“We need someone to be in charge of the project,” Luke said.
“I’ll do it,” Neal said. “We’ll start with maps of our area, and I have another suggestion. Get onto an agricultural university’s farming and animal husbandry website. They’ll have information sheets we can print off.”
Sherry leaned forward. “I’ll make a list of subjects we need but everyone needs to add your ideas to it. We’ll post it in the dining area.”
The meeting continued until they’d worked out a schedule. At the end, Grace held it up. “I’ll post this in the dining hall and we’ll work out the rest as we go along. For now, let’s make up the bunks, shower and get some sleep.”
Megan held up her hand.
Grace nodded to her. “Yes, Megan.”
“Are you absolutely sure we’re safe here?”
“As safe as we can be, and we can monitor the creatures and learn more about them,” Grace said.
“They kill people. What else do we need to know?” Megan asked.
“How they hunt, for one thing,” Luke said. “Do they zero in on movement or sounds? What about scent? I saw one sniff the air as if it was trying to locate prey. What about lights?”
“What about cooking smells?” Neal asked.
Grace shook her head. “The man who designed this shelter took all that into account. There are filters on the vent above the cooking range. The HVAC system cleans the air and recycles it.”
“That’s it for tonight unless someone has something to add,” Luke said.
Sherry held her hand up then spoke when Luke pointed to her. “What are we going to do about the cadets in the library? I saw four run into the building. Stephan Greco and Damien Moretti went after them.”
“If we’re going to rescue them it has to be soon but we need to make weapons of some kind,” Mark said.
Neal stood. “There are already a lot of infected creatures out there. The longer we wait the more there will be.”
Luke glanced at Grace then acknowledged her permission to tell them about the armory with a nod.
Three
“We have weapons including headsets,” Luke said. “Come with me. We might as well get everyone armed.”
Luke opened the armory door then had Neal, John and Sherry join him. “John, you and Neal are our best shooters so you both get MK11s with scopes and suppressors. All three of you get your pick of the bows. Make sure to get plenty of arrows. We’re going to need them for our mission.”
“Stephan and Damien are on my archery team,” Neal said. “That will give us five people who are experts with bows.”
Luke agreed. “Grab a pack and a duffle then get several sets of cammies and don’t forget boots and a helmet. I’ll get the weapons along with extra magazines and boxes of cartridges.”
Neal, Mark and Sherry set empty duffels on the table and began filling them. They each grabbed a bow and plenty of arrows. Luke laid the weapons and ammunition on the table. “I gave you NVGs and headsets with extra batteries.”
They finished loading their duffels then carried their gear from the room. John entered next. Luke continued handing out weapons and gear until everyone was armed and Grace joined him.
“I figure one of those classes Mr. Manning sent you to was weapons training. Right?” Luke moved to the rack of rifles. “Let me choose a weapon for you.”
“No need. My dad was a Marine sniper. He taught me to shoot. I’ll take an MK11 with a scope and suppressor.” She looked at the pistols and pointed to a Glock 19. “And I’ll take two of those.”
“I’m learning a lot of surprising things about you tonight,” he said, impressed. “I’ll grab the ammo and magazines for both of them along with a few other things. Grab two sets of winter cammies, boots, and a helmet. I’m not handing out armor. I don’t think we’ll need it on this mission.”
Grace held a shirt against herself and looked down. “Ugh, my dad always said I’d end up in boots and cammies someday. Are you sure I can’t wear my own clothes?”
Luke grinned and shook his head. “Nope, you’re in the military now.”
She picked up a pair of boots and a helmet. Luke set the rest of the items on the table and she arranged them in the duffel as if she’d done it a hundred times.
“Don’t forget to grab a pack.”
Grace hefted it onto her shoulder, grabbed the duffel and pretended to stagger under the weight before she grinned. “I’ll change clothes and meet you in the dining hall.”
