Hello again. Right penultimate chapter in this particular story and I must say it is all about to get a bit surreal. I never quite know where I am going to end up with these ramblings...well I have some idea of course but there is a certain amount of let's just start writing and see where it takes us (as you will have noticed) ...and on this occassion I do appear to have wandered down Dotty Avenue and into Mad street. Still never mind...I hope you enjoy it and as always thank you for your kind indulgence.
Wyatt drove through the desert night, the vast darkness ahead pierced only by the insubstantial beam from his headlights which revealed a small rectangle of dirt track immediately ahead. Above, the splendour of the night sky lay revealed in its full majesty, a million points of light crossed by the pale white ghost of the Milky Way's spiral arm. It was a scene to prompt deep introspection and contemplation of the vastness of space and the insignificance of the individual. However the sheriff was focussed on one clear and irriductable imperative, a single goal which filled his conscious mind and drove all lesser thoughts into the deepest recesses of his brain, one overarching and essential objective... to stop these damned zombies making out in the back of his car.
"Jesus Christ, can ya give it a rest already?. The suspensions got its work cut out dealin' with this damned road without you two goin' at it like barn door in a hurricane."
Smurf and Kyung-Sook disengaged and moved apart, both looking like guilty teenagers discovered behind the bike sheds.
Wyatt glared at them in the rear view mirror, but then his expression softened somewhat "I guess its been a while for the two of yus" he said "specially you boy, given y'already had the soiled end of the rag from what I can see, but we need to stay frosty, OK?"
Both zombies nodded, and stared out of their respective windows although, Wyatt noticed, they continued to hold hands surreptitiously.
Just then the sheriffs radio crackled into life "Jed, you out there? Come back"
Wyatt reached for the handset "Im here Wilma, but I'm kinda busy, is it urgent?"
"We got a situation here Jed, CJs escaped" said the dispatcher
"What! How the hell did that happen?" Asks the sheriff in disbelief
"Unknown. Cletus says he went down to get her supper things and found the cell open with no one inside" replied Wilma "Weirdest thing though Jed, we're hearing all the Mom's Network suspects have disappeared in the same way"
"Sounds like some kinda coordinated jail break" said the sheriff pensively "They must a had help on the outside...OK, sent out an APB to all units and get on to the State Police. I'll be back as soon as I can. Wyatt out"
He replaced the handset and frowned. This was the last thing he needed right now, a bunch of horny middle aged house wives stalking the countryside looking for unsuspecting victims. Well, it would have to be someone else's problem for now. He had much more important things to think about...
James encouraged his horse into a gentle trott and coaxed a few straggling cattle to rejoin the main herd. He was enjoying himself hugely, out on the open plain, a good mount under him, leading his men into battle. He thought of his gallant predecessors in the famous cavalry actions of the past, the Light Brigade at Balaclava, the Scots Greys at Waterloo, the 21st Lancers at Omdurman...all great events in British military history and here he was in his own small way writing the next chapter in that proud tradition.
"Oh bollocks! I've fallen off again sir!" Came the plaintive cry from Mansfield Mike through his head set "These bloody things need seat belts"
"Nah, you just got to stop trying to ride side saddle Corp." Said Brains
"Can't help it" replied Mansfield "I'm chafing like you wouldn't believe"
"Now there's something to look forward to Molly, rubbing cream into Mansfield's inner thigh" put in Baz Vegas
"OK, pipe down the lot of you" cut in James "Corporal, is your horse still there or has it bolted again?"
"No, its still here sir" said Mansfield "Think it looks a bit fed up to be honest"
"Oh, why the long face horsey?" Said Molly to general hilarity
"That will do" ordered James "Baz, help the corporal back onto his horse. Brains, how far away are we from the rendezvous point?"
The private shone his torch at the map in his hand then scanned the ground ahead. "Thinks its just over that rise sir" he said, pointing to the top of some sloping ground just ahead.
James looked in the direction indicated then nodded. "OK let's drive them up as far as the ridge then dismount and tether the horses, using the reverse slope as cover. We'll then proceed on foot to the crossroads using the cows to hide our approach. Once we are near enough to engage, Brains, Baz and I will tackle the hostile while Mansfield and Molly secure the hostages. Everyone clear?"
"Sir" chorused his detail and drove the herd onwards...
