Amanda Carter in the L.A.Z., life after zombies (10 page)

Chapter 17

M
aryanne had begun to pass around a plate of the snake meat with a box of crackers. She also refilled the water glasses. If someone had told them a year ago that they would be thrilled to be eating snake, they would have all laughed, but here they were, stuffing themselves on what had become a delicacy.

Everyone except for Tammy and the dogs were looking to her expectantly.

“Sometime today would be nice,” Sam said sarcastically, and this elicited a look from her mother.

“I have a few serious topics that I would like to go over with everybody, but first, let’s get a fun one out of the way,” Amanda began. “We need to come up with a name for the little dog, besides ‘little dog,’ and I thought the kids might like to do that.”

“I wish people around here would stop calling me one of the kids. I’m fifteen years old, practically an adult,” Sam said, with an eye roll.

“I already have a name for her,” Tammy said, clutching the little blond dog to her chest.

Everyone chose to ignore Sam’s comment. She was in the habit of making so many negative comments that they had learned to tune her out.

“Would you like to share the name?” Maryanne asked.

“I call her Boo,” Tammy said proudly.

“Well, very good then, Boo it is,” she said, adding a smile.

Jason nodded in agreement before beginning to have a coughing fit, reminding them of what a delicate condition he was still in.

Tammy didn’t seem to register her father’s coughing spell, but Sam looked to her mother, scared.

“Glad to have you back with us, Jason,” Roy said, trying to lighten the mood after Jason had finished with his hacking spasm. “It hasn’t been easy around here with you out of it.”

Amanda smiled, but secretly she was thinking of how pale and weak-looking he was.

“Well, our first order of business was easy,” Maryanne said, trying to get everyone back on track. “What’s the next order of business?”

“Unfortunately, most of what’s on our agenda for today won’t have any easy answers,” Amanda said, “and some of it we may need some time to consider before making any decisions.”

“Oooo, sounds serious,” said Maryanne, looking around the group.

“Though I really like our location and believe that we should for the time being stay put, the way that we have to make so many trips to town for our supplies is not sustainable for much longer. If we want to stay, we need to find some solutions for our problems,” Amanda said succinctly.

“If we could clearly look at the problems, then we might find our solutions. Can you lay out the problems for us?” Roy asked. “I have an idea of what a few of them are, but I want to be sure.”

“Gotcha,” Amanda said. “Problems one and two go hand in hand. One, finding enough gas to be driving these kinds of distances so often while carrying a heavy load is not sustainable for much longer. Two, in my opinion, we are too dependent upon these trips for our water. I found out when I was late getting back from the last run, the camp was left with a half-gallon of water, and this is not okay. We could die out here if one of our runs goes wrong or we can’t find enough gas while we are in town to make it back to camp.”

“I agree,” Jason said, in a soft low voice.

“What’s to be done about it?” Maryanne asked, while Roy remained silent, and Sam appeared to be thinking.

“That’s just it, I don’t have an answer to our two most pressing issues, other than to move closer to our supplies, but I am not happy with that because the creeper and raider threat is so much greater that way,” Amanda said, looking apologetic for even having suggested it.

“Well,” Sam said, “what if we were to change the way that we do things?”

Her input seemed to come as a surprise to the rest of the group, as they were not expecting the teenager among them to have any input at all on the subject.
But then again
, Amanda thought,
Sam has surprised me several times
before
.

“Sam has very simply and precisely pointed out my next point,” Amanda said, “and I think it is this point that will bring us around to finding our answers.”

“Okay,” Sam said, looking enthusiastic for a change.

“We aren’t living here, we’re surviving from day to day, and we’ve been doing that for the past six months. I understand that our lives have been thrown into upheaval, and for a time, we were spending so much of our time fighting, running, and hiding that we didn’t have a choice. But I think that now we are ready to take our existence to the next level, so to speak. Let’s make this place into our home,” Amanda said, sounding passionate.

“Like?” Maryanne said, looking to her friend quizzically.

“Like, what if we could arrange for plenty of water for adequate bathing, clothes washing, food prep, and emergencies. Like, proper beds and shelter from the elements. I mean, we need pillows to rest our heads on, that sort of thing,” Amanda said, really getting into her speech.

