Free Dead of Knight: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale by Stephen J. Beard

and face.  The bed was soaked in his blood.
    The bedroom would have to wait a minute.  I looked in the hall closet and found some blankets and candles.  As I handed the bags over the fence, I didn’t know I was crying.
    “You okay, Ryan?”
    “No.”  But I would say no more.  I’m sure my wife could imagine what had happened between the Thompsons.  I would spare her the details.
    Back in the hallway of the Thompsons, I somehow found the courage to go in the bedroom.  Rather than look at the bed and the blood, I focused on finding the gun.  Nightstand, sock drawer, underwear drawer, all the usual places people keep valuables.  Please, God.  Let it not be between the mattress and box spring.  No, it was on a shelf in the closet, just like mine.  I wondered if that’s where I got the idea from.  I managed to get his .38 caliber revolver, about 100 rounds of ammunition and a decent holster.  The gun would be perfect for Samantha.
    “This is for you,” I said as I handed the bag to her back outside.  “That’s all I want from inside I think.  I’m gonna toss some firewood over.”
    I hadn’t thought of the firewood before so I had no way to carry much of it at a time.  But, it was going okay when Thor started barking.  Thor was a big dog and he rarely barked.
    “Dad, look.”  Tabby was pointing behind me.  On the other side of the yard there were 2 zombies.  They were walking into the yard where there was no fence to protect me.  Without hesitation, I climbed the ladder and into my yard even though it would take them a few minutes to get to where I was.  I grabbed the ladder from the Thompson’s side.  Not worried about the zombies climbing it but I didn’t want them to knock it over.
    “Tabby, grab Thor and go back inside.”
    Then, a faint moaning from the zombies as they approached their prey.  Which was me and Sam, at this point.  Now, more moaning but from the other side of our yard.  There was a zombie in the yard next door.  I recognized it as our neighbor on that side, Ben.  Sam and I grabbed the last of the firewood and threw it into the garage.  Then we stepped back into the yard just outside the back garage door.
    “I want to watch this.”
    “Why?”
    “Just to learn.  Janice couldn’t figure out the screen door this morning.  God, was that just this morning?  I want to see if they can figure out fences.”
    They couldn’t.  On the one side, the single zombie pressed himself up against the fence oblivious to its existence.  The two zombies on the other side were doing the same.
    “They can’t seem to figure it out.  There’s no effort to climb or even to go around.  They’re trying to take the most direct route to us.”
    “Yeah, but they really seem determined to get at us.”
    “And, they completely would’ve snuck up on me if Tabitha hadn’t seen them.  They didn’t start moaning until they were close.  I wonder if they’ll stay when we go inside.”
    “Let’s go in and find out before more show up.”  With that, Sam and I went in the garage and locked the door.  Mal had come downstairs and was helping Tabby put stuff away.  I went over to Mal and hugged him.
    “Good job, buddy.  Any problems?”
    “Nope.”  He smiled up at me.  It was important to make sure Mal thought he was helping.  It helped that he actually was helping.  I hoped it would last.
    “And you…”  I grabbed my daughter and hugged her tight.  “Good eyes.  They got really close before they started moaning.  You might have saved my life, Tabby.  Thank you.  And you, too, Thor.”  He was at my feet, wagging his tail.  I reached down and patted his head.
    “You’re welcome, Daddy.”  I could see she was starting to cry.
    “Your safe, Tab.  We’re all safe for now.  It’s okay.”
    “I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    “It won’t.  Tabby.  Because I need to be here for you guys.  I’ll be careful.  And, we’ll help each