stretched while checking the area. The only thing I saw of concern was the barrel of Macie’s rifle sticking out of the roof scupper. I turned around and pulled my walkie-talkie out of my jacket.

             
“Come in Saigon.” I said quietly. There was a click of the radio. “Your barrel is sticking out.” I turned back and watched through the window reflection as the barrel slowly retracted out of sight. “Good. I’m going to get inside here, clear the zombies, and have a look around. Watch my six, please.” There was a click of acknowledgement.

             
When I used the drill to disable the lock, the zombies obliged me by moving toward the door. I dispatched them quickly and dragged them outside. The rest of the building was devoid of any life forms other than an infestation of mice.

The place smelled horribly due to the rotting food from the restaurants. It made me second guess the logic behind using this place. I tied my bandana around my face and went in.

I scored a coup when I found a case of toilet paper sitting on a closet shelf. I carried the box outside and stood there going over the litany of tasks needing to be done to this place. My thoughts were interrupted by Macie’s voice on the radio.

             
“You’ve got a couple of zombies coming out from behind the building.” She whispered. I drew my weapon and met them as they rounded the corner. A quick two shots and we had two additional dead zombies. Adhering to rule number eight, I dragged them to the middle of the parking lot and stacked them together. I made a decent sized pile on top of them with the ample amount of trash lying around, a little gas, and set them on fire. I watched for a minute.

             
“Okay, I’m heading out.” I said loudly into the radio. Macie clicked in acknowledgement once again. I got in the truck and drove away, stopping once I got out of sight. I changed frequencies on the radio and washed up with hand sanitizer while I waited. Macie waited ten minutes before speaking.

             
“Nobody followed you.” She whispered quietly. I clicked the microphone in acknowledgement, started the truck, and headed back.

             
“Okay, I’m going to paint the rules and we’re done here.” I said into the radio when I stopped in front of the building she was on. She clicked the radio and I saw a ladder emerge from the top a moment later.

             
“How’d it go?” She asked.

             
“Okay, I guess.” I said as I painted the rules on the side of the building she had been hiding on top of. “He’s going to move in there. If it works out, he’ll be a happy camper, king of his own little realm, and we won’t have to worry about him paying us a visit with his crew.” I looked at my work.

             
“You didn’t sign it.” Macie said.

             
“Not yet. Time to add another rule.” I added the following -

Z13
: THEY’RE EASILY DISTRACTED.

             
“Okay, now I can sign it.” I said and added my trademark Z. As an afterthought, I put the initials W-E off to the side. “The Captain will love it.”

             
Macie shuddered. “I don’t know why you like him, Zach. He’s a creep. He’s molesting his own niece and letting the other women be used as whores for Christ’s sake. I should have shot him.” I glanced over at her. She looked like she was serious about it and maybe even regretted not doing it. After a minute she continued.

             
“No, wait. I think I know what it is. He’s like a father-figure to you.” I looked at her and frowned. “I’m serious. Think about it. You real father died when you were a young child. The first real man in your life was Rick. He was a good man and took care of you.” She paused and pushed some hair behind her ear before continuing.