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Finally I get back around to adding another chapter to this volume. I've been wrapped up in trying to find work and also going over a 3rd draft of the first novel and consequently delayed continuing this volume. I decided to try and finish this chapter (below) because of you, faithful reader(s) have waited long enough. It's bad enough that we have to wait until October for season 4 of the Walking Dead, no need to make you all wait for another installment.
I can't promise when chapter 19 will be completed but I thank you for your patience. Hope you enjoy this latest chapter.
Chapter 18
Revelations of The Psychics
Hours later we managed to get all cleaned up and rested. James busied himself in getting our stoves ready to cook our dinners. Kiaya was still sleeping and I guessed that unless we woke her, she would continue to sleep. Maybe that would've been alright but until we know more about her physical condition beyond starvation and dehydration, we all agreed that she needed to take small naps for the time being. For one thing it would stave off any nightmares if her cycle is broken, it also makes sure that she isn't deteriorating healthwise. Janece said that they have a nurse and a man who was a physician's assistant at the village, they would be able to care for her and bring her back to health.
I was feeling restless and found myself wishing the other scouts would arrive soon. In the back of my mind I could see that herd growing larger and getting closer with each passing hour. I was frustrated that I couldn't plan anything without knowing the layout of the village. What equipment did they have? Any heavy machinery? How well was their perimeter set up, how strong was it? Janece could provide those answers if she stood still long enough. She was in and out of the room frequently.
Mainly attending to her horse, which I found amusingly enough she kept in the room adjoining next to the one we occupied. A quick glance inside showed that the beds and furniture had been removed and the carpeted floor was covered in a thick layer of hay. She explained that there was another room just like it on the opposite side of ours. They were large enough to “stable” at most three animals. The hay gave them bedding as well as a means of collecting their droppings. The curtains were drawn and held closed by a row of large binder clips. The door remained and was locked at night. At least the horses wouldn't be disturbed at night should any roamers happen upon the motel. This allowed the scouts and their animals to sleep reasonably peaceful after a long ride. The travois we made stayed outside, the long poles rested up against a parked car's trunk, all the gear however came inside the room with us. Even if James could walk, which he should be able to by tomorrow morning, the travois would help make it easier to carry our weapons and gear. Kiaya could ride back with us but I felt that it would be better if one of the scouts took her back to the village and get the medical attention that she needed sooner. We would still need to travel at a walking pace because of the travois.
Feeling frustrated I stepped outside for a smoke. Maggie and James occupied themselves in their own way. Outside the air was warm with a slight breeze coming from the south. I reached for my cigarettes and found the pack had 3 left. Sighing deeply, I pulled one out and put the pack back in my pocket. As I lit up the door to the “stable room” opened and Janece stepped outside. We looked at each other for a long moment before she stepped towards me.
“I get the feeling that you've been waiting for me to talk alone.” Her voice was calm and neutral.
“I knew you were busy, making sure your horse is alright and settled down. We wouldn't have gotten far without him.” I winced inwardly at the awkwardness I felt at this small talk.
“What do you want to talk about?” she asked simply enough. She took a seat on the hood of the car closest to us, and leaned forward resting her elbows on her bent knees.
I took a breath and started. “For one thing I need to know if the people in your village will accept us. If they'll listen to our advice on how to best defend the area against the herd that's coming. They won't know us from Adam, hell, you don't really know us at all do you.”
She shook her head. “No, I don't and you're right, they're going to want something from you to show that you know what you're talking about. We haven't had many problems with the dead. A few pop-up now and again but other than that not much trouble at all. The thing is, that we've had problems more often with small groups of men trying to take what's ours. But we handle... them in our own way.”
I nodded and was curious about how they “handled” the hunters. But I let it go for the time being. More pressing things needed to be brought to light.
