Zed Days (Book 3): Zed Days III

by Harland, Nick

  That night cemented our bond as powerfully as every night so far had done, and none of us had words in the morning, none of us wanted to break the atmosphere between us. We silently kissed our goodbye’s and accepted our fate’s, knowing we were as close as we could ever be, and at the same time as ready as we would ever be to never to see each other again.

  Chapter Fourteen – Barbeque

  Having already driven to the junction between the A19 and the A1 we knew the route was relatively clear and we made good progress. It took some time for the atmosphere we brought with us from the morning to subside, and Eve was the first to speak while we were driving, ‘You know that even a small army base will probably have hundreds of people in it. They tend to be self-contained with a shop or two, a school, a medical centre, and housing for personnel and their families. Even a small base is still a pretty big thing.’

  I didn’t really have any idea what a military base would look like, relying entirely on images from inevitably American films to form an opinion on the subject. I nodded at Eve, ‘Ok. That sounds like a lot. If we’re lucky there were some survivors, initially at least, and they might have dented the population. If we’re really lucky there are still some survivors and they’ll join us and have a butt load of guns and ammo.’

  Eve raised her eyebrows and countered, ‘And if we’re unlucky there will be loads of freaks and a Talker and we’ll be lucky to escape the place with our lives. And if we’re really unlucky there will be a Hybrid who knows people would inevitably show up and has laid a trap. There could be Zeds with guns and we’ll drive in and be dead within a minute of doing so.’

  I swallowed hard, I hadn’t gone that far in my head and she wasn’t wrong about the possibility. If I were a Hybrid and I knew there were groups of survivors, I’d assume they’d come to try and find guns and I’d wait for them.

  We made better time than we expected as there were no blockages on the road we couldn’t push Lulu through. I thought of Mutt and although I knew a stealth mission wasn’t his kind of thing, I still kind of wished we’d decided to bring him. Having left at sunrise, it was still early when we reached the helpfully signposted turn off to the base. There was an apparently innocuous country road that seemed to run parallel to part of the base perimeter. We drove past a few cottages and sheds before a large country pub hotel with a huge parking space behind it that had a few eighteen-wheelers parked up. We drove slowly past the pub to a garage next to it, on the other side of a small turn off that led towards the base. The garage looked like it serviced HGV’s more than cars and there were two parked up.

  Eve stopped on the road outside the garage and whispered, ‘I don’t like it.’

  I felt the same. We hadn’t seen a single wandering Zed. Although we knew they had started to gather into hordes, there were still usually some shuffling around busy areas like shops and carparks. I took a moment to survey with my Zed sense but I didn’t feel any freaks. We both knew, however, that I only usually sensed them when they became agitated and charged. It was probably a little judgemental, but we both thought the chances of finding Beefcakes increased when HGV’s were around.

  Eve spoke first, ‘It looks like the airfield is between us and the housing on the base which is good. I think we need to take our time and start from a secure location. There are several big sheds and small warehouse buildings here. I think we should secure one before going any further and then snoop around the base tonight.’

  It wasn’t a bad plan. I said, ‘That sounds sensible. If we have to run, it would be useful to know the route out is clear. It could take some time to clear this little area and I still don’t like that there are no shamblers.’

  Eve looked at me blankly then nodded her head expectantly raising her eyebrows, ‘It’s just us again and as far as planning and survival you’re the brains of the operation, so how do we start. I don’t like that it’s so quiet.’

  I swallowed and readjusted my mind-set. Eve was relying on me to make the right decisions again and we had no back up, no base to run to, and no local knowledge. I let my mind race and went with it, even I was surprised by what came out. ‘I say we fire bomb the pub and see what happens.’

  Eve couldn’t stop herself, ‘What the fuck, are you crazy?’

