Revelations - 02 (7 page)

“So they lock themselves away and let those things surround them?” Barry was yelling. So much for this observation post. Already I could see figures turning our way.

“Being on the move hasn’t exactly been a flawless plan,” Teresa countered. “Or have you forgotten Dillon? Ian? Billy? Joseph?”

“Staying put doesn’t seem to work,” Barry snapped. “Or have
you
forgotten the place we just left behind?”

“Maybe there are no answers.” Now Melissa was in the dispute. “Maybe all we can do is make things up as it happens. Learn from our mistakes. And,” she paused deliberately looking over to the Hummer where two little faces were staring out at the crazy adults with wide eyes and expressions that were a mix of fear and concern, “hopefully keep a good grip on our humanity.”

“We have to decide what sort of people we will be.” Everybody fell silent and turned. Very seldom did Randi Jenkins speak to anybody, much less to the group. She walked up to her husband and placed her hands on his shoulders. “We lost our baby. We’ve lost everything. So has everybody. When this unthinkable horror began, it…” she looked around at all of us as if realizing for the first time that we were there.

“Barry,” Randi continued, but moved so that she could also face everybody, “we spent our lives helping people. Men, women, and children who allowed drugs to ruin their lives. And you took pride in taking the hardest cases that came through the door. When that boy Juan Hoya came through the system twice, only to be hooked up to the pipe again each time, it was you who took his file out of the administrator’s hands. When he said it was a hopeless case, you told him there was no such thing. And how many others? You told me once that it wasn’t about ‘saving the world,’ but simply ‘saving the ones we can reach.’ Those people down there,” Randi turned and looked down the hill, “we can reach them.”

We all stood there silent. Personally, I was just dumbstruck. Randi’d always done her part around the camp. She’s always been polite. She just wasn’t ever much for talking. I watched Barry, he seemed as surprised as the rest of us.

“I haven’t thought of that young man in a couple of years.” Barry’s eyes were far away now. “What was it he was always sayin’? Somethin’ about Tigers.”

“Tight like a—” Randi began.

“Tigah!” they both finished together with a laugh. That was the first time I think I’d ever heard Randi Jenkins laugh. The couple hugged, still laughing. After a few seconds, Barry turned to me. “So what’s your plan?”

Just like that?
I thought. Randi nodded slightly as if reading my mind. I rubbed my hands together and turned back to the warehouse, bringing my binoculars up. I let my enhanced gaze sweep the area back and forth, then I saw it. If it worked, it would almost be too easy.

Almost.



“I think this might have a chance of success.” Dr. Zahn crouched down beside me, handing me the canteen she’d just sipped from.

Taking a long drink in hopes that it would wash away the terrible case of adrenaline dry mouth I was experiencing, I only nodded. From our place behind a lone CSX railcar, we had a clear view of the wide open railyard, the south end of the warehouse, and the truck.

The truck was the centerpiece to my grand scheme. Barry and Jamie were making their way towards it, but since they had to skirt the area so wide, they would be a few minutes. Once there, Jamie would get it started—by hotwire if necessary—then they would set it into motion. The truck is on a special carriage that lets it drive on train tracks. Railroad workers apparently use them when they’re out doing maintenance. They would put a brick or something on the gas pedal.

It is the next part of the plan that has me feeling queasy. We all agreed that the truck alone might not be sufficient. Somebody has to be in the back making a lot of noise to really have a chance at this plan working.

There was a discussion as to whether one or two should be sufficient. I put my foot down and said that I would
only
be willing to risk one person. Whomever it was would have their choice of handheld weapons, a pistol-grip shotgun that holds five shells with a bandoleer of twenty reload rounds, and a single handgun with a half-dozen spare mags. We each put a tiny rock with our initials on it. This was the other part of the argument…and I lost. I didn’t want any of the women in this sinister lottery.

“The old ways were long gone, Steve.” Teresa had actually sounded like she felt sorry for me or something. “Each of us has to step up when things get crazy. I’m not being a feminist or anything.” Barry had tried to interrupt, but she raised a hand his direction to indicate silence. “The time for the women to hang back or let the men shoulder the lead is dead. Probably forever.”

