Night of the Sasquatch Read online

  When they arrived at the barracks, there were several soldiers and militiamen hanging around outside it. Joe felt their eyes on him as he walked by them with Lieutenant Wagner.

  “I’m giving you my own spot in the barracks, Joe,” Wagner told him. “I think that would be for the best.”

  “You don’t want to have to hurt any of them.” Joe chuckled.

  “Exactly.” Lieutenant Wagner grinned. “I think we’ve all had enough trouble already.”

  “Couldn’t agree more.” Joe nodded.

  “I’ll help you find your own place tomorrow,” Lieutenant Wagner promised. “Like I said, there are plenty to choose from.”

  Lieutenant Wagner showed Joe to his room. It was small and very spartan in nature. There was only a bed, a work table, and an adjoining bath. A trunk, Joe assumed was filled with Wagner’s personal belongings, sat at the end of the bed.

  “Thank you,” Joe said as the lieutenant turned to leave.

  “Look, Joe, I don’t know where you’re heading to after here, but I want you to know that you can stay if you want,” Lieutenant Wagner told him. “We could use a man like you.”

  “I’ll consider it, Lieutenant,” Joe said.

  After the lieutenant had departed, Joe saw that there was a working shower in the bath. He stripped away his clothes and placed his katana on the bed. It had been a long while since he had enjoyed a shower. He cranked the water up full blast and stepped into it. The steaming water flowed over him, washing away the blood of the Sasquatch he had killed. It felt wonderful to be clean. He stayed in the shower until the water literally ran out. He didn’t know how things were set up in the building, but clearly there was a limited supply of water to go around. If he had to guess, his shower had likely been collected water, heated by a furnace somewhere in the building, and gravity fed into the bath of the room he had been given. He supposed it didn’t really matter.

  Joe took his clothes to the bath next. There was still running water in the sink there, even if it was cold now. He scrubbed his clothes clean as best he could and then put them back on before heading for the room’s bed. Joe stretched out on it. Part of him scolded himself for enjoying such comforts and the other part relished them. He hadn’t realized just how tired he was until he had lain down. His eyes fell closed and Joe was out like a light in seconds.

  He was woken up by the sound of knocking on the door of his quarters. Joe rose from the bed, donning his katana and its sheath on his back, and went to answer the door. When he opened it, a young man was standing there.

  “I’m sorry to bother you, sir, but the colonel wants to see you later on today,” the young man informed him. “He said there was no rush but to drop by his office when you had the time.”

  “Thanks for letting me know,” Joe said and started to close the door. He could see the kid had something else to say though and paused.

  “I …” the kid stuttered. “It’s just…”

  “Come on, kid,” Joe urged him. “Just say whatever it is already.”

  “You’re him, aren’t you? I mean, the guy who tore through all those Sasquatch last night,” the kid blurted out.

  “There weren’t that many of them, kid.” Joe sighed.

  “Looked like a lot to me, sir,” the young man said. “I was on the wall when you came in.”

  “You were, huh? Shouldn’t you be asleep then,” Joe asked. The sun had risen hours ago and its rays were spilling into his room through its window.

  “Oh … uh …yeah, I guess I should be,” the kid said still looking nervous. “It’s just that I really wanted to meet you so I volunteered to bring you the message from Colonel Flint.”

  “Well, you’ve met me now. You got a name, kid?” Joe asked.

  “Chris … Chris Dannon,” the kid told him.

  “I’m Joe. Now if you don’t mind…”

  “Wait,” Chris said frantically, moving his hand to stop Joe from shutting the door in his face. “I was hoping that maybe you could teach me to fight.”

  “You’re a soldier, Chris. Shouldn’t you already know how to do that?” Joe chuckled.

  “I’m not a real soldier. I’m part of the city militia. Just joined up yesterday. They weren’t real big on training.” Chris sounded desperate.

  “Yesterday? Really? Then last night was your first time on the wall?” Joe smirked. “Guess you got a real show, huh?”

  “Yes, sir.” Chris nodded excitedly. “I’ve never seen anyone do anything like what you did last night. Will you please teach me?”

