Thrust & Parry: Z Day (22 page)

Chapter 20

David, Gary and Vicky looked at Jim with awe, David breathed a sigh of relief, he owed this stranger his life. If it weren’t for him and the few others with him, he had assumed there were others due the fact shots were coming from all angles of the roof; his family would be dead.

“Hiya mate, I’m David this is my brother Gary and our baby sister Victoria” David explained pointing out who was who. Not realising that it would be obvious to Jim.

“Vicky please, I hate Victoria. It’s too posh for my liking” Vicky interrupted clearly insulted by her brothers’ lack of knowledge regarding his own sister. She had hated the name for so long. Vicky wasn’t a posh girl in way, she was very tomboyish, hence her good relationship with her brothers.

“Well, like I said I’m Jim.” He replied smiling at Vicky. He found her mesmerising, he loved her go to attitude and the fact she didn’t take any shit, he was rather impressed with her bat skills.

“Sorry about the gate buddy, I panicked and the first thing I thought was to come in here. I guessed there’d be other survivors and guess what I’m right” David joked, no matter what the situation he always made time for a joke. Vicky laughed nervously not knowing what the stranger’s reaction was going to be. Gary stood stony faced having not said anything the whole conversation. Jim found Gary’s demeanour unnerving but pushed the uncomforting feeling to the back of his mind.

“Well, yeah it’s fucked our plans up a bit. This was our safe house as you can tell. Looks like we’re gunna have to move on from here” Jim said, his smile disappeared as he answered David, but he didn’t want to alarm the survivors or make them feel unwanted. Over all Jim was glad to see some faces that weren’t peeling or holy and happy to see eyes that contained an iris.

“Like I said sorry buddy, if you need a safe place I heard about this colony on the radio. It’s other side of Leeds. All the survivors are staying there until this is over.” David wanted to seem helpful having compromised the safety of these soldiers. Jim turned and looked at David; he was relieved that there was somewhere else for them to go other than driving aimlessly hoping to find somewhere secure. Jim and David talked more about this colony, it turned out that the colony had been broadcasted over the radio on all stations. Jim gave himself a mental slap, why hadn’t he thought of tuning in the radio or even putting on the TV?

As Jim and David started walking through the drill hall towards the bar, Gary and Vicky overtook, Jim could overhear Gary asking questions as to why they were on the roof. All of a sudden Vicky came to a stop.

“Sorry to sound overly dramatic guys but has it got really quiet?” She asked, her breathing becoming rapid. She was right, the rape alarms had stopped and they heard what sounded like very light thunder.

“Get ready guys!” He shouted at them. They immediately armed themselves, not knowing exactly what was going on but they had
an inkling. David looked at his brother and sister, welling up. He couldn’t lose them too. He hadn’t even mourned his girlfriend who lay torn apart just outside the doors.

“Paddy, time to move!”
Jim screamed down the radio. He knew exactly what was happening and they needed to leave.

“Yes boss.
Coming down. Over” Paddy shouted, sounding almost excited. Jim ran to the hatch and waited at the bottom. Laura sauntered down not knowing the severity of the situation; she stuck her arse out in an attempt to entice Jim to feel it. She longed for his touch.

“Come on, fucking move, I need the get that Gimpy down. Shift your arse!” Jim screamed at Laura. She reached the bottom and ran towards the bar.

“Laura, I need you to move as much stuff from the bar as you possibly can. I’ll get the girls to help you. Vicky go with her, we need food, sleeping bags and kit. Go” He yelled. David and Gary stood watching not knowing what to do.

“Lads, once the other girls are down I need help, this Gimpy is a heavy bastard and needs moving quick” It was as though he could read their minds. They moved into position at the bottom of the ladder waiting impatiently for the other girls to move. Monica flew down the ladder and stood near Jim, blocking Sam’s path.

“Monica, go to the bar and Laura will fill you in.” He ordered. Monica smiled, she liked his authority. She ran into the bar at full speed. Sam then followed; she’d heard the orders to Monica and assumed that hers were the same. Jim didn’t stop her.

“Right lads I’m gunna go up and help Paddy. I’m gunna drop this down slowly. I need you at the bottom to catch it, so to speak. It’s big and heavy okay, remember that. I need you to manoeuvre it towards the truck” he pointed in the direction of the truck. With that Jim disappeared up the ladder shouting ‘Paddy’. David and Gary stood there feeling useless for what seemed like an eternity waiting for their next order. They could see the girls running back and forth with handfuls of sleeping bags and kit.

“Ready lads?” They heard a shout above them. They looked up to see a large gun coming towards them. Jim was hanging the Gimpy by its sling passing it towards them, hitting the ladder on its way down.

