Deadrise 2: Deadwar (13 page)

Cpl. Schroeder had moved over to the driver’s seat and looked down to see Pvt. Mason writhing on the shoulder of the highway. Both of his shins were bloody and shattered from gunfire, and he was able to do little more than convulse and bleed. Schroeder reached for the ignition only the key wasn’t there! He began looking about frantically, on the seat, on the floor, in the glove box. It was nowhere to be found!

“Where the fuck is it?” he screamed aloud. And then it hit him; Pvt. Mason must have pocketed it when they had first arrived at the checkpoint and exited the van to check the area. Of all the stupid fucking things to do!

Schroeder looked out the window, and froze, feeling both his bladder and bowels release. The zombie horde was less than ten feet from the van. The three nearest zombies fell upon Pvt. Mason’s hapless form, biting large chunk out of his arm, face and exposed stomach. Already paralyzed from the pain of his leg injury, he was defenseless against the attack. Two more zombies fell upon him, then another, and another. Not a single member of the horde noticed Cpl. Schroeder, they focused solely on the live human prey within their midst. And as Cpl. Schroeder watched, stunned and helpless, he saw Pvt. Mason’s stomach ripped open and his entrails yanked out in bloody gray coils, even as his fingers were bitten off and his eyeballs, throat and tongue were chewed out. His legs gave one final spasm before his body was literally torn in half, and his legs and mangled lower torso were dragged away toward the forest. The zombies began to fight amongst themselves for their share of the bloody human flesh, pushing and slapping with as much ferocity as they could muster.

Cpl. Schroeder was pulled from his daze by movement directly ahead. A strange zombie stood right in front of the van, clad in battered black leather. It had only one eye as most of its skull missing and its right arm ended at the elbow. Its skin had the color and texture of a dried scab. It had jewelry in its remaining ear and a crucifix medallion. But the strangest thing about this particular deadfuck was the AK-47 it held in its good arm, pointed straight at Cpl. Schroeder.

“Oh shit.” Was all he had time to say before the Augiezombie fired... The bullet punched right through the windshield, drilling Schroeder in the center of the sternum, the impact flinging him back against the seat, and the bullet exited his back, embedding in the cushion.

The Augiezombie quickly moved around to the driver’s side and flung open the door, the nearest zombie instantly drawing back several feet. The Augiezombie pulled a gasping and bleeding Cpl. Schroeder out onto the side of the road. And much as Augie himself had been infected, now he expelled a slug from his own body, and placed it in Cpl. Schroeder’s open, gasping mouth…

“Fuck this shit! We are out of here!” Pvt. Horner said, putting the Bravo Two van in gear and pressing the gas. As the van lurched forward, Pvt. Horner flipped on the headlights, illuminating a large horde of zombies several hundred strong spread across the highway less than fifty yards ahead. The sudden glare from the headlights only seemed to agitate them. Horner twisted the wheel to the left, to flip a U-turn, when a figure stumbled in front of the van, illuminated in the headlights: a large back man, clad in military fatigues, and holding an AK-47. He was limping terribly, barely able to stand on his left leg and appeared to be in tremendous pain.

“It’s Sanders!” exclaimed Summerhays.

Horner brought the van to a screeching halt. Behind Pvt. Sanders, the headlights revealed the Bravo Three van, and the crowd of feeding zombies on the opposite side.

Cpl. Miller exited the van, assault rifle held ready, and hurried over to Pvt. Sanders, who appeared ready to collapse.

“Take my shoulder!” Miller said and Sanders draped his left arm across him, relieving the pressure on his wounded ankle. They hurried around to the passenger side of the van where Pvt. Summerhays had opened the side cargo door. Miller dumped Sanders inside, slid the cargo door shut then hopped back into his own seat. Pvt. Horner was peeling away before Miller could close the door.

“What happened to the rest of your squad?” Miller asked, turning to the back of the van.