Ten minutes later when Grace entered the dining area the cadets stood up and quietly clapped. She grinned then dragged a chair into position at the far end of the table and dropped into it. “Okay, Luke, what’s the plan?”
“Bravo is Neal, Mark, Sherry, and me. All radio contact will be between me and security. If something happens to me then Neil takes over. Security is Base One with Megan in charge. This is a search and rescue mission. We’re going to the library to find Stephan and Damien, and anyone else with them. Any questions so far?”
Grace and the cadets shook their heads.
“We’ll use the elevator to exit and return. Security will notify Grace and John when it’s safe to open the door Bravo will exit. Grace and John will close the door and remain on the elevator during the mission. They will act as reinforcement if needed. Understood?”
“Yes,” Grace, John and Megan said.
“If we run into trouble we may have to hunker down and stay put until it’s safe to move. If that happens I’ll notify security and Grace and John will stand down. Understood?”
“Yes,” Grace, John, and Megan said again.
“If we have multiple hostiles on our way back Security will make sure it’s safe for Grace and John to open the elevator door. They’ll open it, move onto the dock, and lay down covering fire for us. Understood?”
Grace, Megan and John said, “Yes.”
“Ideally we’ll accomplish this mission without being pursued,” Luke said. “If we manage that, then Security will advise Grace and John to open the doors and they’ll guard the dock until we reach them.” Luke looked at Grace and John. “The mission should take us thirty mikes.”
“Okay,” Grace said.
“Neil is in charge of gathering food and water to take with us. Can you help him with that, Grace and please keep it as light as possible.”
“Will do,” she said.
He marked off an item on the paper in front of him.
“When are you going?” Grace asked and caught the look Luke gave Neal, Mark and Sherry. “Please, tell me you’re not thinking of doing this now—the sun will be up in less than two hours.”
“This is the best chance we’ll have to rescue them,” Luke said.
“We think the creatures howl to let the others know there’s food available,” Sherry said. “The longer we wait the more creatures there will be.”
Grace stood up. “You’ve forgotten that these things are contagious. According to the television reports if you get their blood or saliva in your eyes or mouth or even just a scratch then you turn into one of them.”
“We have a plan for that,” Luke said. “We’re going to protect ourselves as much as possible by covering up and wearing goggles. Then, we’re going to move mattresses into the upper dining hall along with food and water and quarantine ourselves for two days.”
Grace thought the plan could work but was it worth risking all their lives when they didn’t even know if Stephan, Damien, and the other cadets were still alive? She looked at Luke, Damien and Stephan and saw the same expression on their faces that she’d seen on her father’s so many times. The one that said he was willing to do whatever was needed, even take a trip into hell, to protect her and her mother and his country.
“We’ve got to do this, Grace,” Luke said.
“Yes, I know but I’m worried for you. For all of you, so we do this on two conditions. First, one of the guys and Sherry stays behind with Megan. Second, I go with you. When we return we go directly to the up
per dining area.”
He watched her for a moment then nodded. “Are you sure you can handle this?”
Grace smiled. “When my family went camping my father and I played a version of hide and seek. The longer I could hide from him the bigger the prize I won. When I was sixteen he bet me I couldn’t elude him for two days. The prize was a red Mustang convertible.” She smiled. “It’s parked in a garage in town for sunny weekends. So, yes, I can get to and from the library.”
“Okay, Sherry and John stay behind this time,” Luke said. “We have a plan and things to do before we carry out our mission. Let’s get busy.”
# # #
Luke slid beneath the tree, rolled onto his back and looked up, searching the branches for creatures. Snow covered the branches, but they appeared free of any hostiles. He signaled to Mark and Grace to move forward.
They ran in a crouch to a line of thick bushes and dropped into the snow beside him. Mark glanced at Luke, signaling that the area ahead of them was clear.
