Chapter 13
A week after our return Gus and I fueled up the T44 and flew north toward Haven. After a four hour flight we circled the gate leading into Haven. I opened a window on my side of the plane and dropped a nylon tote bag close to the gate. Inside the bag was a letter I had written to Jack, asking him to meet me at the Haven community center the next morning at ten o'clock. After I'd seen the letter picked up we made a low level pass over the compound Rob had been building when I left Haven more than two years earlier. Inside the compound, I dropped a similar package containi0ng a note for Rob to meet me at the Airport about five miles north of his compound as soon as possible. Then we flew north to the airport. Gus made several low level circles around the airport in order to draw as many of the Zombies as possible to us. Gus then made a landing near the control tower and I jumped out and ran to the tower doorway. When I had the door open I heard Gus shut down the aircraft. Gus and I carried our weapons and ammo to the tower. I carried the guns and ammunition to the top of the tower while Gus attached a hasp and lock to the door. As soon as I had everything carried upstairs I started shooting at the Zombies that had started to stumble, crawl, and shuffle toward the airplane. I had taken out four Zombies when Gus finally joined me.
We had a crowd of about twenty Zombies struggling toward the tower when an APC turned onto the runway and started racing toward the tower. The 50 caliber rattled away as the gunner in the APC cut down the remaining Zombies. Gus and I hurried downstairs and Gus fumbled with the lock. By the time we exited the tower Rob and Luther were walking among the Zombies finishing them off using a sledge hammer and a wood maul to crush their heads. Rob walked over to where Gus and I stood and yelled, "Come on out now, Jenny." Suddenly Jenny raced over to me and threw her arms around my neck and sobbed "I didn't think I would ever see you again Uncle Ralph. Stay home for a while now, OK? At least stay until the new baby is born. We are hoping for a girl this time." That's when I noticed that she looked like she was ready to have a baby soon. "When did this happen? And what do you mean this time?" I asked. "And what do you think you're doing out here in that condition?" I added. "I tried to tell her that, but she wouldn't listen to me when she found out it was you." said Rob shaking his head. "Well, is my house open or have squatters moved in?" I asked. "It's still open. You did say you were coming back remember." said Rob. "But for now you can come to our house. The twins can hardly wait to see you." said Jenny. "The twins? Who are the twins?" I asked "Robby and Ralphy, I tell them the story of how Grandpa Ralph saved Bobby and me. Rob tells them stories of your adventures with him too." Jenny said. I laughed and said, "Grandpa...? really?" I shook my head. "And now another one? Don't you ever leave home any more Rob?" I said. Rob grinned and said, "Not, as often as the old days."
I looked over at Gus and he was smiling ear to ear apparently enjoying the banter between my family and me." This is even another personality of yours I haven't seen yet, that of a family patriarch. Grandpa..." said Gus laughing. "Sorry, guys this is Gus he from a little town north of Bakersfield. Gus this is my family Jenny and Rob. This other fellow is Luther. Rob and I found him holed up on a roof top with five women and an old man a few years ago. Gus is here to teach someone to fly that plane so we can have contact with another safe town that I found on my trip. They even have a brewery and I thought of Rob first thing, I pulled the two cases of beer out of the plane and handed them to Rob. Surely all the stores in Chico are out of beer by this time." "Between beer runs you can use the plane to watch for large groups of Zombies that might be wandering around." I told Rob. "We can also do a training class on helicopter flying so you can do search and rescue missions if needed." said Gus.
About 30 minuets later we entered the steel gates leading into Rob's compound. "Damn, this place looks like a castle." said Gus. Rob's walls that he had envisioned of 15 feet were actually between 20 and 25 feet high from the out side. Between the concrete walls and trench it did indeed resemble a castle. "How many can you house in here Rob?" I asked. "We built a dorm style barracks of 45 rooms for the singles with a communal dining hall, kitchen, and recreation area for the occupants. And we have 25 four room apartments for families. We are currently about 40 percent of capacity what people that have continues to trickle in from the country side and excess from Haven. Plus we are getting ready to pour an extension to the perimeter wall to double the compound size without increasing the Garage or storage capacity. We should be able to triple the housing size if needed. But the apartments for Jenny and I and the one she insisted on for you are a little larger." said Rob.
That night Luther and Veronica joined the four of us at Rob and Jenny's. With Veronica's help Jenny prepared a large family meal. Gus said that it had been a long time since he had a good meal with friends and friends to be, instead of just acquaintances or other customers in Fred's Place. Rob said being able to go out and have a good meal with Jenny to enjoy rather that a meal she had to make herself sounded great. Jenny said it sure sounded good to her and a laughing Victoria said she agreed with that. Gus said that when we had a pilot or two trained up he would treat them to a meal at Fred's Place himself. Gus and I told them about life at Wasco, and about the gangs operating out of the Los Angeles Basin. Rob said "If what the McDonalds told you about Palmdale is true there could be lots of other survivor groups" Jenny chimed in, "At least we could try to stop the gangs from capturing and killing and raping people." "Maybe with a few gunships from the AFB and a lot more manpower than we have" said Gus.
