A Abba's Apocalypse (16 page)

the street. I determine the pile is just big enough to hide all of

us. I see a shadow about three blocks away cross the street. I debate if we should return to the station and wait a while. But, I reason it is better to keep moving rather than trying to move later tonight with a bunch of sleepy children. The shadow has disappeared for about a minute now. I decide to wave Katie across as I give her the “shhh” sign; which means to be extra quiet. I stare down the street to where the shadow crossed, and then back at Katie. In the dark she looks like a mother goose with her waddling goslings’. They arrive safely, but seem like they’re slightly out of breath. Moses brings up the rear. This time he seems to be more alert to the sound he’s making. I barely notice him this time.

              I make it to the corner fence of the alleyway and wave the bunch over. I decide we are spending way too much time in this endeavor. Waiting for them to catch up, and then moving, has become time consuming and dangerously slow. I push my hand down to let Katie know to proceed here and wait. I run to my next location as she rushes to my previous spot. I keep repeating this tactic over and over. We seem to be moving a lot faster. I just worry about those little legs getting too tire. They have to take twice as many steps as I do. I keep pushing them on as hard as I can. We make it halfway down the fourth alley before Katie raises the “stop” hand signal to me. I acknowledge her by repeating the sign back to her. I figure we still have about fifteen alleys and two open fields to cross. I give them a few extra minutes to catch their breaths, and their leg strength. While we wait, I pick three positions ahead that we’ll use in our advancement.

              It is getting cold out. I see little steam clouds puff above the already tired bunch. I determine this sitting around in the cold will stiffen and cramp their exhausted muscles. It can also cause excessive shivering, and even hypothermia. It’s not so much the cold that does this; rather it is the large loss of body heat. I make a mental note to limit the amount and duration of the breaks we’ll take from here on

out. I snap my finger to alert Moses that it’s time to get

moving. He nods as I move to the next spot. I low run to a bush and stop. I decide to keep going and wave to them to “keep up.”

              I hear the growl of a dog about four houses ahead. I turn and wait for all of them to make it to my last spot. I silently give Moses the “wait there” signal with my hand. This growling sound is something I haven’t heard in a while. I thought everyone has gotten rid of their pets. Lately, all the animals have been acting weird. Even pets have been turning on their owner’s. This started about a year ago. It’s as if they’re no longer fear humans. Even little critters will attack. People just abandon their pets now. I thought all the pets were already killed, eaten, or had run off. I wonder where this one came from. He sounds like he’s going to attack someone. I pray we can get by this crazed creature before he notices us. I move slowly, cautiously, and quietly onward.

              I advance to a spot parallel to the growling menace. As soon as I squat he attacks something in the dark back porch area of the adjacent house. I wave the bunch to catch up to me, using this diversion to our advantage. I’m betting the dog will be concentrating on its prey long enough for us to squeeze by unnoticed. I watch the dark figures on the porch wrestle the dog. I’m filled with sorrow as I watch it being shaken and bitten to pieces. Now, I can only see shapes floating throughout the dark of the porch. I believe they are swatches of shredded clothing. I hear a gurgling sound as the growling and barking stop. The bunch arrives as I silently instruct them to move ahead of me to the next location. I decide to stay behind in case it tries to attack any of us from behind. Moses waves to me the “all clear” sign. It’s not a second too soon as I advance. I see the dog’s silhouette stand still on its silent victim. I hurry along as I think whatever he attacked is surely dead now. I pray, “Go with God and rest in peace.”

              I make it past the present danger. The incident gives the bunch a little more time to rest. I jump past them to the

next position while waving the “wait here” sign as I pass. I

find a protruding section of fence to hide behind. I give them the signal to advance as I “leap frog” ahead to an overturned trash dumpster. I wave to them to keep coming as I continue my rapid pace. I want to get as far away from this area as soon as possible. All the commotion the dog made is sure to have alerted someone. I just don’t want us to find out whom that someone is. I keep us moving fast for another four alleys. The speed we’ve been moving surely deserves a needed rest. I wave the bunch up to my position watching Moses carry both the kids. Katie holds his arm trying to assist him, but she  really is just weighing his tired body down. “We got to rest,” the big guy commands. I tell him to take a few minutes as I go and scout the area ahead. “I’ll be back in five minutes. Keep the children warm,” I warn him. I see him sit and open his jacket to tuck everyone inside next to his body. As I dash off, I watch Moses wraps his big arms of protection around them all. I take this picture with me tonight, and will cherish it the rest of my life.

