Tales of the Derry Plague , Anselmo, Ray [fun to read txt] 📗

Lock the doors. Pull out the gun. Safety off. Hammer cocked. But it wasn’t scaring off the big brute outside, rapping on the window. Tap-tap-tap-tap …

“No. You can’t come in. Leave me be.”

Tap-tap-tap-tap …

“NO! Stop! I just want to live! Is that too much to ask?”

Tap-tap-tap-tap …

“Aaah!” Her eyes opened, then shut in pain. It was getting light out. She’d gotten through the night after all, even if her soul felt scraped up by all the grit her sleeping mind had thrown at her. They were just dreams. They couldn’t hurt her –

Tap-tap-tap!

She looked left, saw something big and dark out her side window, and almost jumped out of her skin. She started to scream and couldn’t stop.

“Ma’am? Ma’am, are you okay?”

Her scream wound down like an old phonograph that had just been turned off. She blinked rapidly, trying to decode what she was seeing and hearing.

“Ma’am?” Tap-tap-tap.

“Rufus, are you scaring strangers again?”

“Not trying to, but I think I did anyway. Ma’am, are you all right in there? We, uh, we come in peace …”

Laughter. “‘We come in peace’? What, you think she’s an alien? At least show her your face – all she can see is your big gut.”

“Oh. Right.” Suddenly she was face to face with a big black guy in a black shirt and slacks, who appeared to be cringing. And had the voice of a stereotype interior decorator. “Sorry to frighten you, ma’am. Just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

It’s okay, I was frightened before you got here, she thought. “I’m all right,” she squeaked.

“Good.” The other voice was attached to a redheaded woman about her size and age, wearing the same black as the big man. “If it’s okay with you, could you roll down the window? Don’t worry – like Rufus said, we really do come in peace.”

Instinctively, Kelly complied. She opened her mouth to reply – and couldn’t. She swallowed, tried again – was still speechless. She blinked, shook her head, coughed.

“Ma’am, do you need some help with som-”

“You. Are the first. People. I’ve seen. Alive. In over. Two. Months.” She had to force every word out at first, until her voice went to the opposite extreme. “I’vebeenalone allthistime everyoneelsewhereIcamefromisdead IthoughtImightbethelastpersonintheworld IlookedalloverandIcouldn’tfindanybody thenIsawthesignsaying CometoSantaCruz Icamedownhere Iwassoscared Ididn’tknowwhatI’dfind AndnowI’mfreakingout sorryforactinglikesuchanidiot …”

She suddenly found her head trapped between the man’s huge hands. His moon face was inches from hers. “Ma’am? It’s gonna be okay. You’re safe here. Whatever you’ve been through, that’s done. You’re here now. It’s gonna be fine.”

“Rufus …”

Kelly could hear the woman rolling her eyes, but she didn’t look over. She was locked on the big man’s eyes like they were lifelines. “Thanks. I think I needed that.”

“I know I did when I first got here last month. A lot of us did. Hope I was okay invading your personal space and all.”

“That helped too.” Kelly pulled back a bit, and Rufus let her go. “M-my name’s Kelly Sweeney. I’m from Sayler Beach.”

“Hi, Kelly,” the man said. “Where’s Sayler Beach?”

It never failed. “Marin County. About halfway up the coast from the Golden Gate to Stinson Beach, if that helps.”

“Way up there? Sarge, have they sent anyone up there?”

“Marin County, yeah, but not on the ocean side. Did you say you’ve been alone there all this time since the plague hit?”

“Yes, I did. Yes, I have. You’re the first people – well, the first live people – I’ve met since I got sick. I thought it was just the flu but after a week I got up and everyone else in town sorry I’m babbling again …” Kelly giggled nervously.

“It’s okay, ma’am – you’ve probably earned the right to feel a little crazy.” Sarge extended her hand. “Sandra Galbraith. And my partner here who grabs people’s heads to calm them down is Rufus Coty.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

Kelly shook both their hands. “So who are you? The Santa Cruz welcoming committee?”

“Sort of,” Sandra replied. “Mainly we’re the cops. Well, Professor Bayo came up with the name ‘Protective Service,’ since people don’t react as negatively to it as ‘police.’ But we keep the peace, break up fights, cope with criminal activity, bring lost kids home. Calm down folks who freak out after being alone for months. Protect and serve. Thus the name.”

“We do our best to be non-confrontational,” Rufus added.

“You won’t hurt me?” It was a dumb question. It was also a question she needed the answer to. “No Mad Max stuff?”

“None of that,” Sandra assured her. “The Professor’s goal is to keep the apocalypse as peaceful as he can. We’ve signed on to that.”

“Um … would you mind stepping out of the vehicle, Ms. Sweeney?”

Kelly was stunned by Rufus’ request, but saw no reason not to comply. She unlocked the door and got out. “Do you, uh, need to check me for weapons? I have a pistol, but it’s in the bag there …” She pointed at the passenger seat.

Sandra was making an effort to hold in laughter.

“Nothing like that,” Rufus replied. “Just after all that time by your lonesome, I thought you might need a hug.” He opened his arms.

Kelly stared open-mouthed at the huge black gun with a rifle slung on his back. As a matter of face, she could use one. She fell into his arms and wept in relief.

25

THOUSANDS

Kelly got an actual police escort into Santa Cruz. Sergeant Sandra and Rufus had a motorcycle they usually rode tandem – the chainsaw sound she’d heard in her dream – but Sandra asked if he could ride in the truck back to the city. “Being on there with Rufus is a tight squeeze,” she explained.

On the way, the “Protective Servant” gave her a little background. They were both