“How many people are there in your village? How many men, women, children? Young, old? How many can fight? I also need to know if you have any heavy equipment and what are your defenses that you already have in place. What is your weapons cache like? Ammo? What kind of vehicles and if you have enough fuel for an evacuation if necessary. That herd is going to be huge by the time it reaches your village. The more I know,” I corrected myself, “the more Maggie and I know, the better we can come up with a plan. Maggie has enough military training and is an explosives expert, she can at least come up with a perimeter defense that'll hold them off.”
Janece sat quietly, patiently for me to finish. I took another drag off the stale cigarette and winced at the bite and tossed it away.
“Have to quit these damned things anyway.” I said with a grin.
She nodded quietly, studying me. I held her gaze and let her read whatever she wanted from it. Truth, or falsehood, it was up to her to decide. Hopefully she was the type to listen to her heart. I wasn't nervous from it in the slightest. Whenever I speak the truth, straight out, I don't worry and let it speak for itself. If they want proof that Maggie and I can do what we say we can and are willing to do for a respite that'll be fine. I found myself not really wanting to and that Janece's word is good enough. She looks mighty capable as it is. Her study was sincere yet open to whatever I may put out knowingly or unconsciously. She reminded me a lot of James at the moment. Able to read subtle bodily hints of subterfuge. She grew up in a harsh life but a comfortable one. Harsh in that gathering your own food and dealing with minimal help from the outside world. Prejudice, stereotyping, and a host of others before the world went to shit.
“I have something else to ask you.” I began without hesitating.
“Yes?”
“Is there a working lap-top in your village that I could use?” I held up the USB on the keychain,
“there is something that ... James needs to see. It's a message from his Grandfather.”
Well that was partially true. There was much more on the USB flashdrive than I care to admit at the moment. My instincts told me to trust this girl... and not to trust her. I hoped that I was partially wrong.
Slowly she nodded and stepped up closer to me, holding her chin up and not breaking contact with her eyes locked on my own. It would've been easy to get lost in those pools of green with flecks of brown. She moved until our bodies were inches apart. She reached up with her hand but not quickly. Her fingers plucked something off near my collar and then held it up for my eyes to see. It was a tiny brown tick. With a deft movement she pinned it to her forefinger with her thumb and used the thumbnail to pinch the creature. I saw the spot where the tick was trapped turn white for a brief second and then resume it's light tan color. When she moved her thumb away, the tiny brown creature was cut in half. With a flick of her wrist she flung the tiny bits of carcass off her fingers to the ground.
“Bad time of year for these things. They could be carrying the virus. Gotta keep the horses clean. One must be careful. I'll let the others know.”
She then moved back until we were at the same distance apart as before.
“As to your questions I'll answer them and what I cannot answer the others will. I'll see to it.” She looked at me in askance, “Can you be patient and we can all gather together to discuss it?”
I wanted another cigarette. Instead I sighed and gave her a firm nod. At least it earned me a brilliant smile from her. I mentally chided myself for feeling a bit attracted to her. I was at least 25 years her senior. Besides, I told myself; I've never seen how jealous Maggie gets... not yet anyway. Then something blurted out of me and I nearly kicked myself. Gotta let the kid do it himself.
“James is taken with you.”
She blushed and nodded, “and I, him, though he's younger than I am, he has a warrior's spirit and experience. I admire that about him.” She paused and looked at me. “He admires you greatly, you know.”
I started to nod and stopped. “He told you?”
She grinned and gave me back the same firm nod I just gave her. Mocking me? No, a conscious or subconscious imitation that is meant to put another at ease.
“Yes, we've spoken of you often and of his mother. She is a strong warrior herself, though troubled.”
I was again about to nod agreement and had to stop once more. The things she was saying were kicking me in the head and I was too slow to notice. For one thing neither Maggie nor I have seen the two of them conversing “often”. Maggie would've at least said something. The two youngsters hardly gave each other a couple of signs. Was I missing something?
“You mind telling me just how you two were speaking to each other?”
She gave a small laugh “We communicate in other ways.”
I stared at her, waiting for clarification.