The shop keeper sat in his car staring out into the night, a revolver resting in his lap. Behind him in the back passenger seats sat Lizzie and her son, deep anxiety etched on their faces. Their kidnapper occasionally looked at them in the rear view mirror, his dead eyed stare somehow more chilling than the weapon he always keep near.
Despite his outward calm, the man was unsettled. He would have preferred a clean kill back at the ranch but his aim had not been true and he had lost the element of surprise. Things had now become messy, the hostages were useful but they would limit his ease of movement, they would make things complicated. He looked again at their frightened faces. He would trade the woman for Kyung-Sook but would have to keep the boy for the time being as insurance. Once he had finished the traitor and was clear of the area he would release the child...maybe.
In the distance, a pair of headlights came into view, travelling towards the crossroads. The shopkeeper looked through his night vision scope to confirm it was the car he was waiting for then picked up the radio mic and tuned into the police channel, at the same time switching on his own headlights.
"That's close enough sheriff. Please stop the car and exit the vehicle with your passenger."
The approaching car came to a halt some 50 metres away and shortly after the drivers side door opened. Out stepped Wyatt, who quickly walked to the rear of the vehicle and opened one of the passenger doors, standing aside as he did so to let someone out. No one appeared immediately and the sheriff had to lean in and grab the arm of the person inside the car. There then followed a short pause before the sheriff managed to extract the doctor and walk with her to the front of the car. After a moments hesitation the shop keeper also exited his car and motioned with his gun for Lizzie to get out.
The woman stared at him and then at her son before saying defiantly "I ain't goin' nowhere without ma boy"
The shopkeeper cocked his pistol and aimed it at the boy, his meaning clear. Lizzie swallowed nervously then reluctantly left the vehicle, squeezing Toms hand as she did. The man grabbed her roughly by the upper arm and marched her to the front of the car where he stopped and scanned the area once more with his night vision scope.
Just then, the distant lowing of cattle reached their ears. The shop keeper turned in the direction of the noise and watched the top of a nearby rise as a herd of cows crested the ridge line, their bodies a dark mass against the star spattered sky. He frowned, then studied the herd but seeing no evidence of anyone accompanying the animals, turned his attention back to the sheriff and his companion...
Wyatt stopped the car a little distance from the other vehicle and killed the engine. He then peered into the darkness for any sign of James "Where the hell are they" he muttered to himself then turned to his passengers "We best get out, he's likely to get suspicious if we stall too long".
The sheriff opened his door and stepped out into the desert night. As he moved to the rear of the vehicle and opened the passenger door Smurf grasped Kyung-Sook's hand and looked intensely into her eyes. He could not believe how hard he had fallen for this woman or how quickly. The world now looked completely different to him, as if a veil had been pulled away and the full rich colours of creation had been revealed with all its exciting possibilities. He finally realised how Molly must have felt when she met James, how the right person can make you feel as if you can achieve anything.
The only problem was that someone wanted to take her away, to pull her out of his arms and into who knew what danger. This thought filled his mind like a dark cloud, the feeling of impending loss so intense that the sensation was almost physical, as if Kyung -Sook was literally being pulled from him. Smurf reacted with fury, tightening his grasp on her hand and drawing her into his protective embrace, but she slipped out and away. Smurf pulled her close again with a snarl, refusing to let her be taken from him, defying the invisible evil to break his clasp. A whispered oath brought him to his senses.
"Let go of her you idiot, do you want to get us all killed"
It was Wyatt who had hold of Kyung -Sooks other arm as he tried to get her out of the car. She was stretched between them, looking somewhat dishevelled, and Smurf realised that they had been tugging her backwards and forwards between them like a rag doll. He let go of the doctors arm with an apologetic grunt and she slumped in her seat obviously dazed from the scuffle before bringing her hand up and gently touching his cheek reassuringly. Then she was gone, following the sheriff to the front of the car.
Wyatt watched as the Korean agent fetched someone from the back seat of his vehicle. The sheriff's heart lept as he realised it was Lizzie being bragged roughly to the front of the car and had to fight the urge to draw his gun and fill her captor full of lead. The two figures stopped and looked across at them but then the man seemed to be distracted by something to his right and turned towards a ridge line a little distance away.
Wyatt was just wondering what had attracted his attention when the sound of the herd drifted towards him and a moment later the body of cattle came into view.
