'Of course sir,' he said sternly. I went back home, I needed to talk to Willow about this. When I often struggled to come up with an answer, it was she who helped me. Right now I needed some counsel, and a stiff drink, I thought tiredly.
It had been three weeks since I'd heard anything from Lieutenant Corbin, I was starting to feel worried. There were so many things I'd wanted to ask, like where were they stationed, were they alone or did they have a settlement like I did? Were they telling the truth about being disgusted with the Generals behaviour?
I couldn't dwell on it too much, I had a new shipment of people that had arrived two weeks ago and I had to make sure they were settling in alright. There were three men and a woman, all of them were in their early to mid-thirties. The oldest one Marshal was the tallest he stood at six four, a mere two inches shorter than me. He was of a large, muscular build and he was certainly bigger than his companions. He had pale brown coloured hair with pale blue eyes, tanned almost crisp looking skin. He was a quiet, observant man who was much more intelligent than he let on. He'd proved himself to be quite the helper and was definitely the strongest out of them.
Theo was a year younger than Marshal, he was thirty-five. He was five foot eleven in height with jet black hair and dark brown eyes. His skin was the same tanned colour as both Marshal and Brandon's, Theo was much smaller in build than Marshal though he was still quite muscular. He was a smart, tactical man and I suspected that he had been doing some digging on our way of life since his arrival, though he was polite and friendly to everyone.
The other man Brandon was the shortest and the smallest out of the men, his hair was yellow blond with dark blue eyes that looked right through you. He was slender and toned in build and proved to be just as strong as his friends. Brandon was a suave talkative man, who seemed to radiate confidence, especially when it came to the ladies.
Luckily for the women in my care, most of them were either married or uninterested in him. It was the woman who quite fascinated me, she was average in height with long black hair, pale skin and dark chocolate eyes. She had a very slender, feminine build but seemed to relate more to the men than she did women. Robin, was a loud confident woman, who was swift in her actions and definitely had more brains than she let on.
It struck me as strange that they were all from the USA, they seemed to all be from the same place though I couldn't figure out their accent. They claimed to have been touring the the UK when the virus hit, I had no reason to doubt them but something in my mind told me to watch them. Many of my people felt drawn in by them, especially Brandon.
My people loved to hear stories from their travels, they came over by boat from Portsmouth. They'd heard rumours about our place, which did not surprise me. A group of my trained people went to the mainland every week and searched for survivor's, we'd not had much luck lately aside from the four that came along.
'Afternoon,' I said to Brandon and his friends.
'Afternoon General,' Robin replied smiling.
The others murmured good afternoon as well, looking cheerful and well rested.
'How are you settling in?' I asked.
'Can't complain, this place is better than the last one we were at,' Marshall replied.
'Yeah, this island is a paradise,' Robin smiled.
'Glad to hear you like our home, how is everyone treating you?'
'The people here are friendly, we've already had some of Mrs Tate's bread,' Theo laughed. As I stood next to them on the southern shores of the island I felt somewhat at peace, this place was tranquil, peaceful and most of all it was my home. I watched the waves crashing against the rocks, I felt the wind whipping through my hair, I could taste the salty sea.
I had never once thought about leaving this place, since the death of Ronald this island had become a sanctuary not just for the people or even the army but for me as well. I turned to see Willow running towards me, her curly hair swinging in the wind. Though I would never speak about my feelings in front of anyone, the sight of her always mad my heart skip a beat. I'd no doubt that she and I would remain together for as long as we lived.
'Sir, we've news from the radio,' she told me.
'I'll be right there,' I answered smiling.
'Duty calls,' Robin laughed.
'Yeah, no rest for the wicked eh,' Brandon smiled.
'Someone has to take care of everyone,' I replied smiling.
'They're lucky to have you,' Marshal told me. 'Thank you.' I had to admit in the short time they'd been here, they'd had been nothing but helpful not just to me but to anyone who needed help.
'What do you make of those four?' I whispered to Willow as we walked to the command house. 'I like them, they've been helpful, kind and just generally good. I understand that you were wary of them, and I don't blame you. In a world like this, we need to keep vigilant,' she replied honestly. 'I know what you mean, but do you think I should lessen my keeping an eye on them?'
'Honestly yes I do, but if you see something that I don't, then listen to your gut,' she smiled.
I walked into the command house, I took my seat at the desk where the radio sat. Maybe today I'd find out why they'd been silent for so long, and I'd get to know more about Tobias and his people.
'I'll see you later,' Willow whispered.
I nodded as I took a deep breath, we needed no salvation but clearly these people might be able to offer us something that would ensure our survival.
'This is Major General Hannibal, over.'
'General Corbin speaking, I apologise that I have not been in touch. There has been a great many discussions about what we can do to help you and what you can do to help us, over,' he said sternly.
'First I must ask you, where are you based, over?'
'We are a large group of a hundred men, all being army personnel or government. We are based in a secret underground facility under Denver airport in the USA, over.'
My mind began to spin, I didn't even know there were people across the pond let alone professionals. How could they help us if they were so far away?
'I would ask, how you we possibly help each other if we are on the other side of the world over?'