“We’re trying to keep from being eaten alive, and you’re worried about pillows?” Roy asked sounding irritated.

“That’s just it, Roy,” Amanda said. “When was the last time a creeper came into camp at this location?”

“Never,” Sam said, “I think that The Trench helps.”

“That’s my point,” Amanda said. “This location is relatively safe, if we can make sure that our basic needs are met.”

“Amanda has a point,” Maryanne said. “We’re out here living like animals. It just all seems so hopeless sometimes. It wasn’t until that shower that I took in the rainstorm that I really realized how horrible it feels to be that filthy. It’s been difficult for all of us, especially the children. I’ve been just existing, but I want to start living, and I want my children to feel alive and vital too.”

“It’s about creating a quality of life,” Jason answered, “and I agree that it’s time to start creating some quality to our life because if we don’t do it, there’s nobody else that will do it for us.”

“I can’t say, as I would mind having a pillow myself,” Roy said resignedly. “I didn’t sleep so good last night, and even though it’s hot and miserable, a pillow might help.”

“I’m confused,” Sam said, “how’s a pillow gonna help us with our gasoline, water, and food situation?”

“Come on, kid, you know you want one,” Amanda said, adding a smile.

“I want one,” Tammy said, feeling proud that she was able to make a contribution to their discussion.

“Now that that is settled,” Amanda continued, “I have a notebook here,” she said, holding up a composition book that had a black-and-white cover, “and I want everyone to jot down ideas as they think of them. I don’t expect that all our problems are going to be solved in this one meeting or even overnight for that matter. If you think of something that might help, then make a note of it.”

“Yes, I can,” said Tammy, extending her arm toward the notebook.

“That book’s not for you, sweetie,” Maryanne said, reaching out to take the notebook from Amanda. “I’ll keep the book in the kitchen area where it’s somewhat protected from the wind.”

“That’s no fair,” Tammy said, and her face had screwed up into a pout.

“I will get you a coloring book next time I’m in town,” Amanda said, to Tammy’s obvious delight.

“Speaking of going to town,” Sam said, realizing that this was her opportunity to speak up, “I want to go. I promise that I’m ready.”

“Wait just a minute, young lady,” her mother said, shooting her daughter a scolding look.

“Mom, that’s just not fair.” Sam slouched back against the rock wall with a look of defeat.

“Going to town isn’t like going on a field trip, honey,” her father said gently. “It’s dangerous out there. You know what happened when we had to leave home. Just look at what happened to Roy and me. It’s not like it was in the LBZ, sweetie, and there’s nothing glamorous about it. If we didn’t absolutely have to, none of us would ever be going near another densely populated area again.”

“I think that I’m old enough to start contributing around here. I’m not stupid. Of course, I know it’s nothing like it used to be, and I know it’s dangerous,” the girl said, sounding passionate.

“I hate to say this,” it was Amanda speaking, “but we could use her help. She would need to have some training and agree to follow protocol, but I think in the long run, she’ll be an asset to us.”

“See,” Sam said, shooting up to a straight-backed seated position, “I’m glad someone around here believes in me.”

“Like hell,” Maryanne said, and Amanda could see the color rising to her fair-skinned cheeks. “If you want to contribute so bad, why don’t you help me with the dishwashing, cooking, water sanitizing, tidying up around here, watching your sister without argument, anything but going to town.”

“Wait a second,” Jason said, and everyone stopped talking to lean in to hear what he had to say because his voice was so low. “I think that Amanda’s right, as much as I hate to say it.”

“Honey?” Maryanne questioned, looking to her husband with a shocked expression.

“What if I hadn’t made it back to camp?” Jason said. “She’s old enough in this new world to learn how to take care of herself and how to help others. We are only handicapping her by being overprotective. What if someday soon she suddenly has to look out for herself?”

Maryanne began to speak. Her mouth opened as if to say something and then closed again as she thought better of it. She had tears in her eyes, and Amanda found herself hating what this new life has done to such a good family, that they would be forced to have to make decisions like this for their children.

“Roy, will you teach her to shoot and give her a few more driving lessons?” Amanda asked of the man that had chosen to remain silent on the matter. “If you could do that, I’ll teach her some hand-to-hand combat skills.”