“Whatever you do, don’t grab the barrel. It’s very fucking hot okay” He shouted at them. David grabbed hold of the pistol grip. Jim wasn’t wrong it was heavy but he tried showing no weakness, only Gary could see him struggle and grabbed the sling.

“Where’s this going boss?” David shouted trying to stay in Jim’s good books.

“I need it as close to the truck as possible, go through the door we went through take a left and go through the double doors, you’ll see the truck” He said. David and Gary carried the Gimpy, it wasn’t that heavy after a while but it was bulky a lot easier to move with help.

“To me, to you” David said to Gary. They laughed at each other as they headed through the double doors and sure enough they could see the olive green truck parked against the metal doors. They placed the Gimpy gently down near the truck and all the equipment the girls had been retrieving and jogged back towards the hatch. As they got there Paddy and Jim had come down. All the girls were stood waiting for their next order from Jim. David noticed the blonde girl staring intensely at Jim and then glaring at Vicky. He felt very unnerved around her but didn’t air his thoughts.

“Vicky, Laura and Sam, I need you to get all the stuff in the truck, make sure we have space for the Gimpy and 6 people. David and Gary I need you to help Paddy set the Gimpy up. Clear?”
He asked, everyone nodded simultaneously.

“Right good.
Paddy you’re on the Gimpy. Sam you’re up front with Monica. Monica hun, sorry but I need you to drive. I need to get these newbs sorted out.” He laughed and winked at Vicky.

“Plan.
Get everything in the truck now.” The girls stood up. Laura and Sam climbed into the back of the truck and waited.

“Come on then Vicky, throw them up.” Laura ordered, she felt as though she had control over this newb and took advantage, plus she didn’t appreciate her man winking at Vicky.  Vicky grabbed the
first sleeping bag and launched it up into the truck. Laura attempted to catch it and, failing, it struck her square in the face. She stood dazed for a minute as the room was filled with supressed giggles. David and Gary had already followed suit and were throwing sleeping bags wildly into the truck. Sam was doing her best to sort them in time and failing.

“Laura, a little help would be nice.” Sam asked and Laura turned to look at her. Her eyes were slightly damp as she suppressed the urge to cry and she eventually sparked into life, dragging sleeping bags into a pile near the front of the truck.

“Come on guys, we need to leave let’s get a fucking shufti on shall we.” Jim shouted. As he did he could now hear several hands banging on the metal shutter in front of them and what sounded like wood splitting coming from the lobby. Jim sprinted off down the corridor to check it out and found there were now at least 10 zeds straining at the door to get in. The door was giving under the pressure and Jim could see several cracks forming. He picked one of the tables off the original stag point and launched it against the carpet. One of the metal legs gave and he ripped it off before repeating the process for the other three. He left the table where it was and stepped back through the first set of double doors before pulling them closed and slipping two of the legs through the handles, holding it shut. He moved back into the drill hall and repeated the process before turning to see how the progress was doing. Most if not all of the kit was in the truck and David and Gary were stood trying to figure out how to get the Gimpy in the truck.

“Is that the last thing go to up guys?” Jim asked and received nods all around. “Good, Paddy sling it and clamber up will you.” Paddy simply nodded before throwing the heavy weapon over his back and scaling up into the truck. David and Gary simply watched in awe as the skinny bloke spidermanned his way up the tailgate. He dropped the Gimpy on the floor before dropping down and ushering everyone up. He and Jim slammed the tailgate and bolted it before Paddy lumbered over the top of it and disappeared from view. Seconds later the Gimpy barrel appeared out of the end. Jim moved round to Monica who was stood by the driver’s door in quiet contemplation. Her face read little emotion but inside she was terrified. She could hear the zed crashing at the door and she had to open it to get within 5 feet of them and then run. Jim had given her his pistol to use if needed but it didn’t stop her knees shaking.

“We’re all set. Ready when you are love.” Jim said with a smile. She turned to look at him, her face now etched in fear. “How about we slow them down a bit?” He asked her as he moved over to the shutter. She gave him an utterly confused look as he lifted it up around a foot or so. As he did so there was the crunch of wood splitting followed by a thud as the zeds hit the next door. Jim could now see the ankles of the zeds under the door when he lay prone. He pulled several shots at the ankles of the zeds and they dropped hard. One of the zeds noticed him as he dropped and began crawling towards him under the door. He popped the zeds head before jumping up and lowering the door back down.

