Zombified (Book 2): Shady Oaks (7 page)

Judith walked over and took him by the arm. "We need you to do us a little favor..."

Watching the two women, Harry shook his head and followed along as they explained their plan to Mark.

Chapter Nine

Mick knew Malcolm would pick either him or Charlie to be one of the two to go outside, and it had to be him. If he picked Charlie, their plan would go right down the toilet, as Dexter was fond of saying. Almost before he could think it through, he stood up.

"I want to go, I believe my sons are out there and I want to make sure they're okay and that they stay out of this mess," he said in a firm voice while staring right into Malcolm's eyes.

"I see," Malcolm said calmly, raising an eyebrow as he thought about Mick's statement. "Perhaps you've come to your senses and realize the work we're doing here is important?"

Mick swallowed and slowly nodded. "Um, sure. I can see that this research could help a lot of people." He didn't dare say more; afraid he would give away his true dislike of the man and his ideas.

"I'm feeling generous, so I will agree to let you go," Malcolm said with a small smile. He looked at the group sitting around him. "Anyone else want to volunteer?" He looked pointedly at Brooke. "Except for you, I'm sure you understand why I would have to say no."

Brooke glared back for a moment before turning away with her arms folded and a frown on her face. Malcolm chuckled and once again glanced around. "Anyone?"

Mick noticed Charlie and Jenny were staring at one another. Charlie nodded slightly and she shook her head and frowned. Then she turned and looked at Jimmy, then back at her father. Charlie sighed softly and nodded again. Jenny grinned and without looking, shoved her elbow hard into Jimmy's side, causing him to shout and jump to his feet. Seeing his chance, Mick grabbed Jimmy's arm and turned to Malcolm before the boy could speak.

"All right, you have two of us. We'll tell Captain Sears exactly what you said."

"Make sure he understands that my men will be back before dusk. He needs to be gone by then," Malcolm remarked curtly. He waved a hand toward the entrance. "After you."

Giving Charlie one more meaningful glance and receiving a tiny smile in return, Mick gave a curt nod to Malcolm and still gripping Jimmy by the arm, headed outside with Malcolm on their heels.

Two men outside tensed when they saw Mick and Jimmy emerge, but at Malcolm's appearance they both relaxed but continued to stay vigilant, watching their every move.

Malcolm addressed the guards. "Escort these two to the edge of camp and let them go; they carry a message intended for the good Captain."

Malcolm spun on his heel and retreated back into the tent. One of the men nudged Mick with his rifle. To Mick, he looked like an angry bullfrog, short and squat with large bulging brown eyes. The other guard was a lot younger and taller, almost pleasant looking with a round face, freckles, and bright blue eyes under an unruly mass of blond hair.

"You heard the man, get going," Bullfrog growled, giving Mick another nudge.

Mick held up a hand. "All right, stop poking me with that thing, we're going."

Mick turned and headed for the open meadow and Jimmy followed close behind. To his surprise, the other guard ran in front of them and stopped. "No! Not that way!"

At their quizzical look, the young man swallowed and glanced at Bullfrog before continuing. "No one goes into the meadow or near the lake, Malcolm's orders." He pointed to their right. "We walk around."

Mick shrugged and gave Jimmy a quick glance before turning to the young man. "No problem, would you like to lead?"

He swallowed again and nodded. "Sure, follow me, but no funny stuff."

"You got it," Mick said with a shake of his head.

The meadow was large and it took them nearly forty minutes to travel halfway around. Mick saw several military vehicles parked along the tree line, but no one was in sight. Bullfrog raced ahead of them and held up a hand for them to stop.

"This is where we part ways," he growled, using his rifle to point toward the vehicles. "Go."

Without a word, Mick once again grabbed Jimmy by the arm and propelled him along at a rapid pace. He could feel the guards' eyes boring into their backs and he wanted nothing more than to get away from their stares and their guns. Wouldn't do to be shot in the back at this point - wouldn't do at all.

To his relief, as soon as they reached the first jeep a young soldier stepped out from behind a tree and motioned them forward. Once they reached him, it seemed as though several pairs of hands grabbed them and shoved them further into the trees.

Suddenly no one was shoving them and they both staggered and stopped. They were surrounded by soldiers, but Mick only had eyes for Sean and Scott, who were flanking the captain and solemnly staring at them.

Captain Sears strode forward and gave them a big smile. First shaking Mick's hand and then Jimmy's he said, "Our scouts saw you coming, I'm surprised Malcolm would let anyone go."

"He has a message for you," Jimmy replied.

Mick raised an eyebrow in surprise as he glanced at the boy, but decided to let him talk. Jimmy seemed to have gained back some of his courage since they were once again among friends and Mick let him run with it. To tell the truth, he was happy to let Jimmy deliver the message while he talked with his sons.

As they approached, he stepped back and waved them over. After receiving a big hug from both of them, he looked them over carefully.

"Looks like you two are okay," he said with a grin. "Your mother and I were worried about you."

Sean's smile turned into a frown. "Is that why you're up here? Do you have any idea what was going through our minds when we saw you and Charlie being marched inside that tent?"

"I can't believe Mom would let you come up here," Scott interjected. At the look on Mick's face, his eyes widened. "Does Mom know?"

Mick shook his head and to his chagrin, dropped his eyes to the ground like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. He looked up at their disapproving faces.

"No, we didn't tell anyone. We're supposed to be checking on the patrols around town."

Not liking the feeling he was experiencing, he raised his head and jutted out his chin. "Now you two can quit looking at me like that, you're my sons and I have every right to make sure you're okay, even if it meant doing a little sneaking around."

They looked at each other in surprise and then Sean frowned again. "A little sneaking around?" he repeated. "What you did could have put this mission in jeopardy."