'I have discussed this with my fellow officers, we wish to dispatch a small boat with a few of our men on board. We want to bring you over here, we feel you would be of more use to us, over.'
What, they wanted me to go to the US? My mind couldn't comprehend this, I could never leave my people, they needed me.
'I'm afraid I cannot leave here, my people need me. There is no one else to lead them, over,' I told him fiercely.
'We understand your position, but I'm afraid we must insist. There is a great danger coming, and we need your help in defeating it, over.'
'What danger is this, over?' What he told me next was unimaginable, the virus not only affected people but it also affected animals. They received word that Dr Morgan Lockwood was in fact alive, and she had indeed created a vaccine to the basic human strain of the virus.
There was of course a mutated strain out there, but the fact that she'd done it was beyond amazing. The awful news was, that the people she'd given the vaccine to were not who she thought they were. They had a secret operative in their group who'd kept an eye on them, who'd travelled with them for a short time. Under Lieutenant General Tobias's orders they'd left the group, and now were finding their way back to the states. He knew where they were heading next, he also knew of their awful plans to use the vaccine to enslave people to hurt and kill them.
As the information span round my head, I found myself coming to the conclusion that he was right. If these people were allowed to carry on, what remained of the human race would be nothing more than slaves.
These people had to be stopped, no one group should ever have that much power. Tobias assured me, that their plan was to find Dr Lockwood and bring her into the fold so that when she made the vaccine they could distribute it freely to everyone. Yet still I could not bring myself to leave my people, they needed me
and in many ways, I needed them.
'I ask to discuss this with my trained people Sir, this is no easy task to undertake, over.'
'Very well, we shall give you twenty-four hours and then we must have your answer, over and out.' I sat by the radio not knowing what to do, the fate of the world could rest on my shoulders. Was it not my duty to protect people, to help and save them? I could believe them about this threat, it was always a concern of mine that this would happen if the vaccine fell into the wrong hands. I had the chance to stop these people, to ensure that every man woman and child would be spared a life of slavery, that all people could be free of this plague that had ripped our loved ones from, that had destroyed our way of life.
I opened the door, Willow stood standing guard, I told her to come in as she was the first person I would confide in. As we sat down and I told her the news, I saw the look of disbelief on her face, the horror as the thoughts swam round her head.
'What are you going to do?' She asked sounding almost afraid. 'I-I don't know, these people here need me but the news that there are far more dangers out there than we anticipated is beyond troubling. I have the chance to do something about it, but I cannot shake the feeling that- I don't know, I'm afraid,' I confessed.
She wrapped her arms around me, I did not but in truth I felt as though I were being torn in two. A choice between love and duty for I did love these people, I had seen their kindness, their strength and compassion. Yet the call of duty was strong, I could not deny it. I had no time to weigh up my choices, for God or whatever higher power existed, had taken the choice away from me.
I felt the ground around me shake, I heard the screams and cries of my people. I didn't think twice about it, I just grabbed my gun and raced into early evening praying that I could even save my people.
I didn't know how it happened, we were so vigilant with our security and we'd never had this problem before. Yet as I left the house, I could see it. The northern walls had been breeched, the dead were pouring in. The walls had held them at bay, and we had done our twice daily sweeps but when the tide came in the dead crashed against our sturdy walls, so we could see that they were still out there.
Now as I ran towards to collapsed walls, I felt true fear in my heart in a way that I hadn't in so long. I wanted to tell Willow to run to safety, but I knew her too well, she would not flee to safety while other people were in danger.
'Find any survivor's and take them to the command tent!' I shouted through the screaming.
'Yes Sir,' she replied as she ran towards the shouting. I raced down to the northern shore, I found many of my trained people trying to tackle the dead but there were too many of them. It was like a zombie tsunami, they came in waves falling over each other as the tide carried them to our shore. As they crashed into the remaining walls, I jumped back as they fell under the weight of the dead.
'Fall back!' I screamed to my people.
'Where to?' Asked Harinder in a panicked voice.
'To the command house, we need to form a base and ensure our people are safe before we take on this horde,' I told them all. My people were usually so calm and collected in the face of danger, never had I seen them like this, well not since the world first ended any way. Looking at them now, I realised I'd made a grave mistake. While they still went over to the mainland, they had not been faced with such horror since the death of Ronald. I'd let them live too normally, and in so doing I'd put them all in danger. Now I had to get them out of it, it was my job to protect them, to ensure their safety and survival.
I followed them back to the command house, along the way, through the screaming we collected as many people as we could. There was a hundred people on this island including my trained men and women, I knew we would not all fit in the house but if I could keep everyone in an enclosed space then we might have more chance at living through this.
'Get everyone inside!' I shouted fiercely.
'Yes Sir,' answered Liam trying not to sound scared.
We all piled into the house, there was barely enough room to breathe but somehow I managed to stand on a chair and talk to everyone.
'What are we going to do?' Asked Anne one of the older women on the island.
