They exited the room and crept down the hall. Tank gently opened the doors and listened. “Sounds like their above us now. Let’s move.”
Going down the stairs was much easier than going up, and moments later they made it to the main floor.
They ran down the hall to the window that they had originally broken into and climbed out. Once outside, Tank made them all turn their flashlights off. The night was cold and clear. There was a partial moon that cast an eerie glow on the snowy city. Joe could just make out the grey Hummer sitting in the corner of the parking lot at a weird angle.
“Over there.” Joe pointed at the Hummer. “That’s their vehicle. We should take it.”
They all looked at the vehicle, but Tank was the first to notice the faint silhouette of a man standing in front of it. Tank put his finger to his lips to make sure everyone was quiet. Then he silently retrieved an arrow which he knocked and pulled back bow string. When he released it, there was a swoosh, and the man fell over, clutching at his chest. Tank ran toward the man. He pulled out a knife while he was running and slit the man’s throat as he reached him.
“Whoa!” said Earl, “That was awesome.”
Tank motioned them over to the Hummer. Joe ran with the dog.
He climbed in the back beside Earl. The Hummer was a big vehicle, but it wasn’t meant to hold five adults and a dog. Kevin jumped into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. They drove away from the hotel, leaving their pursuers behind.
Tank gave Kevin directions as they found their way through the snow to the train station. In the back, Earl looked at the dog in Joe’s arms.
“She’s still alive.” said Earl. He held his fingers to the dog’s chest. “Pulse feels strong. She must only be unconscious.”
“Pull over to the side of the road and turn out the lights,” said Tank. “We’re going to have to walk it from here.”
Kevin looked at his watch. “It’s after midnight now, so we’re going to have to run.”
They jogged down the road. Joe was relieved when Tank offered to carry the dog. Even with the extra weight, Tank was faster than the rest of them. They turned into a wooded area and ran through the snow. Fortunately, the temperature had cooled a bit that night, and most of the ground was frozen. Once they got further into the woods, they had to use their flashlights to see where they were going. They held their hands over the ends of the flashlights to try to dim the light so it wouldn’t be spotted as easy. As they trotted through the snow, the slow chug of the train could be heard as it began to move.
“We better start running faster!” yelled Joe. They all picked up speed and flew out of the woods. The train was starting to gain speed, and they had to jog beside it to jump on. Kevin went first, stepping onto the bottom rung of the ladder that led to the top of the car. Once on, he held his hand out for Camille, who grabbed it and climbed up past him. He then grabbed the dog from Tank and climbed up to the top of the car with Camille. Tank, and then Joe followed. Joe looked back from where they came.
“Where’s Earl?” he yelled.
The train was gaining speed, but there was no sign of the old man. Finally, Camille yelled, “There he is!”
Behind them, they could see a dark sharp emerge from the trees and run to the back of train and disappear.
“Did he make it?” asked Kevin.
“I think he got on the last car,” replied Joe. The train was speeding up, and they struggled to hold on.
“The station’s coming up soon”, yelled Tank. “We need to lie down, so no one sees us as we go by.” He motioned with his hands, and they all lay down flat. Joe was relieved that as they passed the station, there was no yelling or shooting.
As the train approached full speed it became difficult to hold on. The car that they were on was an oil tanker, so Joe knew they would have to find another car. They crouch-walked on the car towards the next train car. The thin layer of snow made their crawl slippery.
Tank, who was in the lead, held his hand up for them to stop. Then he pointed down, indicating they needed to go down to the coupling between the cars. They followed him down, with Kevin passing down the dog to Joe. The dog started to wake up.
The car in front of them was a storage car that could be loaded on to a ship or carried by a transport truck. Tank pulled the bolt cutters out of his pack, cut the locks and pulled open the door. The rest of them followed him in. Kevin pulled the door shut behind him. Once the door closed, the clatter from the train and howl of the cold wind suddenly stopped. Except for the thin rays of light peeking through the cracks in the door, it was dark. Camille was the first to find her flashlight and turn it on. The back of the car was full except for one metre where they stood. The rest was filled with crates. There was a narrow passageway down the centre.
