Читать книгу Respect the Dead - Shawn McLain - Страница 21

Bill Reager slowed the station wagon slightly through the red light at the bottom of the hill. Beth clung tightly to the seat belt, not out of fear over the older man’s driving but to fight the grief and panic that was threatening to overtake her. It was her lifeline, the only thing that seemed real at the moment. Every time she closed her eyes her father’s face, contorted in terror and agony, swam before her vision, it was all that she could see. She had to talk to her brother. She needed to know he was OK, and he had to know not to go home.

Releasing the belt, her fingers ached from the grip. She moved her shaking hand into her jacket. It wasn’t in the inside pocket where she kept it. “Where is it?” Beth fumbled through her pockets. Bill glanced sideways at her.

“Where is it?” She slapped at the jacket. She felt her pants pockets, returned to her jacket. “WHERE IS IT!” She shouted.

Returning to the inside pocket her fingers curled around the familiar shape of the phone. Pulling it from her pocket she laughed while several tears escaped her eyes. Hitting the speed dial she put the phone to her ear. “Damn it.” She hung up, scrolled through the contacts. Hit the name but instantly dropped the phone grabbing the seat belt again. Bill jumped a curve to avoid a motorcycle. The rider was out of control, tearing out of one yard then heading through another. Several people stumbled after him.

Recovering herself, she grabbed up her phone frantically unlocking it she tried to make another call. The car bounced and swerved around a burning truck. She hit the wrong contact. Quickly hanging up she dialed another number. One hand held tight to the belt the other holding the phone to her ear. Anger swelled up in her. She jerked the phone from her ear hitting the red “end” button. She tried again. Frustration boiled into anger. She pulled the phone from her ear yelling into the receiver at the calm robotic voice. She called it the name she reserved for the most vile of her hatred.

Bill glanced over again. “What?” He asked calmly. He swung the car around a bend out of the path a minivan. The van careened out of control through the guide rail then down an embankment. Beth spun in her seat to stare out the back window at the mangled railing, Bill did not slow down.

“All the circuits are busy or something.” Beth turned back in her seat. She started to text Steve. “Damn it. The text won’t go through either.” She yelled slamming the phone against her leg. “I need to find Steve! Can you take me to the distribution center?”

Bill glanced at her. “I have no idea where we need to go,” his eyes followed a police car that screamed by in the opposite direction, lights flashing and siren blaring, “…. so why not?” He shrugged.

“What the hell is happening,” Beth asked angrily holding up her phone as if it would answer her. “Why was Dad attacked? Why did they…Kill him? Why is Denny dead? What the hell was wrong with those people? Mrs. McGee was, she was, I mean she was all messed up?” Beth continued getting more hysterical with each question.

“I don’t know. All the news said was that people needed to stay in their homes, not to panic. Something about the people with the flu getting violent. Denny had been sick for a couple days.” Bill paused to twist his arms through a pretzle move as he swerved around a wrecked Mercedes. “I went to check on him and he wasn’t breathing… but he got up… He got up and attacked me.” Bill gripped the wheel tightly. “He was trying to bite me. He was dead but he got up and tried to…Kill me.” Bill was almost pleading with Beth to understand.

“I hit him. I hit him and he fell back against the night stand.” Bill clipped a mailbox as he skidded around a body in the road. “I heard his head hit the corner. His neck must have broken. He couldn’t move but, but his eyes followed me. They followed me all over the room. The body was paralyzed, but… He should have been dead! He was Dead!” Bill burst out. “He kept watching me even though he couldn’t move. His mouth tried to bite at me… he was still trying to get to me.” Bill looked over at Beth who stared back her eyes brimming with tears.

Bill stared straight ahead his eyes barely seeing the road. Bursting across the outbound lanes, horns blared as several cars swerved out of Bill’s path. They pulled onto the main road into town. The opposite lanes were streaming with traffic.

“I couldn’t leave him. So I, I….I ended his suffering.” Tears ran down Bill’s face. He swiped at them trying to clear his vision.