'The dead are coming, and we're trapped in here!' Exclaimed Disha, Harinder and Ashia's mother. 'Everyone, calm down. We are going to get through this, we are strong and capable people and have been through much worse. Now I want everyone who is able to fight out there with me, eliminating this threat!'
'We're with you Sir,' Willow smiled, she was the only one who didn't seem afraid. I marched outside with my troops feeling the unease wash over me, I truly did not know if would survive this.
'Those of you who are not army personnel, go with Tyreece, Harinder, Ashia and Fred to get weapons. Your going to need them, Fred you're in charge. Keep these people safe and meet us at the north shore,' I said strongly.
'Of course,' he replied calmly.
'Everyone else you're with me, keep your wits about you and don't get cornered,' I told them. They nodded and murmured in agreement, we marched to the shores feeling as though we were once more marching into war. Even after all these years, I still could not get used to the smell of the dead, rotting corpses. It was lucky in a way that I was used to grisly sights even before the world ended, I knew I couldn't save everyone, I could only hope that Willow survived, even if I didn't.
Before we even got half way to the shore, we were overrun by the dead. There was thirty of us verses hundreds of them, even when the others got here there would still only be seventy of us that could fight. The odds were against us, but I wouldn't give up I'd save as many people as I could. I took out my gun from my belt, I had ammo on me but not much, I also had my machete which wasn't as good as a gun but it would still do.
I looked around at my people they all shared the same look on their faces, they knew, deep down they knew they weren't getting out of here.
'Come on troops, let's get these bastards!' I shouted.
'Sir, yes Sir,' they replied in unison. We took out our guns, I had extra ammo on me but I knew I'd need my machete soon. I felt the fear rise within me but I didn't let it show. I aimed at a walker that was getting too close, I took it out in seconds before another one lunged at me. I didn't have to shoot, I grabbed it by what little hair it had left and threw down on the ground. I stomped on it's head a few times before my foot went through it, the horde kept on coming in waves, I saw Jack being cornered by a group of five corpses.
I raced over but didn't get far, I felt something grab me by the legs. My face smashed into the ground as I fell, I tried to get up but I felt dizzy. I reached for my machete as I managed to turn over. A walker that had only one leg had grabbed me, I didn't have enough room to swing it so I held it by both ends as it tried to bite me. The blade was digging into my skin as I forced it through the biters head, I turned my head as the brains splattered over my face. I kicked its body off me and stumbled to my feet. I shook my head but my vision was a little blurry.
I looked over to where Jack had been, but now all I saw was a pile of dead clawing at his mangled body. I felt the anger rise within me, not Jack, he was my oldest friend, tears burned my face as I looked around. Sam had been torn apart, there was nothing left but blood and remnants of his clothes. I raced towards Jackie who was taking out a small group of corpses, I shook away the dizziness refusing to allow any more of my friends to die. I shot three of them before taking out the rest with my machete, Jackie looked tired and very pale. It was only when I looked down at her arm that I saw it, the bite. I knew I could try to save her, but there was no time to cut off her arm now.
'Don't, there's no time. We need to save the others,' she told me fiercely. 'As soon as we're done, we will save you,' I said through gritted teeth. She merely nodded before returning to battle, I quickly reloaded my gun before searching for my people. I could see Tyreece, Harinder, and Fred running down the road. They were with Theo, Brandon, Marshal and Robin as well as some of mor
e able bodied people.
I saw the looks on their faces, sorrow. Something had happened, I would find out later I thought sadly. I turned just in time to slice a biters head off that was running towards me, it struck me as strange that some were normal biters but others moved at fast pace and were much harder to kill. These must have been what Lieutenant Corbin was talking about, it was fortunate for us that at least there wasn't any animal walkers.
I had no time to think, I just kept on killing the corpses as they came at me. I heard a scream and turned to see Willow fleeing as large group of dead were chasing her, I didn't think twice before I ran after her. The dead could not have her, not my Willow. I sliced my way through half of them before I got to her, I quickly checked her over and to my relief she had not been bitten.
We took the rest of the walkers that were coming for us, there must have been a dozen of them. I don't know how we did it, but in the end we stood together victorious. We turned to see the bloody battlefield before us, our friends, our people that had become our family, almost everyone who'd fought the corpses was now either dead or one of them. There was still too many for us to deal with, we frantically searched for our people as we fled the dead.
We found Tyreece hiding under a pile of bodies.
'Are you alright?' I asked fearfully.
'Y-yeah, but the others, Jackie, Lance, Tim. Their all dead,' he stammered.
'Fuck! What about Nina, Liam, Harinder, Ashia, Fred and Molly?' Willow asked.
'I-I don't know, I thought I saw Theo and his friends helping some people to escape but I-I don't remember,' he sputtered.
'Come on, we need to find our people,' I told Tyreece as I pulled him up.
He appeared to alright though he was limping a little.
'Do you need help?' Willow asked him kindly.
He shook his head, 'I'll be okay, I just need to find our people,' he answered sadly. We fought more dead as we scoured the island, we found Harinder and Ashia laying dead on floor all chewed up. I took my machete and stabbed them in the heads, I would not let them turn into the dead.
Dead World Rising (Book 3): The Cure Page 29
