Emperor of a Dead World (41 page)

While the others held the creatures off, Mickey and his men headed for the pier. Coming in fast, the barge ran heavily against pier 7 knocking many men to the deck. As other ships struck the barge, even the horses had trouble standing.

“All forward,” Mickey cried as he steadied his horse and led the assault. His steed was the first to leap from the barge but his men were close behind. As they headed down the pier, the creatures came to greet them but Mickey did not even bother to swing his sword. He just rode hard and fast, and let his horse trample the creatures he met.

Brad now had his sword in hand and he held it high as he called for his men to follow. He had not planned on using this pier but it would have to do. Tyrone was right by his side and they raced each other down the pier screaming as they ran. Any creatures they met they either killed or knocked into the water.

By the time the foot soldiers joined the cavalry, Mickey and his men were in dire straits. These creatures knew no fear and there was no short supply of them. The only thing that saved the cavalry was the slippery blood-covered metal that did not allow the creatures to grab hold. Unfortunately, as more creatures arrived, the horses became frightened and reared up allowing the deadly things to knock them off their feet and feast on the flesh of both man and beast alike. Had it not been for the soldiers coming to the rescue, the cavalry would surely have perished. When Mickey realized the horses were useless against such overwhelming odds, he ordered his men to flee and he cleared a path through the crowd with his remaining men.

Now that everyone had gathered at the foot of the pier, Brad arranged the men into an ellipse with shields overlapping. This way they presented an almost impenetrable defense. They now traveled along the shorefront then headed up Washington Street to Drumm Street and arrived at Sacramento Street. Here they began their mile long journey up the hill to the Grace Cathedral.

Brad knew their best option for survival was to travel as quickly as possible. The longer they took the more creatures they would have to fight. As they worked their way forward, he instructed the men to push them away with their shields rather than kill them. Killing these things was a waste of energy. Every time one dropped, another immediately replaced it. If they simply kept pushing the same one back, it shielded them from view and protected them from fresh attacks. Luckily, years of hunger had weakened the creatures and they were not as fast or as strong as they had once been. Another favorable factor is that these things were more or less human so they also suffered from fatigue. This is why it was better just to hold them back. After a few minutes, they put up less fight and became easier to keep at bay. Unfortunately, even with this strategy, Brad’s men still suffered losses and they had no choice but to fill in the gap and leave the victim behind.

For over an hour, they battled as they ascended the steep hill. When they finally arrived at the apex, everyone was exhausted. Standing at the summit and looking down, some were thinking they should turn back and a few voiced this opinion. Even Brad was beginning to lose hope of success. Too many men had died and when he glanced at Tyrone he saw a look of disparage. Before he could voice his anxiety someone suddenly shouted, “There it is.”

Brad looked up and could not believe his eyes. Less than a block away stood the church. Now he could inspire hope in his men. “We have made it,” he shouted. “Kill them all. We have reached our goal.”

Right after he said this he felt a burning pain. A creature had sunk its teeth into the flesh of his arm. Grimacing in agony, he refused to scream and with one swift stroke, he claimed the head of his attacker. As the body fell, the jaws of that hideous face remained attached to his arm. He knocked it loose then stomped on the head when it hit the ground. He now fought with renewed strength as he compelled his men follow.

Driving forward and swinging his blade to the right and to the left, he cried, “Die,” with every stroke he took. When he got to the cathedral, he ran up the stairs then pounded on the door demanding, “Brad is here to save you. Let me in.”

Chapter 34

When the door opened, Brad fell to his knees and kissed his father’s feet.

“Come in my savior come in,” his father exclaimed, not yet realizing who had come as he helped Brad up and pulled him inside.

Tyrone was next inside and he called for the others to follow. “There is room for everyone. Come in to safety.”

Brad’s father watched in awe as the church filled with weary warriors. He could not believe so many people had suddenly arrived. Once they were all inside, he closed and locked the doors.

By now, Brad had rushed over and kissed his mother. Unlike his father, she had instantly recognized him. Both were in tears when his father joined them.

“Is it true? Is it really you?” He sobbed as he embraced his son.

“Yes father it is me,” Brad replied through tears of joy. “I have your shield to prove it.” He stepped back and showed his father the replica of Constantine’s shield with a red cross painted on it. His father had left this for him years earlier.

The man laughed then asked, “How did you know we were here?”

“It is a long story,” Brad replied. He then sat and gave a brief rendition of his adventures. While telling his tale the creatures were banging and trying to get in. Of course, there is no way they could ever breach this fortress.

When Brad finished his story, his father turned his eyes toward the men. “Even with all these men I cannot believe you made it through those fierce monsters.”

“It would take more than them to keep me from rescuing you and mother.”

His mother smiled then suddenly noticed his wound, “You are bleeding,” she gasped in fright.

“A hazard of war,” Brad sighed as Tyrone walked over.

“I need to speak with you,” Tyrone said.

“Tyrone,” Brad exclaimed as he looked up at the man. “This is my best friend,” he said to his parents. “I would not have survived without him. I would not have been able to rescue you if not for his help.”

“He exaggerates,” Tyrone shrugged.

“Thank you for all you have done,” Brad’s father said as he eagerly shook Tyrone’s hand.

“I know you,” Brad’s mother said. “You live on C Street. Your mother and I are friends. How is she?”

Tyrone looked down and did not answer.

“I am sorry,” Brad’s father said as his wife’s eyes filled with tears.

Tyrone turned aside and grabbed Brad by the arm. “We need to talk,” he insisted as he pulled him away. “Let me see the wound.”

