Day 3: An Atheist Who Learned to Pray III

Inside the checkpoint was George Tennyson, checking the arms of the civilian who had been rescued from one of the most dangerous places in the mall. The two of them were not alone as they were accompanied by Michael and Bryan, who were watching Jeff closely.

—There was no need for him to do that! But if it had been the doctor who ordered me to do it, things would be very different... What's his problem? The others seem to be afraid of him... —Jeff held out his arm for George to check his veins.

—He's one of the leaders, and even if we don't want to, he's saved our lives, including yours. He has some very strange ways of doing things but he is efficient. If you ignore him long enough he won't bother you... we've learned these days to not make him angry. We know he has a tendency to violence. —Michael sighed resigned to the idea that he owes his life to a man he dislikes.

—He's not from here, is he? From his skin color to his accent... the way he talks and walks. He scares me. —Jeff smiled nervously. —Even the way he does this... looks with his eyes and...

—No, he comes from some poor place in Serbia. How did they find you, Jeff?

George's calm voice calmed Jeff, who shivered just remembering the situation he was in.

—Well, before I say how they found me, it would be ideal to explain what I do at the mall. I am a farmer, one of the many families in the agricultural sector of Vallimorth. In the beginning I was against the formation of the mall because it would bring problems for the sector since our economy in some areas consisted by the exchange of products. Our fertile land was much better than all that foreign garbage they were bringing from I don't know where.

—Were you part of the July protests? I heard there was a riot between the police and protesters?

—That's right, doctor. We did that when we realized that the products we were selling to the mall were being sold at double the price. The mall was making more money and saving a lot with our prices. That's why our people came here for answers... but the stupid police who are paid by the government evicted us, and we had to pay a fine. At least one of the advantages of the epidemic is that we're not going to pay shit to anyone.

George laughed. Apparently the epidemic had its good sides.

—I came to this shitty place because someone from our town told us we should gather in front of the mall to start a new protest. All the farm families gathered... we wanted to be heard and would do anything to make our voices heard. —Jeff remembered how stupid it was to listen to that man. —Now that I realize, when the outbreak started and because of the number of people we gathered, it was another reason why there were more of those... things. They bit my friends, they bit my family... and they all transformed.

—How did you survive for so many days, Jeff? —Michael was curious.

—I was hiding in the mall, in a warehouse of a store that sold cleaning products. I took refuge with the Hernandez family and the Galleys, but they all died... Itzel's daughter got sick and during the night... during the night she attacked them all. I left the warehouse for a moment to go to urinate, but when I came back... that happened this morning. I tried to get out of Spring Plaza but it was impossible.

—So you took refuge in the elevator... —George commented.

—Yes... it was my last escape. I wanted to... I was ready to jump out of the elevator as soon as I got to the top, a fall of that height would surely kill me. Then... the fucking elevator goes up and stops, leaving me inches away from those bastards who were raising their arms and trying to grab me... I saw ugly things! I was very afraid to stay in the elevator... but at the same time I was very afraid to get out because through the glass I could see... things... I shouted for help but no one came.

—Did you think it would be the end, Jeff? —Bryan could be sure of how the civilian felt in those moments.

—It was the end... and then I did something I haven't done since I was ten... I started praying. I prayed to that god... I prayed for anything, anything- to get me out of there... I peed on myself because I was sure I would die. I was so scared! All I did was to start crying and realize how easily broken I am... I saw how the people who saw me passed me by, nobody helped me, nobody... but then those men arrived, the policemen, the Russian and his friend. They helped me out and... they put zombie shit on top of my body to smell like them. it worked! We got through the horde... and now all I want to do is... say thank you, if there's anything really up there that listened to me.

Jeff began to cry as he remembered how fragile he felt, how vulnerable he could be.

—I'm a fucking hypocrite... all my life I gave up on God, all my life I refused to go to church and just when I'm going to die... fuck... I'm a mess of a human being.

—You don't have to feel guilty about praying, Jeff. Many of us have in some ways become detached from our faith... but that doesn't mean we should also become detached from the things that make us human, that make us us and make this life worth living. Can you tell Harry to get some clothes, Michael? I'm sure Jeff could use a good shower with the hose after what happened to him. —Goerge asked politely, then Michael left the room.

—I may not be of much use... but I really hope I can be useful as a farmer. Talking with the group I was in we came to the conclusion that eventually the food would run out... and that's why we would have to grow our own food.

—Growing? But how can we do that? —Bryan had no idea how to grow a crop.

—We should identify a soil... the soil in the park could be useful, that and if we take what the locals offer us focused on agriculture. This rooftop might be a good place to start with something small, maybe a greenhouse to grow berries in, but if we want to go big we'd have to take over the park. —Jeff looked out of the office window at the parking lot and was in awe as he watched the zombies walk around freely, with nothing to stop them.

—Then we'll have to clean up the plaza to make it habitable... and a large part of the park as well, right? —George began to check Jeff's back for scratches.

—We'll get there. Humans have been growing their own food for hundreds of thousands of years, we are not and will not be the last to do so. Now that there will be nothing and no one to export, the work has returned to us who take care of the fields.

—I am sure that if you talk it over with the leaders of the group they will pay attention to you and you will be able to have an influence on our expansion plans. At the moment we are looking for an alternative to subsist in the mall.

—I like the idea... although the irony in itself is great considering I hated this place. Knowing I'll be living here is... overwhelming. What about my livestock? My animals... Ah, fuck...

Jeff looked up at the sky and realized he was looking at a beautiful sunny afternoon, the sky was clear, it was red in color.

—If you really exist... thank you.

Bailey felt quite realized.

—Thank you very much for your assistance, doctor... and... thank you for saving me from that Russian. I thought that he would do something to me and... I was scared.

—There's nothing to thank me for, Jeff. I did what I thought it would be necessary. I'm your trusted doctor AND friend, George. Now get out of here, you are in good condition. Talk to the other civilians, make friends, take a rest, you know your thing.