Jacqueline Druga - No Man's Land

“So these are the ones that just caught it by the air.”

I shook my head. “Can’t be sure. You know a bite or scratch isn’t the only way. You can get their spit in your eyes or mouth or, well, other ways.”

“Sex.”

“Hannah!”

“I heard the news,” she said. “They told us not to have sex with an infected person. I don’t get why someone would want to do that. Wouldn’t they be afraid the Vee would take a bite out of them?”

“I don’t think that’s what they meant. I think they meant having relations before the person turned but was infected.”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe expire is the best word for it. Maybe the ones that got it from the air are the most violent, but the ones that expire and end. Like this apple that fell from the tree. Pretty soon it would expire and shrivel up too.”

“Wow, that’s pretty prolific and smart.”

“Thanks.”

“And that might be it. Hopefully.”

“If they expire it could end.”

“Yeah, it could.” I took another look at the three women and a man on the ground in the ash people position, then we moved around them and headed for the yellow house.

The winding road created an optical illusion and the house didn’t sit that far back. About ten feet from the pavement was a short fence, more for decoration.

“I don’t think this is keeping any of those things out,” Hannah said. “You suppose they thought it would?”

“I don’t think that was its purpose.” I stared at the house.

“Ain’t much protection from the Vee. They would just bump into it and fall right over. Can’t be more than three feet. Think someone is in there? I do, I hear chickens.”

“Well, if they’re not, we’re having chicken for dinner.”

Hannah laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Like you’re gonna catch a chicken and kill it?”

“I guess you have?”

“Not me, those things are fast. Ever see the movie Rocky?”

“Yes,” I smiled and grabbed the gate. “Let’s go find out.”

“What about her?” Leah pointed back to Leah.

“She’s still at a distance. Let’s go knock on the door.” I pulled the gate.

The front door flung open. “Stop!” a woman hollered. “Don’t move. Don’t move an inch.”

I raised my arms. “We don’t mean trouble. Please don’t shoot.”

“I’m not going to shoot,” she said. “Just don’t step forward. I don’t want you to blow up. I booby trapped the whole front.”

I looked to Hannah and carefully stepped back. “Booby trapped? What is it with you southern women?”

“We take care of ourselves,” Hannah replied.

“Yeah you do.” I peered up when I heard the slam of the screen door. The woman stood there wearing a blue flowered housecoat. A rounder woman, with brass blonde hair that was kind of poofy. She was mature, maybe in her late fifties, early sixties.

“Look, Calvin.” Hannah whispered. “She’s wearing one of those dresses. Ask her for one.”

“Shh.”

“She looks just like my grandma.”

The woman moved her arm about. “Move to the edge of the fence by the tree. There will be another gate. I’ll walk you through the yard so you don’t hit a trip wire,” she said, stepping off the porch.

I lifted my hand in a wave and we headed towards the tree.

“Ma’am,” I said. “I hate to bother you. We didn’t know if the house was empty or not. We have our own supplies…”

“I see that.” She nodded her head at the wagon. “That a baby?” she asked.

“It is. My son.” I cringed when Edward made a little whimper. “We need to stop for the night and rest. We’ll be gone first light. We can even stay in your barn over there. He won’t make much noise.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary.” She opened the gate. “Come in.”

“Thank you, we…” I stopped talking when Hannah, just walked up to the woman and wrapped her arms around her waist. She closed her eyes and smiled as she pressed her head against her. “Hannah.”

“Oh, she is just like my grandma,” Hannah gushed. “So soft. I miss my grandma.”

“Hannah, let the lady go.”

“Just a few more seconds, Calvin.”

“Hannah.”

“Oh, pumpkin.” She returned the embrace to Hannah. “Any time you need a hug, I will give you one. Okay?”

Hannah nodded and stepped back. “I like your dress.”

“Thank you. I don’t usually run around in one. I just hung the wash out back to…” She pointed to the street. “She with you?”

I looked and sure enough, Leah drew close. I was surprised the woman wasn’t shocked or scared.

“Yes, sort of. She tags along. She…. she is… was my wife.”

Seemingly unfazed, the woman nodded, shut the gate and led us to her home.

She introduced herself as Mama Mavis Martin, but we could call her Mama, or Mavis. Everyone always did. For as long as she could remember she was the town mother. Everyone ran to her. That made sense.

It was a mad mixture of things all wrapped up in a surreal package. A picture-perfect small farm, booby trapped perimeters, a body double for Hannah’s grandmother, a kitchen that smelled of cinnamon, complete with a Vee husband named George whom she kept in the fenced in turnaround area by the stable. All of which was present by a woman rocking a house dress serving up apple pie as if we were the new neighbors coming to visit.

The pie was amazing.

Hannah loved it and dumped those apples she picked right on the table. “Take them if you can use them,” she said. “I won’t eat them all before they spoil.”

“You sure?” she asked. “How about I make you something before you leave? Something you can take with you that won’t spoil too fast.”

“Okay,” Hannah said excitedly.

Mavis’ attention was drawn to me when Edward stated to fuss.

“Have you been traveling with the baby long?” she asked.

“Since he was born. That’s only been a couple days.”

“I have a basinet upstairs in the small bedroom. You can put him down. Maybe that’s what he needs. Babies tend to get sore when handled too much. I bet his skin is especially tender. Why don’t you lay him down?”

“That might be a good idea. Thank you.”

“I can show you…”

“No. I’ll go. I’ll find it. Be right back.”

I left the kitchen. I think I needed to see the house, learn the woman. Who was she? Why was she being so nice? I wondered if it was all a set up for something bad, or she was insane?

The bedroom with the bassinet was easy to find. It was at the top of the stairs to the right. I placed Edward in the basinet. He didn’t seem to like it much. He fussed and screamed, his little arms flailing about. His perfect little face, with tiny features, just looked so angry. Like he was pissed at the world. I wanted him to calm down. I needed a break and I was sure Hannah did too.

Thinking maybe if I let him be, he’d go to sleep, I turned to leave the room and Hannah was there. I jumped.

“You scared me.”

“Sorry. You left his binky downstairs. That’ll calm him.” She rushed by me to the bassinette and leaned over. “Hey there little guy. Here you go.”

He let out a few short screams, fighting any satisfaction he may get from the pacifier. Then he finally gave in. He was quiet except for the sucking noise.

“There. All better,” Hannah said with a smile.

“Hannah, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Have a really loud and fussy baby all the time, that’s for sure. Come on, Calvin. Mama Mavis is making tea.”

I stepped out of her way as she dashed by me. “Okay then.” After taking another peek at Edward, I went downstairs.

In my pass through the living room, I paused at the sofa table and looked at all the photographs that were set out. The photos spanned her entire life. From a young hot wife to the loveable looking woman she had become. She had children, lots of them. Five from what I counted. Many grandchildren too. It made me sad to think of her losses.