However you criticized and demeaned racist Christian rednecks, Donna told herself, she had found they were the fiercest fighters in the world. There was no way they'd desert you in battle, and they'd go down to hell with a club and a gun and never stop trying to protect your exposed backside as long as they could still breathe.
Heading directly into the center of town where they hoped to find a perfected last stand, they turned into a street filling with zombies. Hundreds of dead faces turned in their direction. Their eyes blazed red in the truck's headlights. Opening their mouths in what must have been their inhuman attempt to feed, the animated dead rushed at the truck with their arms outstretched in their signature zombie stagger. The driver slammed the truck into reverse and peeled rubber until it reached the corner and spun sideways before he again slammed it back into forward and breezed on toward downtown followed closely by the zombie herd. The road was cluttered with the broken bodies of friends and zombies alike. The truck moved up and down over the corpses in an erratic race to out pace the thousands of zombies racing to eat them. Turning the final corner, the artificial lights of downtown opened up before them. Cars with their motors running and lights on pointed the way through as people and walking dead fought with each other. Hordes of new zombies pressed toward the scene. The redneck Christian racists stopped the truck and jumped out to attack the hundreds of newly appearing zombies coming in from the sides. Blood splattered over all of them, coating them from head to foot. People who succumbed to the attacks screamed as the droolers tore open their stomachs and pulled their organs and intestines from their red gaping wounds. They pushed these body parts into their hungry faces, stuffing themselves with the delicious innards that they craved. At times, intestines flew through the air as zombies fought for the best parts. Meanwhile people fought and screamed trying to end their feedings, but the zombies persisted. They had been filing into the town's streets and sidewalks as thousands of them advanced from Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Allentown. After stumbling for more than one hundred miles with very little food to eat, they were starving. All of them were intensely focused on filling their stomachs with the freshest human vittles they would ever again come across. Donna's people had arrived at Jesus Town's last moment. Loud speakers crackled. Over the speakers, the townspeople were ordered to get into their cars and evacuate. At this point, Donna's group climbed back into their truck which peeled off, leaving the walking dead on the ground, pulling intestines from hundreds of screaming Christians.
That night, the train of cars and trucks slowly made its way to the next stop. It was a filling station with the half burned wreckage of what had once been a truck stop and restaurant. The survivors poured in and found the best spots on the floor to sleep. Exhausted, they closed their eyes and fell into the darkest slumber of their lives. Having escaped near death so many times in a twenty-four hour period they could not sleep completely. Out of fear, survival instinct, and the sickness that so many near death calls brought them, their minds kept tuned for another zombie attack which they were now certain would soon reach them again before dawn.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Lazy Days
The John Wilson safe house spent three days cleaning up which included clearing the land of bodies and searching the woods for more of the walking dead. They seemed to be marching their way from the cities and towns which these zombie creatures had already pretty much demolished with their persistent desire to feed from humans. The bonfires in these cities stank of burning flesh. Their smoke had reached many miles to the safe house, having drifted across the land and through the trees for a hundred miles.
"It's an obnoxious odor," Marlaina told Aiden.
"It's not pretty. That's for sure," Aiden said. "You, on the other hand, are beautiful in the extreme."
They embraced deep in the forest where they had performed search and destroy for the remnants of the Amish zombies who had been persecuting people in the area more and more.
Aiden's and Marlaina's lips pressed against each other.
"Do you really love me?" Marlaina asked.
"Of course. You know that," Aiden said. "I've loved you since our first grade class."
They huddled against each other on the blanket that Marlaina kept in her back pack. She never knew when they might find a rare chance to be alone. The safe house was not such a place. Everyone inside that wonderful haven was beset by others at all times. The trouble with being alone, however, was the danger of a group of biters could happen upon them if they weren't paying attention. This might actually happen more and more as biters left the towns and cities in droves to find people they could attack and feed from.
"I dreamed I had been bitten last night, Aiden," Marlaina told him. "You had to shoot me in the head. You did it because you loved me and you wanted to keep me from awakening as a zombie."
"I think that's one of my biggest fears," Aiden told her. "That either you or I are bitten, and the other one has to step forward and pull the trigger."
"Would you do it?"
"Of course. How about you?"
"Yes. I wouldn't let you become one of those things."
Having to bludgeon a lover or family member was a constant nightmare for survivors with spouses and lovers. It was usually dreamed in nightmarish sleep. Aiden would awaken, covered in sweat, nearly in tears, and splattered with Marlaina's cranial drippings. In his worst and darkest nightmares, her glistening blood covered him from head to toe.
Aiden dug a shallow pit and filled it with dead wood for a funeral pyre. With the zombie family resting atop it, they lit the blaze and watched the hollow and very volatile bodies burst into a fire which soon consumed them entirely. When it ceased to burn, they covered it with the exhumed dirt so it would not start the woods afire. Then they headed toward the safe house.
