TYBEE ISLAND
By By Paul Paul Cales Cales & Becca
Continued from the May 2019 Beachcomber.
Catch up @ http://tybeebeachcomber.com/magazine
CHAPTER 23 – NEW DIGS
DAY 7
“I think we need a thicker layer of charcoal,” Johnny says, while staring
down into the water purification barrel the group in the trees has been
constructing.
“Well, we definitely don’t need any more sand,” Becky says, staring
down into the barrel alongside Johnny. “It’s going to take a month’s worth
of rain to wash all the salt out of the sand that’s already in the barrel.”
Rudy looks over his shoulder at the two of them and away from Keith
Richard’s autobiography he has been reading. “Why don’t we just take
the barrel down to the pond and start the rinsing process guys? We’re
going to look like a bunch of jack asses if the guys get back and the
only thing we’ve done is argue about how much sand and charcoal
needs to go into the rain barrel.”
“Especially since they’re out there risking their lives trying to find
Doug,” Cheryl adds.
Becky looks away from the barrel and out toward the path leading
up to the camp. “Damn. When do you think they’ll be back? They’ve
been gone a long time.”
“I don’t know,” Johnny answers. “I’m thinking they ran into some
trouble and had to hunker down for the night. They’ll probably be back
any second now.”
“What do you mean ran into some trouble?” Becky says, giving
Johnny a glare.
“I’m just saying they probably stayed at Doug’s place until the
morning is all.”
“No. You said trouble.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, goober.”
“Way to go, Johnny,” Cheryl interrupts before Becky can give
another lecture on not bringing about cosmic disaster through negative
thoughts. “Now you’ve upset Becky.”
“Shhhhh,” Johnny says.
“Don’t tell me to shush, you know who’s the real boss here,” Cheryl
says, and gives him a playful glare.
“No, seriously. Do you hear that?”
“Sounds like a boat,” Rudy says.
“Let’s get eyes on it,” Cheryl states, and starts moving with a
purpose. “Not taking any chances with Brian out there.” The group
follows her lead.
28 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JUNE 2019
ISLAN
They gather their weapons and take up a defensive position near
the boat landing site. As the boat rounds the bend they see Joey, Tony,
Doug, and Sarge looking back at them.
“It’s about damn time ya’ll decided to come back.” Johnny beams at
them and sticks a hand out to shake Doug’s hand. “Great to see you,
Dougie.”
“It’s good to see you too, brother.”
“What happened?” Becky demands from the group at large.
“We found a TANK!” Joey booms, still excited by the new toy Tony
and he found.
“We found two of them actually,” Tony says. “And they’re both
operational.”
“How’s that going to help us over here?” Cheryl asks, always willing
to make something new work as long as there is a safe and reasonable
way to do so.
“About that…” Tony begins, and takes a step back so he can speak
to the whole group at once. “I’m thinking we should head back to Tybee
proper and set up camp at the end of Spanish Hammock. San Marco
Drive to be exact. There’s a big mansion at the end of the road and it’s
already pretty fortified. We’ve got two tanks at our disposal to keep us
safe, and I’m pretty sure we have enough firepower that we can take
care of any infected we encounter on the island.”
“Ann’s brother’s place?” Rudy asks.
“That’s the one,” Joey says.
“What about the tree camp we’ve got set up?” Cheryl asks.
“Yeah, and the water barrel?” Johnny asks.
“And the bombings?” Becky adds.
“I haven’t heard a plane since yesterday,” Tony says. “It’s going
to take us a couple of days to get set up and to transport all of our
equipment and people back over to Tybee. If they’re going to bomb
Tybee they’ll probably do so by then. But I have a sneaking suspicion
that there isn’t going to be any more planes flying overhead.”
“What makes you think that?” Becky asks.
Sarge clears his throat. “We’ve been in contact with some folks in
Key West Florida and they’ve been in contact with other folks around
the country. This thing is happening across the globe.”
“How…” Becky begins before Sarge stops her.
“Shortwave radio, hun.”
“So we should be thinking about a long term solution to our housing
issue,” Tony says. “This house is huge, there’s only one road in, and
there’s a dock.”
“We’re going to have to clear all the houses in Spanish Hammock
on the Catalina side,” Joey says, only okay giving up a few days rest
because of his excitement to get back into a tank again. He really was
getting a feel for things in there.
“Maybe we’ll find some survivors along the way too,” Doug says.
“There can’t be more than fifty houses past the flat bridge.”
“So?” Tony says to the group as a whole. “What do you guys say? Is
everyone in favor of moving the camp to the comfort of a mansion on
the bluff?”
“That all sounds well and good,” Rudy says. “But I have one more
question. Should we rip this tree fort down before we leave? What if
Brian comes back to attack again and simply moves in? Should we
really just hand this place over to him?”
“Oh shit, it just hit me,” Doug says, and looks around at the group.
“You were the people he was shooting at.”
“You were there?” Tony asks.
“Yeah. Me, him, and Lisa.”
“Ohhh. Lisa. We thought it might have been Ginger Mike. We only
saw red hair,” Becky says.
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