Zomblog: Snoe's Journey (10 page)

Here is a very stripped down version of the plan as we were able to get it from that horrible creature. I guess there are less than a hundred of these Anomalies. (I am proud to say we have removed one quarter of their number if that is the case.) The general is set to “convert” a hundred and forty-four thousand.

It seems that this group is…wait for it…an extremist faction of The Genesis Brotherhood (how does an extremist group have an extremist faction?). They believe that all of this is some sort
of biblical prophecy and that they are the “chosen” of God. First off, I can’t believe that there are a hundred and forty-four thousand living people that were immune. Shows how sheltered we have been in our little corner of the world.

They have been engaged in this plan since the beginning. I bet Meredith would be very disappointed in herself for not finishing them all off. I know she thought she did…but I wonder what she would say now? These people were scary back then. They have become worse than I think even she could have imagined.

They have been breeding and indoctrinating these children since Day One. Did I fail to mention that the one we captured was about my age?

These people really and truly believe the stuff coming out of their mouths. They believe to their core that they are right and acting on behalf of some divine will. We, the living, breathing remnants of mankind, are now nothing more than a fungus that must be at last scraped away.

Once this army of Anomalies is complete, I guess even General Carson’s days are numbered. He will be nothing more than a hammer to be wielded by these things. And the millions or billions of zombies will be the nail.

They will be sent to known locations where large herds exist and lay siege to every settlement, town and city. And the Confederated Tribal Lands are tops on the list.

These Anomalies will be taking to the rails, east to some of the most populated regions from the Old World. They have been using balloons and even sent some of the early Anomalies out to gather the locations of herds that number over a million. If they can mobilize those herds, nothing can stand before them.

It would seem that, like the undead, the Anomalies can travel in the areas that people cannot due to existing levels of radiation and toxic air from things like chemical plants and refineries that burned or blew up way back when the whole apocalypse began.

This “little” invasion was simply a test. The loss of Dominique was barely even felt. It is General Carson and his council that are the real danger. It was just a “lucky” coincidence that she and the general met.

So now, we have no choice. We must destroy the general, his army, and this facility. If not, then it really is the end…for everybody.

You see, here is the kicker…General Carson is the head of the Ultimate Doomsday cult. They are not actually seeking to conquer…they want to eliminate ALL of humanity. These undead from the East? They are apparently just as radioactive as the areas that they would be coming from. Even if someplace like the Confederated Tribes could mow them all down (and there is no way that they could even hope to bring down ten percent) the resulting corpses would contaminate everything…the land, anybody who tried to dispose of the bodies. Oh yeah, and you can’t burn them or else the radiation goes airborne.

Once they are confident that they have wiped out all of North America, the army would move south. And from there…they even have a plan that includes going overseas.

What brand of crazy even conceives of such things?

And here is the most disturbing revelation we discovered; these Anomalies want this because they see this as the “next step in evolution”! They believe that it is time for an extinction event and that they are destined to take their place as God’s new chosen people.

I may not be religious, but I have at least read this book that these people claim to be acting on behalf of, and I am pretty sure that the God of those pages is not in cahoots with these lunatics. We have to stop them…once and for all. If we don’t, then, this will truly be the end of humanity.

And in case you were wondering…no, we didn’t leave any of those things alive. And the one that we questioned actually died from the processes used during questioning (none of which involved a head wound). Interesting fact: it did not open its eyes after it died.

If there is a Heaven, if there is some sort of Final Judgment…I wonder how that thing is faring. I am guessing that ‘surprised’ does not even come close.

Monday, September 12
th

We have been moving through the mountains. The only problem is that we are coming into contact with increasing numbers of the undead. We are having to fight our way through.

Of course, this slows down our progress considerably. We have had to move off the main trail and travel along animal trails and less accessible means. Once again, my main concern is that we will be too late. Delays have already allowed Warehouse City to fall and who knows what else.

Also, we can see smoke rising up ahead. Most likely, another small village or community has been wiped out. My real question is how long it will take them to notice that the Anomalies that we encountered are gone. If they are as important as the one we questioned made it seem, you would think that the general will be checking out what might have happened.

So far, the reports we get from our advance scouts is that there is no sign of anything except the previously mentioned growing number of undead that lie up ahead. The word has been given that if any sort of detachment comes back, take no prisoners and kill them to the last man or woman.

I really have a feeling that this is the final chance. We must not only take out this threat, we absolutely must ensure that we leave none behind. All it takes is one seed to sprout a garden full of weeds.

Part of me wars with this decision. I realize that it is what we
must
do, but that does not make the idea of wiping out so many human beings one that is easy to live with. And as for the Anomalies, there can be no denying that we are advocating genocide. These things are a new breed…race…whatever. While there are so many things for the good that could come from working with them, we can simply not risk the possibility of any of them surviving in their current state.

All of my life, I have wondered about how much of who I am comes from my birth parents. There are actually books on the subject. Granted, they are not easy to find, but they do exist. There is this whole idea of ‘Nature versus Nurture’ that I guess has been debated for decades. While there are many things about the way that I am that comes from being raised by Mama Janie, there are other things that are vastly different; things that people
comment are ‘obvious signs of being Meredith/Sam’s daughter’ or something similar.