              I make it to the end of the next alley and look around the corner. There seems be a crowd of noises several blocks to my right flank. I thought it was too quiet for too long. I am finding out now why. It seems the evil was concentrating on this section of town tonight. I guess there are a few dozen or more LD by the sound of it. I hear yelling back and forth, and about a block apart. It seems to be holding steady to the area over there. I know I need to get all of us five more alleys sections away. If we can make it that far we can stop at my house for a safer rest. I hurry back to the bunch.

              I approach to find them all catching some sleep; all except Moses. His worry to protect them keeps his senses heighten. I slow to a walk and give them a minute more nap. I report to Moses my findings, while trying not to wake the rest of them. “I located some big activity a few blocks over.” I see Moses face fill with fear. “Don’t worry, we’ll be alright. We

have someone bigger on our side. We need to move quickly

for the next five blocks. The LD are still far enough away for

them not to be an immediate problem. We should be fine if, that’s if, we can keep moving fast enough for that long. My house is five blocks away. Do you think you can handle it that long?” Moses reaches down inside and pulls out an extra amount of determination. His face fills with anger, not at me, but with his own self. He is attempting to force his body to handle the rigor that lay ahead. He nods as he stares into space while replying, “You keep us safe, and I promise we’ll keep up.” I tap his should and tell him, “It’s time buddy. We got to get going.”

              I jump to the next position and stare back. Moses is placing the kids in position as he rubs increased circulation into their arms and bodies. I give him a slight whistle to get his attention. He looks at me waiting for my command. I wave at them to advance. As they start to this position, I move to the next. I see little Hanna trip and fall, but daddy gobbles her up before she hits the ground. Each of the children’s legs looks like Sandpipers scurrying across the darken beach. I see momma’s blacken arm sway backwards pulling along her dangling baby Jordan. She looks like a little girl frantically trying to launch a kite on a windless summer day. I pray, “Dear Lord, give us the strength of Sampson this night.” I move out advancing onwards once more.

              We make it three blocks before the family is totally worn down. Moses has been carrying both the kids for the last bock and a half, while Katie is billowing tons of steam like an old steam locomotive going uphill. They need a break before all of them breakdown. I wave them to where I am. Moses chugs and jerks, then chugs again. Katie’s legs are wobbling side to side faster than they are frontwards. They finally make it to my location. I stand and hug them while pulling them downward for a rest. I take my jacket off and wrap it around all of them the best I can. I reward them with, “You guys are

doing great.” I remind them, “We’re almost there. It’s just a couple blocks more.” A cold chill suddenly comes over me,

but I try not to shiver. I realize that my warm jacket may be

the only thing keeping them going. “I’m going to recon the area ahead while you guys take a quick breather.” I figure it’s best if I get out of here so they don’t see me in this condition. I pat Moses on top the head as I stand and prepare to take off. “I’ll be back in ten minutes.” Moses opens his jacket to tuck the family in close to his body heat, and his heart. I quietly shiver off into the cold crisp air.

              I make it to the end of the next alley and see something lying in the street. The lump looks like a dark pile of leaves someone drug in the middle of the street. I realize this may present a possible problem, so I decide to go move it out of the way. I check both my flanks then progress to investigate. As I move towards it, I see small bits of something trailing in the direction it must have came from. These remnants don’t look like leaves though. The lump’s dark ruff jagged texture makes it hard to identify what it really is. I smell an appalling aroma as I approach the motionless mound. My stomach ties a knot between the sweet and noxious stench. I bend over and use my knife to jab it. It slides easily into the lump as I realize it’s not a pile of leaves. I return my blade and observe the slither that came off it. I bring my blade nearer and notice it glistens like a black chunk of coal. I try bringing it close to my eyes, but my nose warns me to through it away. I pull out my flashlight and cup my hand around the lens. With my other hand, I balance the object on my blade as I lower my face towards the flashlight. I form a compartment to contain the light and turn my lab light on the specimen. I fight the putrid syrupy stink while categorizing the content. I finally figure out what it is; and I knew I know this smell. This specimen is man. I keep my light covered as I move over the lump’s forward area. I flick the flesh and wipe my blade while shaking my head side to side in disgust. I say a silent eulogy for the poor baked being as I humbly try kicking the lump over to the curb. I remove it in sections as it disintegrates with each kick.