“We speak though our thoughts. We are as clear as you and I are conversing right now. Only,” she pointed to her head and pointed her hand out towards my head in a smooth graceful motion. “it is his mind to my mind.”
“Tel-telepathic? You mean to tell me that the two of you are telepathic?”
She stood there guileless and nodded in answer. I was stunned. Did Maggie know this about her son? Does it mean that the boy has been reading our minds? The girl too?
“What about us? Maggie and me, and the girl?”
I was surprised at her next answer. “It is just James and I. The other day when you and your woman were fighting down the hill by the train, and I found him. He was...”
I held up my hand to stop her, Maggie should hear this as well. I motioned her to our room and she moved towards the door. At the door way I stopped and turned around, looking at everything in the parking lot and along the road beyond. It was clear. So far. I went inside our room and closed the door.
Janece took a seat next to James who was seated on one of the beds in the room, nearest the bathroom, and was facing the door, while Maggie was lying on top of the covers, propped up on her elbow next to the sleeping Kaiya. Maggie was all smiles until she saw my face. She sat up quietly so not to wake up the child beside her. I took one of the chairs, typically next to the table in the room, dragged it over to sit between the beds and sat down in it. I gave Maggie a look and told her.
“Wait til you hear this one.” Then nodded to Janece.
The girl was quiet for a moment, then James looked at her and nodded. “We can read each other's thoughts. We have been since he came back.”
“Came... back? From where?” Maggie asked cautiously, forgetting to sign I noted.
“From death of course.”
Maggie gasped and swung her legs out to set her feet on the floor. I still sat there and remembered to close my jaw.
“He died?” She then signed to her son “You died?”
The boy smiled and nodded and signed back, “that's what she tells me.”
“H-how ... when?”
He responded in signs, “When you, John, kill zombies around train.” His face fell as if re-experiencing a bad memory. “I die, was dark around scary...” his face lit up again, “hear in head voice, hers say not die please. I followed, open eyes, see smile hers.” He took her hand and held it so that they rested together in the space between them.
Maggie shook her head and was speechless. So was I as my mind fought to process the information that I, we were just given. Far as I knew James was just plain deaf and beyond that an ordinary kid in the middle stages of puberty. He was maturing faster than he would have prior to all this madness. I wasn't sure what I was feeling at the moment, to be honest not much of anything as I rolled around what I knew that Frank told me during our conversations and what we learned while at Wildfire. It had to be that series of inoculations that we received upon entering the facility, something that Frank hinted about. Now I was really was needing to see what is on the flash-drive. It might have a clue or the answer to the situation that we found ourselves in.
“How? How could this have happened?” Maggie's voice cut across my thoughts, making me jerk my head up and look at her. I really didn't have an answer but shrugged my shoulders.
“It's possible, though I'm not a chemist or biologist or anything near being a scientist; I'm guessing that the drugs that they gave us at Wildfire might've altered his brain chemistry somehow.”
I pointed a finger at him and the girl, they watched me with a look of innocence that, had I not known James for as long as I have, I might've felt they were trying to deceive me.
“But the fact that you two say that he died, is twisting my head off as I sit here.” I glanced at Maggie.
“Do you think that the Wildfire drugs that were used to fight the virus might've resurrected him, or ... prevented zombie-ism?” she asked.
Again I shrugged my shoulders, “Honey, I don't know. Like I said I know ziltch about brain chemistry and all that. If Ellis had survived then maybe he could tell us.” I fingered the flash-drive in my shirt-pocket for a moment, then pulled it out and showed it to them.
“Your dad gave me this just before Wildfire went to hell. He told me that the answers are in here. The answers to everything about this plague, apocalypse, whatever the hell happened to the human race, I dunno.” I was feeling frustrated that I couldn't find out and had to wait. I shook it angrily at nothing in particular, “the answers are in here!”
I let out a long sigh and rubbed my eyes, after putting the flash-drive back in my pocket. Janece stood up and walked over to me and knelt down by the chair I was in. Quietly, gently, she reached up and buttoned the shirt-pocket that I kept the device in. She then reached up and stroked my forehead. Her voice soft and as gentle as her touch.