  “What did you do before you joined up, Chris?” Joe asked.

  Chris’ cheeks flushed red. “Um … I sort of ran a comic book shop for the city’s kids. Teaching them about the heroes of the worlds before. Keeping their dreams alive and mine with them, I guess.”

  “You ran a comic book shop?” Joe laughed out loud. “You have to be kidding me.”

  “No, sir, I’m not. If my brother hadn’t threatened to burn it down unless I joined up, I’d be there right now,” Chris told him.

  “Just how old are you again?” Joe asked.

  “I’ll be eighteen next month,” Chris answered.

  “Frag.” Joe shook his head. It had begun to hurt from being forced to deal with the kid. “I’m not a superhero from one of your comics, kid. I’m just a guy trying to stay alive like everyone else.”

  “I get that, sir. I really do but…” Chris said.

  “You still want me to teach you how to fight,” Joe finished for him.

  “Please, sir. I’m not cut out to be a soldier,” Chris begged.

  “You’re not one. You said so yourself,” Joe quipped.

  “I’m in the militia now though and if I don’t learn, I am going to die on that wall, sir.” Chris looked to be on the edge of tears.

  “Not my problem, kid. I’m sorry,” Joe said and shut the door. He could hear the kid still standing outside it but Chris didn’t knock on it again. A few minutes later, Joe heard him walk away.

  “Frag me,” Joe muttered, feeling guilty. He opened the door and saw the kid in the distance walking down the corridor that led out of the barracks. “Hey, kid! Wait up, would you?”

  ****

  Colonel Flint rolled the map out across the top of his desk. Lieutenant Wagner and Sergeant Davis of the city’s militia were with him in his office. The map had several places circled on it.

  “These are our best shots at resupply, gentlemen,” Colonel Flint said. “It would be nice if we could hit all of them but as it stands…” He let his words hang in the air.

  “What are those places?” Sergeant Davis asked.

  “This one is a National Guard armory,” Colonel Flint said, stabbing the location on the map with his pointer finger. “It should have fuel and ammo there. This particular armory was a full-out supply depot. Even with the mobilization of the forces there in the early days of the Bigfoot War, I think we can count on there being enough left to make a difference to our situation here.”

  Colonel Flint moved his finger. “I’m sure all the super centers and grocery stores were cleaned out during the early days, but this … this is a warehouse for a national distribution company.”

  “Basically an online ordering place,” Sergeant Davis said. “I can see where you are going with that. There’s a chance they stocked a lot of grocery items that weren’t perishable there.”

  “Yes.” Colonel Flint nodded. “That was indeed what I was thinking.”

  “And what’s this list circle?” Lieutenant Wagner put his finger on it.

  “That’s a hospital,” Colonel Flint answered.

  Both the lieutenant and sergeant frowned. Hospitals were targeted by the beasts when the war began.

  “It’s likely got not only medical supplies we could desperately use but perhaps some stored food on hand too. Maybe even some fuel for the backup generator they were required to have,” Colonel Flint explained. He saw the expressions of the faces of the others and added, “You’re right th
at hospitals were a dangerous place to be when the war was raging, but let’s accept that it’s over, gentlemen, and we lost. That’s pretty clear to the beasts that we lost, I am sure. I don’t think we’ll have half as much trouble as what you’re thinking if it’s where we send our supply party to.”

  “I didn’t think we were seriously going to try this.” Sergeant Davis shook his head. “We know those things are out there in the woods all around this place. Whoever we send likely won’t make it a mile before they are torn apart.”

  “Things have changed,” Colonel Flint told him firmly. “Not only are we reaching a point where not making a supply run isn’t an option but…”

  “But we’ve also found someone who can perhaps lead the party,” Lieutenant Wagner said.

  “You’re talking about that new guy that fought his way into the city, aren’t you?” Sergeant Davis continued to frown. “Seems like everyone is talking about him today. What’s the big deal about him? Is he some kind of super soldier or something?”