These things, these Anomalies are something that would probably make for some interesting research by people that are into that sort of thing. It is almost a shame that the opportunity will never arise.

Also, I just went back and looked at what I wrote this evening. I have refused to acknowledge these Anomalies as actual people. I refer to them as ‘things’ or ‘monsters’ when I talk about them. Maybe that is how I will cope with the fact that I will be part of absolutely wiping out what amounts to a new species.

Tuesday, September 13
th

We have come out of the mountains and see a walled town or fortress in the distance. There is no doubt that General Carson is there.

We have had a huge meeting where the plan of attack was laid out. The biggest problem is that we have to surround this place and basically put it under siege. That means nothing gets in or out.

I am really out of my element at this point. They talked about all sorts of things. The biggest thing that I took away was that we did not stand a chance in what Brian referred to as a “stand up” fight. He said that our only real chance, and he admitted more than once that it was slim, would be to use their own methods against them. Only, we will not be giving them any time to consider surrender (mostly because that is not an acceptable option). Tonight, we will be using all the resources we have to light the horde of zombies milling about their walls on fire. Just before dawn, the signal will be given and we will fire as many rounds of flaming arrows as possible into the zombies at General Carson’s walls.

Once that fire gets going, we will adjust fire and begin shooting over the walls. Admittedly, there is not a lot of hope that we will be able to start any significant blaze, but if we get lucky…

Teams are in place with horses to deal with any attempt to break out. The real problem/concern is still that Anomaly facility. If the maps we have are accurate at all, then that building is well within those walls that stretch for two miles on all four sides.

Four square miles never seemed so big.

And that brings us to the simple fact that we have nowhere near the numbers to actually completely encircle that place. We are spread far and thin. This does not bode well if General Carson reacts quickly and sends out a full-scale charge with all the forces that he has at hand.

We are counting (hopefully not incorrectly) on his arrogance. The belief is that he feels like he can’t be touched and will probably respond initially with a smaller force. Any whittling down that we can manage will help in the end.

So, now for some truth.

I believe that we are destined to fail. This may never be read by a living soul. Very unlike Sam and Meredith, it is likely that this journal will be stomped into the ground along with my body when the massive army of General Carson and his Anomalies come out in force to deal with us.

I guess that is why I can write these things down. Perhaps if I actually thought that anybody would read this, I would try to be more positive and upbeat.

I do not believe that I am the only one who feels this way. There is a somber feeling in the camp tonight. Thankfully, we are not allowed to light any fires or even torches. We are hoping to have absolute surprise when the attack begins in just a few hours.

So, tonight, I am sitting on a large, flat rock. The moon is dazzling and more than enough light for me to see these white pages and fill them with my ramblings. And really, that is all that this has ever been. One person’s rantings, ravings, and musings.

Part of me, albeit a very small part, wanted to seek out Jimmy Stonekiller this evening. After all, if this is to be my end, why not spend it with somebody. Honestly, it was just a fleeting thought. My mind is far too jumbled with the thoughts of all the things tomorrow might bring.

Seriously, I am sitting here on what may well be the true eve of destruction for all mankind. Yes, if General Carson destroys us, it is possible that somewhere, there will be a force…a settlement perhaps…that can stand against him.

With that thought going through my head, it is too difficult for me to even consider being intimate, much less close, with somebody. That might just be me, though. I have noticed a lot of “pairing up” taking place this evening. It started just after the last meeting. Maybe those folks know something that I don’t.

In the distance I can see a soft glow where that fortified town sits. I know that General Carson is in there with his army doing who-knows-what. I wonder if they would even care if they did know that we were out here.

Not that I think I will be getting any sleep, but if this is to be my last night, I think I want to spend some time taking in this world. The moon…stars…even the sounds of distant animals. All of it deserves my attention. I need to have some moments of peace to just take in anything beautiful that I can.

Wednesday, September 14
th

The actual attack has been delayed by a day.

Riders came in the night. It seems that Betty went on a recruiting drive and rounded up every single tribe that she could find and that she and Selina have been busy gathering an army of their own. Granted, not everybody they met was enthusiastic about joining. I guess that most people really are hardwired to be against the idea of war. Still, when faced with elimination, more will step forward than do nothing.

But that was only part of the good news, and now we are busy planning a new strategy. It is mostly the same one, but we will be waiting two days unless the general makes any move to leave. I just found out that a half dozen small groups have made the attempt to leave the walled town from various exits and fallen unwittingly into our hands.

While the numbers are only a few hundred total (including a dozen Anomalies), that is still a chip in the wall of bodies that the general has to throw at us, and you never know when that chip will turn into a crack.

Do I dare to hope?

Thursday, September 15
th

It almost seemed like a dream. Happy moments are things to cherish these days, and seeing Betty climb down off her horse with Selina made me feel very happy. Both of them were exhausted, both of them look like they have been dunked in a barrel of zombie guts…but both of them are alive and here with me.

I did not realize until I saw them just how lonely I felt. Sure, I am surrounded by all these people. But none of them see me as who I am. They all see this person that they want me to be. Many of them probably have walked away rather disappointed.