“The fate of the world isn't on your shoulders John Handle. Whatever your destiny is, it is clear that it lies with us as well.” She turned to look at the two people who, in such a short time, have become so important in my life.
“I can see that my destiny lies with James and thus is on the same path now as yours.”
She stood up and seated herself again on the bed and took James' hand once more in hers. She turned her shoulders so that she faced Maggie squarely as to address her. But her tone indicated it was meant for all of us.
“If you will have me then I will help you as best as I can in your journey to where-ever it is that you're going. My life with my village is nearly over and I can see that there is a new beginning for me. The Spirit that guides all our lives works beyond our ken and understanding. But we must follow His prompting no matter where it may lead us.”
“What about your village? Your family? You said that your father was still alive, don't you think...”
“My father will understand.” she replied back simply. “This is something that all the village elders have taught us since we were small children.” Janece smiled suddenly and looked past Maggie. Kiaya was sitting up, still looking sleepy eyed but watching Janece with interest.
“Even children as young as her.” she nodded to the child who suddenly blushed and fell back on the bed, trying to bury her face in her pillow.
I was noticing something different during this exchange. James' face was responding to whatever was being said, nodding in the right places and smiling at others. He was watching his mother as he would normally when people were talking. But no-one was signing. I didn't blame Maggie forgetting, the news that these two kids were laying upon us was heavy as it is. Still I felt I needed to try something.
“James?” I asked.
The boy looked right at me and his eye-brows raised as in surprise.
“Yes?” he responded.
“You just heard me?” I asked incredulously.
He shook his head and signed back, “I am deaf still, I hear through Janece,” pointing at the girl beside him. “Hear mind, mine, from hers to me. She what hear go to mind, like all hearing. Her mind I read what she hear.”
I was glad that I wasn't the only one whose jaw dropped. Maggie gaped openly at her son. There was a look of joy in her face that I probably only saw once or twice before. It made her radiant and reminded me of one of the reasons why I loved her. Her smile made her even more beautiful. Her mouth worked to try and sound out the questions that threatened to overflow out of her. Finally she managed to articulate what she was thinking.
“You can hear now? You can hear sounds?” her voice was as hopeful as her face.
James shook his head. “Not through here mom,” pointing at his ears, “in here.”
Maggie's face fell for a second, then like the sun from behind a cloud it lit up again.
“So, what I understand here is that whatever she hears, you're receiving in your mind.”
James pondered this for only a second, then nodded quickly. “Yes. Right.”
“Well, that means we don't need to sign to you anymore right?” I asked and tried to make my voice lighthearted. But I felt there was something more here that needed to be understood. I don't know how I knew, but it was a feeling. Perhaps the Wildfire drugs, as I prefer to call them, had affected all of us.
“No.” James signed and said aloud. “Have limit between her, me, apart no hear. Close can “hear” what she hear.” His fingers made the quotation marks in the air as he spoke. His face was serious as I have ever seen it. So basically it was a minor miracle, but still a miracle nonetheless. Before I could ask the next obvious question, Maggie beat me to it.
“How far?”
This time Janece answered. “We suspect no more than ten feet or so. We were able to converse, since I can read his mind as well, when I was leading my horse and he was on the travois. It was pretty clear, like we're hearing each other talk right now. But, when I was outside or in the next room, he wasn't able to pick up anything. So it does have it's limits.”
If it was disappointing news it didn't bother Maggie a bit. Her face was still beaming at the prospect that her son could now hear, however limited.
I chuckled, “Well at least now you know what the Beatles will sound like.”
The joke fell flat but I pressed on and a little more serious.
“From a tactical standpoint, it'll be advantageous for you James. You can still,” this time I made the quotation marks in the air, “pretend you're deaf whenever you're with her and pick up whatever everyone else is saying without them realizing it. You'll see what I mean later on.”
Maggie wasn't finished yet, and she became serious as she leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. She looked directly at the girl Janece.
