Day 323 - Untitled Zombie Story Chapter 1.4 - (1,169 words)

©Wayne Webb and constantwriting.blogspot.com, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Wayne Webb and constantwriting.blogspot.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

UNTITLED ZOMBIE STORY

By Wayne Webb

CHAPTER 1.4

“We have food and drink in the convoy if you want to come with us?” Ben was being very polite as his mother looked on. If it were not for the very serious situation they were in, it could have been comical. In reality, where they were very uncomfortable already, this just added to the sense of unease with the sudden and miraculous saviors that appeared.

“We have food and drink already, we were just cut off from the storage area.” James said but Derek quickly cut in and tried to play down any concept of large storage.

“We don’t have much so there’s always room to have some, if you have so much yourselves. I mean we’d only have enough for…”

“Don’t worry we’re not interested in your stocks, your stash or whatever. Food production is not a problem, if anything we have too much, we are not interested in taking yours.” Ben waved away the thought as if it were childish.

“I didn’t say you were.” Derek returned with some suspicion. “But it’s interesting that you have raised it.

“Not really.” Interjected Margaret, Ben’s mother and self appointed supervisor. “It’s a common fear in rescues, when we leave them alone and come back to check on them later, they usually decided to join us, but the choice is always on them.”

“You. The choice is on you now. We can take you to the city, where we can guarantee your safety.” Ben said, firmly putting the offer there for them to consider. “As Marg…” his mother shot him a look. “… As Mrs Johnson says, the more suspicious survivors are reticent to join, there have been some problems in the cities, but we’ve solved most of those.”

“Really? Solved? I doubt that.” Derek was looking for reasons to turn them down, James stayed quiet wondering what those solutions looked like and who was a part of their city.

“What city? Where? Which one?”  James was fiddling with the gun that he had not relinquished. So far the new arrivals had not attempted to disarm or make any demands on the brothers, they kept their weapons and were given all the space and freedom they did not expect.

“It’s not … it’s a new city, we are just over fifty thousand residents and we have a new area that we are making the new City. It’s not safe in the old cities, we need more space between people and we need special configurations to keep everyone safe from the Zombies.” Ben’s eyes lit up at talk of the new City.

“Does this place, this new City have a name?” Derek asked, hoping that the name would shed some light on their intentions.

“It’s just the City for now.” Said Margaret.

“The name is up for a public vote next week, we don’t need a name exactly, but we were scouting locations for a new greenfields site so we can start a new City. Fifty thousand is a little too much and we need flat open plains to set up the new City. Since we are on to our second, it’s time to look at distinguishing the two. I like name Stork City, that one is leading in the opinion polls.”

“Opinion Polls? You have what? Television, radio or phones or what?” James was remembering the advantages of living in a City, the things that his home town lacked or at least did not have the scale of to make a difference.

“We have…”

“Why don’t you come and see for yourself? You won’t believe it until you see it.” Margaret seemed much more forceful than Ben, who was trying to be laid back, and she was in full court press. “You won’t believe it, anymore than the other young people who had joined us after being alone and defenseless in the world. Young women…” she looked sideways at Derek. “… or young men?”

“We’ll pass thanks.” Said Derek drily, not commenting on the suggestion that he was looking for something different.

“Hang on a minute, WE haven’t passed OR accepted yet thank you!” the pointed part of his words were directed at his brother, not the people who had saved them.

“Look, we appreciate you intervention, the distracting the undead and shooting them all, that’s great and all…” Derek continued as if James had said nothing, but Ben raised a finger to correct him.

“Um shooting what now? We didn’t shoot the Zombies, they are very much alive, or… well Dead really, but undead in that way… well we didn’t shoot them anyway.”

“We heard you? We heard the gunfire? What do you mean they’re alive? Why are we not … where are they?”

“Oh they’re just over there.” Ben pointed to a nearby corner where they thought the gunfire had been coming from and where the small group of men and one woman had calmly come from.

“I … don’t understand… we heard gunfire. Ducked, I ducked it was so loud I thought you were shooting at us!” James was confused and he looked at his brother who had heard enough.

“I’m going to have a look right now! Don’t try and stop me!” He raised his gun and waved it uncertainly at the small group of four men and a woman, surprised by the lack of worry they were displaying.

“Go ahead, just don’t touch the machines, please? Then we will have problems and we’ll have to … we’ll probably have to shoot them then, but that’s kind of a waste of bullets and they… we’re not swimming in them ok?”

“Ben! Don’t tell them that! We’re well armed thank you, more than enough to take care of them and anyone that comes after us!” Margaret looked more offended than threatened though.

“I’m going!” Derek said and he walked away from them backwards keeping his gun trained on the people, who again looked undisturbed by the threat. A few more feet away and he accepted that they were not bothered by him and he was free to go. Derek waved to James to come with him and reluctantly his brother jogged over to join him and as he did so the group started to follow.

“Hey! Stop there now!” Derek snapped the gun back to aim at them again. “Don’t try anything!”

“We’re not going to try anything! Honestly we’re only here to talk to you and offer you the chance to join us, but if you don’t want to come that’s fine too. You’re not the first to turn us down, won’t be the last either I assume. But there’s not reason for us to stay right here is there, and you are bound to have questions when you see what we’ve done right? So how about we all just chill the fu… how about we all just calm down and walk together?” Ben pulled the f-word from his speech before his mother even got a chance to register it’s presence and bring it up.