We agreed that there would be three stones drawn. The first would be in the back of the truck. The second had the unpleasant duty of keeping a scope trained on the person in the truck—none of us wanted to be torn apart, and would prefer a quick bullet to the head if things go badly. The third is the back-up in case the one person is unable to pull the trigger. I drew that task.

“They seem more spread out from here,” Melissa whispered. She’d “won” the lottery. Aaron was drawn second. From the look I’d seen in his eyes, I was already consigned to the fact that it would be me pulling the trigger.

Randi would be in one of the Hummers, prepared to swoop in and gather up the survivors. Dave had given us the method to make contact with them. We’d tried the radio, but I guess that, in their hurry to get up to the roof, they didn’t have time to grab it. Dave had us write a note that we secured with a bit of thread from Dr. Zahn’s medical kit to an arrow. I guess his hobby was archery. Who knew? He had a composite bow and a box with a hundred or so arrows in it packed in the vehicle. Honestly I didn’t think he had the strength. He moved to a place he was happy with and fired one arrow—I imagine to get a range or fix, whatever—then another with the note. We watched the small group gather around. A few started hopping up and down like their names had been called to “C’mon down!” on
The Price is Right
.

Teresa would be with the girls in the other Hummer. She would pull up to a spot we determined as the pick up location. Melissa would jump out—if she made it. It was a large grassy patch on a gradual uphill slope about a half of a mile from the warehouse. That spot was chosen for two reasons, First, the slope would slow the vehicle down just a bit, and second, it was the softest looking place for somebody to land.

I saw Barry step out from the cover of the truck and wave his arms. That was the signal.

“Okay, Melissa,” I grabbed her by the arms and turned her towards me, “follow that fenceline and down that ditch. Come up when you see the second overhead walkway. If anything—”

“Steve,” she put her finger on my lips, “I know. We went over it.”

“It’s just—” she cut me off again.

“It’s just that I’m a girl and you are being a total
guy
about this,” she said “guy” like it was a bad thing.

“Be careful,” I sighed.

“See you in a little while.” She winked and kissed me on the cheek.

I watched her scurry away, hunched over to stay behind as much cover as possible. Still, by the time she reached the tall fence and made a run for the ditch, she already had a few dozen of the things on her trail. Her ponytail bobbed like a lure leading the fish to the juicy worm. Then she slid down the embankment that would take her to the wide ditch where some sort of runoff used to flow. A cold feeling flooded into my stomach.

“She’ll be fine.” I felt Dr. Zahn’s hand on my arm.

“This is a stupid idea,” I managed over the huge lump growing in my throat.

When did I become the leader? Who the hell am I to send people to their deaths? And why on God’s green earth were these folks even listening?

“No,” Dr. Zahn shook her head. “If it was, I’d have told you.”

I turned back to where Melissa would emerge. From that walking bridge, she would have about thirty yards of open ground to cross. She’d hop in the open bed of the truck and Jamie would put it in gear. He assured me that he’d have the gas pedal already rigged. As soon as the truck went into motion, everybody was under instructions to make it to the ridge by any means necessary. I would stay put in case I needed to take the shot. Randi would be coming this way, the opposite direction of the truck, to pick me up. For some reason, Dr. Zahn had insisted she accompany me.

A growing number of undead were stumbling along the edge of that ditch. Occasionally one would stagger too far or be nudged to the right and tumble out of sight. I’d seen the ditch and was certain the sides were too steep for those things to navigate. So, basically, once one of them fell in they were stuck until that gulley rose, or leveled out, or whatever. It’s funny how the zombies seem to know this and won’t willingly go over the edge. I imagine if they came even with Melissa they’d dive in. But they don’t seem eager to go in. I’ve heard they are the same around bodies of water, whether it’s a river or a lake, and probably ocean I’d imagine.

Finally she popped up. I noticed her glance over her shoulder, and through the scope I saw a trace of concern. Next came the sprint across open ground. If this had been a movie, she probably would’ve tripped and fallen for dramatic effect. In a flash she was at the truck. Barry gave her a hand in back and once in, she leaned down and hugged him. Jamie signaled, and the truck rolled into motion. Then, he and Barry gave one final wave and took off. They vanished between a pair of buildings, their part in my plan complete.