“Now they have to crawl after you rather than sprint. You ready?” Jim asked Monica as Sam jumped up into the passenger seat. Monica nodded and Jim disappeared over the tailgate. Monica took a deep breath to calm the gripping fear now controlling her body before grabbing the chain to open the door. Time seemed to slow down as she began yanking at the chain. It seemed like her arms had lost all strength and she couldn’t pull fast enough. She could see several of the zeds feet and then several arms and heads appeared of the crawlers. They closed in on Monica’s ankles as the door reached the top. It clicked to the top and Monica turned and sprinted just as one of the crawlers brushed her trainer. She squealed slightly as she ragged the door open, hitting one of the charging zeds in the face and sending it flying into the charging group. She slammed the door just as another wood splitting crunch exploded from the corridor.

Jim perched on the tailgate as the zeds hit the drill hall double doors with a thud the doors gave instantly and Jim could hear someone shouting “Drive, drive, drive!” as he fired off a volley of shots at the charging zeds. As the truck pulled away Jim realised it was his own voice he was hearing. David now stepped up to the tailgate as they approached. He had the carrier bag in his hand once more and a whining rape alarm in the other. He launched it back towards the door and the zeds followed. He pulled another one as several of the zeds from the metal doors charged past the truck to get at the new noise. He launched it in the same direction as Paddy opened up with the Gimpy. He was firing controlled burst at head height and Jim was impressed as several zeds dropped with every burst.

“Shit!
Our cases!” Exclaimed David as a crunch of metal on metal reminded him.

“Where are they?” Shouted Jim back as he dropped a zed that had stopped charging, sensing there was a meal in the truck.

“In the boots of the cars.” Replied David and Jim charged to the front and ordered Monica to stop at the broken gates. She did so and before the truck had even shuddered to a halt Jim was over the side and sprinting the short distance to the Astra’s boot.

“Keep ‘em busy!” Jim shouted back as he hauled it open and dragged the 3 bags out. He staggered at a shuffle back to the truck and started throwing bags into David and Tom’s arms. He turned just in time to see a zed charging down the side of the truck towards Jim. It was flailing the stumps where its arms used to be. Blood was spattering out of the holes as it neared Jim. Jim simply stepped forward, brought his head back and nutted the zed square in the nose. It exploded as the zed fell backwards.

“Fuck Off!” Jim shouted and sprinted over to the Polo.

Several minutes later and a lot of grunting and straining and the bags were aboard the truck. Jim climbed over the tailgate once more and sat panting and sweating profusely on the roller coaster seat next to Vicky. David took his seat between Vicky and Gary and breathed a sigh of relief. He had got his family out of the hell alive.

Chapter 21

“Find out where we are actually going for me would you please doll?” Monica asked Sam as she continued driving blindly round. Sam called back and Laura appeared at the window. Sam passed the message on. She disappeared and then reappeared with a few sheets of paper which she passed forward. It was a Google maps page with directions to a road just outside Leeds. Sam took it and began directing Monica. Laura turned to see Jim and Vicky talking, she felt like she was losing him. She had to do something. She moved over and perched against the truck walls in front of Jim.

“I know these are tough times babe but I would prefer it if you didn’t flirt with every slut you see right in front of me.” Laura sparked up a little too loud. Gary, David and Vicky just stared at her.

“Who the fuck are you to call me a slut?” Vicky chirped up jabbing an accusing finger towards Laura.

“Laura, you need to calm down. You make it sound like we are an item.” Jim said to her in an attempt to diffuse the situation.

“But. But I love you.” Laura said in a quieter voice. The words hit Jim like a speeding bus.

“Excuse me?” Jim asked, figuring he had misheard her.

“I love you babe.” Laura explained, more confidently this time.

“Listen Laura, I don’t do emotional ties. I need to keep my distance from everyone just in case I have to kill one of you someday.” Jim replied with a sympathetic look.

“But. Don’t.” Laura now couldn’t seem to find the words as her eyes began to fill with tears. “Don’t you love me then?”

“I’m sorry Laura. I don’t. I can’t be doing with emotional ties.” Laura’s face began to screw up as her tears flowed freely. “Besides, I don’t really see you in that way.” Laura stood up suddenly, the tears on her cheeks flying off as she did, and pointed her rifle at Vicky.

“It’s because of her isn’t it! ISN’T IT!” She was becoming erratic. Jim didn’t reply he simply stood and, drawing his pistol, advanced on Laura. He pointed it at Laura’s head.

“Drop the weapon Laura. I won’t ask again.” Jim said in a calm voice as the barrel of his pistol touched her temple. He glanced down at Vicky who was sat wide eyed as she stared down the barrel. The barrel began to shake for several seconds before it dropped by her side. It snapped back up seconds later, now pointed directly at Jim. The force of it knocked the pistol away from her head.