Luke waved Neal forward to his position as he moved to the side of the library and blended into a snow drift next to the stairs. He signaled to Neal and Mark to check the roof while Grace watched their six. A few seconds later they gave him the all clear. He searched the area behind then signaled them to follow him into the library.
The ornate glass of the brass doors was shattered. He set his feet down softly but glass still crunched beneath his boots. Silently, he ducked through the opening in the bottom half of the left door and moved along the left wall. Mark followed him, moving to the right with Neal next to him. Grace took a knee just inside the door and watched for movement behind them.
They listened for several seconds. Nothing stirred in the hushed stillness of the library. Luke followed the wall to the end of the entrance and checked out the first and second floor of the area he could see. Mark stopped across from him, checking out the area to their left. Neal moved beside him.
A large circular librarians’ counter sat in the center of the lower floor with chairs and tables arranged around it. The stacks branched away from it like the spokes of a wheel, extending back into the darkness. A stained glass dome sat above the center, lighting the area.
Luke pointed to the right where the head librarians’ office and the reference room were located. He slipped around the corner and entered a narrow aisle between the wall and the long shelves of books. Neal, Mark, and Grace followed him. He signaled to Mark to watch the area above and to Grace to stay and watch behind them. She nodded and slipped into the darkness.
Luke, Mark and Neal moved toward the end of the shelves. Another long shelf ran parallel to it forming an aisle with another aisle leading off it to the librarians’ office and the reference room. They stopped long enough to lower their NVGs and let their eyes adjust Every few steps, Luke stopped and listened for the sound of clicking. He reached the end of the shelves and glanced around the edge, then ducked back and held up a fist. Mark and Neal stopped behind him. He pointed to his eyes then indicated there was one hostile three rows over, crouched down on the floor.
They’d agreed during the planning to use their carbines only as a last resort. Even though they were equipped with suppressors the sound of firing them would draw other creatures to the area especially if the first shot wasn’t a kill and the creature had time to howl.
They backtracked, passing Grace, then crept around the shelves until they were in the aisle next to the creature. Mark and Luke drew their knives. Luke belly crawled to the other end while Mark moved into position at the end nearest the library’s circular check-out desk. Neal loaded an arrow in his compound bow then climbed to the top of the wide shelf and slid over the smooth wood until he was directly above the creature. He glanced down at Luke and saw the signal to fire at will. Taking aim, he released the steel-tipped arrow. It hit the creature in the top of the head, passing through and exiting beneath its chin.
“Go,” Neal said.
Luke ran around the corner. The creature tried to howl, but the arrow held its puckered lips together. When it saw him, it charged. Mark ran up behind it and shot another arrow through its head. It stood for a moment then fell to the floor. Luke jumped back, keeping his distance from the blood.
Neal slid down from the top of the shelves while Luke scanned the long aisle that ran between the end of the stacks and the wall of shelves at the back of the room. They waited, listening for the sound of the creatures. After several moments, Luke signaled them to follow him. He moved into the hallway and pointed to the office. Mark moved to the right side while Neal moved directly in front of the door with his bow up and ready. Luke grasped the knob, glanced at them, then opened the door.
Weapons up they moved into the room. Neal went left and Mark went right. Luke took the center and searched behind the desk. They finished clearing it then closed the door and moved to the reference room door. Luke tapped on it. One soft tap, followed by three taps, then two taps.
They waited for a response. When they didn’t get one, Luke dropped to the floor and spoke through the narrow crack at the bottom. “It’s Luke Matthews. I’ve got Mark, Neal and Grace with me. We’re here to take you to the shelter.”
A few seconds later, Stephan Greco opened the door and beckoned to them.
Luke and Mark entered but Neal stayed in the hall watching for hostiles.
“Is it just the two of you?” Luke asked, nodding to Damien Moretti.
“No, we managed to grab one of the cadets before the creatures broke through the front door. The other three scattered into the stacks. I don’t think they made it,” Damian said as a girl with long red hair and freckles stepped into view. Damian introduced her. “You know Sabrina Carson.”
