Blue Plague: Sacrifice, page 2
Mike took a deep breath before continuing, “If we hadn’t, we would have stayed in town and died. Bruce, you were the one who convinced Nancy to go along with this prepping thing, not me. You know yourself; at first she wanted no part of it. Then Debbie showed her E-bay, you showed her weapons and our world was never the same again. I don’t know why you and Debbie asked us, but thank you.”
Bruce just looked at Mike, smiling, “I never knew you two almost said no. Was Nancy that jealous of our relationship together? We were never that flamboyant about it; we stayed in the closet.”
“Yeah, she hated it when I shaved my legs for you, but not her,” Mike replied, smiling back.
Bruce laughed, “Well brother, I don’t know what made us ask you and Nancy, but we did. We knew that we could always count on y’all. The only thing I’d change would be a taller fence. You know when Nancy asked me what the worst case scenario was, I told her a zombie apocalypse. She bought that damn fence two weeks later and I wanted to slap her. Who needs a ten foot cyclone fence around a hundred and ten acres complete with razor wire for the top? She actually took me serious about zombies. Now I want to kiss her for it. I would’ve put up a barbwire fence, but never a fence like that. If it wasn’t for that fence, we already would’ve been overrun,” Bruce told Mike, who just stared at him.
Bruce continued, “I’m serious Mike. We’ve killed, what? Two fifty to three hundred blues here at the farm. My whole family would’ve had to stay on watch 24/7 to watch a place of this size, which can’t be done. Without you and your family, mine would be dead also brother. We’re lucky.”
Mike nodded his head, agreeing. Then Mike changed the subject, “You ready for today?”
Bruce sighed, “Yeah, as I’m ever going to be. I’m glad Danny and Jake are with Matt and Mary. We will really be family then brother. Mindy will be good for David. I just wish we could give them more than one day off.”
“You could’ve told me you got rings for the kids when we were at Fort Polk,” Mike said, still a little irritated.
“I was gonna tell you. I just didn’t think they would move so fast. Granted, I would move fast if I was them. I just didn’t expect them to,” Bruce admitted.
Mike accepted the apology, replying, “That’s good then and I agree with you. I’d move fast also. In the world before the infection, you could take life for granted. Now, you have to live each day like it’s your last, because it might be.”
Millie came over to the table, “Will you twos help me take the women somethin’ to eat in the house?”
Bruce grabbed his chest like he was having a heart attack. “We can take them something to eat? Are you kidding me?” Bruce asked in an exaggerated voice. Millie just looked at Bruce. Bruce stood up quickly, not wanting her to find the wooden spoon. He and Mike had snuck in the kitchen three times and taken every wooden spoon in there, but Millie always came out with another one to threaten them with, occasionally popping them with it.
They followed Millie to the kitchen, grabbed trays loaded with plates of food, and headed to the house. They passed the soon to be grooms leaving the house. Bruce headed to Danny’s room, but found the door open and no one inside. Leading Millie and Mike to Mary’s room, they found it empty also. Bruce turned around, heading to his room.
Stopping in front of his door, he balanced the tray and tried to open the door but it was locked. Bruce knocked on the door, only to hear, “Go away boys, the girls are getting ready.”
Bruce couldn’t tell who said it, but replied, “If I’m not mistaken, this is my room. Out of the goodness of my heart, I have brought you food and this is how I’m repaid?”
Stephanie opened the door, standing there in sports bra and panties. “The boys kept trying to get the girls to come out, saying this was a stupid tradition,” Stephanie informed him.
Bruce walked in to find the room full of women and girls running around sports bras and panties. Bruce sat his tray on the dresser, and Mike and Millie did the same. Bruce found all three brides-to-be were here putting on makeup or fixing their hair with someone to help them. Looking around the room, Bruce saw PJ and Cade just sitting on the bed with blank expressions, watching the women run around. Bruce put his hands on his hips, “Why are my boys in here with all of you women? Are y’all trying to traumatize them?”
