As everyone responded, Connie saw me at door 9 and innocently asked, "What's going on, Tom?"
I shrugged the question off, said, "Grab your guns and follow me." Connie grabbed an M4 carbine and two magazines off the rack as we passed. It was her weapon of choice. We joined a group of armed responders heading for the woods. We approached the walking trail Kira used through the dense trees toward the lake. I hoped we were gaining on her when we heard the dreaded muted moans and cries of a number of zombies in the distance. Seconds later there was a single shot. I heard two more shots fired as we entered the woods. They sounded like .40 caliber. I glanced at Connie as a slight grin slid to a look of concern. Then came a series of at least twelve more shots. Ed was at the front of the single-file line. He yelled, "That's an AK for sure. Move it, guys! It's a short distance, so run flat out."
I was the fourth in the group to exit the woods. Kira was near the lake facing a group of seven more zombies. More corpse lay around her. She downed three zombies in fast order then two more. Kira dropped the AK and pulled the .40 caliber semi-auto and fired at the heads of the two remaining monsters from six feet away. They exploded like overripe watermelons, and the fetid, rotting bodies tumbled toward her from their momentum. She deftly sidestepped away from them. Without pausing, Kira scooped the AK up, spun around to reconnoiter the area and saw the cavalry arriving. A breeze picked up as we neared the tree shrouded lake, and the fetid undead odor enveloped us.
Kira focused on me in the newly arrived group. She appeared confused, or maybe nervous, but in deep thought while she changed magazines on both weapons. She was surrounded by the crew, yet her features were grim when I stormed up to her.
I tried to stay calm but failed; I was upset. She had an ass chewing coming. Christ, that was the same way I'd lost Emma only months before. It was so much alike that it was eerie.
"What the hell were you thinking leaving the compound and going to the lake alone? You know better than to do that. You could have been killed, plus you've endangered all of us who came to rescue you. Why?"
Kira didn't speak until I stopped shouting, pointing, and waveing. She stood there calmly waiting while she let my questions roll off. I wondered why she was so calm, but then I noticed the fire in her eyes. She was pissed.
Kira moved closer and stood toe-to-toe with me. She stared back as hard as I was glaring at her. "I request a meeting of the full membership immediately at the compound. Everyone in this group is bound to silence until the meeting commences. No talking by anyone, and we remain as a group, no one wanders off." She looked around to scan the crowd. "There are nine of us here, and I request we remain separated from the others in the compound until and during the meeting."
I didn't know what the hell was happening and was thoroughly confused by Kira's actions. Where was she going with this? It was apparent she thought she knew something the rest of us weren't aware of.
Kira spoke again, "I also request Connie be escorted to the compound by two people, each one holding one of her hands securely."
Connie screamed, "Bitch! What are you doing? Tom, don't listen to her, this is silly."
Kira's stance and demands impressed me, so I agreed without knowing any details. "Kira's request is granted. John and Martin will confine Connie's hands while we return to the compound." Connie's struggles were for naught, and her curses slid away and dried up, even though none of us could yet grasp what was happening. What was Kira up to? What was going on between her and Connie? I knew Connie detested Kira, but I couldn't imagine how that impacted Kira's going to the lake.
As we led the way back to the compound, Kira walked close to me and spoke softly. I leaned in and listened intently. I hadn't guessed where this dilemma was headed and was shocked at her disclosure. I didn't like the implications of Kira's revelations, but I was obliged to hear her out. When we arrived at our base, I took Shane aside, and we spoke before Shane nodded thoughtfully and then left the group.
Our entire population was summoned to the dining hall. People rearranged tables and chairs until they formed a rough half circle. Kira instructed Martin and John to search Connie and wear gloves to handle everything they found. Knowing where we were headed, I nodded my approval. I dreaded her suspicions and hoped for all the member's sake Kira was wrong. We were supposed to be a tight group and this event would blow that ideal all to hell.
As the search was being conducted against Connie's objections, Kira spoke to the assemblage, "This morning I was relieved at eight from the midnight shift guard duty at the southeast tower. After five hours sleep, I shot targets and then did a strenuous one hour workout. I was hot and sweaty, so I took a shower. Afterward I dressed and put my gear back on. Connie rushed to me when I was near door nine. She appeared highly agitated and concerned about Tom. She said he'd been acting strange, and he'd told her he was going to walk to the lake to check something. She said she tried to stop him, but he left with only his sidearm and said he'd be fine, and he'd be right back. She
