Joseph Talluto - Taking It Back

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes. “Charlie, Charlie, Charlie,” I said. “Have a little faith. When have I not had a plan?”

Charlie began to tick off on his fingers. “There was that house in Turley that had twelve ghouls in the basement. There was that store in Oakland that had so many ghouls in it we were on the roof for two days. There was that time in the condos that…”

I interrupted him. “You know, if you’re just going to be negative…” My response was broken by a fusillade of shots coming from outside the gazebo. I plugged my ears from the echoes reverberating in the roof area, and saw Charlie do the same.

Below us, Z’s dropped continuously, carpeting the platform in a pile of grayish flesh. The ones out on the lawn were cut down, and the ones on the stairs tumbled back as their brains were obliterated.

After a little while, the shots faded away. I leaned over as far as I could, but couldn’t see anything due to the overhang of the roof. Shrugging my shoulders at Charlie, I swung down to the railing and looked around. Surrounding the gazebo were about twenty of the townspeople, all holding rifles. When I waved to them, they set up a resounding cheer, which was echoed over at the town hall. Tommy came forward and smiled at me and Charlie, who had swung down beside me.

“You unbelievable sons-of-bitches!” Tommy yelled above the din. I grinned in acknowledgment and thumped Charlie on the back.

“All part of the plan,” I said smugly before Charlie had a chance to reply and worked my way out of the carnage. Looking back at the gazebo, I was stunned at the body count Charlie and I were able to rack up. Piles of bodies marked our retreat and dead zombies littered the once manicured lawn.

I stepped up to Tommy and nodded my thanks. “What took you so long?” I asked.

Tommy shook his head. “You two were so busy playing ‘Kill the Zombie’ that you wouldn’t get out of the way. When you finally jumped up into the rafters we were able to open up.”

“How long were we fighting?” I wondered, looking at my watch.

“About an hour and a half,” said Sheriff Harlan, stepping up to us. “You all managed to draw away the worst of the horde and it took that long to clean up the ones that were left. We’d have been cashed if it weren’t for you two.” Harlan held out his hand. “I’m obliged to you for saving my town.”

I shook his hand, then Charlie did the same. “You’re very welcome Sheriff,” Charlie said.

Sheriff Harlan turned around and belted out orders to the townsfolk. “We got cleanup to do! Get your shovels and your gear! We’re burning tonight!” Harlan moved off to get people moving, leaving us alone.

I turned to Tommy. “What about the rest outside the fence?”

Tommy shook his head. “There’s a bunch, but these folks can handle it. They got baptized by fire today and they’ll be a whole lot stronger for it.”

“We lose anybody?” I asked.

Tommy nodded. “There’s eight that got bit, one that got overwhelmed. Overall, it could have been worse.”

I agreed. “It is worse. Martin and Casey are dead. Casey got dragged off the fence and Martin went after her. I had to shoot Martin myself.”

Tommy’s eyes got wide, then he turned his head down. This was a cost we hadn’t been expecting to bear. I told him what had happened and his response was similar to the anger Charlie and I had expressed. “What the hell was he thinking?” Tommy asked to no one in particular.

I changed the subject. “You got any pistol ammo? I’m out and I don’t like being empty.”

Tommy checked his pack and handed me a handful of cartridges. I reloaded the SIG and had enough for half of a spare magazine. I would load up if we ever got back to the cars we left behind. But for now it would do.

“How come you’re loading up?” Charlie asked.

“I’m going to see Sarah now. You might want to do the same.”

Tommy nodded. “They both saw you draw away that horde and watched the whole fight from the upstairs windows. But they couldn’t see you two climb up, so when the zombies swarmed the platform, it probably looked like you had been overwhelmed.” Tommy pointed to the second story windows.

Charlie looked up for a second, then walked over to Jason to see if he had any ammo for his Glock.

Once we were able to defend ourselves, we walked over to the town hall, shedding zombified clothing as we went. I took off my balaclava, my gloves, and my shirt, leaving me carrying a pile of clothing and a rifle with nothing on but my pants and a t-shirt. We walked around the cars and the piles of dead bodies, the noon day sun not helping with the cleanup efforts. I stepped up to the big oak doors and stopped. I could still hear moans of the dead as they carried over the water from the fence. “I wonder if we should head over there,” I mused.

Charlie laughed out loud and pushed me towards the doors. “You didn’t hesitate to take on hundreds of Z’s, yet you’re scared of one woman?”

“If you’re so brave, give me your Glock before you go see Rebecca,” I retorted.

“Not a chance,” Charlie said.

“That’s what I thought.”

We went inside as people were gathering their things and heading back to their homes. Tommy had told me Jason and a crew of men were checking the town over for strays and would personally check each house before the owners went back. Many people thanked us for what we did and I generally just smiled and said they were welcome, and that I was glad to help. Charlie took my cue and replied in the same manner, staying modest and unassuming. Several women gave us hugs and some of the older tots wanted to touch our weapons, but for the most part people were just glad it was over.

I went up the big marble staircase to the second floor, then went down the hall to the big office on the end. Charlie saw Rebecca in another office and veered off. I stepped to the door and knocked gently.

“Come in.” The voice was soft and inviting and I hoped for the best. I opened the door and saw Sarah standing by the window, watching the cleanup efforts. My M1A was cradled in her arms and for a brief moment I considered drawing my SIG for comfort.

“Hey,” I said.

Sarah turned around and saw me. She put down the rifle and flew into my arms. I held her tightly for several long moments, then kissed her fiercely for several more. When we finally came up for air she rested her head on my shoulder.

“When we couldn’t see you or Charlie anymore, we thought the worst. Then when you came out of the gazebo, I thought my heart would explode.” Sarah raised a tear-streaked face to mine. “Please don’t do that again.”

“Can’t promise that sweetheart, you know I can’t. I have to do what I need to make sure people survive.”

“I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Sarah snuggled against my chest.

I gently disengaged myself from her. “I need to clean up. I’m covered in zombie.”

Sarah smiled. “Give me your clothes. I’ll make sure they get washed.”

I stripped down and passed her my clothes as I changed into spare clothing from my pack. I used water from the bathroom to clean up and bumped in to Charlie on the way back to the office.

“You too?” Charlie asked.

“Yep.”

I went back to the office and Sarah gathered up my stained clothing. “Get some rest. You’ve earned it.”

I didn’t think I was tired until I laid down on the couch in the office. Then exhaustion caught up with me and I fell deeply asleep.

I awoke alone to a dimming sky. I had a pain in my side where my SIG had poked me and I ached in several places, but as my dad always said, “Pain is nature’s way of letting you know you ain’t dead yet.” Wish I had known the old man was a prophet.