The Man on The Mountain Chapter 31, a walking dead fanfic

A/N Thank you all so much. Let's see what happens next...

The Cage

The men are about to get back in their vehicles when Rick stops and says, "Hey wait," Even though the brothers look half-pissed about the delay, they stop to hear what the sheriff has to say, "I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner, but there might be an easier route we could take to the prison."

Daryl's standing straighter and he's all ears, "Yeah? Go on."

Rick explains, "The prison was built 30 years ago when there was no major highway anywhere near it. That was part of the appeal of building it where it is. The taxpayers wanted to keep the riff raff out in the middle of nowhere."

Merle nods, "That was smart. So, this road, what is it, the back way?"

Rick explains, "Yeah, and it leads right to the prison. It's not much more than one lane, but that's plenty wide enough for us. I think most people either never knew about it, or they've forgotten about it by now, so we shouldn't have to deal with a lot of disabled vehicles. That'll make it faster."

Daryl is willing to give it a try, "A'ight. Sounds good. How do we get there?"

"From out this way we're going to have to take the highway for about two miles, then we'll turn off, go another two miles or so, we come to a fork in the road and go to our left and it should be smooth sailing from there. Just stay with me."

"Got it," and on that, they load up and take off for the prison, hoping to make it there at least an hour before sunset.

Getting on and off the highway doesn't pose any challenges, but they do have to make a stop about a mile in. They're delayed just long enough to take out four very fresh and high energy walkers. The men don't waste any time. Daryl quickly puts one down with a bolt between the eyes, and another when he plunges his knife into the side of its head. Merle uses his axe to swiftly eliminate another, then the brothers watch incredulously as Rick turns into a killing machine, using his red-handled machete to split the head of the last walker completely in half, right down the middle. Merle can't help smiling in appreciation of the move, "You ain't takin' any chances he'll come back, are ya sheriff?"

Rick shrugs, "Nope, guess not," then mumbles, "shit, I'm so fuckin' sick of these bastards."

Daryl's shaking his head, "Yeah, I bet ya are. Damn man, ya split that dudes head right in half. Remind me not ta piss ya off."

They quickly take what weapons they find off the four, and a couple others lying nearby, and they're on their way again.

The small group makes it to the fork in the road easy enough, they just have to wind through abandoned vehicles, dodge a few walkers and one human who gives chase until he finally collapses to the ground. They feel bad about the guy, but shit, they don't have time to be good Samaritans, and for all they know his intentions are bad.

They're getting close to the prison, maybe three miles, when they come upon a sight that stops them in their tracks and chills them to the bone. It's an enormous cage, all metal and there's even razor wire up top. Along the perimeter rebar has been bent and pointed outward, so that no one can get close without impaling themselves. The question is, why would anyone want to get close to the thing, for crissake, the gigantic cage is filled with walkers. The dead are packed tight, shoulder to shoulder and barely able to move.

Before the men have a chance to say much more than, "what the fuck" it dawns on Rick what's going on. "That son of a bitch. This has got to be the governor's staging area for his walkers. I'd bet anything these dead bastards are what he intends to unleash on the prison. That SOB never wanted to make a deal with us, he plans to take the prison no matter what."

Daryl's shaking his head, "Holy fuck, that's…well fuck, we got no choice but ta kill em then. I just ain't sure how the three of us are gonna kill this many."

Merle agrees, "There's a million of em in there, or at least a few hundred. We can't shoot em all, we can't even get close enough ta try stabbin' a few."

Rick agrees, "The punji sticks would probably work on a few, but if we get close to start that, it's only going to get them all riled up. They're liable to lean into the fence so hard they bust it open or knock it over."

Daryl reminds the others, "Well we do have a shit ton of dynamite, we could blow em up."

Rick agrees with part of that statement, "We could, but that might not stop them. If we don't get their brains, they're still going to come after us. We could have ourselves a worse mess."

Merle nods, "Well that might be true if we only did a half-ass job. On the other hand, sheriff, if we was ta use so much dynamite that we blow these mutherfuckers ta kingdom come, there won't be enough left of 'em ta go after anyone."

Agreed.

There's a lot to be considered. There are only three of them against hundreds of hungry walkers. Then there's the question, how far can a man heave a bundle of lit dynamite? And how many bundles of lit dynamite would they have to heave into that cage to make a difference? Especially when you think about the fact that initially, all they'd be doing is creating chaos. That would add to the danger they'd already be in.