"Here comes the cavalry" murmered Wyatt ironically and watched the Korean carefully as he surveyed the oncoming livestock. After a time the man seemed to be satisfied that they posed no danger and turned back to the sheriff and his charge. He then pushed Lizzie forwards and gestured with his gun that she should start walking. Wyatt turned to Kyung -Sook and signalled that she should do the same but added "Take it slow"...
James checked the horses were secure then joined the others who were mingling with the herd as it headed over the rise and down the other side.
" Blimey corp, you look like you've shat your pants" commented Baz as Mansfield walked along tentatively and with a pronounced bow legged gait.
"I feel like someone's sand papered me nuts" complained the NCO between sharp intakes of breath.
Everyone then looked at Molly who shook her head vehemently "Oh no, you can bloody self medicate corp. Just cos I've shown suicidal bravery before, don't mean I'll do it again. I don't need another military cross"
Brains laughed and said "They wouldn't give you another one Molly, you'd get a bar to go with the medal you've already got"
"They could give me a whole bleedin' pub, I still won't do it" Replied the medic.
James called for quiet then looked through his night scope at the scene ahead. "Looks like Wyatt's just arrived. We need to speed up. How can we get these cows to move more quickly?"
"Maybe sound the horn sir?" Suggested Baz with a smile
"Oh, bloody hilarious private" replied James who began to move through the herd in an attempt to reach their destination more quickly. The others followed, dodging around the lumbering beasts as best they could to keep up with their officer.
When the Major next looked, Lizzie and Kyung-Sook were crossing on their slow walk between the parked cars. "Come on" whispered James as he shot between two cows and towards the rear of the Koreans vehicle. The others did the same and a moment later they were crouched by the rear bumper of the car catching their breath. James then moved around to one of the rear doors and looked in through the window. Tom let out a gasp as he spotted James but the officer quickly put his finger to his lips to prevent the boy making any further noise and alerting his captor.
James then motioned for Brains and Baz to follow him as he crept towards the front of the vehicle in an attempt to close the distance between him and his target. By this time Kyong-Sook was only metres away from the Korean agent and the Major was just preparing to make a dash for the man when a deep thrumming noise began to sound just above them. So suddenly and unexpectedly did it begin, that everyone stopped dead, and looked up.
The brilliant night sky, with its myriad of stars was now punctuated with a large black disc which, as they watched, grew larger and larger until it blocked out half the stars. Everything seemed to grow still in the presence of the phenomenon. The light breeze dropped to nothing, the cattle stood motionless and silent, even the desert seemed to hold its breath. Only the thrumming of the object remained and, slowly and inexorably a pungent smell also started to pervade the air.
James looked in wonder as, at the centre of the disc, a hatch slowly slid open to reveal a square of light. This light then grew brighter until it became a beam which lit a single cow on the edge of the herd. The animal stood stock still in the square of light but then slowly started to rise from the ground and travel up towards the the hatchway until it disappeared through the hole. A moment later a despairing cry was heard from the animal before its body reappeared in the opening and was lowered again to earth, a large wound across its belly.
As the body touched the ground the light went out, breaking the spell which had been cast on those present and a number of things happened at once. Lizzie screamed and Kyung -Sook started to run, Smurf burst from behind the sheriff's car and sprinted towards the doctor while James sprang towards the Korean agent. The shopkeeper, sensing he had lost control of the situation, raised his pistol in the air and fired a warning shot, the bullet pinging off the black disc above them.
Everyone froze again as the gunman swung his weapon down and pointed it alternately between James and Kyung-Sook, trying to decide which one to shoot first. However, before he could make up his mind the beam reappeared from above and encompassed the Korean in a square of intense light. The shop keeper called out in fright and raised his pistol again, firing repeatedly towards the hatchway, but to no avail. The man shot towards the opening and entered the disc, his protestations cut off abruptly as the hatch slid shut.
James stared at the disk waiting for any sign of further activity but it just hovered above them the thrumming continuing unabated
In the meantime Lizzie ran back to the Koreans car and, wrenching the rear door open, gathered her son into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Wyatt stood close by, seemingly unsure what to do until Lizzie pulled him in to the family embrace murmuring softly "thank you Jed, thank you"
Molly walked over to James and glanced up at the disc "Any idea what the bloody hell that is?" She asked.