Everyone stopped and looked at Bruce, then at the boys, who were just wondering what was going on. Angela smiled then continued to brush Mindy’s hair. Debbie looked up at Bruce, “We have to get ready. If you don’t want them traumatized, you should’ve taken them when you got up.”
“I got up really early. Besides, one of you could’ve brought them to me,” Bruce suggested.
“I’m not talking to you right now Bruce. My babies are getting married. Why don’t you make sure the boys are ready,” Debbie requested.
Walking to the bed, Bruce picked up PJ and Cade, “We’ll go pee on something, just to remind you that you’re boys.” Bruce felt something pop him on the butt, making him jump. Turning around, he found Millie standing there with a wooden spoon.
“That be enough out of you today,” Millie warned, pointing at him with a wooden spoon.
Bruce looked at Millie, trying to rub his stinging butt, but couldn’t with a kid in each arm. “I have a good mind to let them pee in your kitchen for that,” Bruce mumbled then walked over to Danny kissing her on the head. “You look beautiful sweat pea.” Bruce then walked over to Mary and Mindy, kissing them and telling them the same. As he left the room, Bruce looked at Millie and Debbie, sticking his tongue out at them.
Mike followed him out, “You live life on the edge brother man.”
“Not really. Every once in a-while we have to make them think we aren’t scared of ‘em,” Bruce replied, heading downstairs.
“I thought we were scared of ‘em,” Mike replied, following Bruce.
“We are, but they don’t have to know it,” Bruce said, heading outside. Mike fell in beside him.
“Where does Millie keep getting those damn spoons,” Mike wondered. “I’m getting tired of stealing the damn things.”
“I think she gets a piece of wood and chews one out each morning,” Bruce confessed.
Mike and Bruce joined everyone at the command table. The weddings were scheduled for 0800 one after another, then everyone else was going to work. The newlyweds would get one day off. Bruce sat Cade and PJ in their high-chairs and moved them down by him.
When Bruce sat down, Jake asked, “Dad, what’s wrong with women? Why can’t the groom see them before the wedding?”
Bruce held up his hand, “Son, you’re trying to get me to explain the female mind. Let them have their traditions, that way they leave us alone.”
Jake nodded in agreement as the group started eating. Bruce stopped feeding Cade and PJ to look at the boys. Each of the groom’s-to-be, hands were shaking and none of them were touching their food. Smiling to himself, Bruce kept feeding PJ and Cade. Bruce remembered his wedding day like it was yesterday. Just like the boys, he wanted Debbie with him before the wedding. Never in his life had he been so nervous and he wanted Debbie there with him.
After breakfast, the hall was cleared and Bruce was asking Willie and Maggie to watch PJ and Cade when he saw Debbie open the door and motion him to her. Bruce walked outside to see Stephanie and Angela beside Mindy. Bruce was glad to see her shaking like the boys were. Bruce stepped to the side as the others passed him going inside leaving just him and Debbie with Mindy.
Bruce looked at Debbie and pointed out, “I don’t remember you shaking like that when we got married.”
“I quit shaking when I saw you standing by the priest. I knew you hadn’t run away, and I finally had you,” Debbie answered as Bruce walked over to Mindy.
“I can’t believe you thought I was going to run away,” Bruce replied.
“Well, Daddy kept telling Mama he was going to shoot at the foot freak until he ran out of the church,” Debbie revealed.
“Jack loved me,” Bruce declared.
“Not until we were married for seven years baby,” Debbie said, smiling.
Mindy giggled, looking up at Bruce, “Thank you Daddy Bruce.”
“For what?” Bruce asked wondering why everyone wanted to thank him today.
“Making me believe in myself again and showing me someone still loved me,” Mindy answered.
Bruce sighed, looking at Mindy, “If you’re my daughter, then don’t ever do that again.”
“Do what?” Mindy inquired.
“Doubt yourself or this family. We stand together or die together, there’s no in between here,” Bruce informed her as he kissed her on the head. Mindy wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tight.
Debbie spoke up, “Mindy don’t cry yet, your makeup will run. The music has started, let’s go.”