  “Or something.” Colonel Flint grinned. “Regardless, if we can get him onboard, I think Joseph Reynolds can handle the job and even bring most of those we send out back alive.”

  “You’re putting a lot of faith in a man who just wandered in here last night,” Sergeant Davis pointed out.

  “We will have to see how things play out, Sergeant,” Colonel Flint said. “That said, you and the lieutenant here both need to work hard to make sure Mr. Reynolds is made to feel at home here in Cedarmark. We need him. It’s as simple as that.”

  “He’s already made it very clear that he’s not planning on hanging around long,” Lieutenant Wagner reminded the colonel.

  “And that’s why I am ordering you to change his mind, Wagner.” Colonel Flint placed both his hands on the map. “I want you both out there doing everything you can to make him feel at home here.”

  “Yes, sir,” they answered together.

  “If we are able to get him on board, sir, which location will we be trying for first?” Lieutenant Wagner asked.

  “That’s open for discussion.” Colonel Flint shrugged. “Do either of you have any thoughts as to which one?”

  “The armory, sir,” Lieutenant Wagner answered. “It’s hands down our best shot at one-stop shopping. That place could be a gold mine of not just the ammo we so sorely need to keep up the fight here but it’s likely we will find rations, meds, and fuel there too.”

  “I think he’s right.” Sergeant Davis nodded at the lieutenant.

  “It’s agreed upon then,” Colonel Flint said. “The armory will be our target. Now get out there and convince our new guest that he needs to go along with our plan. I want him in my office and willing to go by sunset.”

  ****

  Joe stood in front of a table of long white boxes, flipping through the bagged and boarded books inside of it. It made him feel like a kid again. When he was a boy, Joe had loved comic shops and spent a good deal of time in them. The issues the box contained were well organized and well cared for. The kid had done a fantastic job of keeping them cared for since he had taken over the shop. Chris had told him that the original owner had passed on. Joe didn’t ask how.

  A couple of children had come into the shop after them. Joe had watched Chris talk with them, give them comics, and answer their questions about the heroes of the world that had died when the Sasquatch had declared war on mankind. It was clear the children loved Chris and they came here often. When Chris had finished with them and they left the shop, Joe turned to him.

  “You’re a natural at this,” Joe commented.

  “What?” Chris looked confused by what he had said.

  “Giving people hope, Chris,” Joe said.

  Chris laughed. “Is that what you thinking I’m doing?”

  “Isn’t it?” Joe eyed the younger man.

  “Maybe.” Chris shrugged. “I’m just sharing what I love with them. Before the world went to hell, comics were my life. This shop was where I lived when I wasn’t at home. I worked here. I got paid in comics but that was fine with me. You know, I even wrote a column about comic stuff for the local paper. That didn’t pay very well either but it still made my mother proud.”

  “You said she was still alive.” Joe put the comic he had been holding back into the long box on the table next to him.

  “She is,” Chris said. “My brother Marcus and I take care of her. The three of us share a larger apartment just a street over from here.”

  “Family is important,” Joe said in a pained voice. Chris’ obvious affection for his mom made Joe think of his own family and it hurt.

  “It is,” Chris agreed. “Do you have any, Mr. Reynolds?”

  “Not anymore.” Joe unconsciously clenched his fists. The nails of his fingers dug into the flesh of his palms.

  “I’m sorry,” Chris said sincerely.

  Joe changed the subject. “You people here have a lot to fight for and try to hold onto if you and this shop are any indication of what the rest of the city is like.”

  “Most of the people here are decent folks just trying to make the most of a very bad situation,” Chris agreed. “All we have left are each other and the memories of the past.”

  Chris stared at Joe and took another shot at getting what he wanted from the soldier.

  “So … will you teach me how to fight like you do?” Chris asked.

  Joe sighed. He had known the question was coming again. It had just been a matter of time.

  “Look, Chris …” Joe said. “Honestly, I don’t think I can. Don’t take this the wrong way but from watching you with those children, I don’t think being a soldier is something you’re cut out for.”

  The tiny bell above the shop’s door jingled as it opened. Lieutenant Wagner and Chris’ brother Marcus came through it.

