Tammy and Ringo (6 page)

“And there’s no cure or vaccine,” Hiram nodded. “One bite is all it takes, according to the news, and you’re infected. Takes a few minutes to a few hours according to what information they’re giving out. Any rabies I ever saw took days to show itself. Sometimes longer’n that.”

“This is something new,” Ringo nodded. “I don’t think it’s entirely natural, either,” he added.

“What makes you say that?” Hiram asked, eyes bright.

“It spreads too fast, like you said,” Ringo shrugged. “If this strain of rabies was entirely natural, there’s no way it hasn’t been seen before, either. I know it sounds like conspiracy crap, but. . .I think this form of rabies escaped from some lab somewhere in Africa. And now, it’s too late to put the genie back in the bottle.”

Hiram leaned back at that, as if thinking about what Ringo had said. In reality, however, he was making a decision. Once it was made, he leaned forward again.

“You’re right,” he said suddenly. “It is man-made, at least that’s what my sources tell me. You’re right about it being too late, as well. This thing has spread too far, too fast and response has been far too slow. In all likelihood there’s no stopping it now. It may burn itself out, but billions will probably die before it does.”

“Do your sources know of any way to protect yourself from it?” Ringo asked.

“Don’t get bit and don’t let any of their bodily fluids enter your bloodstream,” Hiram replied at once. “There is point zero four percent of the population that will in all probability be naturally immune. From the virus, mind you. No one is immune to the damage one of these poor deranged individuals can cause them physically.”

“Leather would be a good protection,” Ringo mused. “But it’s awfully hot for that this time of year.”

“Man would have to make sure and stay hydrated,” Hiram nodded. “Take salt tablets, drink electrolytes if he can get them. Have to be careful where he gets his water, too. Even a good filter might not be enough to filter out the virus.”

“Will boiling work?” Ringo asked.

“Should,” Hiram nodded, his eyes showing approval. “And some Clorox bleach.”

“Really?”             

“Best thing for making water drinkable, especially in the field or from an unknown source.” Hiram stood up suddenly.

“I need to try and make those calls,” he said. “Helen should still be upstairs. She can show you around. If you need anything, holler.”

“Thank you, sir,” Ringo stood as well.

“Don’t mention it, son.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Ringo was awake before sun-up, and slipped outside with no one the wiser. He made a quick check of the area around the house then went through his workout. He didn’t want anyone to see if he could help it. He wasn’t really hiding anything, he just. . .well, it was his time, that’s all.

As he went through motions that had long since become automatic, his mind drifted across the previous day and his conversation with Hiram after the women had gone upstairs.

That was one cagey old man, he decided. Played his cards close to the vest. He knew more than he was willing to let on, that was for sure. Ringo felt flattered that the man had shared as much as he had. Hiram didn’t know Ringo from dirt so he had made that decision on simple faith. Ringo appreciated that almost as much as he did a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed and a good meal.

Tammy was another dilemma. If not for her, Ringo would stay here with Hiram and Helen. They could use him here and it would be almost like a home for him. He felt at home here. Comfortable. Probably too much so, he decided. If he got too comfortable he’d probably get careless.

Yesterday getting to Fort Bragg hadn’t seemed insurmountable. Troublesome, sure, with things going the way they were. But now, with the bridge closed and no idea if any of the other ones were, the trip seemed much longer.

How many bridges were there between here and there? How many were over streams or rivers that there would be no other way to cross unless by boat and then go on foot? Ringo didn’t know.

He had learned yesterday however that every bridge was now a potential obstacle to getting Tammy home to Fort Bragg. If they walked. . . .

Walking made a one or two day trip by car an odyssey. Even if they covered twenty miles a day by foot, that was still. . .well, at least two months. And that was if everything went perfectly, which it would not.

How many gaggles of infected were between them and where they needed to be? How many towns would they have to skirt around because the locals wouldn’t let them go through? How many gangs like the three thugs he had killed yesterday would be waiting to see two people alone, especially a woman who looked like she did?

He paused, wiping sweat from his forehead. He had been at it for over an hour now without realizing it. He flipped his sword once more, sliding it into its sheath, then turned to go inside and get a shower only to see Hiram sitting on the front porch, watching him intently.

“I haven’t seen anything like that in a long time,” Hiram said quietly. “Nicely done.”             

“Thank you,” Ringo bowed slightly.

“Have a seat, son,’ Hiram pointed to another rocking chair. “Your options are a lot thinner than you thought.” Ringo walked onto the porch and sat down. Hiram offered him a glass of water from a pitcher on a small table.