I watched the truck as it cruised along, faster than a zombie, slower than a decent jogger. Melissa stood, leaning with her arms folded on the top of the cab. She was coming straight at our position, but the truck would arc left towards the warehouse in a moment. Just around that bend she would start encountering the outer fringe of the mob outside the warehouse. She saw me and waved. I could see her face so clearly through the scope. She had the expression you’d see on somebody in the front seat of a wicked rollercoaster. A grin that was a mixture of fear, adrenaline, and excitement.

Just as the truck began the easy turn, gunfire erupted from where Jamie and Barry had vanished. Melissa turned suddenly and didn’t see the first zombie step into the path of the truck. The bumper caught it, sending the thing flying. It also caused Melissa to fall. Fortunately she fell back into the open bed. While my heart was still in my throat, she struggled to her feet. All anybody could do was hope that Jamie and Barry were okay. As she neared the warehouse, Melissa went into the next phase of my master plan: she screamed.

I swear I heard the rustle of desiccated flesh and the pop of tendons as hundreds of heads turned as one towards the source of that sound. The next scream sounded different somehow and made my guts turn to water. She was scared. I couldn’t see her face any longer, but the sound said I needed to help her.

“You can’t.” Dr. Zahn had my arm in a grip much tighter than I’dve expected. Without being aware of it I’d stood up, but Dr. Zahn was right…there wasn’t a damn thing I could do.

I brought the rifle up once more and sighted through the scope. A couple of the closest zombies had been able to swipe uselessly at the passing truck. One had managed to snag or grab ahold and was being dragged. Melissa was quick to bring the hatchet she’d been keeping on a loop hanging from her belt into play.

“It’s working,” Dr. Zahn said.

I’d been so busy watching Melissa that I hadn’t thought to see if the decoy was having the desired effect. Sure enough, the horde was moving as one giant, cancerous organism. A solid wall of outstretched arms and gaping mouths were now intent on the juicy tidbit in the back of the truck. For just a moment I heard the voice of Yosemite Sam in my head exclaim, “Zombies is so-o stupid!”

In a twisted version of a dead-tide they were coming. Melissa was smart enough to be looking in every direction instead of simply focusing on one. She saw a trio of zombies, all child-sized, moving for her at an angle that would put them directly in the truck’s path. For whatever reason, they were out distancing the main horde. Bringing up the shotgun, she fired directly at their chests, effectively knocking them back. She then switched to the pistol and started dropping the closest threats.

“It’s gonna be close,” Dr. Zahn said.

I took a look at the big picture. I’d been going into some serious tunnel vision. Until now, I had not really tried to see the whole scene. The truck was at the halfway point. The zombie-mob was a huge bulge, thickest in the center. However, it would be dicey on whether or not the truck would make it to the other end. As I watched, my spirits buoyed just a bit. The zombies had no concept of angle-of-pursuit.

“Here comes Randi!” Dr. Zahn pointed. The Hummer came fast, a trail of dust in its wake.

More shots came from the general direction Jamie and Barry had gone. For some stupid reason, I’d decided to risk the people I know to save complete strangers. Perhaps Barry had been the voice of reason the whole time—except when it came to Thalia, then he was out of line.

“Steve!” Dr. Zahn’s voice cut through the chaos in my mind. Was this what it had been like for Randall Smith and Sergeant Wimmer each and every day?

“Huh?”

“One of those things is making it into the truck!” Dr. Zahn pointed.

Sure enough, Melissa was busy reloading the shotgun while still taking time to smash a zombie in the face with the pistol grip. She was frantic, I could tell. I saw her drop a few shells she had been holding while trying to keep the undead from piling over the side into her truck-bed bastion. Bringing up my rifle, I sighted in on the one pulling itself up onto the rear bumper where it would simply tumble forward over the tailgate. The shot was on target, the zombie, a mostly naked woman wearing either a very dark or blood-stained bra, slumped and fell back onto the track. Melissa never even glanced that direction. Considering how loud the moans of the dead were even from this far away, I doubt she heard it.