#
General Grayson Andrews started off the festivities three days after the great zombie round up. Everything was again clean. Blood splatter on leaves, plants, grass, stones, siding, and elsewhere were washed away.
A loudspeaker played a variety of hit tunes as people gathered around the smorgasbord and took their food to a blanket on the grass or in the woods where they ate what they had gathered that day and enjoyed themselves. To ensure security, the people took turns patrolling the perimeter, roads, and woods. No one wanted a stupid repetition of zombies wandering onto the property with their arms pointed straight ahead, grabbing at throats, and sending the party into a riot of runaway people seeking to reach safety in a house. Such would not be the case this time. Everything was secure. People could stay relaxed all night, since every avenue of approach was being watched. Vampires drawn by the music were caught far away from the party. They were taken out down in the woods and on the highway that ran in front of the safe house long before anyone there could be bothered. The droolers died where no one would ever see them.
Aiden, Marlaina, Lisa, Beth, and Sheriff Wilson sat on several blankets they had placed on the ground for their family's comfort.
"We lucked out this week," Sheriff Wilson said. "It could have gone bad at any time, but it didn't."
"It was good," Beth said. "A little scary, though, if you ask me. Too many close brushes. People were close to being bitten all to often."
"But they weren't," Aiden said. "Because they were alert and ready for anything. That's the entire point of a roundup. No one is supposed to get hurt. Most of the surprise element is gone."
Marlaina leaned against Aiden. She was madly in love with him. She nudged Aiden, and he gently kissed her.
"Shall I let them know now?"
"Yes," she said.
"We have an announcement," Aiden said. "I asked Marlaina to marry me, and she has accepted my proposal. Of course, we want your blessings. You can decide later, if you wish."
"That's great!" Lisa said. "You've known each other since first grade! You have my approval! Congratulations, Marlaina. Aiden and you are a perfect match."
Robert and Beth Wilson smi
led at each other.
"What do you think, Beth? Can we trust this kid's future to the likes of Marlaina Kreuz?"
"I think we need to interview her to find out what type of a person she is, don't you agree, sheriff?"
"Where are you from, Marlaina?" the sheriff asked her. A wise smile reclined like a gentle and inquisitive fox across his face.
"Come on, sheriff. I grew up three houses from you."
"Seems like a far piece," Beth said. "I usually travel no farther than ten feet from my front door. Just far enough to reach the newspaper with a cup of coffee in my hand."
"Hmmph." Marlaina said. A smile also played across her face. She was more than willing to play the sly fox along with Aiden's parents. "Not too far to bring you my mom's pies when she was alive. That's for sure. You liked me then, I bet."
"I'll tell you what, Aiden," his father said, "considering we've known this girl for her entire life, and since we adore her as much as our son does, let's just say we approve."
He looked at Beth.
"Let's take a chance. What do you say, Beth?"
Beth walked over and hugged Marlaina.
"Of course you have our blessing, Marlaina. You have been a member of our family for years. We love you dearly."
"I agree," the sheriff said. "But mom is the real decision maker here. We all know that."
"Oh, Robert!" she said. She hugged her son. "We love her, Aiden. We were just jesting with the two of you. Of course, we'll approve. When's the wedding?"
"How about right now," Aiden said. "We've got no rings, and there's no churches left to have a wedding in. Obviously, both of us are perfectly prepared."
John Wilson chuckled. He came forward and called everyone to order.
"We are going to have a wedding, my friends. It's a wedding between Aiden and Marlaina. I cannot say this is a surprise. I've known them both for their entire lives, and they've been in love since I can remember. I'm not a minister, but everything is so screwed up, I'll be happy to serve in that capacity. So, if the two families will line up in front of me I will officiate this joyous occasion. I hope that they will have many children. God knows we need them to keep our society alive for the future."
Once they were lined up properly, John Wilson stated the familiar lines.
"Who gives this girl away?"
Beth Wilson came forward. "Since her family has been lost, Mr. Wilson, and since Marlaina just asked me if I would do this, if it please you, I will give the bride away on their behalf, and I know for certain Marlaina’s sorely missed parents will approve of this marriage wherever they may be at this time. As a matter of fact, I'll bet you they are looking down on us right now from up there."
Beth reached up with both arms pointed at heaven.
John Wilson looked at the beautiful girl. She was the best prize in all of the county.
"We are gathered together on this humble occasion to bless the marriage of these two members of our community in holy matrimony. I hope I said that right. Do you accept Aiden Wilson as your husband?" he asked her.
"Yes, I do."
"And Aiden, do you accept Marlaina Kreuz as your bride?"
"I do."
"You may place the ring on the bride's finger."
"I don't have one, sir."
"You do now." His mother placed her wedding ring in Aiden's hand. "Go ahead, son."
Aiden placed the ring on Marlaina's finger. He looked in her eyes. She was everything he'd ever wanted, and now it was official.