“There was a superzombie in the woods…” Sanders could barely able to speak due to the pain.

“Those zombies were eating someone.” Pvt. Horner said, focusing on the road ahead.

“Mason.” Sanders answered. “The superzombie shot his legs out from under him so they could get to him.”

“What about Corporal Schroeder?” Miller asked.

“I don’t know…”

Cpl. Miller turned back to face the road, reaching for the radio clipped to the dash. General Jenkins had anticipated the superzombies leading the deadfuck’s from Green River toward them, and now it appeared his predictions had come true. They were still over sixty miles from Rainbow Lake, but they could cover that distance in a week’s time with round the clock walking and steady prodding by the superzombies…

CHAPTER 15

Wednesday, August 8, 2001

Mountain View, WY

1:08 AM

The entire community was on high alert. All non-security personnel were confined to their quarters while the Rainbow Lake Council members had joined Hughes and his personal guards in the main conference room. Half of the Mountain View security force were deployed in defensive positions around the perimeter of the lodge and its grounds, while the other half, all of whom Boone had made certain were loyal to Hughes, joined Captain Turner and his platoon out on the I-80 junction where they waited and watched for the advancing zombies.

Boone had also managed to sway three more guards to join the coup, bringing the total to 8 of 20. With ten of them away at the junction, that left only Hughes pair of personal guards to deal with.

He and Matt had tried to persuade Patty and Doc Reilly to return to Rainbow Lake, but Patty felt it important to support to the endangered community, while the Doc simply wanted to be on hand to treat any potential wounded.

“Why don’t you ride out and crush them, as you did with the Evanston horde?” Hughes asked suspiciously.

“We don’t know how many superzombies are leading them. Until we do I'm not sending my men out to get sniped. The best we can do right now is brace for them until morning, then I’ll take the chopper up and do a thorough search.” Jenkins snapped back.

“If we only last until morning…”

“Everything will be alright Mr. Hughes.” Patty said. “I have the utmost confidence in the General.”

“That doesn’t reassure me.” Hughes snapped.

Boone entered the room with another guard, both of them wielding their pistols. Boone gave Jenkins a quick look, and Jenkins felt his gut tighten with anticipation. This was it! It was not how he had planned it; he didn’t want Hughes’ execution to go down in front of Patty. But the moment was now at hand and he had to play the hand he 'd been dealt. Jenkins reached for his sidearm, stepping between Patty and the field of fire.

“Where the hell have you been?” Hughes barked as Boone approached. “I’ve been waiting for a re-“ Boone cut him off by quickly raising his 9mm and firing point blank into Hughes’ face; the bullet caught him just below the left eye, burrowing through his skull and blowing a small exit hole in the back of his head. His body crumpled into an awkward pile, bleeding through his nose and ears.

Hughes two bodyguards scrambled for their weapons, but Boone's man shot one of them in head, while Jenkins stepped up behind the other and put his pistol to the back of his skull.

“Freeze or I will blow your fucking head off!”

The man froze, holding his arms away from his body, palms out." I'm cool! I’m cool!” the man muttered, terrified for his life.

When Boone had first raised his weapon, Matt herded Patty and Doc Reilly to the other side of the room. Both had been shocked into silence by the sharp report of weapons fire, and it took several seconds for the ringing to clear from their ears.

“What is going on?” Patty demanded of Jenkins, looking on the verge of tears herself.

Hughes had to go.” Jenkins replied, keeping the pistol on the back of the guard's head. “On your knees.” The guard slowly lowered himself down.

“Are you going to kill me?” he asked.

“If I wanted you dead I would have pulled the trigger by now.” Once the solder was on his knees, Boone stepped up and removed his holster, then quickly cuffed his hands behind his back.

“You murdered Hughes in cold blood.” Doc Reilly said when he finally found his voice.

“Hughes was a fucking lunatic. He would have gotten everyone in Mountain View killed. It was for the best.” Boone retorted.