Brad shook his head.

“Now, and do not make me ask again.”

Brad pulled up his left sleeve and showed Tyrone.

“I need water, towels and medical supplies,” Tyrone said to Brad’s father.

The man came over to look but Brad pulled down his sleeve.

“I do not know how you survived,” he said to his son, “nor do I know how you made it here. But I am sure it is a miracle and I am sure those things cannot harm you.”

“Your son is special,” Tyrone said. “I have known that from the day I met him.”

The man nodded as he fought back his grief. “There is a washroom down stairs,” he pointed. “In it you will find everything you need.”

The two headed off and when they got to the restroom, they found no water so Tyrone cleaned the wound as best he could with alcohol pads he found by the sink.

“When it happens,” Brad said at last, “I want you to be the one.”

Tyrone glanced at him but could not respond.

“Just make it fast,” Brad added.

“I promise. No matter what happens. I will get them back to the island,” Tyrone said as he wrapped Brad’s arm with an Ace bandage.

Brad was starting to perspire. “We need to go soon,” he said.

“Getting out of here is going to be a challenge,” Tyrone returned. “We have lost the cavalry and many other men besides. There are also a lot more creatures out there than there were before.”

“We do not have much choice,” Brad replied. “We cannot stay here. Others are wounded like me.”

“Those are the men I will send out first,” Tyrone said with deep regret.

“Those are the men that will want to go first,” Brad agreed as he rubbed his arm.

Tyrone nodded then led the way out.

Brad’s parents had come downstairs and were waiting near the coffee shop. Brad walked over to them as Tyrone headed upstairs.

“We must leave shortly,” Brad said. “Tyrone is arranging the men.”

“How did you get here,” his father asked. “How did you survive?”

“It is a long story.”

“You had the fever,” his mother insisted.

“Maybe I didn’t. Maybe it was something else.”

“I would never have left you had I thought you would survive,” his father apologized. “You had all the symptoms of the others.” He pulled up Brad’s right sleeve. “You were scratched.”

Brad looked down at the faint scar and shook his head. “It was a cat.”

His father shrugged and said, “Maybe,” as he exchanged glances with his wife. They both knew this was not true. He now reflected on the incident from years earlier. He remembered it well. Crazed people were everywhere. He and Brad were fighting their way back to the house with food when a sweaty man walked up and grabbed Brad begging for assistance. He pulled Brad away but the man hung on and scratched his arm. Two days later Brad got the fever.

Suddenly someone interrupted his thoughts, “Some of these men are infected,” he declared. “They have to leave the building.”

“They will leave when I say so,” Brad snapped at the man. He then gave his father a questioning look.

“This man was with us,” his father explained. “He is one of the five who made it here.”

Brad glanced at the man as two others joined them.

“We three were here and these two came later,” his father continued. “They were down the street hiding near the Fairmont Hotel when they saw this man go out for food. They followed him back and we have been surviving on barely anything for days.”

Brad listened to his father speak as the sweat rolled off his nose. He looked around and the others seemed to be shivering. It was cold in this building but he was burning up.

“I need to speak with Tyrone,” he said as he turned away.

Instead of going up to Tyrone, he walked back to the washroom then stood staring into the mirror sweating profusely.
I have to do this soon
, he muttered to himself.
I have to get them out
. His mouth was dry so he reached for the faucet but no water came out. He tried another and a few precious drops came out which he held to his lips. How long could he last, he wondered. He would not stay and endanger anyone. Suddenly he felt dizzy so he went into a stall and sat on the toilet as he thought of the men. How many of them were infected? If he waited, he and these men would soon be a threat. He tried to stand but this simple act made him lightheaded and he fell back. After he recovered, he took a breath then slowly rose to his feet holding onto the stall. He now tried to step forward but he had to stop and hold fast to the stall again.

“I was scratched
, he thought.
Why did I not remember before? That fat man grabbed my arm and when my father pulled me away, he dug his fingers in to hold me back and scratched me.
Brad tried to remember the face. He would kill the man if he ever saw him again. He sat back on the toilet realizing the man was probably already dead. As he sat, he thought he could hear pounding on the walls but it was actually the pounding in his head. He held his face in his hands and tried to remember. Graduation night he had made love to Jenny. She was so sweet, so tender. Why did he let her go? He shrugged. He did not let her go. She broke up with him because she did not want to be with him anymore. He shrugged again. He had Lisa now and he was better off. He ran his hands through his sweat soaked hair. He tried to swallow but his mouth was dry and he could not. His head was throbbing in pain. He closed his eyes and once again focused on the past. After graduation, there were stories on the news. Plane crashes and crazy people. Did he remember this from before or did he only remember the things Dr. Moreau had told him? He shook his head and tried to think. He remembered helping his father go out for supplies. He remembered his neighbors planning to go to Sacramento. He remembered laying on his bed out of his mind, his mother crying, his father arguing with people. He remembered the pounding of the boards and his dark room. He jumped up and took a deep breath. He remembered getting better. He remembered beating the fever. If he did it before he could do it again. He headed for the door then stood still and waited for the faintness to pass. It would pass because it had to pass. He opened the door, stepped out and felt a cool chill that made him shiver. He shivered but he still had the sweats. He felt his arm and the bite marks burned causing him to cry out and become faint. As he started to fall, someone ran over and steadied him.

“Where is Tyrone?” he gasped.

“I am right here,” Tyrone said. He is the one against whom Brad was leaning. “I was just coming to get you.”