We debated for a couple of days as to what we were going to do. I favored going up to Leport by myself and talking with Nate, while Charlie and Tommy thought it would be a good idea for more of us to go. Eventually it was decided that we all would take a trip to see old friends and acquaintances. Sarah and Rebecca were delighted to be heading back to Leport and I had to admit, I was looking forward to seeing some familiar faces as well. It had been a long winter and we needed to shake off the cabin fever that always came from too much cold weather.
As we carried our belongings down to where the boat was docked, a telltale moan wafted across the parking lot. All of us tensed as we looked for the source and Charlie finally spotted the lone Z working its way through the dense brush at the western edge of the main parking lot.
We waited for a moment and determined that it was alone. I waved on the rest of the crew and put my supplies down. I took off my backpack and rifle and after a moment’s consideration, I put down my trusty pickaxe. Drawing just my knife, I walked quickly to the stumbling zombie. It groaned loudly and raised a hand in my direction. It was in better shape than some I had seen, making it a more recent convert to the undead. As I approached, its mouth opened in anticipation of a meal, baring dirty white, chipped teeth.
I dodged its outstretched arm, sweeping it aside with my left hand while bringing my knife hand up to bear. The zombie stumbled and in the second it took for the Z to regain its balance, I slammed the heavy tanto blade into its skull. The ghoul stiffened and I twisted the blade, scrambling its eggs. The corpse dropped and I pulled out my knife as it fell. Walking back to my stuff, I wiped off the blade and set flame to it with a lighter, burning away the virus.
Picking up my things, I noticed my entire crew was watching from the boat dock. Charlie was standing on a small rock, lowering his rifle as I came nearer.
Duncan spoke first. “Nice one. You make it look almost easy.”
I nodded ruefully. “I wish I didn’t. “
Tommy looked at me. “Why not?”
I tossed my gear into the boat. “Because it means I’ve been killing them for a long time. Takes something from you, you know?”
Everyone nodded, then boarded the boat, stowing gear below decks and making sure there wasn’t anything for the kids to get into.
We pulled away from the dock and pointed the bow north and as we passed Eagles Nest, I was reminded of the note that first brought me here, over a year ago. I was searching for my brother and we managed to figure out he was here, waiting for me. Charlie and I realized what a great home this could become so we packed up our women, our kids, and the few belongings we had and made it our home. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else and as we pulled along the river, I began to think more of why we were making this journey and what the future might bring.
I was frowning into the breeze when Tommy came up and sat down next to me. We were passing the nearby towns and making our way to the big turn which would take us past Joslin.
“Gonna be nice to see some people again,” he stated, watching the edge of the water. His blue eyes narrowed slightly and I looked to see what had attracted his attention. We both relaxed when a squirrel leapt from a tree to the water’s edge.
I nodded, keeping my eyes to the shore. “Seems like we’ve been gone a long time, but when you seriously look back on it, it wasn’t so much.”
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “But it’s been busy. Listen, can I ask you a question?” he queried.
I turned to look at him. It seemed odd to me that Tommy was hesitant to talk to me. Normally he just shot his mouth off and took the consequences as they came. It was one of the things I liked about my friend. “Sure, fire away.”
“What are we going to do after this is over?” Tommy looked intently at me and for once, I didn’t think he was goofing around.
“What do you mean?” I asked, not understanding his question.
“I mean, what are we going to do after we travel thousands of miles through zombie infested territory, encountering who knows what kind of survivors, heading off this ‘Major’, and rescuing the Founding Documents? What then? Assuming we survive, of course.”
I had to admit he had me stumped. I hadn’t thought that far ahead and told him so.
Tommy shook his head. “Not good enough, brother. You can hold off the rest with answers like that, but you and me have been through too much for me to even think you haven’t thought ahead.”
I smiled and looked back to the passing river shoreline. “All right. You got me on that one. I did think a little about it and I do have something that resembles a plan, but we got a whole lot to do first.”
Tommy stood up and clapped me on the shoulder. “I figured. Knowing you, it probably involves some sort of fire.”
I laughed. “Ain’t tellin’.”