“Why weren’t we notified?” Patty asked, her shock and surprise turning to anger. She looked from Jenkins to Matt, who quickly averted his eyes. “You knew!” she pointed her finger at him. “You son of a bitch! You knew all along and you didn’t tell me.” She looked back and forth between Matt and Jenkins several times, her anger betraying hurt as well. “Fuck the both of you!” Patty turned and stormed out of the conference room.

“You better go talk to her.” Jenkins said to Matt, who nodded and followed after her. “Doc, have a seat, catch your breath.” Doc Reilly gave Jenkins a hollow, betrayed look, then turn and slumped down in the nearest chair.

Boone had removed Hughes’ key ring and now faced Jenkins. “Well, General, Mountain View is yours.” Boone then snapped a crisp salute.

“At ease… Captain.” Jenkins and Boone exchanged smiles. “Now police these bodies.”

“Yes sir!” Boone and his companion snapped, glancing down at the handcuffed guard before setting about their task…

“Patty wait!” Matt finally caught up to her just outside the bedroom she had been using here at the Mountain View lodge.

“I don’t have anything to say Matt.” She wouldn’t look at him and grabbed the handle to her door.

“Patty, please? I’m sorry.” Matt grabbed her hand, his voice pleading. Patty let out a sigh, and turned to face him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked. “I thought we trusted one another?”

“I do trust you Patty.”

“Bullshit! I would expect as much from General asshole, but you?”

“Hughes was crazy. He needed to be removed from power.”

“And you and Jenkins just decided that all on your own right?”

“Actually, it was Boone’s idea. He sold it to Jenkins who let me in on it after the fact.” As if that made it better.

“And you didn’t tell me or Doc.”

“Jenkins swore me to secrecy. He knew you and the Doc wouldn’t approve.”

“Your damn right we wouldn’t approve! We're not murderers.”

“It wasn’t even supposed to go down like it did. Hughes was supposed to be killed in his sleep. Nobody would have been known until morning.”

“And that would have somehow made it alright?” Patty asked self-righteously.

“No, it’s not alright. But it was necessary!” Matt snapped back at her, startling her into silence. “Hughes was crazy. He was keeping these people imprisoned here. Now they can be integrated into Rainbow Lake, while the lodge can serve as a forward base for salvage parties, logging, hunting and trapping.” Matt was trying to put as positive spin on it as possible.

“What would Susan think?” Patty spat, her voice full of judgment.

“She wouldn’t like it, but she would understand. It’s a harsh new world Patty, and sometimes we are going to have to get our hands dirty.” Patty looked as if she wanted to argue, but the events of the night had sapped her of her strength and willpower. She looked fatigued.

“I’m going to bed Matt. Tomorrow morning I’m returning to Rainbow Lake.”

“I truly am sorry, Patty. I wish things had happened differently.”

“I know you do.” Patty said with a sad smile, squeezing his hand and stroking his cheek.

“No more secrets. I promise.”

“Ok.” Patty said, and he could tell she didn’t believe him. “Good night Matt.” She turned and entered her room…

“Why did you do this?” the handcuffed guard asked from his place on the floor. He was in his early thirties, with short blond hair, green eyes and freckles. He and Jenkins were alone. Doc Reilly had left the room to see to the disposal of the bodies.

“Hughes was a lunatic.” Jenkins said, pulling the pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

In truth he had respected Hughes; he had done well in fortifying Mountain View and subjugating the people to his will. His only real mistake was his refusal to let them venture outward to explore and salvage. Instead of providing them an outlet for their fears and anxiety, Hughes had turned it upon himself.

“I was tired of his bullshit. So were Boone and quite a few others. So we did something about it. Now the question is, what am I going to do with you? What’s your name?”

“Adkins. Roy Adkins.”

Jenkins put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it, taking a long slow puff and exhaling just as slowly before he spoke again. “Well Roy, I just have one question for you. Do you want to live?”