The Death: The Complete Trilogy Page 11

  “What happened? The mayor made it sound like something happened,” Devin pressed.

  “Oh, some survivors, envious because my entire family survived, came sniffing around thinking I had some type of cure. I told them I didn’t. Hell, no one has a cure for this damn thing. If the president of the United States can get sick and die from this, I can’t imagine who has some way to prevent from getting this shit,” Daryl answered and paused as his memory went back to that moment. “They kept telling me to give them a cure. Let’s just say it went sideways and got violent. One of them broke into my house, and I shot them, killed them. I had no choice, you see. I didn’t want to kill anyone. It never was my intention, but they broke in, threatened me and my family. What would you have done?”

  Devin didn’t have to think about his answer. If someone would have asked him seven months ago, his answer would have been long and nuanced, but not now. “I would have done the same thing. Shot them, period.”

  Daryl looked at Devin and smiled, feeling happy that this stranger agreed with his actions.

  Devin had the answer he was looking for. Daryl had been the ready one, and those who weren’t came looking to him to help. He didn’t and, bam, conflict. Typical human nature. There was something else that Devin wanted to know, though. “Who are these Raiders?"

  Daryl shifted in his seat, stared at Devin and said, “They are some very bad people.”

  “I know that. Who are they? Who is Turner?”

  “Matt Turner is the man behind Turner’s Raiders, but he’s also the man behind the Ozark Republic. The Raiders are essentially his army. They go from town to town taking what they want. Turner claims he’s liberating survivors and has even targeted regional FEMA camps. At first what he was doing sounded great to some, he brought a welcome certainty to uncertain times, but things changed.”

  “I’m sorry, but the Ozark Republic, what is that?” Devin asked.

  “It’s Matt Turner’s country.”

  “Country?” Devin asked in a mocking tone.

  “Hey, don’t look at me that way; I’m not supporting it, just stating the facts as I know them. Some guy named Matt Turner comes out of the ashes of this mess, gets a following that turns into an army, and proclaims the land he controls is now his country.”

  “So what are the boundaries of this Ozark Republic?”

  “I don’t really know, but I’ve heard reports from passersby that it encompasses Missouri, parts of Kansas, Arkansas and Illinois. What’s odd is some people even claim Turner is dead and his second in command is still using the name, hence why the change in tactics.”

  “Oh my God, that’s crazy. I had no idea this was going on.”

  “It’s one theory after another around here. Some are total out-on-a-limb crazy loony tunes conspiracy theories too.”

  “Let me guess, about the origins of the virus?” Devin put forth.

  “You got it. Everyone has their theories; me, I don’t care, and it doesn’t matter. I knew one day the shit would hit the fan, and here we are, two strangers talking about crazy people like Matt Turner, most of the world is dead, and we’re concerned about a rogue army coming through town. Imagine the looks people would have given me if I told them this was going to happen.”

  Devin chuckled at the irony put forth by Daryl, but it was true. If someone would have sat him down and laid out exactly the events as they happened, he would have told them to go fuck off.

  “Have you heard of other groups?”

  “Yeah, there’s rumors the northwest has split off and factions back East are causing trouble, but what’s noticeable is the absence of the federal government in all of this.”

  “I was about to say, besides the FEMA camps, where is the Army, the Marines?”

  “Some say they’re all dead too and things just fell apart, but another rumor is they’re all in Colorado, up in the mountains, protecting the elite.”

  Exhausted by the theories, Devin relaxed into the seat. In some ways it didn’t matter where everyone was now, because if they hadn’t come to help before, they weren’t coming now, especially if they needed it from Turner’s Raiders.

  “So, what are your plans?” Daryl asked.

  “Like I said, get my friend patched up and we’re off, out of your hair.”

  “I hope you understand that my pointing a gun at you earlier wasn’t personal. I just don’t like strangers coming to my door.”

  “No need to apologize, I understand. I did the same thing when Tess showed up at my door.”

  “Ha, really? I don’t feel bad now. Listen, let’s get back and see how’s she’s doing.”

  “Sure.”

  Daryl started the truck, and they pulled out and headed out of town.

  As they passed a storefront, Devin saw a few townspeople. The stern looks on their faces told him everything; there was not a lot of love for Daryl. Devin had the innate ability to understand both sides of situations. This worked for him before, but those were different times. It was apparent that Daryl was prepared and the others weren’t. In this world, taking the side of those who had resources seemed like the safe bet, at least as long as surviving this was part of his plan.

  Needing some private time, Devin took refuge on the back deck. The evening sunset and cool breeze eased his mind enough to start to think about his next move. As he sat rocking in the old wood rocker, he examined the grounds behind the house. Calling it a yard was an exaggeration; it was more like a garden with small sheds surrounding it and a greenhouse at the far end. Next to the greenhouse sat a chicken coop, and by the sounds coming from it, Devin imagined it housed a decent number of chickens. As his eyes completed the inventory, he saw something that was becoming commonplace for survivors, a graveyard much like he and Tess had made for his cousins in Decatur. Seeing this brought him back to his time there and to Cassidy. The old phrase that time heals all wounds isn’t true, he thought as the pain of losing her and not getting a chance to see her one last time always ached in his chest. Again, the images he saw splashed on every television were seared into his mind.

