Working with purpose, it didn’t take long to repack the van and bus and clear the furniture that had been used to block the gaps.
The children’s excitement at having to climb a ladder and walk across the roof of the bus to reach the safety of the trailer wasn’t marred by the now familiar sight of more undead. They’d gathered outside, attracted by the noise we’d made, and replacing the ones we’d killed earlier.
The buoyant mood that everyone still felt since the groups had combined was enhanced further by Ian’s attempt to climb the ladder and cross the roof of the bus while wearing his full suit of armour. His weight, along with the weight of the armour he was carrying proved too much for the thin roof, and to everyone’s hilarity, his foot pierced it. It took four people, virtually helpless with laughter, and another pushing from underneath to pry him free. He eventually crawled ungracefully into the trailer, muttering and cursing about the quality of workmanship these days, but also smiling because he knew if it had happened to someone else, he would be leading the piss-taking.
Horace wanted to join his new master in the trailer, so instead of climbing aboard the bus, he too, comically tried to climb the ladder, eventually managing through sheer determination and a little help from others dragging and pushing him from behind, and to the delight of the children, he joined Ian in the trailer. He immediately forgot his new master though, as the fuss the children gave him proved a more worthwhile way for him to spend his time.
It took a few stern warnings about the dangers of the situation we were in to calm everyone down.
Once extra ammunition and weapons had been passed to Steve in the bus and to Jim in the van, we were ready to leave.
The starting of all four engines agitated the zombies surrounding the vehicles, as they seemed to realise that the meal they were hoping for was leaving.
With the passengers brandishing weapons, standing on seats and lining the sides of the trailer, Shawn ploughed the tractor through the throng that had gathered. We followed, setting out on what we hoped would be a short journey to the safety of the church in a small village.
Thirty people and one dog continued their journey.
Chapter Two
Travelling closely together, the convoy followed Shawn through the streets of Bristol, spears continually thrusting at the shambling zombies that futilely tried to reach us in the safety of our vehicles.
Shawn maintained a speed sufficient to smash through every group of the undead that crossed our path. From my position in the rear, I couldn’t see the devastation caused by the plough as it powered through the walls of bodies trying to stop us, but I could see the result. Dismembered and mangled bodies flew through the air; some remained still, but some continued thrashing about as the damaged caused hadn’t destroyed the brain.
Unable to reach from their vehicles, the passengers in the bus and van were reduced to being mere witnesses to the effectiveness of what we had created.
As I drove, concentrating on keeping close to the van, I began thinking of how we would armour both the bus and the van. We had the skills and knowledge from what we’d done to my Volvo and the tractor, so the basics were obvious. The van would be easy. Add a wedge to the front and protect the driver’s cab with whatever materials we could find.
The bus, though, was a different matter. Would we want it to be a transport vehicle or a fighting vehicle? Unless the windows were removed, there would be no way for the occupants to ‘engage’ zombies. Or would it be best to find enough steel mesh to encase it completely so the occupants would be protected, but would have to rely on others to keep the undead away? The bus, fitted with a strong wedge on the front, would have enough power and weight behind it to plough through zombies or to clear obstructions out of the way.
Up-armouring them needed to be one of our first priorities when we reached a place safe enough for us to do it. I was sure others were also thinking as I was, so most likely after today’s journey, when we’d gained experience of how capable our little convoy was, the answers to my musings would be obvious.
The extra radios provided by Shawn’s friends made communication between everyone easier. We could listen as Jamie gave Shawn directions and Louise, who was still travelling in the cab with Shawn, informed us all if any obstructions or zombies were ahead.
Louise’s voice sounded through the radio.
“Stop, everyone. I saw something on the road we just passed.”
Bringing up the rear, I’d stopped opposite the road she was talking about. I stood up on my seat and looked down it.
The road was a small cul-de-sac about one hundred yards long, lined with large post-war semi-detached houses. At the end of the road it widened to create the turning circle that surrounded a small grass island with a tree in the middle. Beyond the island, the front drive of one of the houses was engulfed with a mass of zombies.
I picked up the radio.
“Well spotted, Louise. Someone must be in the house down there.”
I then asked the next question, even though I knew what the answer would be.
“If there are people down there, is everyone willing to take the risk to rescue them, even though we don’t know them?”
I smiled as everyone confirmed that they and their travelling companions were more than willing to face the risks involved with trying to rescue others.
I looked at Dave, who was standing on the seat next to me looking through some binoculars.
“Your call, pal. Tell us what to do.”
He looked for a few more seconds through his binoculars.
“We can’t all drive down there. It’s too narrow, and we’ll most likely block ourselves in like a bunch of idiots. I can see movement from the front first floor window, so I would agree that there’s a good chance we have some live ones in there. The fact they’re not waving and shouting at us may also be a good sign.”
He paused, but didn’t wait for me to question why before continuing.