“If I can’t have you. No one can.” Time seemed to slow down for Jim as he watched her finger tighten on the trigger. He was staring down the barrel as if waiting for his 5.56mm death call. The barrel suddenly jerked to Jim’s right and away from his face. He saw a fist slam into the side of Laura’s face causing her to fly across the truck, her rifle clattering under the seats. She landed hard and smacked her head off the floor. Vicky now stood holding her hand with a pained expression. All Jim had time to do was smile at her before advancing on Laura.

“I can’t do this.” She said as she sat up and slipped her webbing off.  She stood up and glanced out the back of the truck. The last thing she said to Jim was “I’m sorry” before she threw herself over the tailgate. She bounced off the road several times before she was engulfed in the zeds still pursuing them. Jim looked from the diminishing feast of Laura to her webbing on the floor of the truck before turning and moving back to Vicky.

“Are you ok?” He asked as he noticed her still clutching her throbbing wrist.

“Yeah I’ll be ok. You saved my life and now, I saved yours. I guess we’re even.” Vicky replied with a grin and a wink. Jim returned the grin as he sat back down.

“Well,” he speculated as he stroked his stubble. “Technically its 2-1.”

“Fuck off Sargent Twatbag.” Vicky retaliated as she playfully punched him on the shoulder and winced, remembering it was her bad hand. Jim pulled up his daysack and rummaged for a minute before pulling out a bandage in a seal. Vicky held her hand out as he started wrapping it. He made conversation to take her mind off it.

“So, you and your brothers. Any other survivors you have come across?”

“Well we were planning on it being my Mum, Dad, Step-Mum, Step-Dad and Step-Sister too but…” She stopped talking and stared at the floor for a second as she held back the tears.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jim realised he had found a touchy subject and didn’t try and push it.

“No, it’s ok. It started when the family dog, Frisbee, was attacked while she went out into the garden. We thought she would pull through but she died during the night and turned. She attacked my Mum and Step-Dad and then they turned. Luckily my brothers had heard it and managed to kill them before they did any more damage. I rang my Dad to make sure he was ok but someone had got my Step- Sister and she turned. She turned both my Dad and Step-Mum while I was on the phone to them.” Tears flowed freely now as she relived the events.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” He said putting his arm round her to comfort her. He glanced out the back to see Leeds city centre shrivelling on the skyline. “Excuse me for a second please?” Vicky just nodded and he stood and moved over to the window.

“Sam my darling.
How far off are we?” Jim asked and Sam jumped slightly before replying.

“Erm.
5 minutes-ish.” Sam asked pointing forward. Jim thanked her before moving to the back tailgate and leaning round the side. The wind was determined to pull him off the truck but he kept a tight hold.  Over the roof tops of the council houses Jim could see a long wall, about 15 feet high. It was made of a mix of concrete and iron and looked fairly sturdy. Its front spanned at least 500m and, when Jim leaned far enough, he could see a large metal gate that would fit several cars through at once. Jim searched the houses and roads around him, watching for any sign of life but saw nothing. As they got closer Jim could see the corners had some form of tower on them that looked to be for snipers or sentries.

“He we go buddy, keep them peeled. Any sign of hostile life you drop it ok?” Jim asked Paddy who simply nodded, his eyes not leaving the road behind them. Jim moved to the window once more.

“Monica, pull up to the gate nice and slowly ok?” Monica nodded and slowed. She pulled up in front of the gate and Jim leapt out. He scanned the immediate area but saw nothing. It was quiet for now. He quickly moved to the gate. It was comprised of two giant doors that had a cut out at shoulder height to form two handles. There was a heavy looking chain wrapped round the gates to keep them closed. Jim peered through the cut out but it was pitch black. He tugged on the chain and it revealed an industrial padlock.

He gave it a tug and it clicked open. Jim stood staring at it for a moment. He could not believe his good fortune. Whoever had closed this gate had not shut the lock properly. He slid the chain off and tugged one of the doors open. It squeaked loudly and Jim winced. It wasn’t that the noise bothered him; he just knew that any second any nearby zeds would be charging at him. He stood scanning the houses for what seemed like a lifetime before continuing. He figured that it was going to squeak no
matter what so he pushed as hard as he could. By time the first door was open he was sweating and panting heavily.

“Fucking heavy doors.”
He breathed under his breath before peering into the darkness. He now saw why it was so dark. There was an inner door, creating a passage that was long enough to fit a truck inside comfortably. He grabbed the second door and heaved it until the truck would fit in before waving Monica in. She pulled the truck through and stopped inside the passage before she flicked the lights to full beam. Jim jogged round to the passenger side and pulled the door open.