They're mulling the situation over when a small grin settles on Daryl's lips, an idea has come to him, and yeah, he thinks it could work. He tells the other two, "We got plenty of dynamite ta blow these bastards up and then some, but we can't be throwin' it in there one stick at a time. We gotta be able ta launch it all the way into the center of the cage."

Merle agrees, "Yep, that's the problem, and it's a big one."

Daryl shares his idea, "When I was a kid I saw some old gladiator movie, some shit like that, anyway, they was usin' catapults. We could do the same, and they wouldn't hafta be fancy or over-engineered. They just hafta be a giant slingshot that's powerful enough ta hurl sumthin, like a bundle of lit dynamite, over a fence. If we do this thing right we can send the dynamite as far as the center of the cage, and aim some a lot closer ta the perimeter. The idea would be ta cover the whole area."

Merle and Rick are nodding in agreement, and Rick says, "I think it could work. We're almost home, tomorrow we get everyone who's able to, to start building some very basic catapults. The next day we take every one of those, along with our best fighters, and we come back here. We get ourselves set up, we surround the cage, and we do it in unison. When I blow a horn everyone lights their fuse and releases. We make three solid strikes, bam, bam, bam, and then get the hell out of here."

Merle shrugs, "Sounds as good as any other war plan in history. Let's get started."

Back at the prison Daryl and Merle are introduced to the prison's newest citizens, and Daryl's glad to see a lot of the new residents look pretty damn tough. Thank God because they're going to need fighters. Sure, he knew Tyrese was a tough cookie, you just have to look at him and T-Dog to catch onto that, but there's also that big son of a bitch, the con named Oscar. He seems to have settled in with the group, but he still has the look of someone who could do some merciless damage if he set his mind to it. Yeah, several of the new ones, including the women, look badass. Well shit, in this world you kind of have to be.

One of the new ones would stand out in any crowd, anywhere. He's a big redhead named Abraham. The guy looks like he could hold his own in any battle, and he's got military training to boot. Not only that, he came with some of his own weapons, including a sniper rifle, a sub-machine gun, a grenade launcher and a dozen grenades. Those will all come in very handy when they hit Woodbury.

That's not all he came with, he came with a sidekick who, although he doesn't look or sound all that helpful at first, turns out to be a very important player when it comes to war plans. His name is Eugene Porter. He calls himself doctor, but Daryl has no idea what kind of doctor he might be. As they're talking about the plan, the doctor guy starts putting in his two cents, and all eyes turn to Eugene as he sketches out what the catapults should look like. Simple, the most basic design, and he says, "I do believe any of you would be capable of building the equipment." All right.

Another new guy walks in the common room and the focus is off Eugene as all eyes turn to the man and his pet. Holy fuck, he's big and badass looking on his own, but just to add to that, he's also got a tiger with him. Rick does the introductions, "King Ezekiel, I'd like you to meet Daryl and Merle Dixon. They're going to help us take down the governor."

Merle's shaking the man's hand when he says, "No offense, but I got no King. I'll just be callin' ya Zeke. I ain't gonna pet your cat neither."

The King has a big, good-natured smile when he responds, "That will work. I gave my Kingdom up a while ago. As for my cat, her name is Shiva, and I would most definitely advise you against trying to pet her."

When Rick introduces the Dixon's to the next fellow, the brothers are not at all surprised when the sheriff says, "This is Jesus, a helluva fighter, one of those ninja types." Cool, they're going to need every type of fighter there is, and man, he does look a lot like the pictures they've seen of Jesus.

There are so many other new people, families, and new families, folks who didn't even know each other before the world ended, but they're together and a family now.

That evening after dinner a council of top soldiers sit around the galley table and discuss strategies for the attack on the walkers, and the war that will follow at Woodbury. A decision is made not to wait between actions. If they're successful in quashing the walker threat, they'll immediately come back to the prison, join with the rest of those who are going into the battle, and head straight to Woodbury to unleash a full on attack.

For now, a good night's sleep is in order and Rick walks the brothers through the cell block, "Our population has grown a lot since you helped me clear this place Daryl, I guess you noticed that. There's still room for you two though. I've got a couple of empty bunks in the back."

As they walk down the long cell block corridor Daryl is taking everything in, that's why he doesn't miss the fellow sitting in a lounge chair in a one-man cell, reading a book. He looks older than the last time Daryl saw him, a little more tired too, but shit, he's alive. He doesn't want to startle the man, so as Daryl walks to the door he quietly says, "Hey Dale."