“You weren't inoculated like we were. How is it that you're able to do this with him?”
Janece apparently already thought this over, or I should say talked this over with James. She shrugged her shoulders and replied easily enough.
“I'm not sure, but I do know that I was able to sense more of what my brother was feeling or thinking than the rest of my family. Perhaps it's something latent in me that was brought out when James and I met. I'm not really a hundred percent on that.” suddenly her breathing became ragged as if she was having difficulty drawing breath, “I remember feeling and knowing the terror my brother felt when he was being torn apart, and the confusion, the pain, the...”
Quickly, I got up out of my chair and knelt by her and took her free hand. A glance at her left hand showed she held James' right in a white knuckled grip. James' hand was turning red where their skin didn't contact otherwise her fingers were digging into his showing white. Clearly she was distressed at remembering the death of her autistic brother and her inability to help him as he was attacked. My heart went out to her and to her younger brother, whom must have been losing his mind at the overwhelming sensations and violations upon his person in his autistic mind. Her psychic ability must have bombarded her with whatever he was going through.
“Hey, hey. It's okay.” I spoke softly to her in an effort to calm her down. “We understand what you must've went through. We're just trying to figure this out.”
To her credit she calmed down quicker than I expected. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her eyes were red rimmed with withheld tears. She squeezed my hand. I could feel her relaxing and another quick glance showed she released the pressure on James' hand. I flicked my eyes up to his face and had to repress a grin as the relief was evident. Janece nodded.
“Thank you. I'm okay. I just get wound up whenever I think about it because it was like it was happening to me as well.” She smiled sadly at me. “It is a terrible way to die and he didn't deserve that.”
“No one did. Out of the millions that have died since all this began, I can't think of a one that deserved that kind of death.”
Well, I didn't necessarily believe that all the way. That group of hunters on the highway that we met a couple months ago, got what I hoped they deserved. Even that bastard sniper that hounded us afterwards. Of course however; he got caught in a tactical nuke, hopefully with every damned zombie that he brought with him. It didn't make me feel sorry for him in the slightest. Kiaya was sitting up again and the look on her face was one of a sadness that no-one her age should have felt.
“My brother died too.” she said to no-one in particular.
Maggie turned around at her waist and reached out to pull the waif to her. The girl wrapped her arms around Maggie's neck and allowed herself to be pulled over to where she would sit on Maggie's lap. Without a word Maggie held her and kissed her forehead. We all fell silent, as if we unanimously agreed to give our dead a moment of silent reflection. Then the little girl looked up at me.
“I'm hungry. Can I get something to eat?”
Maggie kissed her head once more. “Of course hunny. We're all hungry. Lets see what we have alright?”
“Otay” she replied back and then scooted herself off Maggie's lap and walked over to me.
“I need to pee” she said simply.
Uh, yeah okay. What? Did she need an escort? I was a bit at a loss at the moment. Maggie gave a quiet “ahem” that got my attention. She made a sign that looked like a person kneeling and then standing up. Oh, yeah... duh. I stood up and allowed the girl to pass. She walked to the bathroom and shut the door. I looked at each of them in turn and signed, “lets eat.” Maggie got up and gave me a quick hug before moving on to where we stashed our freeze-dried meals and began setting up on the table which like all motel rooms sat in the corner near the big picture window. James stood up as well and let go of Janece's hand as he moved to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
“I glad not kill you before, mom need you.” All this was in silent sign language since Maggie had her back turned to us as she rummaged through our packs for our cooking gear. I gave James a smile and signed back,
“Me too.”
The bathroom door opened and little Kiaya stepped out and moved over to Janece asking her for help with her jeans as they seem to thwart her efforts to button them at the waist. Like a big sister Janece helped her out with some playful banter. I felt that I needed another cigarette to help me mull over everything that we just talked about. I moved to the door and grasped the handle. As I opened the door, I froze in place. Good thing too, the guy on the other side holding the long bow looked ready to release the arrow into my face.