At Mick's stricken look, Sean softened his voice and put an arm on his father's shoulder. "Look, we know you were only trying to help, and we appreciate that."

Scott nodded and Sean continued. "But you have to realize that we're grown men now, not little kids, and we do know how to take care of ourselves. I know that sometimes it might not seem that way because we like to joke around so much, that's just our way of coping, but when we're on a mission or protecting our family or friends, we're all business."

Mick sighed. "I know. In my head, I know. But in here," he said while tapping his chest. "I don't know. When I see you two head off to do something I know is probably dangerous, it takes everything inside of me to not run after you and try to stop you."

Mick nodded toward the men assembled around Jimmy. "Let's drop this for now; I'm sure you two don't want to miss everything."

At their nods, Mick let out a small sigh of relief as they turned and he quietly followed his sons back to the group. He allowed himself to think for a moment about everyone back at the tents and crossed his fingers that the plan he concocted with Charlie would work. Heck, it had to work, Mick thought grimly, or they were all in big trouble.

****

Two farm dogs, one a rotund beagle and the other a lively and much younger border collie, escorted Cindy's truck with sharp barks and baying all the way down the drive to the McKenzie home. Driving past the house, she pointed ahead.

"This is a big farm and for now they produce most of the meat we get. There are two barns and three big fenced areas for the chickens and pigs, with the cattle in a couple of pastures up by the hangar."

She glanced at Harry, who was sitting beside her, before dodging a large dip in the dirt road. Judith and Mark were behind them in the fairly roomy back seat of the king cab having a quiet discussion of their own. "We should run into Bitsy and Judith's son, Travis, and Mr. McKenzie should be with them."

Harry nodded, leaned forward, and squinted. He pointed toward a battered white pickup parked next to the last barn. Both barns were painted the traditional red with white trim and he was impressed at how neat and in good repair everything appeared.

"Think that could be them?"

"Hope so, I don't want to spend any more time trying to find them."

Cindy pulled up next to the other truck and as she shut the engine off and looked up, saw Bitsy and Travis round the corner of the barn, each carrying a cardboard box full of cartons of eggs for the town. Following behind was Mr. McKenzie, who spotted them first as they piled out of the truck and headed their way.

The farmer waved and when Bitsy looked up and saw her uncle, she stopped dead in her tracks and would have dropped the box she was carrying if not for Mr. McKenzie's quick thinking. One look at her and he reached over and took the box from her. She let out a combination of a squeal and a scream and flew toward Harry.

Throwing herself at him, Harry scooped her up and gave her a long hug. Cindy felt tears spring to her eyes when she heard Bitsy sobbing into Harry's neck. Everyone stood quietly until Bitsy pulled back to stare into her uncle's face.

"I can't believe it's really you!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide and her face wet with tears. He set her back on her feet and she clutched his arm, still staring at him. "When and how did you get here?"

"I got here by helicopter and then these fine people brought me out here," he said with a grin toward Cindy and the others. He glanced back toward Mr. McKenzie. "They need my help, but I need fuel. We were hoping you might have some to spare."

At the farmer's nod, he grinned, walked over and held out a hand. "By the way, I'm Harry Jones and it's nice to meet you."

Further introductions were quickly made and after grabbing the gas cans from the truck bed, the group quickly hurried over to the fuel tanks. Within ten minutes all the cans were full. Placing the last can in the back, Harry turned to Cindy. "If it's all right, I'd like to ride back with Bitsy and Travis."

"Oh certainly," Cindy said with a big smile. She gave Harry a pat on the shoulder. "Besides, I don't think Bitsy will let you out of her sight for awhile and I know you have a lot of catching up to do."

"We do, I know she's going to ask me what happened to her parents and aunt, and that's one story I'm not looking forward to telling, but she has a right to know. My wife, Lana, and Bitsy's mom and dad were watching me from a nearby building while I was getting the Huey ready for flight. There were no zombies anywhere, so when I finished my preflight checks I motioned for them to come to me. I guess the noise drew the zombies out from somewhere close by and before I knew it, they were surrounded and literally torn to pieces right before my eyes."

Harry took a shaky breath and continued. "There was nothing I could do. When even more of those things headed my way I had no choice but to fly out of there. I didn't have enough fuel to get far, unfortunately. I think I was in shock; the first few days are a blur and some things I don't remember. I did manage to find enough fuel to get here, my one and only goal was getting to Bitsy, so here I am."

Cindy shook her head, closing her eyes for a second before replying. "I'm so sorry for your loss, what a horrible thing to witness. Please, have Travis drive and try to go easy on the details for her sake."

Harry nodded and sighed as he looked up toward the sky. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been practicing what I would say all the way here and there's really no way to make it easy on her. Their deaths were gruesome and painful; the only comfort I can give her is that it was fast."

"Concentrate on that then, and spare her the other details, that should help. If she really wants more she'll ask."

"Good idea," he replied. He glanced over at Bitsy waiting with Travis at the other truck. "Guess we'd better head out then. We'll follow you out."

"Sounds good," Cindy said with a nod as she turned to get into the truck.

Within moments they were headed back to town to fuel up Harry's helicopter and get it in the air before dusk.

As she drove, Cindy told Judith and Mark what Harry told her about Bitsy's parents and his wife.

"That's awful," Judith said with a shake of her head. "So many people have lost so much, we're lucky to have some place to go that's safe."

"At least for now," Mark said in a low voice. He was sitting alone in the back and when Judith turned to look at him and Cindy gave him a quick glance through the rear view mirror, he held up his hands.

"Hey, it's the truth. We have no idea how safe we really are and we have no clue how many zombies are out there, either."

"I see what you're saying," Judith remarked. "The way I like to look at it is the farther we can drive them away or outright kill them, the better it is and right now as far as we know the closest zombies are in Harris."