  The screen door creaked, breaking Devin’s somber thoughts. He looked over and saw Daryl holding a bottle and two glasses.

  “You drink?” Daryl asked.

  “Does the pope wear a pointy hat?”

  Daryl lumbered over and sat in the rocker next to Devin, pulled the top off the bottle of whiskey, and poured a couple ounces into each glass.

  “Here,” Daryl said, handing Devin the glass.

  “Thanks, what is it?”

  “Templeton Rye whiskey, it’s the best stuff,” Daryl answered as he held the glass out.

  “Cheers,” Devin answered as he tapped his glass against Daryl’s.

  Daryl sat back and took a large sip and muttered his pleasure in the drink.

  Devin followed suit and tipped his glass back. The warm whiskey hit his lips, then his tongue and flowed down his throat. He wasn’t much of a whiskey drinker before, but nowadays he wasn’t one to be picky.

  “Let me guess, you have cases of this stuff?” Devin asked.

  “Using your charm, I’ll just say, does a bear shit in the woods?”

  “Ha, it’s good, I’ll tell you that.”

  “Damn right, it’s good stuff.”

  Both men relaxed into their seats, enjoying the whiskey without a word coming between them.

  Devin thought Daryl’s behavior was odd in retrospect compared to how he acted upon their arrival. Maybe he was enjoying the company, as it appeared he had no friends in town.

  “How long you lived here?” Devin asked.

  “About forty years, I was born and raised here.”

  “Same house?”

  “No, I grew up about three miles from here.”

  Out of habit Devin asked, “Your parents still around?”

  “That’s them back there with my oldest. They didn’t make it,” Daryl answered, pointing towards the graveyard.

  Devin felt bad about asking.

&nb
sp; “Your lady friend is doing much better. My wife and her are like two long-lost friends back there,” Daryl said.

  “Tess is awake?”

  “Yeah, been awake for an hour now, since just after you came out here.”

  “I should go check on her,” Devin said as he sat up.

  “Stay a bit, the ladies are having fun. It’s been a while since my wife has had another woman to talk to. Poor thing has been trapped here for six months now.”

  “I can’t thank you enough for helping us out. I realize how difficult it was and understand that it’s a fucked-up world out there.”

  “My pleasure, I apologize again for being an asshole, but I can’t just let anyone in here.”

  “I have to admit, after what I found out today regarding the townspeople; I’m surprised you did help us.”

  “You should really thank my Mary. If she hadn’t argued for you, you wouldn’t be here now.”

  Devin leaned back in the chair and said, “I’ll thank Mary, then.”

  “That dog of yours is really smart. What’s his name?”

  “Brando, and yes, he’s smart, human smart or better.”

  “He’s good with kids too; my boy won’t stop hugging him.”

  “You’ll have to forgive me, but I forgot your boy’s name.”

  “Hudson.”

  “That’s right, Hudson.”

  “He’s a good boy, but more of a momma’s boy right now. He’s never been the same since he lost his big sister.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Sorry? You had nothing to do with it. This fucking Death is to blame and wherever it came from. Not sure if we’ll ever know for sure how or where, but that’s what took my baby girl and my parents along with ninety percent of the world, they say.”

  Wanting to move past this discussion quickly, Devin changed the subject, “Daryl, just so you know, as soon as Tess can move, we’ll be on our way.”

  Daryl took another sip and answered, “Don’t worry about that now. Stay as long as you need.”

  “We won’t be doing that; we’ll need to get moving as soon as she can.”

  “Get moving to where?”

  “North Carolina.”

  “What the hell is in North Carolina?”

  Devin took another long sip, sat the glass down and said, “Hopefully an answer to why this all happened.”

  Day 188

  April 7, 2021

  Denver International Airport

  Lori again found herself looking for the coveted spot to sit in the cafeteria. She scanned the packed room, but not a seat seemed vacant. She began her slow walk through the maze of tables when she heard someone call her name.

  “Lori, here!”

  She turned to see the handsome Marine captain from yesterday waving her over.

  She hesitated at first but knew finding another spot could take time, and after her encounter with him yesterday, he seemed harmless but informative.

  “Good morning, Captain,” she said with a broad smile across her face.

  “Good morning to you.”

  She sat opposite him and immediately began to peck at her food. Again, her shyness appeared as it had yesterday.

  “So what happened yesterday? You took off in a hurry, and by the way, your nostrils flare when you’re angry,” he teased.

  She looked at him and said, “They do?”

  “Yeah, hasn’t anyone told you that?”

  Sensing he was flirting with her, she quickly changed topics. “I want to say I’m sorry for being so rude. Just what you said upset me, and I have this incredible knack for needing to know everything.”

  “It’s all right. So did you find the answers you were looking for?”

  “I got more than I was looking for,” she answered as she took her fork and jabbed a sausage link.

  He looked at her left hand and noticed the ring. “Where’s your husband?”

  Her head still down, she too looked at her ring and answered, “He’s with my son, back in a camp not fifty miles away from here.”

