Exploiters

 I guess Country said it best, we were all sitting around eating, not really saying much of nothing. I could see the looks in their eyes, all this surviving had gotten to them, day in and out since the out break we had done nothing but dispose of the zombies that came our way. Country looked up from his plate, smiled that wide eyed southern boy look one could have being from the south, "Ya'll know something, we haven't had a normal day in almost a year now, think it's about time we do something about that don't you think so Old man?"

  I didn't say nothing at first, but I knew he was right, we all needed something else to do, just like we did when we were preparing for this instead of sitting around and killing those damn zombies. "I think your right Country, so what is normal now, anyone got any ideas?"

  "I have an idea".

  "Okay Sarge I'll bite, what is it". J.L. ask.

  "Well remember back when Doug and Country came with a idea about a fire pit, and we held back on it, didn't want to attraction attention, right". Everyone nodded their heads to that, attention was the last thing we needed. "Anyway attract attention or not, we need to break away from all the routine shit we do, right now I don't care if if we attract attention or not, maybe that would be a good thing. We have watched groups pass us by while we're up here hiding, and frankly I'm tired of it all".

 Josiah pushed away from the table, "Where you going?"

"Well Carla, I think Sarge is right, time to stop hiding, and start living again, no matter what is going on around us, we're all going to go nuts if we don't do something else, as for digging a pit, well I'm not much into digging, but I think we got a grill or two down in that supply locker, may as well start using them".

  "Damn we usually butt heads".

"Thats how well you don't him, Sarge, when he see's a good idea, he goes for it, and I think I'll give him a hand", Country left the room.

 "Hey Sarge",

  "What Doug".

 "How long have known the Old man"?

  "Fifteen years and we would always butted heads or at least it seemed that way, but now"?

  "Yeah but you're wondering aren't you, got to ask yourself buddy, when was the last time you two went at it?" Sarge stood there in silence, then walked out, "Oh well" Doug shrugged his shoulders and followed.

   Sarge had been thinking about what Doug had said, it has been a while, since him and the Old had butted heads, it was then that it hit him what the Old man once had said to him years ago, "Sarge you and I are cut from the same mold, ex military, there is one thing I do know, no matter what happens if the shit ever hit the fan I know you would have back". Is that why they had not butted heads lately?  The Old man knew Sarge had his back?, Sarge smiled, that had to be it.

    It took them some time, but J.L. and Country had found the grills. "Wouldn't know it charcoal"

"Hey J.L. at least it's a start", grinned Country, "Im'm sure it is Country, lets get them up top.

Country and J.L. had got the grills up top side, they all stood around the grills. "Them grills aren't going to light themselves", Amanda said.

   "Got a problem, here can't find no charcoals", Dave said.

"Well boys looks like ya'll are going to have think of something else, come on ladies, lets get some grub up here, while the Einstein's figure this out", Ericka said with a laugh. The ladies left.

 "You know she's right, the one thing we didn't figure on was a barbecue during a zombie apocalypse"

  "Charcoal or not Dave, it looks to me that Sarge and Country need to solve this problem for us Einstein's, can't cook without fire."

  "Alright Old man, come on Country lets show the Einstein's how it's done".

Both the men went down and out the mesa. "Think they will be okay out there?"

"I'm not sure both them are tough as nails, and know the risk they take going out there, they won't go unarmed Doc".

"I suppose your right Josiah".

  Country and Sarge had exited the mesa from the bottom side of the mesa in the Old mans old beat up truck, they both stuck their heads out the windows looked up and waved at the. Josiah smiled, and waved back. The women had made it back up to the mesa top. The sun was setting when the two men made it back, both of them looked a mess. "Well did you get it?"

"Yep we did, got the whole damn truck full of it Dave", Country said. "even got starter", Sarge piped in.

  "You're a mess Aaron", Amanda said to Country, "why don't you two clean up"

"Yeah Aaron lets go clean up", Sarge said with a laugh.

Country had always like how Amanda called him Aaron, she was the only one who did. He never ask her why she did but it made her happy and being happy was what important especially now.

  The sun had set, the coals were hot and glowing, the cold ones were passed around, and the food was cooking.

  "Hey man you smell that?" the man said to his companions.

  "Yeah I sure do, think we need to check this out", Lets go boys", the apparent leader said.

     It would take them an hour to get with visual range of the mesa, but they would see enough to take back to the rest of their group, to plan a raid.

    "Hey Jason did you see women up there?", ask one of the men.

    "Yep" came the leaders reply.

      "Oh man that s good fresh pussy", the man replied with a laugh

      "Oh yep fresh pussy, no shut the fuck up and keep the noise down and watch for those damn monster".