The man looks up and jumps to his feet, "Daryl, is that you?! Oh my golly, I can't believe this." Daryl begins to hurry toward him when Dale says, "Don't get too close now. I've got a cold so I've been keeping to myself. I'm trying not to spread it."

Daryl couldn't care less about a damn cold. He hugs the man, "Shit, what are the odds? Man, I'm so glad ta see ya, so glad ta know ya made it."

They sit side by side on the edge of the cot and Dale tells the younger man, "At the beginning of all this I worried myself sick about you, then I told myself I was being silly. If there was ever anyone who could make it in this new world, it's going to be Daryl Dixon. You've always had a survivor's instincts."

They catch each other up on everything that's happened in their lives since the last time they saw each other, and Daryl admits, "Shit man, I hope ya ain't mad, but me and my wife, we kinda robbed your house blind."

Dale laughs and says, "Well you saw my note, didn't you?" Dale lays his hand over Daryl's and says, "You're like a son to me. Anything I ever had was meant to be yours someday. When this business all started I did okay, I had everything I needed in that old motorhome and I made friends with a small group of mostly good people. Now I have everything I need right here in this new home."

Daryl smiles at the good news and tells Dale the things him and Beth took, and he tells him all about the home they've made, "And I found my brother. Him and his wife are livin' up on the mountain too."

The older man smiles, "Erma would be so happy to know you're not alone, and that your wife is making good use of her things."

It's when Daryl gives him the biggest news that Dale's smile grows from ear to ear, "A baby, ah now that's a real sign of hope in a world that's gotten way too dark. Congratulations, Son."

"I'm gonna make sure ya meet my wife and the baby, Dale, either you're comin' up the mountain, and I'll be more than happy ta bring ya, or after the baby's born and it and my wife are good ta travel, I'll bring em down the mountain."

"That sounds real good. I'd love to take a trip up that mountain and see your place. I've been carrying around a picture of it in my mind for a long time now. I don't think I'm quite tough enough to winter up there, but I'll bet the summers are nice."

They stay up way too late talking, but the next morning they're both up and working. The group, including most of the women and kids, are busy building catapults. Dale is busy making pipe bombs and getting all of the components together for Molotov cocktails.

They're all exhausted that night, but in a good way. They've built their weapons. They feel like they have a huge advantage over this governor asshole, even though he's got more men and more weapons, they've got the element of surprise on their side. Still, as tired as he is, sleep doesn't come easy to Daryl. His mind is on Beth. He's only been gone three nights but it feels like a lot longer and he's desperate to get home to her. He wants to hold her in his arms, and although he knows she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself, that doesn't mean he wants her to. He wants to be the one who's taking care of her and protecting her, and their baby.

The fighters set out for the walker cage before daylight. The bombs Dale made are staying at the prison for the mission at Woodbury, but the catapults are coming now. They're in the beds of pickups, and being towed behind pickups, and there's even one in the back of an old utility van, and it tows two others.

Dawn is breaking when they arrive at the cage, and they see no other humans anywhere. Good. The soldiers move as quietly as they can, doing their best not to rile the walkers as they set up their catapults all around the cage.

It would have been a real struggle figuring out where they should set the catapults to achieve the exact distance they want to hurl the dynamite bundles. There's a lot of physics involved in that kind of figuring. Lucky for them, Eugene didn't have to think hard at all, he worked it out in no time. He seems to feel pretty darn important, and he is, as he tells the soldiers exactly where to place each catapult.

They're all set up and ready to go within 45 minutes, and the walkers are beginning to become restless. It's time to take action. Rick closes his eyes, says a fast prayer for the best, opens them, honks his pickup horn and watches as the dynamite launches fly through the air and the soldiers hold up their sheets. No one wants to get covered in the gross mess that's being blown back out of the cage.

The air is filled with the sounds of explosions, smoke and cheering. Rick surveys the damage, shit, it worked even better than he'd hoped, but there's more to do and he hollers, "Reload. Let's go, let's go, let's go! We launch again in one minute."

The soldiers do as instructed and when the horn blares again, they shoot again. When the smoke clears this time, they see there are only about 50 to 75 walkers left. There's a snag though, there's a hole in the fence and now the walkers begin to push their way out.

There are a lot of soldiers and a lot of weapons, and in a bloody battle the soldiers slash, stab and smash the heads of the surviving walkers. But before they kill them all Merle yells an idea, "Why don't we save the rest a these gross bastards? We can shove em in the back of the van and in that big suburban, tie some down in the back of the pickups. We'll let em loose on Woodbury."