“So just like that, it’s settled?” Maryanne asked. She was battling what her emotions were telling her and what common sense was dictating, and the expression on her face was both anguished and conflicted.

“Mom,” Sam said, reaching out to lay a hand atop her mother’s, “it’ll be okay, you’ll see.”

“Well, that’s not true, because nothing is okay anymore,” Maryanne said, staring at Amanda. “But deep down, I think that I know you’re right, Jason. As parents, it is our responsibility to prepare her for the world. I just had always thought that would be about telling her the dangers of going off to college, drinking and driving, and sexually transmitted diseases. It’s just all so much worse now.” She hung her head, but the others could hear that she was crying.

“There is another pressing matter that requires our attention,” Amanda said, not wanting to be insensitive to the needs of her friend but knowing that Maryanne would prefer to have the others distracted while she had her moment to compose herself. “The truck needs to be serviced. There’s a leak in the radiator, that’s why it overheated yesterday. I hope that no damage was done to the engine. Roy, if you could look it over and repair it if you can, that would be great.”

“No problem,” Roy said, giving a nod.

“Does anyone have any objections if we reconvene tomorrow morning after we’ve given this some thought? Maybe among all of us, we can find some viable solutions for our future,” Amanda said, finishing.

Chapter 18

“
A
manda?” Sam asked in a whisper, having walked up behind her after their meeting.

“Yep,” she said. “Why are you whispering?”

“Can we go someplace more private to talk?” the girl asked, looking around her. “This place is such a fishbowl, with everybody knowing everybody’s business and all.”

“Sure, Sam, where’s your sister?” she asked the girl. “I think your mother has a point in having you help her out more around camp.”

“She’s over there,” Sam said pointing, “playing dress-up with Boo. I think that’s her new best friend.”

“I think you’re right. And I see that Red’s yours,” Amanda said, looking down to Red, who was right by Sam’s leg.

Sam reached a hand down to scratch the big dog behind the ears.

“He likes it when I do that,” Sam said, giving a grin.

“Follow me,” she said and began heading down the hill and away from camp. But instead of going down past the turnoff for The Pit and on to the flat section that had become their parking lot, she veered right off of the trail and continued down a barely discernable path that ran along the edge of the hill and stopped at a small outcropping of boulders.

“You come here a lot,” Sam said, and it wasn’t a question.

“How do you know?”

“Like I said, we live in a fishbowl.”

“It’s safer when we stick together, you know, the whole safety in numbers thing, and all,” Amanda said by way of explanation.

“Hey, thanks for sticking up for me in the meeting, that was like tres cool,” Sam said.

“It wasn’t personal, Sam. I was actually being practical,” she answered. “Is this the top secret subject that you wanted to talk about?”

“No, actually, I have some questions, and I want honest answers, you know, like no crap,” Sam said, kneeling to sit down beside Amanda.

“You think the others are in the habit of lying to you?” Amanda asked.

“No, not lying exactly, but I think that everyone likes to disguise the truth because of my age, and that’s been bothering me,” the girl said as she brushed away some hair from her cheek, and it made Amanda think of Maryanne, who was also in the habit of doing the same thing. Amanda smiled.

“What’s going to happen to us?” Sam asked with a look of concern.

Amanda felt uncomfortable with the question, and she shifted her position a little, while she worked on a no-crap kind of response.

“That’s a very vague question, Sam, and I’m not sure how I’m supposed to be able to answer it,” she finally said after thinking it over.

“You have to know what I mean,” Sam said with frustration evident in her voice. “What kind of a future do we have, I mean, we could all be dead tomorrow.”

“Look, Sam, it isn’t just you and this generation that had sat around thinking about their mortality. It’s an age-old question that plenty of people have thought about over the years, it just so happens that times are tense now and it comes to mind a little more often than usual,” Amanda said.

“Just what is the condition of our situation? I mean, really, six months ago, I was a normal teenage girl, who liked to go clothes shopping with my friends. I had favorite musicians, liked to go to the movies, eat ice cream sundaes, and beg my parents for a horse. I thought that I had problems, you know, like when my hair wouldn’t cooperate, or how to make Jimmy at school notice me. Before all this happened, I was struggling to figure out how to tell my parents that I was getting a C in basic chemistry,” Sam was speaking as if a dam had broken inside of her, and there was a torrent of thoughts tumbling out. “I was looking forward to getting my driver’s license and already working on negotiating a car from my dad.”

