“It is just a thought. I know from experience that any high adrenaline rush makes me want to have some long, pounding sex afterward. In the last week and a half I've had more close calls than in the rest of my life combined. The pent up frustration is almost painful.”
“Well, I don't really have the same context. This past week I guess I have seen too much sorrow, I don't think I am wired like you, I definitely could live without any more 'Oh my God we are all going to die!' moments.”
“So? Nothing then?”
“I didn't say that. There is something to what you say, but I have to just deal with it. Like I said when we started talking, what kind of man would I be to jump in the sack with a woman four days after my wife dies?”
Stewart waved her hand through the air dismissively, “The normal kind I'd say. I know boys. They attend a funeral in the morning and are on the prowl at the reception an hour later. It is the way you are built.”
“Ha! I've heard of women who are the same way.”
“Well, all I am saying is we are in a dangerous spot and we should take what pleasure we can, when we can.”
Max looked over at her and their eyes locked into place over the table. Slowly he nodded and she smiled across at him, standing she rose and came over to him, where she knelt in front of him, “How are my eyes doing?” she whispered, “Not too gross?”
“No, they've cleared up…” she interrupted him with a kiss, he hesitated a moment then allowed himself to respond with a passion that started to scare him. Squelching down the part of his mind that was trying to protest he gripped Stewart and pulled their bodies together.
Their hands began to roam over each other's bodies like silent serpents, exploring every crevasse, Max ended up with his hands on the sides of Stewarts head pulling her face into his as continued to kiss, she used her hands to undo his pants and slide them down to his thighs. Pulling back briefly Stewart stripped off her shirt and sports bra in one swift motion then slammed forward into Max again. Their love making was not slow or leisurely, they crashed together like the tide on the rocks and Max was finished all too soon. Stewart was not, and after allowing him a small interval to recover she insistently pull him back into her and brought herself to a finish that ended in a scream of ecstasy that she tried to muffle. Afterward they lay side by side on the porch, their clothing was wadded up and propped up under their heads as pillows. As they lay looking at the corn, the cool night air caressed their bodies.
“Stewart?”
“Yeah Max?”
“You might be right about the earthquake thing.”
She laughed softly, “Max that was just an excuse for something I wanted. You.”
“So what now?”
“What do you mean 'what now'? Now we keep living, get ourselves set up somewhere and just keep going. We just do not stop.”
“This won't change anything?”
Stewart reached over and ran her hand down onto his groin, “Max, this changes everything. But it doesn't change our goals.”
The third time they made love it was a prolonged, slow session without the haste or roughness of the earlier times, however it was just as passionate. As they lay once again in each other arms Max suddenly started.
“Is something there?”
Max nodded, “Someone is out there. In the field. I didn't notice them until now.”
“Fuck.” Stewart rolled over and scrambled to pull on her clothing. Max joined her in the effort, pulling on the light shorts and shirt he had been wearing, but forgoing his shoes for his shotgun. Stewart didn't stop until she had all of her weapons back in place, which took another twenty seconds.
“Where is it?”
Max pointed out towards the road, about halfway between Tom's house and the next neighbor over. “There.”
“Too far for me, I can't see that far, not even with these eyes.”
“It isn't moving. I think there are two more of them back a little ways. Yeah I am sure of it.”
“What are they doing?”
“Just standing there. Should we go out?”
“No. How far away are they, a half mile?”
“Maybe. That seems about right, didn't Tom say he had neighbors a mile away on each side of his house?”
“Yeah, we better get them up. Then you and I can go out and investigate. I damn sure am not setting up another ambush in a house for them.”
“You go, get the others up, I will keep an eye on things here.”
Stewart turned and strode back into the house while Max watched their visitor with his mind. The thing in the field raised one of its arms, then dropped it. On impulse Max did the same thing. The creature did it again. Max repeated it. Then he raised his other arm and the zombie mirrored his action with its arm. The zombie retreated across the road and appeared to sit down just inside the cornfield on the opposite side.
Amelia and Tom came rushing up the stairs with Riley on their heels. Stewart was not behind them, to Max's glance Amelia said, “She had to use the bathroom. Said she didn't want to die with a full bladder.”
“There are three of them out there.” the other two nodded, “I think we are going to go see them. Maybe talk to them this time instead of trying to kill them.”
“Like Jimbo?” asked Amelia.
“Hopefully.”
Stewart came through the doorway as quiet as a ghost and Max explained what had happened with the zombie when she was gone.
“So it was signaling us? I don't like it.”
“Maybe it just wants to talk.”
“Maybe it just wants to lure us in and kill us on ground it chooses.”
“Not all of them are bad.” said Max.
“No just ninety nine percent.”
“Here is what I think we should do. Me and you go out.” Max said indicating Stewart with the tip of his shotgun, “and then I go ahead thirty feet or so, but stay far away from him and see what he wants. You will be close enough to cover me and you can see things better in the dark. Plus you are a better shot than I am.”
“I don't like it.”
“Tom, Amelia what do you think?”
“I don't like it. Every single time we ran into super zombies we got into a big fight. Only that one time did Jimbo and that other chick run away.” said Tom.
“Max you think you can talk to this one? If you stayed far enough away so Stewart could cover you, I think that would be okay, like in the center of the road. The zombies couldn't get close without you guys seeing them first. I take it Tom and I get to guard the house?”
“Well that is what I was thinking…” Max started.
“You guys are babying me.” Amelia said, “Tom and Stewart did the store, you and Stewart laid the ambush. I have fought my way through zombies before, I can hold my own against them.”
“It isn't that, just at night…well Stewart and I have the…I don't even know what to call it, 'talent' maybe or 'abilities' that make us able to handle this particular situation. Tom was just the one who went with Stewart last time. Next time we'll let you and Tom handle the ambush.”
Amelia snorted, “We'll see. I am not that stupid.”
“No really if you want on the front lines, we will put you there, no problem from me!” said Stewart.
“Okay. Tom and I will stay here, next time I go.”
“Fair enough.” with that Max and Stewart headed down the driveway towards the paved road. When they got to the end of it Stewart stopped.
“Fucking little manipulator!”