  Sensing she was uncomfortable about that subject, he pivoted to something less sensitive. “You like to watch movies?”

  “Um, yeah, I guess about as much as the next person.”

  “Have you heard about the weekly movies they show up in C Terminal?”

  “No, I haven’t. They have things like that?”

  “Yeah, gotta have some downtime and entertainment, even during the apocalypse.”

  “I guess that’s true. Just seems odd to watch a movie from before all of this without thinking about what was lost.”

  “I see your point.”

  “They also have a bar up on C if you’re ever interested in joining me and some of the fellas.”

  Lori stopped poking her food and looked at him. “Captain Priddy, you seem like a really nice guy, but if your motives are for something more than just hanging out, I suggest you go looking somewhere else for that.”

  Travis was struck by her candid response; he leaned back in his chair, eyes widened and smiled.

  She could tell her direct comment hit its mark, and she was fine with it. After what happened yesterday at the chancellor’s office and what she had to go do tonight by going to dinner with him, she didn’t need more men sniffing around her.

  “Um, ha, you’re a pistol, aren’t you? You just seem alone here, I thought—”

  “I don’t mean to bark, but I have one job to do here, and that’s to get the plans and architectural sketches completed for Arcadia. The faster I can do that, the faster I’ll be reunited with my family.”

  “Sorry, my intention wasn’t—”

  Again, she cut him off, “I wasn’t born yesterday, Captain. I have no issue sitting here and joining you at times for meals, but I just want to make myself clear.”

  “Crystal.”

  “Good, now we can be friends.”

  Her voice had been raised a tinge above her normal tone, and that caught the attention of the other Marines sitting at the table. When she had finished talking, all eyes were on them both, watching curiously to see if their conversation was going to be something more dramatic.

  Travis saw this, turned to the junior officers, and snapped, “Mind your own business.”

  Lori’s intentions weren’t meant to upset him but to make sure he had a clear understanding of who she was and where she stood, especially as it pertained to her marriage.

  “Captain Priddy, where are you from?”

  “California, San Diego, to be exact.”

  “I love San Diego, so much to do there, and the weather is perfect.”

  “I agree, me and my brilliance had a chance to be stationed there, but I thought it better to go somewhere new. I just didn’t know Camp Lejeune would be…” He paused to think. “I guess the most polite way to put it would be different than SoCal. I like it, but the damn humidity just sucks.”

  “That it does. I could never live out East just because of that, especially in the south.”

  “Captain Priddy, don’t forget we have formation in ten,” one of the junior officers said at the table as he stood up with the others.

  Travis looked at his watch and said, “Oh shit. Lori, always a pleasure, but it’s time for us to get our shots.” He stood up, tray in hand, and looked down on her.

  “Till next meal, then?”

  “Yes, of course, or maybe we’ll see you up at the Cockpit sometime.”

  “The Cockpit?”

  “That’s the bar in C Terminal.”

  “Right.”

  The other Marines, tired of waiting, walked off towards the exit.

  He watched them but couldn’t leave until he said one last thing for clarification, “Lori, please don’t take my—”

  “Stop right there, no need to explain. I just wanted to make sure we had an understanding.”

  He nodded, thankful that she took away the sting of her earlier comments. “Well then, see you later, and have a great day.”
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br />   He walked off, but she stopped him by asking, “Captain, what do you mean about getting shots?”

  “We get them every month like clockwork.”

  “Why?”

  He looked at his watch and back at her. “Maybe I’ll tell you if you pop your head into the Cockpit sometime.” He turned and hurried off.

  “Lori, Lori, Lori, don’t even think about it,” she said to herself, referencing any temptation of going up to the Cockpit. Although she was curious about the shots he mentioned. She hadn’t received any, nor had she heard about anyone else getting them. Her thoughts turned to the possibility that the government had some sort of vaccine and was giving it to the troops first, as an experiment. Not necessarily out of the realm of possibility, but then again, why give something potentially harmful to a group of value, like the troops. No, that didn’t make sense, she thought. Her head was now swimming once again with ideas and theories. Quickly she dashed them, she needed to focus on the job at hand, and that was to get her work done on Arcadia. Not able to eat another morsel, she got up from the table and headed out to get working on the one thing that ensured her family’s survival, Arcadia.

  Jenks Residence, Reed, Illinois

  Feeling he needed to contribute to Daryl and his family for what they had done, he offered to do whatever job they had for him.

  Mary seized on that offer and sent him to the garden to pull weeds and water.

  As Devin worked, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee hit him like a slap in the face. He was excited at having a cup, especially after spending a couple of hours working in the garden with Mary.

  Tess exited the house onto the deck and hollered, “Who wants a cup of coffee?”

  Mary looked up and replied, “Sounds great, but I’ll have a tall glass of water first.”

  “Sounds perfect,” Devin said.

  They both walked out of the garden together.

  Devin’s jeans were relatively clean, but the sweat stains on his shirt showed the labor he had just completed. Taking off the gloves, he tossed them on a small table next to the back deck and climbed the steps.

  There Tess said, “Good morning.”

  “Hi, good morning to you too.”