“When I was in Korea, I used to get over to Japan once in a while on leave,” Hiram said casually. “I made friends with a Japanese liaison officer and he took me out one night to see a show where a man ‘bout as old as I am now put on quite a show with a sword. Cut a candle without movin’ it, kinda like on Zorro, never thought to see such in my own front yard.”             

“My uncle taught me,” Ringo said softly. “It was how he drew me out of my shell, I guess. When I realized how much I enjoyed it, how good I was at it, it became all I cared about pretty much.”

“Well, I’d say you’re pretty good at it sure enough,” Hiram smiled. “Sure takes me back, though.” His grin faded and he grew serious.

“I spent a long time on the radio last night,” he said gently. “There’s pretty much no way across the river by vehicle at this point. All the bridges are blocked either by wrecks that can’t be cleared due to traffic or by gaggles of infected folk that can’t, or won’t, move away from the cars they’ve abandoned.”

“I suspected as much,” Ringo nodded, drinking more water.

“Society has pretty much broken down since we went to bed last night,” Hiram admitted. “Was already on its way by supper mind you, but a few hours really makes a difference, seems like. President declared Martial Law, which is about as useful as an empty toilet paper roll in an outhouse.” Ringo snorted water through his nose at that one.

“Military is out, working to and I quote, ‘restore order’, but anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that’s not going to happen. Not without an all-l out slaughter, anyway. There’s no bringin’ order to a bunch of folks that’s gone plumb mad.”

“No, sir,” Ringo agreed.

“Lotta action, or at least talk and threats of action by so called ‘militia’ groups here and yon. Most of 'em sound like they know the script to Apocalypse Now and Red Dawn by heart. Probably where they got their ‘training’ too.” Again, Ringo had to be careful not to shoot water from his nose. Hiram had a biting sense of humor this morning.

“Anyway, damn near ever little town between here and Bragg is tryin’ to close itself off to outsiders. You and your Miss will have to go through places like that, most like on foot, to get her home again. I hate to say so, son, but. . .I don’t think it’s doable. Not without a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.” He looked at Ringo.

“And some of it’ll probably be your blood. Or hers.”

Ringo nodded silently. He’d already worked most of this out during his workout this morning.

“Not really telling you anything new, am I son?” Hiram asked.

“No, sir,” Ringo admitted. “I’m not used to being responsible for anyone other than me. It’s. . .difficult to get used to.”

“So it is,” Hiram nodded. “Well, the offer to stay here stands. If you’re determined to go, I’ve got a friend who can take you across the river, but from there it’s on foot, or bike, maybe. No way to get the girl’s car across. Sorry.”

“It is what it is, sir,” Ringo shrugged. “It brought us a long way, no matter what. I’ll talk to her when she wakes. We’ll see what she says.”

“Well, I’m going to sit here and watch the sun come on up,” Hiram said, shifting in his chair slightly. “Helen is still sleeping, so I’d take it kindly if you were quiet.”

“Yes, sir.”

*****

Tammy awoke with a start, sitting up in her bed. She didn’t recognize the room she was in and looked around her. Slowly, as she saw her things on the night stand, her bag in a corner and realized she was wearing her favorite sleep shirt, she relaxed.

“It was just a bad dream,” she thought to herself. “That’s all.” Standing and stretching, she grabbed her bag and started for the shower. She opened the door to see. . . .

“R. . .Ringo?” Tammy almost stammered.

Ringo, shirtless as he was leaving the shower, hurriedly threw his towel over his back and shoulder, but not before. . . .

“My God, Ringo, what happened to you?” Tammy asked softly, her hand moving to his back without thinking. Ringo deftly avoided her touch, pulling his toothbrush from his mouth.

“I’m good. You look better after a good night’s sleep,” he added, changing the subject.

“I. . .until I saw you, I had convinced myself it was a bad dream,” Tammy admitted.

“Sorry,” he offered, not knowing what else to say.

“Not you, me,” Tammy shook her head. “I’m not dealing very well, I guess.”

“I’d say you’re dealing fine,” Ringo replied. “Ain’t every day the world goes straight to hell, ya know.”

“No, I suppose not. I’m going to get a shower and then see about making some breakfast.”

“Need any help, call me,” Ringo nodded. “I’m gonna check a few things, see what’s what.”

Tammy walked into the still steamy bathroom and couldn’t help but inhale the inherit maleness Ringo had left behind. There was something about him, she admitted.

After taking her shower, Tammy headed back to her own room where she dug into her duffle looking for clothes. As she did so she came across the emergency kit her father had made for her.

“I wonder what’s in here,” she murmured. Taking her pocket knife she worked at the small zip tie that held the handle secured. Once it was gone she opened the kit, exhaling sharply when she saw its contents.

Laid out in perfectly cut sections of the egg shell foam used in gun cases, each component of the case had its own little place.