The dog was starting to fuss. Joe sat on the floor, cradling the dog. Tank was moving through the passage, trying to get a look at the crates. “Tank,” Joe called out, “you know first aid, right?”
Tank was still looking at the crates with his flashlight. “Yes, but not for dogs.”
“Come, on,” he pleaded, “Can you please just take a look?”
Tank came back, knelt and inspected the dog. He reached into his pack and pulled out a first aid kit. Tank opened it and pulled out a length of gauze. He looked down at the dog, who opened his eyes and growled softly. Tank handed the gauze to Joe.
“What do you want me to do with that?” Joe asked.
“She’s got a sprained leg, I think. You should wrap it.”
“What? Why can’t you?”
“No way, your dog bites.”
Joe talked softly to the dog and gently wrapped the leg. She growled at him but didn’t bite.
“What about Earl?” asked Kevin.
“Yeah,” said Camille, “shouldn’t we be going out there to find him?”
“We can’t do that,” said Tank.
“Why not?” asked Joe.
“Because he’s in the last car, and between us and that caboose he’s riding are soldiers. I also saw a car with fully manned anti-aircraft guns.”
Joe looked up at him. “Why are there manned anti-aircraft guns on this train?”
“Is it for protection against the gangs?” asked Camille.
“I think it’s a little overkill for gangs,” said Kevin. Camille shrugged.
“Those guns,” said Tank, “are there for the same reason that the train station was so heavily guarded. It’s the same reason the highways are blocked. It’s the same reason that the crates in this car are full of ammunition and firearms.”
They all looked at him wide-eyed, waiting.
“This country is under attack.”
“What?” From who?” asked Joe.
“I don’t know.”
They sat huddled in the back of the car as the train clanked down the tracks. It was cold in the car, but at least they couldn’t feel the wind. The dog slept peacefully in Joe’s arms.
An hour later, as Tank got up to stretch, they heard the sound of boots walking on top of the car. Tank turned out his flashlight, and they listened in silence. One of the men on their car was yelling instructions that Joe couldn’t make out. Someone jumped down in front of their door and opened it. The soldier had a light on the end of his rifle, which lit up the inside of the car, revealing the group inside. Tank went to grab his bow from the ground, but the soldier yelled, “Don’t you dare!” The soldier went to grab his radio when Joe saw Camille make a quick movement. A small knife flew through the air and lodged itself in the man’s arm. He gasped in surprise and then fell backwards through the open door behind him. A distinct squashing sound could be heard as the man disappeared under the train.
“Camille, you can’t be killing Canadian soldiers,” said Tank.
“Technically, the train killed him, besides what were you going to do with your bow?”
Before he could respond, the distinct sound of jets could be heard whistling overhead. At the same time, the booming rat
-a-tats of the anti-aircraft guns were felt as much as heard. Suddenly, there was the sound of explosions. Tank threw open the door at the back of the car all the way. He stood between the cars and yelled one word. “Jump!”
When no one moved, he yelled, “Tuck and roll!” and grabbed Camille by her backpack and threw her off the train. Kevin stepped out slowly, and Tank threw him off too. Joe was sure he heard the man reciting the Lord’s Prayer as he disappeared into the night.
Tank yelled at Joe, “Throw the dog.” He threw the dog and then jumped after it before Tank had a chance to throw him too.
He cringed more than he tucked, and tumbled more than he rolled. Joe closed his eyes as he bounced across ground. When he finally stopped rolling and lay flat on his back, he opened his eyes. Flashes of light pierced through the cold night sky, and gunfire seemed to be coming from everywhere. There was a massive explosion and the night sky lit up like it was daytime. He was lifted off the ground and thrown through the air. Everything went black.
Chapter 32
The next morning at the cozy cabin next to the museum, Monique woke up to the sounds of fighter jets screeching overhead.