  I gave her a moment to calm down and tried to look knowing while I worked out myself what I had said. I said, ‘I know it’s a bit extreme and there are downsides, but think about it. The local Zeds are gathered somewhere and it’s the biggest building on this road. There are a load of HGV’s around with a decent chance of Beefcakes. It looks like the hotel caters to a lot of drivers as there are barely any normal cars in the carpark. I agree we need to secure the immediate area and if the Zeds are lying in wait, it’s as likely to be in there as anywhere else.’

  Eve replied, ‘But what about the smoke, it will be visible for miles?’

  I repeated the knowing look again. Eve caught on quickly and roller her eye’s, ‘Ok, just tell me.’

  I said, ‘The smoke is a good thing. There are only two of us but we have Lulu. Dealing with Zeds out in the open is much easier than going door to door or room to room. Even if the smoke does attract Zeds from the surrounding area, they will be outside and vulnerable. If it draws Zeds out and about from the base that can only be good too. We need to know what we’re up against. Also, if there are survivors on the base it might signal them to come find us.’

  Eve nodded then said, ‘But what if it just alerts a Talker or even a Hybrid that there is someone here and gives them time to plan or even look for us?’

  I nodded, ‘That’s the risk, but they’re gonna know soon enough and right now we just need to survive until dark. If we walk into that hotel, the chances of that get smaller, so let’s take it one step at a time. We have night vision binoculars and the airfield is bound to be pretty big. Even if we alert a Talker I think we still have the upper hand.’

  Eve looked at her knees, ‘And what if there’s a Hybrid?’

  I put my hand on her thigh, smiled widely and squeezed, ‘Then we’re going to die whatever we do, so it really doesn’t matter.’

  Eve met my eyes then leant in and kissed me, ‘You know that brain of yours is fucked up right.’

  We reversed until we were outside the front of the large two story double fronted pub hotel. It had a set of double wooden front doors and a large sloping roof with a balcony from one of the rooms above the front door. It wasn’t exactly an inspiring view, but I guess when it was built it might have been. If you ignored what was either side it, it still looked over the fields that were across the road from it. Eve said, ‘I don’t need you for this one, we need to block doors, and the back doors if we can get to them. Watching a Zed burn is still easier and less risky than running it over.’

  There was a lonely wooden picnic table outside the front of the pub and it looked heavy enough. We spent a few minutes looking through the large front windows but it was gloomy inside and although we both thought we saw some movement, there was no way of estimating numbers. We left the engine running and dashed out to grab the table and move it in front doors. We both groaned as our backs strained to find that the table was screwed down. We dashed back to the car to re-group.

  We hadn’t even closed the door before Eve was complaining, ‘Who the fuck screws down a heavy old picnic table outside a pub in the middle of fucking nowhere?’

  She didn’t wait for a reply before ramming Lulu into first gear and manoeuvring her towards the table. She didn’t stop to try and push the table but hit it at a couple of miles an hour. There was a splintering sound and Lulu hesitated for a moment before the table tipped over and there was another louder splintering sound. The table top dug into the grass and I had to shout at Eve, ‘Stop, you’re going to destroy it.’

  Eve stopped, smiled, and a rolled her eyes theatrically, ‘Alright, if you say so.’

  We backed up and waited, but nothing came out of the pub. We made a dash again and hauled the table in front of the d
oors, tipping it onto its side so the table top was jammed against them. It was heavy and we were sweating by the time we were done, but there were still no Zeds.

  When we got back to the car Eve said, ‘Are you sure there’s a horde in there? I would have thought they might have charged by now.’

  I replied, ‘Probably not a horde but maybe twenty or more. Truckers usually travel alone and it was still very early hotel season when it all happened, so I doubt they were full by any means. If we haven’t made any come out by now, it might be that there isn’t even a Talker. If there are Zeds in there, they’re probably doing the whole lie in wait until they have line of sight to fresh meat thing. If there was someone in charge they would have worked out what we were doing and we’d be playing bumper cars by now.’