Sam stopped speaking and slumped her shoulders, looking like her speech had been exhausting.

Amanda put her arm around the teen. She could easily relate to Sam’s struggle except for the whole boy band and teenage angst thing.

“Well, kid,” Amanda said, “the good news is that you get to start driving early, no license required, and I’ll help you get a vehicle. You don’t have to worry about having a bad hair day anymore because we don’t even bother looking in mirrors, and someday, you’ll find your soul mate.”

“How could you joke at a time like this?” Sam asked, sounding like her feelings had been hurt.

“You’re being sensitive, and I was being serious,” Amanda said. “We can’t go through our days worrying about tomorrow and what might happen to us. We need to work in a positive way toward making a future for ourselves, because unlike before, our future will only be what we decide to make it, good or bad. The way I see it, you are our future. You and Tammy, all the young people that are left on this planet are our future.”

“What future, Amanda? We live out in the middle of nowhere, where it’s dangerous, like that snake. I don’t have any friends anymore, and the ones I had are dead, I’m sure of it. We can’t go home. We don’t even have a home anymore. It’s all so hopeless,” Sam said, sounding forlorn.

“Sam, those things out there, the creepers, they aren’t going to last forever. They eat, but they aren’t ever satisfied. Their bodies are decaying, falling apart. Trust me, Sam, someday, this will all be over, and it will be the young people, like you, that will be the future. And the exciting thing about that is that all of you will be able to decide how you would like to rebuild,” Amanda said, letting the passion rise in her voice.

Sam sat, contemplating for a minute, wearing a serious expression that Amanda could just make out in the failing light of the day.

“I think that I understand now,” Sam said, nodding her head.

“It’s up to you and those that are left to do things differently, to not make the same mistakes that we did to make something like this happen. You and others can give the human race a fresh start, a new chance,” Amanda said, reaching out to squeeze one of her hands. “Do you have any other questions for me because it’s getting dark and we need to get back while we can still see our way?”

“I did, but now I don’t think so,” Sam said reflectively. “I have a lot to think about.”

Both women walked back, side by side, with Red trailing. The wind whipped their freshly cut hair around their faces and pushed at their backs as they traveled in silence back to camp. Even though Sam felt like she was ready, Amanda hoped that it had not been a mistake to push for Sam to be allowed to go on the next run. There would be a lot of danger involved, and she didn’t want to live with a mistake that couldn’t be taken back. She decided to wait to see how the girl’s training went before second-guessing herself too much, but it was one thing to present the logical argument of sending her to town and completely another to face the reality of it.

“Don’t worry about the run,” Sam said, as if she had read her friend’s mind. “I’m ready.”

Amanda knew that Sam was demonstrating the typical bravado of youth and hoped that the girl was right about being ready.

“I’m glad that you think I’m capable,” Sam said as they stepped into camp.

Roy was lighting the lanterns and Maryanne was washing dishes. Jason slept, and Tammy was still playing with Boo.

“It’s nice to be young and have someone that believes in you.”

“Let’s see how you do on that driving, shooting, and combat tests before you get too comfortable with the idea, okay?” Amanda said, trying to keep things in perspective for the girl.

Amanda knew that should the training go poorly, not only would she not allow Sam to go on the next run, but that it would devastate the girl.

“Hey, Mom,” Sam said, “do you want some help with the dishes?”

Maryanne, whose face was glistening with sweat, looked up in surprise at her daughter.

“I can’t remember the last time you actually offered to help me in the kitchen,” she said, sounding breathless. “I am a bit tired. If you could finish off these dishes, then I’ll just sit down for a few minutes.”

Sam immediately went to replace her mother without a single word of complaint while Maryanne looked to Amanda questioningly. Amanda merely shrugged her shoulders by way of an answer. It seemed that having that discussion with the girl had instilled a sense of responsibility as well as a call-to-action. If this turnaround in behavior is any indication, she thought, then she might be ready and able to help on the run. Amanda considered this, and realizing that Sam had wanted their discussion to remain a confidential one, she said nothing to Maryanne.