              I hustle to the next block while analyzing the situation.

First, I try understanding the purpose of the corpse. My mind proceeds along with my feet. “Why drag it around unless that is your intent. Why leave it there unless it just can’t be drug any further.” I make it to the end of this alley and see my backyard fence. It tries to lure me in for a momentary rest by telling me, “I’m just a few houses down.” My temporary temptation is immediately interrupted by the echo of the crowd closing in. I sense their evilness and feel their wickedness is very close. I slowly melt backwards to blend in with the blackness behind me.

              My only cover is the darkness. I don’t have enough time to retreat, so I take evasive action. I sit and bend my legs near to my chest while opening my shirt. I spread it out over my knees and wrap it with my arms. I then hide my head inside my improvised “tepee.” I hear their snarling voices turn the corner as I try and replicate the silhouette a dark bush might make. I pray the shaking of my panicky pants imitate breeze blown black branches.

              I stare at my knees and demand my chest to stop moving. I begin to understand the imminent noise forthcoming. I notice several different sounds being dragged below the elevation of my hearing. They sound as if they are gagged garbled cries for help. The next thing I hear is, “Irreverent, come and get your friends!” A chorus of wicked laughter momentarily extinguishes the anguish being drug. I hear feet kicking against the coarse sounding texture of rough material. The amount of noise tells me the evil pack is right in front of me. “Come on, come and get them.” These evil voices dare me, but are not aware I am just a few feet away.  My soul tries to slice my shirt open and free my friends from these fiends, but my spirit shakes its finger and warns me, “This is not the time.” Evil laughter fills the night as the smell of burlap burns the asphalt. I survive as they pass on by, but part of me dies with those passing cries for help. The shuffle and dragging turns the following corner as their merciless trail of

laughter follows.

              “Flop, flop, flop...” sounds trudge up from behind me. I detect them echoing up the alley. They stop momentarily to rest, and then the fleeting feet continue. I resume and re-pace my steps in the alley towards the approaching large black mound. A shouting attempt to whisper asks, “Are you alright?” I wave my hand signaling him to “keep quiet,” as I hurry to meet him. I squat and observe as Moses joins me. He tells me I’ve been gone at least a half an hour. “We were worried. What happened?” I pat his big shoulder and give him the abridged version of my encounter. I tell him to go and get the family and meet me here in ten minutes. I tell him, “I’m serious this time; I’ll be back in ten minutes. Time is of the essence!” I move out to go check on my house, as Moses moves back to get his family.

              His flopping feet trickle away as I come within reach of my backyard fence. I back up and lower my body against it, while taking a quick look around. Everything is still. I turn and face the fence, and then lift my head slowly up over to view the backyard area. Two shadowy figures sit where nothing should be. They’re not moving at all, so I’m not sure what the figures really are. They’re sitting near my backdoor, which is ajar. Just now, I see what looks like an arm rising up and down. I deduct these shadows are a couple of LD waiting to snare me. If there are two out back there are more out front. I pull my head slowly down by lowering my entire body at my knees. Very cautiously I turn away, and then softly creep away.

              As I arrive at the rendezvous point, I peel back my Velcro’s to find the excursion took six minutes. I bend behind a bush near the alley intersection and wait for the return of Moses. My mind races to figure and alternate plan before the bunch gets here. I know they will be weary, but I will need to keep them moving. “Dear Lord,” I silently pray, “Please tell me what to do and how to do it.” I urgently stress, “I need an immediate idea!” I hear quick erratic tapping stirred within