“Sam, I need you to jump on the Gimpy.” Jim called into the cab and jogged back to the tailgate.

“Paddy on me. Let’s pull these doors to, keep any zeds sneaking up on us.” Jim was speaking to the Gimpy barrel that was now bathed in an ominous red glow of the rear headlight. Paddy leapt over the tailgate as Sam began to climb up it. Between them they managed to pull both doors closed, they wrapped the chain round and clicked it shut. No zed was getting in here. Jim moved back to the front to inspect the next set of gates. These were solid metal gates with an electric locking mechanism. They looked robust. Light was spilling from the left hand side and as Jim moved over he realised it was a pedestrian entrance cut out of the left hand door. From the way the light was spilling through it looked to be locked by a sliding metal bar. Jim gave both doors a push but they were solid. He sighed as he glanced round the room.

“Boss, check this out.” Paddy called. Jim span round to see Paddy stood by the left hand concrete wall. Jim walked over to him and he pointed at a small silver call button like you find outside office buildings. On closer examination he found a sign above it that read ‘hold call. Say your name.
Release.’ Jim followed the instructions and then waited. After several seconds a voice sounded over a set of speakers hidden in the shadows.

“Hello.” The voice was a pre-recorded message and paused before the recording of Jim saying his own name kicked in. “Jim. You are now entering Sunny Spring. We are
a zombie free colony who are focused on reviving humanity past the current crisis. Your safety is our main priority and we have armed guards watching over you twenty four hours a day. All we ask of you. Jim. Is that you help us in return. There are many jobs we need you for from joining our agricultural projects to helping build more homes for our rapidly growing number of survivors. If you wouldn’t mind waiting for just a few minutes you will be joined by our guards. They will check you over along with any of your luggage and vehicles to ensure you are safe to join our colony. They will be armed but don’t be alarmed, they will only fire upon you if they feel threatened. We advise that you keep any weapons you have pointed safely at the floor in a non-threatening way and comply with their every request. While you wait please enjoy some music.” As the voice finished some classical music that Jim didn’t recognise began softly whispering out of the speakers. Jim waited for several minutes listening to the music before digging in his pocket and passing round the cigarettes. After around an hour of idly chatting, cleaning weapons and filling the truck from the Gerry cans he decided he didn’t want to be waiting around all day and called a meeting at the front of the truck.

“Right.”
He said as everyone gathered round. “It has been over an hour and no one is coming. I say we try and drive the truck through the door and explain it to whoever is in charge later.” Jim wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do but he had to do something. “I mean after all, we can’t really stay here forever can we?”

“I say we go for it.” Sam agreed. Paddy looked at her and nodded in agreement.

“What if we ram through and the army opens fire on us.” David asked. It was a good point and Jim thought carefully for a moment before answering.

“Chances are they will see a military vehicle and hesitate. As well as that they will see camouflage kit and hesitate further. All we need to do is get through the door and show ourselves.” Jim explained as he lit another cigarette and passed the pack around. David nodded slowly.

“Fuck it. Let’s do it.” He said.

“Good, I’ll drive. Paddy, you’re up with me.
Sam, back on the Gimpy. Everyone else stay out of sight to avoid them firing on us.” Jim gave his orders before throwing his cigarette and jumping in the truck. He fired the engine back up and waited for Paddy to give him the nod. It came seconds later to tell him everyone was on board before he slowly rolled the truck up to the gate. There was a small jolt and a metal clunk as it touched and he gunned the engine, pushing the accelerator down to the floor. The engine strained under the pressure and the wheels began spinning on the tarmac that was once part of the road.

“Come on, come on. Just give already.” Jim breathed as he gripped the wheel hard. There was a loud pop that made Jim jump and the truck leapt forward as the gate gave way. It swung open and Jim jumped on the break. He gasped at the view in front of him. He didn’t know quite what he pictured it to look like in his head but it wasn’t this. The scene was just chaos. It hadn’t always looked like this, Jim could see this was once a thriving settlement with an area for shacks, ploughed fields and storage but the scene in front of him was now nothing in comparison. Several of the shacks and storage areas were on fire, the fields were scattered with dead bodies, several zeds here feeding on them. What used to be a water tower was now laid broken on its side.
The water still pouring out of it. One of the zeds that were previously wandering across the road was now eyeing the truck suspiciously. David appeared at the window.

“What’s the problem Jim?”

“The settlement’s been overrun.” Jim called back.

“Well why don’t we back up and we will go somewhere else?” David asked.

“We can’t do that I. I locked the gate behind me.” Jim explained as he kicked himself. He thought it would help. “I guess.” He paused slightly. “We have to go through it.”