"Right now we just need to identify candidates for Gus's flight school." I said. "Tomorrow Gus and I will go over to Haven and see the mayor. Who is the mayor now Rob? Is it still Fred?" I asked "Oh yeah, and he's not likely to give it up for a while. Fred runs things without a committee now, there is just a citizens group that he consults, but it doesn't have any power. When you left, he offered me the job of acting Guard Captain in your absence. I turned him down but I suggested he offer it to Mike Hanson. Remember him? He was one of the kids that went to the power plant with us? Fred said there was no need for a special election until we knew you weren't coming back." laughed Rob.
The following morning Gus and I used Rob's APC to drive to Haven. I didn't recognize either of the guards at the gate leading into Haven. One of the guards was a big guy at least six foot four and 230 pounds. The other guard was much shorter but I didn't recognize him either. "Mister Mason, when did you get back?" The larger of the two guards asked. Seeing my confused look he said "It's me Wally, Bobby's friend." He turned to the second guard and said," Do you know who this is? It's Ralph Mason, the greatest forager in the world. He's gone on countless foraging missions, and he organized the assault and of the defeat of the Power Plant bosses and personally led the over throw of the Committee. This man is a legend. And I have called him friend and been to his house for dinner. He even gave me his APC when he left. Get on the horn and call Commander Hanson." "Slow down Wally, take a deep breath. You've really grown and filled out since I last saw you. How is that sister of yours, Kelly right? I must have heard Bobby say her name a thousand times."
"Kelly never quite got over Bobby's death. She had his baby six or seven months after you left." Wally said. "She had Bobby's baby? Rob or Jenny didn't say anything to me about that." I said. "She didn't want everyone to know whose baby it was. But I figure since you are its Grandfather you need to know." said Wally. "When your shift ends I want you to find me, I'll be at the community center or my house, or I might even be at Jack and Mindies. Just find me, I want to see the baby and talk to Kelly. I told Wally. "Sure thing Mister Mason." Wally said. "Just Ralph to you Wally, since we're almost related now." I said.
Gus and I got back into the APC and started toward the community center. Gus chuckled and said, "Regular nice guy, cold killing machine, Grand father, Family patriarch, revolutionary, and now living legend. You are a man of many faces Ralph... You never seize to amaze me." I just grinned and pulled into the community center parking area. Gus and I walked o
ver to the door leading into the committee meeting hall. "Hey, is anybody here?" I called once we were inside. Fred came walking into the room and said," I didn't think you were ever coming back Ralph. I figured the Zombies had got you by now." "No, a deputy just about got me a few months ago, but the damn Zombies haven't got me yet." I said with a laugh.
"Rob told me you're running Haven without a committee now. How did that come about?" "I liked that line you said to the committee about being the King of Haven so well I thought I'd try it myself." laughed Fred. "But seriously, I have found that you were right about things running smoother when one person makes decisions rather than a bunch of uninformed people on a committee trying to reach a consensus." Fred continued.
The door to the room opened and Jack and Mindie came in Jack grabbed my hand and shook it saying "Hey bud, what the hell have you been up to?" Mindie gave me a hug and said, "Welcome home Ralph. I hope you stay for a while." "I certainly hope to Mindie there seems to a lot of new people here that I want to get to know." I said.
"I looked back at Fred and said, "This gentleman with me is Gus Witherspoon. If we could all sit down for a while Gus and I have an offer for you. Gus is a pilot that I met while traveling down south. He flew me back up here and has offered to train a couple of people to fly an airplane. Gus is from the town of Wasco. I stumbled upon Wasco, a small town north of Bakersfield while I was looking for some fuel. But finding Wasco was a real jackpot find. Wasco has a current population of over 500 people and a real doctor. They even have a limited medical facility.
I have reason to believe there are several other surviving communities north east of Los Angles as well. There may be other people that you could find in them, that would be helpful in training or rebuilding society as we knew it. So, if you are interested Gus will interview candidates for pilot training. Rob has indicated that he will put together a list of people from his compound that would like to learn to fly. Gus has agreed to remain here for two or three months and train. He can also fly helicopters. Helicopters could be useful in repelling attacks as well as search and rescue missions." While you gentlemen talk business, I'll go home and start lunch. Jack will bring you by for it, OK?" said Mindie. "Sure, I'd like that." I said.
After Mindie left, we sat down at the council table. We discussed the advantages of an aircraft and having the ability of communicating with other enclaves of survivors. "I'll put together a list as soon as possible. I can have something for you tomorrow, if that's soon enough." said Fred. "As long as you have a list for me to look at in a of couple days that will be soon enough. I need to interview the people Rob has selected as well. I should be able to train about half a dozen pilots in the next couple of months. After I interview the volunteers I'll make my selections of the candidates." said Gus. We all stood up and said our goodbyes then Gus and I took off for Jacks house, where Mindie had promised us lunch. On our way out the door we met Wally who was just coming in. "Well I've finished my shift. Would you like to come with me and meet little Bobby?" Wally asked. "We were just going for lunch at my house. Care to join us?" asked Jack. " No thanks but I need to get home and check on Kelly. You know how my dad can get." said Wally."I'm sorry but I need to go with Wally. I'm really sorry, give my apology to Mindie Jack but there is something Wally and I need to do first. Why don't you take Gus and you guys can get to know one another. After I see Kelly I'll come back over to your house and see you and Mindie." I said to Jack.