Debbie opened the door and they followed her inside. Bruce led Mindy down the aisle and gave her to David who looked like he was ready to pass out. After Bruce gave her away, he stepped over to David’s side because he was also one of David’s groomsmen. Buffy came up carrying the family rings. Like Mindy, Buffy was dressed in BDUs with an M-4 across her back. After they exchanged rings and were pronounced man and wife, David removed the rings Bruce had given him from his pocket. They took off the family rings and put on their wedding bands.
The group reset as Bruce and Debbie went to get Danny. Danny met them coming out of the house. Bruce stopped and stared at her. Danny was in full gear with new tiger stripped BDU’s that fit very well. Danny had tightened up her tactical vest to show the curves of her body. Her shirt sleeves were rolled up and she had on knee and elbow pads with her tactical gloves. Her Galil was slung across her back and the P-90 was on her hip. Seeing her, Bruce had to admit, Danny in full combat gear looked rather intimidating.
“You think Matt will like this Daddy?” Danny asked.
Bruce smiled, “Baby, he’s going to pass out.”
Danny walked over, hugging Bruce. Debbie once again led them inside and when Matt saw Danny, Mike had to catch him. Mike had to hold Matt up when Danny took off her glove to put on her ring. When Matt kissed his bride, Danny whispered something in his ear, making him get weak in the knees. Bruce didn’t even want to guess what was said. When the service was finished the hall prepared for one more.
Mike left to walk in with Mary as Bruce stood beside Jake. When the service was finished the newlyweds stood together for more pictures. There were at least ten people taking pictures during the wedding with two recording video. When the brides threw the flowers, Bruce grabbed Buffy and the twins and ran to the other side of the hall.
Looking across the hall at the kids, a tear ran down Bruce’s cheek. He could see how happy they were and that’s all that mattered. Buffy pulled on his shirt sleeve, getting Bruce’s attention. “You know I’m sleeping with you tonight, Daddy,” Buffy declared, not asked.
Bruce shrugged his shoulders, “You know you can sleep with us whenever. I thought Danny was moving into Matt’s room and giving you her room.”
“She is, but I don’t want to be alone tonight Daddy,” Buffy confessed.
“You’ll never be alone BB,” Bruce said, hugging her.
Susan came around, gathering up all the kids, heading to the house as everyone headed off to work. The newlyweds headed to the house.
After lunch Bruce heard a line of trucks pull out and called over the radio wanting to know what was going on. Conner called back, “We have a convoy heading out for more heavy equipment, tractors and attachments.”
“It’s getting kind of warm lately to be running around, don’t ya think?” Bruce asked.
“The temperature is fifty-two degrees. It was fifty-eight yesterday when we sent out a convoy for fuel to fill up the tanks,” Conner said over the radio. Bruce shook his head at the reply. The clan was still following the scavenging schedule that had been set up before the weather turned cold. Bruce did not like it, but if they hadn’t seen any blues, they still must be holed up staying warm.
“They are cleared to go, but first sign of activity, they are to pull back,” Bruce replied.
“Already told them that,” Conner replied in a very snappy tone. Bruce let the comment slide as he saw Paul walking toward the barn.
“Paul!” Bruce called out as he ran over to Paul. Paul stopped and waited on Bruce.
“Yeah Bruce,” Paul said as Bruce reached him.
“I thought we had enough supplies. Why are we sending out more patrols?” Bruce asked.
“Bruce, we are only getting heavy equipment and fuel now. Most of the equipment will be stored at the end of the road and we now have thirty thousand gallons of empty tanks that need to be filled. We are just following the plan we laid out,” Paul maintained.
“I know. But it’s getting a little warm,” Bruce remarked.
“Bruce, it was warmer yesterday and they didn’t report any sightings of blues. We got two truckloads of ATV’s and electric carts from inside of Shreveport,” Paul pointed out.
“How many more runs?” Bruce asked.
“Tomorrow is the last run. We are filling the storage tanks and all of the tanker trucks we have here and treating the tanks at the refinery. We’re going through some fuel here,” Paul answered.