  Joe’s muscles tightened up. It was a reflex action more than anything. The two of them weren’t really a threat to him. Joe knew he could take them both without much of an effort.

  “What are you doing back here?” Marcus snarled at Chris. “You never came home after your shift on the wall.”

  “I did,” Chris told him. “You were just asleep when I was there, Marcus. I checked on Mom before coming here. I’m not on the wall again tonight. I can sleep this evening. Someone needs to be here for the kids.”

  “That’s a load of crap,” Marcus growled, seemingly uncaring about airing their personal business in front of the lieutenant and Joe.

  Joe took a step toward Marcus. Lieutenant Wagner moved between them with a worried look.

  “I didn’t know you are a comic fan, Mr. Reynolds,” Lieutenant Wagner said, trying to avert what could be a deadly mess if Marcus didn’t shut up. He could see that Joe had taken a liking to the militia man’s brother, Chris.

  “Didn’t say that I was,” Joe responded. “Chris here was just showing me around your city.”

  “And you started with this dump?” Marcus said, looking over at Chris in disbelief.

  “Marcus!” Lieutenant Wagner barked. “That will be enough or I’ll have you on waste clean-up duty for the rest of the month.”

  “Yes, sir,” Marcus snapped.

  “As you can see, Joe, my brother doesn’t really care for this shop,” Chris said, his voice sad. “I just can’t imagine this city without it though.”

  Joe and Lieutenant Wagner stared at each other for a moment, each wondering what the other was about to do.

  “I assume you are here hunting for me, Lieutenant,” Joe said. “What do you need?”

  “I was going to keep my promise to show you around, Mr. Reynolds.” Lieutenant Wagner moved to take a seat on the stool at the shop’s counter. “But I see you have already found someone to do that.”

  “I suppose I have.” Joe shrugged.

  Marcus looked to be on the verge of exploding in anger despite the lieutenant’s order. He was keeping it in though if only barely.

  “You’ve got good some people here in this city, Lieutenant,
” Joe said. “I am not sure you know how blessed you are in that. If you stopped focusing so much on just using them as tools and keeping them alive, maybe you could see that.”

  “If I stopped, they would be dead,” Lieutenant Wagner said pointedly.

  “There is more to life than just surviving, Lieutenant.” Joe sighed. “And you’ve got the making of a real life here right under your nose if you would just take the time to realize it.”

  Lieutenant Wagner held his tongue. It looked like Marcus’ younger brother had already won Joe over to the cause of helping out the people of Cedarmark. He didn’t dare risk saying anything more to change that. Instead, he seized the chance Chris had unintentionally provided him with. Lieutenant Wagner shifted on the stool that he sat on.

  “Clearly, you think the people here are worth fighting for as much as I do, Joe,” Lieutenant Wagner said. “I know you say you aren’t staying but while you’re here…”

  “Spit it out and let’s get this over with, Wagner,” Joe snarled. “What is that you’re wanting from me?”

  “Things are bad here, Joe,” Lieutenant Wagner told him. “A lot worse than they seem. We’ve been rationing and reusing everything we can but if we don’t go out beyond the wall soon, we’re going to run out of food. We’re already out of meds for those among us who are sick…” Lieutenant Wagner paused. He knew the colonel wanted to be the one to talk to the man directly about helping them but he was afraid if he didn’t make the push at getting Joe’s help now, there might never be such a good chance at getting it again. “The colonel would like you to lead a group of soldiers out there, Joe. Get what we need and bring it back.”

  “What’s in it for me?” Joe challenged him.

  That caught Lieutenant Wagner utterly by surprise. Joe hadn’t struck him as the mercenary type.

  “What do you want?” Lieutenant Wagner managed to get the words out despite his shock.

  “For starters, I want your word that this shop will be left alone and Chris here left to do his work with this city’s children,” Joe answered.

  Lieutenant Wagner blinked, again taken off guard.

  Marcus looked sick with rage. He glared at Joe but kept his mouth shut like he had been ordered to do.