Dread Nation (Dread Nation #1)(95)
“No suh, dey only taught me how to keep hapless white folks alive,” I say.
Alan scowls at me, not sure if I’m being sincere or goading him. Katherine pats his arm to get his attention again.
“So what will happen to our little town now? I suppose we’ll all end up at the mercy of these hostile lands. Is there no winning this battle with the undead, even after all these years of resistance?”
Alan shrugs. “Don’t rightly know. Me and a few of the other drovers have been talking about leaving, maybe heading out over the hill to a settlement called Nicodemus. Word is they’ve got plenty of work and food, and even though they’re friendly with the Kansa and Pawnee I’ve heard tell they’ve got a stronger wall to keep the dead out. After last night? Shoot, that seems like paradise.” At this, we’ve nearly reached the inner fence, and Alan sighs and stops the wagon. I raise a hand to help Katherine down and he watches her wistfully.
“Thank you for the ride,” she says, gifting him with a radiant smile. He simply tips his hat in acknowledgment.
“Maybe you should give that boy back his heart before we start poking around at the undead,” I whisper to Katherine.
“Quiet, it’s your fault he’s all twitterpated. I could’ve walked.”
I snort as we cross through a gate in the fence. “That corset will be the death of you.”
The battle site looks much less frightening in the daylight. My memory of the place is painted in flickering shadows and lumbering figures, a chorus of shamblers’ moans ringing out in accompaniment. But now, in the bright sunlight of midday, the place looks like just another worthless patch of prairie.
Well, excepting for the bodies hidden in the tall grass.
“Something’s amiss,” I say to Katherine.
Sheriff Snyder is here, overseeing the removal of the bodies, him and his boys sitting easy in their saddles, joking like they ain’t got a care in the world. He spots Katherine and his face relaxes into a pleasant smile as he rides over.
“Miss Deveraux. Fancy seeing you here.” The sheriff doesn’t bother to get down from his horse, just leans forward and looks down at Katherine.
“Yes, Sheriff. I know it’s highly indecent of me, but I couldn’t help but wonder about the breach in the wall. I just wanted to see for myself that the town was safe once more.”
The sheriff gestures toward a patch of wall in the distance with a group of Negroes and drovers patrolling it. It’s easy to see where it collapsed, a valley betwixt two hills. Nothing about the exterior wall looks repaired, and a chill of apprehension runs down my spine.
Sheriff Snyder lied to us earlier. Who else did he deceive?
The lawman takes out a pinch of tobacco and begins rolling a cigarette. “Looks like my secret’s out. We had more than one breach last night, and it’s going to be a while before Summerland’s defenses are secure once more. You and your girl should really head back to town, seek shelter in your quarters. After all, most ladies like to hide behind closed doors with their Attendants nearby.”
“Perhaps, but I find that I am interested in understanding more about the pitiful creature that is the shambler. How could such a mindless ghoul wreak such havoc? What is the nature of this menace the Lord created to test us?”
“It matters not, my dear. It is God’s wrath for our sins.” The sheriff lights his cigarette and looks out at the horizon. “The dead never walked until brother fought brother. Until we penitent folk betrayed one another.”
Katherine makes a choked sound, but when the sheriff turns back to her she is all smiles. “Yes, sir, thank you for explaining.”
He just nods. “Well, then, enjoy indulging your curiosity. Why don’t you and your girl join me for supper? I know you haven’t gotten your rations yet today, and I’d hate to see a lady such as yourself go hungry.”
“Thank you, Sheriff. I look forward to the company.” There’s not a hint of fear or doubt in Katherine’s words and the sheriff rides off.
I step nearer to Katherine. “Do you think that was wise?”
“I don’t think I have a choice. And besides, we’re looking for an opportunity to take him out, aren’t we? You have your sickles now—”
“Ain’t much use against guns,” I hiss. “Surely, he’ll be armed and probably have a few of his boys in attendance if he knows I’m going to be there.”
“Well, I suppose you’d better think of something else, then!”
I open my mouth to argue and quickly snap it closed. The set of Katherine’s jaw warns that she’s sorely vexed, and I ain’t one to tempt a tiger. I once saw Katherine thrash a girl soundly who had the bad fortune to slander her name. I have no intention of getting on her bad side, especially not now when I’m going to need her help. She might be highly unreasonable, but she’s still my friend and we are in this together.
So I say nothing as we walk through the bodies of the dead toward the outer wall. I move off to examine a pile of them. From what I can tell most of them were recently turned. There’s little of the decomposition you see on most long-dead shamblers, none of the older clothing or loose hanging skin. But I don’t recognize any of the faces, either. Where’d all these folks come from? Gideon’s theory is looking more likely every minute.
“Jane,” Katherine calls for my attention, kneeling next to one of the dead. “Did you know this one? She’s wearing the same clothing as you had from working the patrols.”