“They must have seen and heard us by now. The fact that they’re not drawing attention to themselves might mean they feel secure but are wary of who we might be. I take that to be a good indication that they’re sensible and not some hysterical snowflake who expects us to fix everything for them.
“My suggestion is that we send Shawn in first. He can drive round and round the island at the end of the cul-de-sac, pulverising those bastards. We stay here to protect the bus and van until he’s thinned them out enough for us to swap over to finish what he started. Then if he continues to protect the end of the road, with us providing covering fire, the bus can drive down and pick up whoever is in there.”
I looked at him.
“Yep, I agree. Let’s get on with it. We need to get to this church of theirs before night falls.”
Dave quickly issued his instructions through the radio. As soon as Shawn confirmed he understood, he pulled forward, smashing through some front garden fences and hedges to turn his vehicle around, and with his engine roaring loudly, he gained speed as he hurtled down the narrow cul-de-sac.
I felt briefly concerned as I watched Becky wave at me from the trailer as it sped past. My wife and children were on the trailer that was once again leading the attack against a horde of flesh-eating monsters, while I watched from a distance. It was a catch 22 situation. The trailer was currently the safest zombie-proof vehicle we possessed. It was also the best vehicle we had for attacking them directly. Logically I would want my family as far away from danger as possible, but also in the safest place, and that was not possible.
At least the occupants of the trailer could bring a lot of firepower to the party.
Shawn had made his first complete circle of the island before the zombies pressing up against the house started to turn in his direction. They moved towards the fast-moving target that was circling and just tempting them to attack it to get to the tasty flesh their senses told them it contained.
I was reminded of one of those machines that butchers have for slicing meat.
Every pass Shawn made sliced the front from the solid mass of undead meat. The occupants of the trailer could only hold on as the trailer bounced and bumped over the growing pile of offal he was creating. I watched as the tractor under the influence of centrifugal forces lost traction on the slick of destroyed body parts. The trailer was also not dutifully following its master but skidding as its wheels slipped, causing the back of the trailer to smash through the ever-advancing pack. Shawn skilfully corrected the skid and kept the vehicle in a controlled power slide as it sped around the small turning circle.
Through Dave’s binoculars I could see the smile on his face as he drove around what could only be described as the goriest skid pan ever created.
The trailer stopped outside the house after one more circle. As soon as it had, its occupants lined its sides and fired on the ones that had not been caught in the circling maelstrom of steel.
A call over the radio from Marc in the bus drew our attention away from the tractor.
“Got some zombies coming.”
Dave looked along the road and saw a small group heading towards us in the direction we were going. He picked up the radio.
“Steve, Jim. You can deal with those. Get out of the vehicles and take them down when they’re in range. Everyone else keep a good all-round lookout and call any more sightings.”
Steve and Jim both stepped from the van and bus respectively and faced the oncoming threat.
I wasn’t worried, the dozen or so approaching would be no match for the two Marines, but I also was aware that complacency could kill. Every threat needed to be taken deadly seriously.
Dave had the binoculars pointed back toward the house.
“The window’s open upstairs. It looks as if they’re talking to them.”
Louise’s voice came through the radio.
“The man and woman in the house are ready to come out. They’ll wait for the bus to come down.”
Dave picked up the radio.
“Leave Jim and Steve protecting our rear. Marc, get ready to drive the bus down as soon as the trailer’s clear. We’ll lead the way. Stay alert, everyone. Remember you’ve got no guns now on the bus. Do not try anything stupid, we can cover you from the Volvo.
Shawn, when you’re ready, get back up here and help Jim and Steve protect our backs.”
Shawn didn’t reply but waited for a final volley of shots from the trailer before he drove towards us at a much more sedate speed than he had entered the cul-de-sac with. As soon as he was clear, I pulled away down the road, Daniel, Chet and Dave standing ready with their weapons.
Marc reversed the bus back slightly and then drove forwards, following me closely. I stopped outside the house, leaving enough room for the bus to pull on the drive so it could get as close as possible to the front door, where we guessed the occupants would come from, and then I stood on the seat with my weapon held ready.
I could see Dave, Alex and Geoff standing at the front door of the bus, wearing full armour, weapons in hand. They looked a lot more terrifying than any fully armed modern soldier ever could. As the bus stopped, the door slowly hissed open. They stepped onto the field of carnage and immediately began swinging their weapons at the heads of corpses or remnants of corpses that lay close by and showed any signs of movement.
The sounds of firing echoed from the end of the road.
“Come on!” I shouted, “we need to get going.”
Geoff lumbered up to the front door and banged on it. It slowly opened, and a man and woman emerged, staring with wide eyes at the three knights who stood with their shields and weapons held ready. They both had rucksacks on their backs. The woman held a cricket bat in her hand and the man a felling axe.
A movement caught my eye. Three zombies appeared from the side of the house and started to head towards them.
Before I could shout a warning, Dave screamed. “Contact right,” and raised his rifle.