  We drove around the back to check out the other exits. The obviously old building had two huge extensions tagged onto the side and back. It was an ugly hotchpotch but the whole place was ugly so the planners plainly didn’t give a shit. The lack of doors was strange. There was one single door at the back and one up some ugly steel stairs that must have been a fire escape route at the side. There was one medium sized car amongst the huge HGV’s parked behind the pub and although the handbrake was on and it took a while, Lulu managed to push it up against the back door; still no Zeds.

  We looked up at the first story door and I was mulling over the options when Eve said, ‘Fuck it I’m bored, let’s just do this thing shall we. Like you say, it doesn’t look like anyone’s in charge of the dumb fucks in which case they probably won’t organise themselves enough to stream out of a fire escape door upstairs. Let’s barbeque.’

  She wasn’t wrong and we’d already put a lot of effort into one building without knowing how many Zeds were inside. We drove around the front and organised a petrol bomb each. Before Eve could say anything I said, ‘I’ll go around the side on foot. One of these needs to go through a side window at least. We should shoot the windows first so we definitely get them through. I’ll wait until I hear you before doing mine, then you drive around and pick me up. We should do one at the back as well if we can.’

  Eve looked at me questioningly so I added, ‘It’s ok. I can run a short distance just as fast as you can, but you’re better at driving if it goes tits up. I’ll be fine.’

  I grabbed my M9 and my petrol bomb and walked cautiously around the side of the building, giving it a wide berth. A minute later there was a shot and I waited a few seconds then shot out my window, lit my bomb, and threw it. I was admiring my work when I heard Lulu rev and Eve beep the horn. I turned to see her accelerating towards me and it was as much luck as judgement that I stayed routed to the spot. I heard the Zed groan just before I heard it splatter against Lulu’s plough.

  Eve ground to a halt a few feet past me and I looked around for any other threats. There was one other shambler coming from the direction of the garage, picking up speed as it headed towards me. I raised my hand to let Eve know I was fine and unhooked the crowbar from my side. The shambler raised its hands and reached for me. I thought of Esme as I sidestepped and swept it past me before whacking it in the back of the head. It went down immediately.

  Eve shouted, ‘Get in’, but I quickly searched the Zed first and found a key fob with a Mercedes badge on it. Smiling, I got into the passenger seat, ‘Thanks for that.’

  Eve forced a smile, ‘It’s ok, I was headed in that direction anyway.’

  Before she could continue I said, ‘I know, that was dumb, I should have been more alert. I know it’s just us now and it won’t happen again, I promise.’

  Eve sighed, ‘It better fucking not, I have plans for you tonight. It’s been a while since I’ve had you all to myself and although it’s awesome with three, and Esme is gorgeous, it changes things and there’s stuff I miss.’

  I thought about it and she was right. I guessed her intent and with a big smile on my face I said, ‘Yes mistress.’

  Eve gently put her soft hand on the side of my face and with a sparkle in her eye she said, ‘Fucking right, yes mistress. I’d have you right now, but I think we need to be on our toes while this all goes off.’

  Eve drove back to the front of the building and we waited while the subdued dark reds from inside became dancing and bright and smoke began to pour out of the broken window. It took about ten minutes before things really got going and we saw flames spread upstairs and then across to the windows on the other side of the front door.

  We heard some banging from inside and it was hard to tell if it was Zeds or just things collapsing. At one stage something hit the front door, but we didn’t have time to think about it because a second later a burning Beefcake charged through the wooden railings around the balcony, landing face first on the grass ten feet in front of us. It roared on its way down but was silent the moment it hit the floor.

  Neither of us relished thinking about what we had done, but we were well beyond feeling bad about it. Eve drove around the side of the building and parked in the rear lot. The flames were everywhere now and a thick black column of smoke rose from the roof, which billowed and puffed like one huge smoke signal as the roof collapsed.

  There were still no Zeds and we cruised around the garage and up and down the road while the pub burnt. Eve parked back outside the front of the pub and turned the engine off, ‘I think if we were going to have any serious company it would have arrived by now, don’t you? We’re pretty safe with Lulu all locked up and I fancy a nibble. Mistress says that you’ve been a good boy and what with all the heat from our handy work, she’s hot.’

