Unlike the Savages, the bodies of the Day Stalkers didn’t disintegrate with the sunrise. We piled the bodies high and set them aflame.
Snake was chewing tobacco, and seemed enamored by the glow. He’d lift his handkerchief that covered his nose and mouth, spit, and watch. “Four hundred and twenty-five. Goddamn.”
“Where did they come from?” I asked. “I mean, I was on the other side of them, so they didn’t come from the sea, so where?”
“Probably just wandered here,” Snake said. “Until they got on the road. Most of them are on their last legs. Or were. Probably hadn’t had food in weeks. I don’t think it’ll be long until they all perish.”
Snake had a point. The ones that stayed close to population areas were stronger; the ones that wandered weakened until they finally succumbed. The ones we fought, or rather slaughtered, weren’t going to be much help in the fight against the Savages.
We had the Creeper, and I planned on using it. The Creeper was the name we gave the vehicle that we used at night to move around. It was Savage proof, an old military vehicle that was converted to use our fuel source.
I asked for permission to use it and Davis just gave me the ‘eye’. But it wasn’t a no.
I was then instructed to clean up first, get rest, and then follow the last one out.
They always flew off before the sun rose, and I knew it was going to be a tough follow. They always flew North East, away from the city first.
After helping Snake with the burning, I grabbed two hours of sleep, packed a rations bag, got into Creeper, and headed north of the city, just before No Man’s Land and after Lyon’s Estates. It was a wild area, overgrown, and only a thin road remained. Though I always believed them to live in the hills of Angeles Forest, no one knew for sure. No one had ever followed.
Sitting on the road formally known as Interstate 5, I waited.
The Creeper had this cool thing called night vision, which locked in on images.
The radio call from base told me they were doing their regular watch and stalk at the ocean. A few showed up in the city, and none yet had arrived at Lyons.
Lyons was the last stop. It always was. That was another reason I believed they headed toward the forest. They had to stay in the dark, they couldn’t be near sunlight, so caverns and caves were the logical places. That’s what I thought. I’d be chasing them into the forest.
Six of the Savages flew into Lyons Estates trying to grab a bite of what was left. They attacked houses, and flew about gawking and squealing. I watched through the night vision unspotted.
I locked on to one. He was bold, trying to lift a roof from a home but failing miserably.
None of the ones in Lyon’s Estates were having much luck. Then a distant call from another grabbed their attention, and a larger Savage appeared, carrying the body of a woman.
My heart thumped, I knew her. Not personally, but she was one of us and was still alive.
The larger Savage led the way with his dinner in his grip and the others followed. That was my cue.
Creeper already running and in gear, using the scope as my guide, I followed. Hoping I didn’t run into any roadway or area that was impassible, I stayed the course on my mission, certain I would succeed. Something told me I would succeed.