For the past few days, they had gotten settled in the little cabin. Monique’s leg was still sore, and she suspected it might be getting infected.
She couldn’t do much but sit in the cabin, feed and change Olivia and keep the fire going. Zach and Ayesha, however, were getting things done. They fed Dora and Boots the oats they had brought from the farm. Zach carried in more firewood from outside. They both went into the museum and explored it thoroughly for anything useful. Zach found some tape to fix his glasses so they would stay on his face by themselves. He also retrieved Warren’s rifle and found three boxes of bullets in the purple pickup. Ayesha found some food in the museum store and the worker’s break room and brought back more fur pelts, rabbit fur hats, mitts and snowshoes.
They brought all their loot back to the cabin.
“Those are some awesome finds, guys,” Monique said, watching them smile proudly. “You didn’t happen to find any disposable diapers, did you?”
“No, and there wasn’t chocolate either,” said Zach.
Ayesha shook her head, “I found some real food. I found a bag of oatmeal for Dora and Boots and some canned stew.”
“With chunks of real llama!” joked Zach.
Later that evening, after eating their chunky beef stew, Monique and Ayesha changed her bandages. It wasn’t bleeding, but was covered in yellow pus.
“I think its infected,” said Monique. She was starting to feel a little sick and hoped it was just the junk food.
Ayesha started crying. “I’m sorry, I didn’t do it right. I should have boiled the hook and fishing line and…”
“It’s not your fault. You did the best you could. We’ll put some more alcohol on it for now. Tomorrow you two are going on a field trip to get some supplies.”
Zach looked up. “Normally, we would go to the museum for a field trip, not leave the museum for a field trip.”
The joke lightened the mood, and Ayesha giggled and shook her head as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“I’ll make a list,” she said, lifting Olivia and smelling her butt, “and the first thing on that list is diapers!”
The next morning, Zach and Ayesha put on their backpacks and headed out.
“Avoid all people. Do not talk or go near anybody and use the gun as a last resort to scare people away,” Monique warned them before they left. She was starting to feel hot and woozy and laid back to take a nap.
Zach and Ayesha trekked into the light snow with Dora, the sled, the pistol, flashlights, Roxie and Monique’s list.
The museum was near the suburbs, and they stopped at the first house they saw. Zach went up to the door and knocked. He heard a “who’s there?” from inside and left before they came to the door. The next house was empty. But the moment Zach opened the door, the stench made him gag.
He backed out, covering this nose and mouth. “We have to remember to put a black flag on their mailbox, when we find one.”
The next house was small and empty, and it didn’t smell like anyone had died in it. They searched the house and found a sewing box with thread in every colour of the rainbow and few cans of beans in the cupboard.
“I think we can do better than canned green beans,” said Zach putting the beans back in the cupboard.
The next house was a large two-story house with an empty driveway, and the windows boarded up.
“They wouldn’t board it up if they were living in it, would they?” asked Ayesha.
“Note likely, but we might have a hard time getting in,” said Zach. “Let’s try around back.” They left Dora in the front and walked around the side of the house. As they rounded the corner to the back yard, Roxie started growling.
“What is it, girl?” asked Ayesha, adjusting her backpack.
Neither of them could see or hear anybody, so they kept walking.
“It looks like they didn’t put boards on the back doors and windows,” said Zach as he walked to the back-sliding door.
“Uh-oh!” said Ayesha.
From around the hedges, five dogs appeared. They were all different breeds, including a Rottweiler, a Pomeranian, a Terrier and a Poodle. Their fur was matted and dirty, and they were baring their teeth and growling.
“It looks like the dog show from hell, said Zach as he tried opening the door.
A massive Rottweiler stood one step in front of the others. Roxie held her ground as the pack began to pace in front of them.
“Hurry up with that door,” said Ayesha, her voice rising in fear.
“It won’t…open.” He pulled as hard as he could, but there was no movement.
“Can we break the glass?”
“Even if I could, they would just follow us in.”