  ‘Mistress says put your seat back and stay right where you are. Don’t move a muscle unless she says so.’

  With that, Eve climbed over from her seat until she was straddling me and leant forwards to nuzzle in my neck while she pressed the button that reclined the seat. I was ever thankful for Lulu’s generous cabin size.

  Smiling at me and wriggling a little on top of me as she felt my response to her closeness she said, ‘You may take my bra off but not my tee-shirt, and we’ll go from there.’

  I was about to say, ‘Ok’ when she barked, ‘Ah! Did I say you could talk? You mouth uses muscles and I don’t recall saying you could move it. So disappointing when you’ve been such a good boy so far. I’ll give you that one slip, but let’s not do it again or this might not end up quite as well as it could. Now, as I said, you may take my bra off but that’s all.’

  It was hard to resist the big smile that desperately wanted access to my face, but I knew Eve would say that was unwarranted movement too. I leant forwards so I could reach her bra strap and so she couldn’t see me release the smile. As I undid her bra she said, ‘Don’t think I don’t know what just happened, but at least we understand each other now. Now sit back and finish the job. I wouldn’t expect your hands would need to touch my lovely soft breasts to remove my bra though, so do be careful, you’re going to work very hard to earn your privileges.’

  Having undone her bra I moved one hand up her back to slide the strap off her shoulder, then the other. The feel of the soft smooth skin of her back was tantalizing and I got away with what contact I thought I could; she smiled but didn’t say anything. Taking my hands out from under the back of her tee-shirt I cradled one of her arms while pulling the bra strap down it and manoeuvring it through the hole. Then I repeated the exercise with the other until I was ready for the final manoeuvre.

  I hesitated for a moment realising that removing her bra from under her tee-shirt without touching her skin would take some thought. Carefully slipping both my hands up the front of her tee-shirt I found the straps hanging down and pulled on them until the bra came loose. It wasn’t hard, but resisting the temptation to brush her skin whilst doing so, was excruciating.

  I leant back in the seat and Eve smiled at me, ‘Very good. I know how hard that was. You can smile if you want to, you deserve it.’

  Tugging at her tee-shirt so it pressed against her breasts, then lifting it, pulling it way from h
er and flapping it to reveal enough under-boob to make me squirm she added in a spoilt voice, ‘But I’m still hot, what shall I do?’

  Without waiting for an answer she said, ‘Close you’re eye’s and don’t open them until I say, all rules still apply.’

  I closed my eyes and heard Eve pull her top off. Then I felt her wiggle and I knew her lovely big boobs would be swaying from side to side right in front of me. Then she shuffled up me, forcing me to slump down in the seat, and put her hands on the seat either side of my head before I felt her weight lift off me. She said, ‘Ah that’s bit better, some air. I’m still hot though, you can probably feel it. My luscious big boobs are so close to your face you couldn’t even move a millimetre without touching them, and if I move…..Woops.’

  I could feel the heat from her being so close and then I felt the touch of her skin on my cheeks as she moved forwards. I had to grab the sides of the seat to stop myself grabbing her instead. She didn’t make it easy, ‘Well that’s no good for me trying to cool down, having your hot face in my cleavage, but it does feel nice.’

  Then she moved one of her hands between my legs and said, ‘Ouch, I’m sure that feels nice in its own way, but it does feel cramped in there. Why don’t you undo your jeans and give yourself a little space.’

  I did what I was told and then Eve moved my hands back to the sides of the seat before I could adjust myself. Then she leant forwards and lifted so she could reach me more easily, and the effect was to bury my head deep in her cleavage. The urge to kiss her and grab her arse was huge but I resisted, knowing I’d have my chance, and remembering that she was teasing herself as much as she was me. I felt her hand hold me and adjust me. Squeezing me she signed, ‘I’m not the only one who’s hot am I. I’d like you to undo my jeans and take yours off please.’