Crystal stepped forward. “I’ll give it a shot,” she said, and laughed. “No pun intended.”

“Ah, but a funny one at that,” Jason said, and handed her the rifle. “Here you are, dear.”

Crystal aimed and fired. “Huh. Got ‘em.”

“Nice shooting, nice.” Jason clapped.

Crystal took three more shots. “Okay, yeah, this is fun.”

There was nothing fun about it. My stomach rolled. Killing the things to survive was one thing, but making a game out of it, a mockery of what we were against, seemed wrong. They had been people.

My ex-wife had been staring at photos of our kids. She was a zombie, but she somehow held onto to some part of her that still possibly felt or thought of being loved.

The others didn’t know this. I hadn’t found the right time to share some of my suspicions.

“Who’s next?” Crystal said, holding the rifle out to anyone.

Charlene took a step.

I grabbed her wrist. Didn’t want it obvious to everyone that I was stopping her.

She caught on, stepped back, stood next to me, and stayed still.

Jason took the rifle, offering it to Spade. “How about you? Not much of a challenge for someone of your skill and training, I’m sure. But, just the same, might feel good getting out some of that pent up anger.”

“And what makes you think I’m angry?” Spade said.

“In today’s world, soldier, who among us isn’t angry?”

“Coffee’s ready,” Jeremy called up to us.

Jason and Spade seemed locked in a staring contest, neither moving a muscle.

Jason gave in first. He aimed it out the window. Five quick shots fired. “Hmm. There we are.”

He lowered the rifle and leaned it against the wall.

“Coffee is ready,” Jason said. He wove his way between us and left the room.

“We’re getting out of here,” Spade said. “In the morning. You all get some sleep tonight. I’ll keep watch.”

“Watch over what?” Sues said. “You heard them. No way can zombies get in here.”

Spade sucked in a deep breath. “Isn’t zombies I’m worried about tonight.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I showered before bed. Stood under the spray for as long as I thought allowed. Others wanted in, so I did not want to use all the hot water. Easily could have, but I refrained. The smell of shampoo and Irish Spring soap was in and of itself, invigorating. The dried dirt took serious scrubbing to remove. I had to keep swiping my foot to clear mud from over the tub drain.

After toweling off, I took advantage of the situation, and found an unused razor and shaving cream. Always hated shaving, always. On that night, I reveled in it, enjoying each pass of the blades over my skin. Splashing hot water on my face afterwards, felt both comforting and soothing.

Someone knocked on the door. The moment was chased away.

“Dad, you take longer than me!” Char stepped into the bathroom as I left with a towel wrapped around my waist. “And don’t walk around like that. No one wants to see your chest hair, geesh!”

I raised my eyebrows as she closed the door, and went to the bedroom Allison, Charlene and I would share for the night. In the few short steps I took from one door to the next, I’ll admit I was fooled.

Caught believing this was normal. Like we were on a vacation. The three of us staying over at some bed and breakfast in the Thousand Islands. In the morning, we’d fish, and walk to town for ice cream.

The illusion didn’t immediately vanish. When I walked into the bedroom, Allison was there, smiling.

“Jason brought you a change of clothes. That dress shirt, and vest coat.  Gave you a pair of  jeans, too,” Allison said.

“That was thoughtful.”

“Guess, we don’t have long. Shut that door, drop that towel and get over here,” she said. Demanding. I loved it.

“Good thing, I don’t think it will take long,” I said. Never one to disobey orders, I did as instructed.

#  #  #

Monday, November 2nd -- 0913

“Rise and shine.”

I opened my eyes, expecting either Allison or Charlene to be the one waking me. “Spade?”

“Brothers have been up since dawn. Got bacon on a griddle, scrambling up eggs. Jeremy’s making biscuits. They wanted to me to come wake everyone up,” he said.

“You get any sleep?” I said.

Allison sat up, while Charlene rolled away from us, pulling blankets over her head.

“Not a wink,” he said, and winked. Ironic.

“Hey, man, what’s going on here?” I said.

Charlene lowered the blanket and looked at us.

“Oh, they are up. Hurry down or everything will get cold.” Jason leaned in the open doorway. “I’ll wake the others.”

“Just follow my lead,” Spade said, in a whisper.

I nodded.

We got out of bed, about to leave the room, when I stopped and strapped on my weapons. Allison and Charlene grabbed their rifles and handguns.

“Wonder if they have holsters. Tucking this Glock in my waistband, not so comfy,” Charlene said.

“Stay close, you two,” I said.

“What’s wrong here,” Charlene said.

“I don’t know but I feel it. Spade does, too.” I took in a breath and sighed. “After we eat, though, I am going to go out back. I am going to bury Cash--”

“I want to help,” Charlene said.

“Me, too. We should do it together,” Allison said.

I pursed my lips, hoping it resembled a humbled smile. “Okay. That’s a good idea. Together.”

We walked out of the room. The aroma wafting up from the kitchen was immediate. “Bacon,” Charlene said.

“Poor Erway,” Allison said.

“I’ll eat the eggs, I guess.” Erway startled us.

I spun around. “Scared me.”

“Sorry about that. How’d you guys sleep?”

“Well,” Allison said.

“And that’s everyone.” Jason closed bedroom doors as he passed them.

“Good morning, everyone.” Crystal scratched at a mop of hair. “Where’s Elysia?”

“Palmeri?” Erway said. “She went down earlier. She did not sleep well. Tossed and turned all night.”

“Didn’t bother me,” Crystal said.

“Kept me up,” Erway said.

We went down the stairs. Our Bed & Breakfast had a home cooked meal waiting, and I’d just bet a day full of activities!

I needed to keep my head on straight. Couldn’t allow myself to be sucked into this Never Never Land the Terrigino brothers created.

We took the same seats around the large table. Erway joined us, fitting in on a folding chair at a corner by where Jason sat.  The spread took up a lot of the center of the table. There were even two jugs of orange juice, and one of milk. Two oil lamps burned at either end. Gave the whole room a rather relaxing ambiance.

Never Never Land was damned appealing. No doubt about it.

“So,” Jason said as he reached for a piece of crisp bacon. “What are your plans?”

The question was vague, and was not seemingly directed at anyone in particular. “I would like permission to borrow shovels so I can bury my son,” I said.

No one moved.

“Of course,” Jason said. “If you would like, we have a tree out back. Provides lot’s of shade in the summer months. It’s tall, strong. You are more than welcome to use the ground around it, if you’d like.”

“That sounds wonderful. Thank you, I appreciate it,” I said.

He smiled. “Of course. And Jeremy and I would like some volunteers.”

Spade cocked his head to one side. “Volunteers?”

“Need a small hunting party. Dinner doesn’t grow on trees. However,” he held up a finger, “it can often be found running along the branches.”

I heard Jeremy laugh from the kitchen. The door swung open. “Biscuits are just out of the oven. Hot, hot, hot. You can cut ‘em open and lay a slab of butter in there. It should melt without spreading it. In my opinion, they are so good that they don’t even require butter, but that’s just me.”