"And Marlaina, you may now place the ring on the husband's finger."
She was at a loss.
"Here it is," the sheriff said. "If I can get it off my finger. There. It is yours."
Marlaina kissed him.
"Thank you, dad," she said. She placed the ring on Aiden's finger.
"Is there anyone here who knows of any reason why these two should not be married. If so speak now or forever hold your tongue."
Silence.
"There being no objections, I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
The two embraced for several minutes. The crowd applauded. Several women were in tears as always happens at weddings. The town had never before seen a wedding quite like this one although there had been notable exceptions in the past which people still chortled about.
John Wilson called them aside.
"I'll order guard tower number two decorated inside and out for you to use as your wedding suite. Unless there's some sort of emergency, you can have it as long as you need it. At least a week. But you can probably have it a month or longer. I hope you enjoy it. I'm so happy for the two of you, that I could ball up and cry myself. May I kiss the bride, Aiden?"
"Of course, Uncle John."
When her sweet lips touched his, John was reminded of his glory days in high school when girls like Marlaina dated him and accompanied him to dances, church meetings, and to swimming holes where the kids would congregate and play in the water all day and all night.
"You are a very lovely girl," he said. "Welcome to our family."
"Thank you."
"Thanks for the wedding suite in the tower," Aiden said. "I had no idea where we'd spend our wedding night."
Aiden looked at the tower. Whatever his Uncle John was able to do to make it suitable for them would be appreciated. He and Marlaina circulated around the safe home's grounds so that everyone could kiss her, shake Aiden's hand, and wish them well.
"Thanks for the rings," Marlaina told the Wilsons. "If you wish, we can exchange them for new ones later and give them back to you. I know you are attached to them. I hope this offer doesn't offend you, because I don't mean it that way. I just feel guilty taking your wedding rings from you."
"Our loves go way past our wedding rings, dear," Beth Wilson told her new daughter. "I wouldn't mind having them back if that's what you want, because to be honest I feel a little naked without it. But you don't have to. We could also find another set for ourselves. There's a ton of wedding rings in the towns right now. But if you are attached to them, don't feel like we need them. They can be yours. Remember, its your love and not the rings that matters. We'll just get another pair for ourselves. Your happiness is all we want. I want you to know how much we love you. I mean, really...."
Marlaina teared up.
"Thank you, mom," she said. "You and dad are the best. We have always been so close."
About that time several biters ran from the woods, chased by the security guards who yelled to warn everyone. There just seemed no way to stop them from intruding no matter how many were wiped out. Twenty guards would never be enough to insure that breakouts like this would never occur. Marlaina took the bat hanging from her backpack and slammed it into both of them, crushing their skulls.
"Clear! Clear!"
Then, she stomped their heads flat with her boots.
"Clear! Clear!" she yelled once again.
She was bloodied from head to toe, yet somehow it seemed appropriate. That was how strange their world had become. The crowd returned to their partying as Aiden and Marlaina dragged the zombies down to the closest burning pyre and left them. Then, she washed up. Someone else would soon bring the wood for the final cremation of the dead at the end of the day. Already there were twelve of the dead resting quietly at the burning pyre's edge. Others offered to carry them for the couple, but Aiden and Marlaina were too proud to ask others to do their dirty work for them, wedding day or no wedding day. As far as they were concerned, just getting married was more than enough recognition of their true happiness and love for each other. It was also a recognition of them being grown up and ready to birth children for the community, something that was needed beyond measure if the human race was to survive.
They stood next to the pyre covered with the brain sludge that their bats had sprayed over everyone in the vicinity when they killed these zombie intruders. As far as they were concerned, it was their wedding, so safety of the guests was their responsibility also. Oft
en youth, who are always taught to remember their responsibility to others, over participate in helping a community due to a trained sense of identity for doing what is best for the common good. Idealism and active service by the young has always been a mainstay of most human groups. They educated their youth to step forward and openly help others. This is a necessary thing if societies are to survive, since the older people become too fatigued over the years to do these things adequately. Fresh volunteers to replace them are a constant requirement as those of a previous "Jurassic Generation" begin to hobble toward their places of physical degeneration and eventual death. Eventually, it became the next generation's turn. They always gladly stepped up to man the castle walls of their people.
"I love you," Marlaina said.
"Don't I know it."
They went back to the party, said their good byes, and climbed onto the beautifully flower strewn landing of their prepared wedding tower. He picked up his wife and carried her over the final threshold to catcalls from the crowd below. They disappeared inside, finding the room almost luxurious by current standards. It was beautiful. They came back out side of their door and smiled and waved to their friends and relatives, tossing them kisses. Marlaina tossed one of the flower combos below so that the women needing husbands could enjoy grabbing for it.
"I want to thank all of you for recognizing our love for each other," Aiden said.
"I do, too," Marlaina said.