“Afraid not, but don’t worry, they don’t get anywhere near the wall.”
“Alright then, what do you want to know?”
“Is anyone wounded?”
“In my group? I mean we got some scraps and bruises, and one fellow has a broken arm, but we managed to set that,” Bobby said. “I was shot in the stomach recently by a crazy bitch, but I’m kicking and feeling fine. I could use some medication though if you’ve got it handy.”
“Step out of your vehicle please,” the man said simply.
“What?” asked Bobby.
“Step out so I can see your wound.”
Bobby debated for a second and then swung his door open and clamored down. He lifted his shirt and the man peeled the makeshift bandage from his skin.
“It isn’t infected; at least it doesn’t look like it. Are you in pain?” the man asked Bobby.
“Shit yeah I’m in pain,” Bobby said. “I got half my stomach blown off.”
“Well, we’ll get you into see one of our doctors as soon as we finish here. I assume you’re all armed?”
“Damn right. You don’t want us to give up our guns, do you?”
“Not quite. Each man and woman over twenty–one is allotted one personal fire arm on them at all times, along with appropriate ammunition. The rest of your weapons will be catalogued and held for you. Anything you wish to donate to our cause will be appreciated. Agreed?”
“Fine, fine I guess. Each man will have to decide for himself, I think,” Bobby said.
“Okay, well anyone who doesn’t agree will not be welcomed into Covington,” the man said.
“I understand,” Bobby said as he nodded.
“Finally, we’re about two weeks out from the time all the boats will be here. In the meantime, we expect everyone to help out in someway. Jobs will be assigned. We have a lot to do here and everyone works full days.”
“That’s understandable,” Bobby said, and after shaking the man’s hand, the caravan was let inside. Big Mack chose his handgun to keep with him, with three extra clips in his vest pocket. The next morning the Jesters took an offered tour, smiling each time one of the townsfolk gave him and the other Jesters that look; that one that bikers are used to. They’re big scary guys in leather vests with skull patches and chaps and big guns hanging at their sides. Some things don’t change even after the dead start rising to eat the living.
After the tour Big Mack, Toga, and Willy went back to their new lodgings in a small room the three of them were sharing on the second floor of a drug store. The three bikers had declined giving their weapons over to the town for the guards, so a few men had come after the tour was over to take their guns and ammo and lock them in the town banks vault. The Dead Jesters then had to meet with a man who asked them a few questions and decided where they would be placed for work. Big Mack and Toga drew guard duty, each day they would stand in a spot on the wall for eight hours, and shoot any zombies who came close. Willy was indignant when he was told he would be moving supplies to ships as they came in to dock, but after a look from Big Mack he quit bitching and accepted his fate.
Big Mack found himself standing on the wall just after a quick lunch of canned fruit cocktail and Spam. Big Mack was facing east, with the ocean roaring on his right side. He looked out into the un-walled portion of Covington, his handgun at his hip and a borrowed rifle in his arms. A few undead made an appearance over his first shift, but two of them had turned away and disappeared back into the small town, so he only re-killed one.
Big Mack didn’t climb down off of the wall until after sunset, and when he returned to his new home he found Willy and Toga were there with an unexpected visitor. Bobby sat on the small futon Big Mack had slept on the night before. “Hey there Mack,” Bobby said with an easy grin. “Doctors got me all patched up better than ever. Thought I’d come see how my lieutenants were doing.”
“Don’t you mean hired guns?” Big Mack asked.
“Lieutenants sound better, don’t you think?” Bobby asked.
Big Mack shrugged, looking the man over. Then he spoke. “What do they have you doing?”
“Oh, a little of this and a little of that. I’m helping with logistics, of course. We’re trying to keep in contact with some of the ships nearing us, the radios are still working, but batteries are in short supply, so we only turn ‘em on a few times a day.”
“There going to be enough ships for everyone?” Toga asked.
“Oh yeah, yeah, we’ll make it work,” Bobby replied.
“There’s a hell of a lot of people here,” Big Mack said.
“Yeah, but there’ll be a hell of a lot of ships too,” Bobby said. “Well listen guys, I’m going to get back. I must confess my quarters are a smidge nicer than these. Oh, and I get a few perks, like some warm twelve packs of beer. Anyone want to join me for a night cap?”
Big Mack shook his head and Toga audibly declined, but Willy agreed to go and with that he went out the door with Bobby. Toga had waited until they had been gone for a few minutes before speaking up. “That guy gives me the creeps for some reason.”
The days passed and Big Mack and Toga were often left to pass the evenings alone, Willy was frequently a guest with Bobby. It was making Big Mack uneasy, but when he tried to grill Willy on the matter the man became defensive and accused Big Mack of being jealous that Bobby had found a new favorite. Big Mac thought Willy was acting like a ridiculous high school girl, and told the man as