Neal nodded. “Are any of you hurt? Sick?”
“No,” Damien said. “We locked ourselves in here while those things were invading the library. It sounded like there were dozens of them.”
“Then, let’s go.” Luke handed Stephan, Damien and Sabrina compound bows and 9mm Glocks. “Use the arrows if you can and don’t shoot your pistols unless I give the order. We think these things are drawn to noise, movement, and smell. Once we leave the library we’re going to try to return to the shelter sight unseen. If we can’t then we fight and run.”
“Mark, you and Grace take point. I’m next with Sabrina behind me. Damien, you take right. Stephan, you have left. Neil you bring up the rear. Everyone watch the trees. We stay together and move fast.”
They nodded and followed Mark and Grace out.
At the front door, Mark stopped, scoped the area outside the library, then signaled them to follow him. One after the other, they ducked through the door, running from shadow to shadow toward the cafeteria.
They were a hundred meters from the cafeteria when a shrill hissing screech came from behind them.
“Multiple contacts behind us,” Neal said, his voice calm on the headset.
“Don’t shoot unless they pursue us,” Luke said, struggling to get through snow that was over a foot deep in some places.
“Base One to Bravo. Multiple hostiles on either side of you. Over.”
“Bravo to Base One. Understood. Out.”
“Open fire,” Luke said, firing his weapon in short bursts. “Watch your fields of fire.”
Grace moved a couple meters to Mark’s right, found a target and fired her weapon. She chose her targets carefully, aiming for the head and trying to send two bullets into each one. She swept the area directly ahead of her and to her right while Mark took out the creatures to his left and in front of him.
They ran, fired, and then ran again, making sure to stay together as a group.
Creatures screeched as they died, and those that were wounded, and in many cases had lost limbs, crawled through the snow determined to feed. Sabrina stepped up next to Luke and Grace and helped them keep the field to their right open.
Mark, Damien, and Stephan held the creatures back on the left. They fired in rapid bursts sending body parts flyin
g while Neil kept the creatures from rushing them from behind.
“Keep moving,” Luke yelled.
Grace spotted the dock ahead of her and laid down a wall of bullets, taking out or injuring the creatures that tried to block them from reaching the dock. As she ran through them with Sabrina behind her, she shot each one in the head and heard Sabrina doing the same. Jumping onto the dock, she ran to the keypad with Sabrina sticking close, guarding her back. Once the doors were open, she waved the others forward.
Grace continued firing shorts bursts. Once a creature fell she moved on to the next one. Sabrina laid down covering fire, kicking up clouds of snow and taking down one creature after another.
Grace saw movement to Sabrina’s right and stepped farther out on the dock, shooting a creature that moved so rapidly it was nearly a blur of motion. She missed the first time and fired again this time hitting it. The bullets climbed up the creature’s body in a line to its head. It fell back and tumbled down the stairs. She turned back in time to see Luke and Mark firing at the roof above her and stepped back in time to avoid being hit by a falling body.
Luke urged them to pick up the pace. They reached the dock and leapt onto it, rushing into the elevator. Sabrina and Grace continued laying down fire while they backed into the opening. Once they were inside, they stepped to the side while Luke and Mark took a knee and continued firing from the center position. Damien grabbed the overhead door and jerked it down.
Grace secured the doors then moved around the perimeter of the elevator to the other set of doors. After opening them she stepped out and beckoned to the cadets, recognizing all three of them. “This way.”
They followed her into the large dining hall.
Sabrina Carson smiled when her belly rumbled. “Thank you for coming after us. I’m so hungry and thirsty at this point I could drink my own pee.”
“No need for that now or ever hopefully.” Grace opened a box and held out a water bottle. “There’s food in here as well.”
Luke placed his weapons on a table and the others did the same then pulled out chairs and passed the box around.
Extinction Cycle (Kindle Worlds Novella): Resistance Page 4