"None" said James "But at least we know what's been killing the cows now"
Molly nodded "Yer, its funny really after zombies my next guess was going to be a big black flying disc" She then wrinkled her nose "It don't 'alf pen and ink"
"Indeed" agreed James "Its methane. My guess is that its used in the disc's propulsion system"
"What, like a fart engine?" Said Molly
"Yep...but we might want to come up with a better name" suggested James
Just then Baz pointed into the desert "Movement sir, on the left, about 100 metres"
James grabbed his night scope and scanned the area indicated. Wyatt joined him "what is it?"
"Looks like a group of people approaching" said James
As they watched the shadowy figures drew nearer and resolved into a group of about two dozen women and children.
Baz, on seeing the lead figure, muttered an oath and retreated behind James, clearly in some distress.
Wyatt then gasped and spluttered "CJ, what the hell are you doin' here?"
CJ smiled benevolently "We're going home Jed"
"You aint goin' nowhere but back to jail" stated the sheriff firmly
James looked from the woman to the disc and back again "Errr sheriff, I think you may not have much of a say in the matter" and pointed upwards
Wyatt frowned and then turned to CJ "I don't understand. Where's home?"
The woman's eyes stared into the distance "A planet far away...a paradise where women spend their days openly discussing a range of subjects with like minded friends, where we share our fantasies and hopes, compare the merits of different suitors, write poetry, draw pictures, tell stories, formulate new food based sex games without fear of ridicule or prosecution. A place where only the most desirable of men are permitted to interact with us and the rest perform menial tasks ...or, worse of all, write humorous stories"
"Sounds lovely" said Molly 'but how did you end up here?"
"We were stranded many years ago, our ship damaged beyond repair and abandoned just to the north of this place, near a town called Roswell. We were forced to adapt and survive, building lives among you Earthlings, keeping our traditions alive as best we could. We found men...shadows of the specimens on our planet and had families. Then we waited...waited for our sisters to find us and take us home" CJ then looked up and smiled at the disc hovering in the sky "At last they have come and we go with joy, taking our children with us..."
"But what about your menfolk?" Asked Wyatt
"They have served their purpose" said CJ simply "None are worthy to share the joys of our planet. In all the years we have been here we have found only one who came close to the required standard" she stared at James "Only one who showed real potential"
James bit his lip and ran his fingers through his hair then smiled modestly "Well I'm flattered of course, but..."
"Not you, cretin...the one behind you, the one known as Baz Vegas"
"Oh" said James "Really? I mean...are you sure?"
CJ smiled "His jam retention capacity was...impressive...and with a little work he will learn to ensure the cream stays in place even during the most physical of interaction."
Baz poked his head around James and gave CJ a little wave.
The woman nodded her acknowledgement then addressed the private "You are welcome to join us Baz Vegas. You will be honoured in our world. Chose now for the time to depart grows near"
Baz sucked in a breath "Its a tempting offer and you give a good pitch but to be honest I prefer my preserves on my toast... No offence"
CJ raised her eye brows in surprise " Jam on toast? How strange you humans are...very well" then turning to her companions she called "Come sisters"
The group moved a little distance away and looked up towards the hatch in the disc. The beam of light once more appeared and ferried the women and children one by one into the craft. CJ was the last to leave, turning to Wyatt as she was lifted into the air and holding her hand up in fairwell she called "Preserve and prosper".
When she was safely inside, the hatchway slid shut for the last time and the disc started to ascend into the night sky. When it reached a certain height it paused before releasing a defending raspberry sound and blasting away into space.
James and the others were buffeted by a foul smelling back draft which left them gagging and wretching. Once they had recovered all present looked at James with raised eyebrows. The Major shrugged " What do you want me to say? I don't write this rubbish"
It was well after midnight when James and the remainder of his section arrived back at their base having returned the livestock to the White Ranch and commandeered a truck for the journey back. James stepped down from the cab to be met by Dwight and a squad of Marines.
"Welcome back sir." Said the Captain "Now I must ask that you hand over the zomie hostile. I have orders to detain her prior to interrogation and transformation"
James frowned "Captain, there must be some mistake. They have requested asylum. They are no danger to anyone and transformation will kill them"
"I'm sorry sir, I have my orders" and he motioned for his troops to seize Kyung -Sook. Smurf ever present by her side moved to intervene and the marines drew their weapons.
James pushed between them and grabbed Smurfs arm "No private, you will only make things worse. We will get this sorted...I promise"
James watched as Kyung-Sook was led away and fervantly hoped that he would be able to keep his promise...