“After tomorrow no more runs for supplies until the command group meets,” Bruce directed.
Paul looked at Bruce, “Bruce, I didn’t want anyone to leave but you were right. We needed this stuff. With a few more items, we won’t have to scavenge much this summer,” Paul suggested.
Bruce left Paul heading to one of the piles to start moving it in a storage area as a woman came up to him. “Bruce, I need to talk to you,” she said, stopping in front of him with her hands on her hips.
Bruce looked at the woman. She was about 5’6”, portly, and around forty with brown hair and a snobby appearance. “Let me guess…. Jenny Green,” Bruce said. Jenny took a step back, caught off guard.
Jenny quickly regained her composure, “I must object to the way you are working us. Also, the requirement that kids are to know how to shoot a weapon is ridiculous. They are kids, not soldiers. Then you make them exercise and reward those that are fittest. That makes the other kids feel bad. You should reward them all because they tried. Then-,” Jenny stopped as Bruce held up his hand.
“Jenny, we have a lot of work to do and I’m not in the mood for copious bullshit. I want the kids to give it their best. I want them to know their limits. No, I don’t believe that everyone should get on the baseball team and get a trophy. I want them to earn it,” Bruce told Jenny. Before Jenny could say anything Bruce said, “Jenny, I’m sure you’ve talked to others here and I’m not in a good mood today. We have a lot of work to do today. If you don’t work, you don’t eat. If you continue not to work, we will throw you out on your ass. Now get back to your group.”
Bruce walked off, leaving Jenny gawking at him with an open mouth. Bruce joined in the group moving the pile of boots the clan had taken from the sporting goods store. Grabbing several boxes, he headed to one of the storage areas in the pastures. Walking down the steps into the storage area, Bruce saw someone had built shelves in the containers. A man in his late sixties pointed where to put the stack and Bruce left to grab more.
The movement of supplies was done with manual labor since they had a lot of people now and didn’t want to waste fuel. Some groups formed lines to move the stacks. Others just grabbed a load and headed to the containers. By sun down, the last stack was moved into a container.
Bruce went to each storage area and saw the containers were full and only the big storage area had a little room left. The supply convoy had brought back four huge tractors with more attachments than Bruce even knew existed, two bulldozers, another excavator, two more dump trucks, and three bucket trucks. Unlike the one they had on the farm, these were massive, the kind used by the power companies. Bruce figured the boom could reach a hundred feet.
Heading to the hall for supper, Bruce was stunned at the amount of supplies they had. Never in his wildest dream did he believe that they could get the amounts the clan had gathered. Reaching the hall, Bruce walked in and headed for his table. Sitting down, Bruce asked, “Anyone hear from the Marcus clan?”
“Yeah, talked to Marcus yesterday. He’s still mad that Carroll won’t let him get a new tractor,” Paul said.
“Why won’t she let Marcus get a new tractor?” Bruce asked.
Paul laughed, “Carroll told him just because civilization has fallen, it isn’t the time to grab what he always wanted.”
“Paul, give Marcus one of the tractors we got today. Better yet I’ll take it over tomorrow morning,” Bruce affirmed.
The clan ate and everyone was exhausted so no one had any trouble falling asleep. The dreams did not come for Bruce and he slept like a rock. Waking up at 0400, Bruce woke up Buffy and told her to get dressed. Once they were dressed, Bruce headed to mission control. Bruce called the Marcus farm on the radio. When the night watch responded, Bruce asked if Marcus was awake yet, and if he was then Bruce wanted to talk to him.
After a few minutes, Marcus came over the radio, “This is Marcus. Bruce, what’s the problem?”
Bruce keyed the microphone replying, “No problem. Just wanted to see if you were awake. If your farm is as busy as ours, you should be tired.”
“Yeah we’re tired over here, but I can’t sleep past 0400 or I feel lazy,” Marcus replied.
“Hey Marcus, I’m coming over to bring you a present. Tell your guards not to shoot me. I should be over in twenty minutes, okay,” Bruce informed him.