“We have to do something!” She was yelling now.
“Let me think,” he said frantically searching for a solution.
“I’m going to try that window.” He pointed to the small window above a garbage can.
“You can’t leave me,” she pleaded.
“Roxie will protect you, and when I’m in, I’ll open the door.”
He slowly made his way to the window, hugging the brick wall. One of the dogs snapped at him but pulled back as Roxie barked loudly and feigned a lunge. Zach climbed onto the metal garbage can and reached up to the window. He pushed and pulled, but it wouldn’t budge. He pulled as hard as he could, but his gloved hand slipped. He lost his balance and the garbage can tipped over, spilling him onto the ground. He crab-walked backwards away from the Poodle, but it bit down on his boot. Zach used his other foot to kick the dog hard in the face, and it released its grip.
The dogs started to get more aggressive, making quick dashes towards them and snapping. Roxie fended them off, but Zach knew this wasn’t going to last.
“Don’t you have a gun?” asked Ayesha.
“You want me to shoot the dogs?”
Ayesha looked at the little snarling Pomeranian. “No, I guess not, but what if you shoot over their heads to scare them away?”
“I could try…” He aimed the gun over the dog’s heads and pulled the trigger. Instantly the dogs went quiet. Some of the dogs scurried away, others shrunk back, but the big Rottweiler stood its ground. It barked a couple of times, and the other dogs returned.
“Plan C,” said Zach and pointed the gun at the window he was trying to open, covered his eyes and fired. The glass shattered and the dogs paused again. Zach took their pause to put the garbage can back up and climb on top. He used his glove to break the larger shards that remained. He took his coat off and laid it across the bottom of the window and crawled through. His backpack got caught momentarily but then released, and he fell headfirst into a laundry basket. Zach got to his feet, ran out of the laundry room to the back door. Although he unlocked the sliding door, he was still unable to get it open. Ayesha was now banging on the window as the
dogs were closing in on her and Roxie.
Zach took a step back to look at the door and saw the broomstick handle holding the door closed. He removed it and opened the door. Ayesha came in, but Roxie was unable to turn around without being attacked. Zach stepped outside the door with Roxie, yelled loudly and swung the broomstick at the Rottweiler. It connected with the side of the dog’s head, stunning him for a moment. Zach then tackled Roxie, pushing her into the house, and Ayesha slid the door closed. There was a thunk as the Rottweiler charged headfirst into the glass door. Ayesha closed the curtain and threw her arms around Zach.
“We did it! We’re safe!”
Zach awkwardly removed himself from her embrace. “Yes, that was quite intense.”
“Ahhhh!” yelled Ayesha. “We forgot about Dora!”
“You open the curtains and keep their attention while I try to find a way to bring the llama in the house,” said Zach.
The dogs were pacing around the back yard, and Ayesha had to open the door slightly to get their attention. Zach was unable to open the front door because it had plywood nailed to it. He went to the garage and found a small vehicle with a black cover. He walked around it and unlocked the garage door. Snow had drifted against the door, making it difficult to open. He heaved as hard as he could and managed to push the door open. Zach looked into the driveway, but the llama was gone.
Are you supposed to call llamas?
“Dora!” he yelled, “Dora, here boy…or girl.” The llama did not come running, but he did hear some of the feral dogs from the back yard coming his way. He closed the door and went back inside.
“Where’s Dora?” asked Ayesha.
“She must have got spooked and ran away. We’ll have to find her later. Let’s check this house out first.”
Other than the fact that they were trapped, the house was like a gift from God. There were no dead or living bodies, and they were able to get most of the items on their list. Ayesha found a baby’s room with diapers and cloths and other weird baby stuff. She found a cute pink bunny rattle that she added to her stash in her backpack. Zach went to the large bathroom and found a sewing kit in the vanity alongside an assortment of pill bottles. “What kind of pills are we looking for?” he yelled.
Black Flag | Book 1 | Surviving The Scourge Page 22