The knights turned to face the threat. Geoff shouted at the two to board the bus and stepped forward with his mace held ready. He called to Dave,
“We’ve got this, save your ammo.”
As the two people bustled onto the bus, the three knights spaced out and faced the approaching zombies.
Everyone in my car watched intently. This was the first time we’d seen the knights in action and I was keen to see how their weapons from a different age would perform.
Two more zombies had now appeared. Again, Geoff shouted,
“Don’t fire, we can handle this.”
The three knights stepped forward with their weapons ready.
Dave and I kept our rifles aimed at the heads of the approaching zombies, fingers off the triggers, but ready to fire at a moment’s notice if need be.
It was impressive to watch. All three attacked their chosen targets at the same time. Geoff’s mace destroying the skull of one, it fell to the floor spilling brains on the driveway. Dave’s powerful swing removed the head of another, to see it bounce across the lawn before coming to rest in a rose bush, while Alex thrust his sword at the face of the one approaching him. The razor sharp, heavy blade thrust at an upwards angle, entered through its mouth and burst out through the back of the skull. Killed instantly, its legs buckled, and he used the weight of it falling to pull the blade free.
In seconds, three zombies had been killed quickly and effectively. As soon as the first had fallen, though, they turned their attention to the two remaining ones. Dave’s swing this time sliced through and removed the top of the nearest one’s skull, while Geoff smashed his mace into the side of the last one’s head with such force both its eyes popped out from the skull and dangled from the optic nerves as pulverised brains sprayed from the empty eye sockets.
The display over, the three knights wasted no time boarding the bus, the continuous firing from the end of the road a compelling indication that we needed to get moving again.
We were now thirty-two and a dog.
Chapter Three
Dave picked up the radio as we drove back out of the cul-de-sac.
“Shawn, get ready to move.” Shawn immediately replied.
“Yep, I can see you coming. We’re attracting a bit of a crowd here, so moving on would be good.”
Getting closer, I could see everyone who could use a weapon, including Becky, firing over the side of the trailer. Jim and Steve stood between the trailer and the van, also firing. Reaching the end of the road, I could see the reason why. The road in the direction we had come from was now teeming with approaching zombies. The pile of corpses littered the ground in front of the mass, showing that the shooters were just managing to hold the advancing tide of death back.
Dave shouted to Steve and Jim to get back on board their vehicles. They both disengaged immediately and ran to the van and the bus, and as soon as the radios confirmed everyone was on board, Shawn pulled away. I waited for the bus and van to tuck in behind him, so I could resume my position at the rear of the convoy.
The firing stopped when Shawn started moving and the pack immediately began closing in. Even in the thirty seconds I had to wait for the convoy to form, I could see in my mirrors that the zombies were getting dangerously close.
Daniel, Chet and Dave waited, calmly standing on the seats of my car until those nearest were in range, before ending their existence with spear thrusts. As I sat there, waiting for the van to start moving, I realised how calm I was also feeling. The zombies weren’t numerous enough yet to cause us any problems and as they were only behind us, I knew that as soon as Simon pulled away in the van, I would follow him and leave them in my wake.
The more zombies we killed, the more detached we all became from the act of ending the life of what had once been another member of the human race. It was a life or death situation and we currently had the upper hand. We were reasonably secure in an armoured vehicle we knew the capabilities of, and armed with a variety of weapons that could all end a zombie’s life in one thrust, strike or trigger pull. Unless we became trapped by an
unstoppable volume of them, we could always escape.
I didn’t know what the future would bring, but for as long as we could stay alert and work together to keep one step ahead of the relentless enemy that most of the population of the United Kingdom had become, we stood a chance.
We continued driving.
The further we got out of the city, the fewer undead we came across and these were easily dealt with by Shawn either smashing through them or having their brains destroyed by a spear thrust.
As our new friends had promised, the road was clear. The evidence of obstructions that had been cleared, and dead and mangled corpses acting like a trail of breadcrumbs left behind, showed us we were on the right path.
The main road, as they had already told us from their earlier experience, did contain more zombies, the reasonably clear, wide road acting as a funnel, channelling the undead towards the smoke still rising from Bristol. Shawn increased the convoy’s speed, everyone trying to keep as close to the rear of the one in front as they could, and all relying on Shawn to use the weight and power of the tractor to clear the way. Louise kept up a running commentary to warn us if he was steering around any stopped vehicles, so we could keep following and maintain position as best we could.
I noticed, though, that when we had smashed through a crowd of them, the remaining ones turned and began shambling along after us, the target we provided far more tempting than the distant rising plumes of smoke.
Dave had also noticed this and, pointing his thumb behind him at the now following zombies said, “I think we’d better make sure that when we pull off this road to get to the church, none of this lot notices. The last thing I imagine we want to do is attract another horde.”
“Yes, mate,” I replied, “I don’t think it’s far now, so we can decide what to do when we get there.”
Zombie Castle Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 36