First, there was a small handgun with an extra magazine and a box of shells. She picked it up, realizing it was her own XD Springfield. Replacing it, she looked at the small plastic tubes and picked one up. It was full of silver coins, ten to be exact. Each one contained a full troy ounce of silver. The other tube was smaller and contained one-tenth ounce gold coins, ten in number.

Tammy sat down abruptly. She’d never imagined why this case was always so important. Now she knew.

There was a knife inside, a small fixed blade RTK, one of the best blades available. It wasn’t Rambo sized, but she would never need something like that anyway.

The last item was odd. It looked like a radio but when she picked it up she realized it was a satellite phone. On the back was one number with the name Dad on it. She looked at the phone stupidly for a moment before it hit her.

“I can call my dad!” she almost shouted. She was halfway out the door before she realized she wasn’t exactly dressed. Slamming the door closed, she quickly dressed then grabbed the phone and sprinted downstairs.

“Ringo! Ringo, where are you?!”

“Here I am,” he called from the front porch. “What’s wrong?” She ran out to see Ringo talking with Hiram.             

“Mister Hiram,” she nodded. “Ringo, my father, he. . .he made me this emergency kit. I’ve never opened it but I found it in my bag this morning and so I opened it just 'cause, you know, I never had, and I found. . .well, I found a lot of things, but most. . .well, not most importantly maybe, but. . . .”

“Hey, now,” Ringo raised a hand. “Slow down, girl.”

“Look!” She thrust the phone at him. Ringo took it and looked at Hiram, who held his hand out.

“Sat phone,” Hiram said at once. “Good one, too. Well, what are you waiting for young’un? Give your old man a call and let 'im know you’re okay,” he smiled.

With trembling fingers Tammy dialed the number on the back of the satellite unit. She waited, hearing a series of clicks then a growling noise she finally realized was the phone ringing through. It rang twice. Then a third time, and then a fourth. Just as she was starting to think there would be no answer she heard her father’s gruff voice.

“Tammy? Tammy is that you? Dear God, let it be you!”

“It’s me, daddy!” Tammy almost shouted. “Daddy! It’s me, I’m all right!”

“Thank the Good Lord,” Reese Gleason sighed in relief. “Where are you?”

“Well, I’m near a place called. . .” she looked at Hiram.

“Birdsong,” he provided.

“Birdsong, Tennessee. I. . .I can’t get across the river, at least not here. The bridge is blocked. Where are you?”

“I’m in. . .I’m in Atlanta, baby,” her father’s voice cracked slightly. “Listen, Tammy,” his said haltingly. “I don’t. . .I’m not sure we’re going to get out of here, honey,” he admitted. Tammy felt the air rush out of her.

“Daddy?” she almost whispered.

“Honey, this is pretty bad,” Reese told her. “Worse than anyone is saying out loud, so far. We. . .we were supposed to try and restore order but that’s not really working out. A lot of our people are. . .we’ve lost a lotta men.”

“Daddy, what are you saying?” Tammy’s voice was trembling. She knew deep down what he was saying but couldn’t, wouldn’t, admit it to herself.

“We’re pretty well cut off, baby,” he finally said straight out. “There’s no way out of here that we can find so far. We. . .we may not make it.”

“No, Daddy, don’t say that!”

“Tammy, listen to me, I don’t have much time.” Gunfire could be heard in the background now, along with a high-pitched scream she didn’t recognize.

“You’re going to have to look after yourself, honey,” Reese told her. “You’ll be on your own from now on. We’ve lost contact with Bragg. I don’t know what the situation there is, so even if you can make it, you may not find any help.”

“You’re going to have to make your own way now. And I don’t know what kind of world you’re going to find. All I can tell you is to stay safe, baby, and be careful. Remember that I love you.”

“I love you too, Daddy,” Tammy cried. She waited, but there was no more coming. Her father was gone. Slowly she lowered the phone, not bothering to shut it off. Ringo took it gently from her fingers, handing it to Hiram who shut it down.

Tammy stood silently for a time taking in all that she had just learned. Suddenly she turned and buried her face in Ringo’s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Hiram got silently to his feet, nodding to Ringo over her head and eased into the house.

Ringo held her a little awkwardly perhaps, but he tried to comfort Tammy as she sobbed. Yesterday they had been headed for her home where it was assumed she would be safe. Now, just twenty-four hours later, things had changed so much.

Her father was in the middle of a hot zone and sounded like he wasn’t going to get out. He didn’t have any contact with Fort Bragg, either. For all anyone knew the base had fallen. All of this on top of what they had learned yesterday. For Ringo, on top of what he’d learned from Hiram this morning.