Agreed.

Jack doesn't want to, and Beth does her best to explain to the poor dog, pointing at the spot, "You have to go here Jack, we can't go outside. It's not safe." The dog holds it as long as he can, but finally he can hold it no more. As soon as he's done. Beth grabs the small shovel and scoops what's there into a five-gallon bucket filled with sawdust, then presses the lid on tight, "Good boy Jack." The dog looks perplexed and unhappy as he walks over and lays on the bed she made for him. She walks over and lays with him, petting the dog and agreeing, "I know it's gross, but it's just for a little while, I promise."

The women have the same sort of bucket and there's extra sawdust, and although neither of them cares for the arrangement, they're happy to have it.

Frankie tells her sister in law, "You've really thought of everything Beth, you're amazing. I'm sure whoever is out there would have killed us, and worse by now."

"It's okay Frankie, we're going to be okay, and I just know Daryl and Merle will be home soon."

They pass the time sitting under the quilts, their backs leaning against the earthen wall while they tell each other the stories of their lives. That's not all they discuss though. They discuss the men they've wound up with in this apocalyptic world.

Frankie smiles, "Gosh, Merle is probably the last man in the whole world I would have even considered looking at. I had a life Beth. I was a masseuse in one of those very fancy women's day spas. I had a pretty little apartment, plenty of nice clothes and I stopped and bought fancy coffees on my way to work every morning. You know how it is, I had all the things we used to think we wanted." The ducks cluster around them like they're listening as well, and to prove he's the boss, Jack moves from his bed to Beth's lap.

"What a shock it was when the world suddenly ended and things got so bad for me. I was completely down and out, and honestly Beth, I was ready to give up. I couldn't wait to give up. That's how I was when Merle found me. In his big, loud and bullish way, he was so kind to me. So caring. It was amazing really. I know he's crass, and God knows he's seen and participated in far too many terrible things in his life, but at the heart of him he's good and gentle, and gosh, I feel so lucky to have him. I love that man with all my heart, and the best thing is, I know he loves me too."

Beth's all smiles as she takes Frankie's hand, "I'd say you're both very lucky, and I feel the same way about me and Daryl. He saved my life, quite literally, but boy oh boy, he resented me for that. I knew he wanted to get me the heck out of his house and back where I belonged, but I also kind of suspected something about him. I was pretty sure he'd begun to have feelings for me and that was really making him angry, the crazy thing was, even though he was such a crab, I was starting to have them for him too."

"He kept it up, going on about wanting to get me back down the mountain and home, and I knew he didn't believe a word I said about what was happening in the world. He thought I was either crazy or making it up. Once he saw the reality of the new world, things really began to change between us, and quickly. Eventually we quit fighting what we were feeling. If I die tomorrow I'll go out knowing I had the purest love with the most special man."

They only know what the passage of time has been because when Beth prepared the cellar, "just in case", she thought to set a small wind-up clock on one of the shelves. She's been carefully noting the hours, and adding up the days, and Beth knows she and Frankie have been underground for almost four days.

Yes, they heard vehicles that first night, whoever the intruders are they seemed to be racing around the property, yelling and hooting through the night. They probably found moonshine and had their fill. Since then though, they've been more quiet. Beth thought they were probably recovering from the strong liquor, eating up all the food, and enjoying the warmth of the cabins.

"Oh Daryl, please come home," is the the thought that's always on her mind.

They've been telling stories all afternoon, and she and Frankie are just dozing off when the sound of loud vehicles tearing around the property starts again. The women are frightened, hanging onto each other, and Jack has that low growl that warns he's ready to fight.

Oh my God, no! Someone's opening the cellar doors.

Beth whispers orders, "Jack, stay with Frankie, Frankie, hide under the quilts." Beth stands at the bottom of the stairs with her rifle pointed toward the doors. Ready. She won't give up easy, they'll have to kill her.

A/N Hmm, we had so much going on, but we still have to wage war on the governor, and who the heck is busting in on Beth and Frankie? Please leave a comment. As always, the chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please have a look. I'll be back next week with more of The Man on The Mountain, and I promise we're going to war. I hope you'll be here too, and until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee

P.S. If you feel it, this story is nominated in a few of the Moonshine Award categories on the Ultimate Bethyl Fic List website. I would very much appreciate your vote. Thank you!