Beth turned to face the front of the car, staring blankly out of the window trying to understand what she was hearing. She became aware the radio was on but very low. To drown out the silence she turned it up a little. For several minutes Beth and Bill said nothing listening to the radio repeated the same constant loop. “The emergency management department urges citizens to remain in their residence. Please keep the roads clear for emergency personnel…stay tuned to this station for further information,”

Beth soon only heard the recording as nothing but background noise. The sounds of the car’s engine along with the screech of the tires through the turns even began to fade as she became more lost in thoughts. She made several more attempts to reach her brother and Wes. She hung up the phone letting it fall into her lap. She decided to try again in a few minutes. The monotonous drone of the radio ceased. There was a click followed by crackle and indistinct voices. Suddenly there was a thumping, “We on? We’re live, go.”

The harried voice startling Beth. Reaching forward she turned the volume up. She looked over at Bill who was looking at the radio, “The Mayor’s office along with the Pennsylvania National guard have ordered an evacuation of the city and surrounding suburbs. Citizens are instructed to report to the Point Ball Park, The Richland Mall, or the Hill Top Movie plex. Whichever is closer to your… Hold on a moment, I have just been handed an update. What? Um...any individuals that are currently…is this right? Any individuals that have the flu are not to be taken to the evacuation areas. You are instructed to leave them as soon as possible. Secure the sick individual and leave them where they are. Medical attention will be sent when you give your information at the evacuation sites.” The announcer tried his best to remain calm.

“Those evacuation points again are: The Point Ball Park, Richland Mall and Hill Top movies. By order of the National Guard the following policy is in effect for evacuation. If someone is sick or has been injured by someone that is sick they are to report to the Medical tent upon arrival at the evacuation point.” The announcer’s calm voice began to crack. “Anyone with the flu will be evacuated separately…but it is recommended that they be left in your homes until help can be sent to them….CAN WE CHECK THIS PLEASE!” The voice on the radio was becoming more agitated by the second. There was a crackle, an emergency tone, then a recorded message saying exactly what the announcer had read. Evacuation points and report or leave the sick or injured.

Bill changed the channel but it was on every station. “Leave the sick, or drop them off at the Medical tent… They know what is going on.” Bill grumbled.

Beth looked at Bill. “The Mall is closer, but the Point is only a few blocks from the distribution center.” She said hopefully.

Bill jerked the wheel as several cars jumped the median to head back to town toward the ball park. “Shit!” Bill yelled avoiding a woman who looked out of her mind in panic.

Beth saw three children in the car all crying and screaming as a man rose up from the back seat. “Oh my God!” She screamed pointing at the car ahead.

“Hold on!” Bill yelled throwing an arm across Beth. The woman’s car jumped the curb glanced off a telephone poll and flipped over. Bill clipped the rear of the car spinning it as he accelerated past it.

“Mr. Reager! We have to stop! We have to help them!” Beth screamed grabbing his arm trying to turn to look back.

Bill was shaking his head mumbling as he drove on. “Too late for them too late. Can’t stop too late. We’ll find Steve and we’ll leave. I’ll find your brother; I said I would, but no more. Too late to help them.” He pounded the wheel

Beth was torn between wanting to get to her brother and helping. She closed her eyes as she turned back to face the front. She cursed herself and Bill, “Yes. Let’s get Steve and get the hell out of here.” Tears stained her face. She hated herself and her old teacher. Looking down at her phone she frantically typed in another text. She had to retype it several times as her fingers couldn’t find the right keys through the blur of tears. She sent the message to her best friend. She waited. The indicator read. “Message sent.” She got excited. Immediately typing another text to Steve. With excited fingers she hit send. The progression indicator displayed “Sending” she urged it to go, “Sending”

“Come on come on.” She shook the phone.

“Sending”

“You can do it.” She pleaded.

“Message failed”. The failure notice burned into her chest.

“Damn you! You worthless piece of sh, um, uh. Sorry Mr. Reager”

He glanced at her and laughed. With all this?” He gestured out the window, “You think I care if you swear…This fucking sucks and you damn well earned the right to say so.” Beth sat shocked at the language. Then she laughed. She looked down at her phone waiting for a reply from her friend.