“What boat?” Carter demands.
“Susan’s boat.”
“You don’t know how to drive a boat,” Jenna argues.
“I’ll have Susan show me.”
Carter turns to Ben. “Will you talk some sense into her?”
“We just need to take enough firepower to blow those fuckers to the moon and back,” Ben says. “That will take care of them. We can figure out the boat.”
Kate spins toward him, jabbing a finger into his chest. “That’s what I’m talking about. You’re in charge of pulling together everything you think we’ll need. I’ll get the alpha zom recordings.” Her mouth sets. “I’ll sic an entire horde of zombies on that bitch if I have to.”
“Mom!” Carter shouts. “This is a suicide mission!”
Kate blinks, briefly coming down from her state of focused rage. She grabs Carter in a fierce hug. “I can’t lose Alvarez, baby,” she says. “I just can’t. I already lost Lila and Jesus. I can’t lose anyone else.”
“Those were accidents,” Jenna says. “We all miss them, but it’s no one’s fault they’re gone. Don’t throw yourself away trying to fix something that can’t be fixed.”
“We can do this.” Ben steps forward. “A small guerilla team. Me. Caleb. Ash. Reed for his speed and Eric for his sniper skills. We boat down the coast. It won’t take more than seven or eight hours. Those assholes will never know what hit them. Like you said, we’ll take the alpha recording. If we can’t out-gun them, we’ll turn the zoms on them.”
Face contorted, Carter glares at Ben. “Just because you’re in love with my mom doesn’t mean you have the right to encourage her suicide mission!”
The room goes silent. Kate’s face turns red.
Ben considers crawling under a table. He stomps out of the room instead. “I’ll go get the guns.”
He slams the door behind him. Maybe sometime in the next twenty-four hours, he’ll regain some of his self-respect.
44
Apocalyptic Bounce House
KATE
“There’s only one problem with your plan,” says Susan after I lay out the bullet points to the assembled group. “My boat is almost out of fuel. It’s the reason Gary was in the water when he was attacked by the shark. He was siphoning gas.”
I pace, chewing at my bottom lip as I sort through options. “Can boats use regular gas?” There are enough abandoned cars around.
Susan shakes her head. “No. They use MDO. Marine diesel oil. The closest marina is in Eureka, but there are too many zoms there. Our best option is to try the communities on the west side of the bay. Lots of homes there have docks and boats. We can siphon from them. I think we have enough gas to make it across the bay.”
“Then that’s what we do.” I nod, mind racing. “This is a volunteer-only mission. You all know the risks. No one is obligated to help.”
“You’re not taking my boat unless I drive it,” Susan says. “Besides, you saved Gary’s life. This is the least I can do to repay the favor.”
“I’m going.” Leo folds his arms over his chest. “Rosario raided our lab and stole some of the proprietary hybrids we developed. Butchered them and sold them on the illegal market. I’ve been wanting to get back at that bitch for years.”
“Great.” I nod to Susan and Leo, grateful for the help. “We need to be packed and ready to leave by sunrise.” That’s a little less than two hours. “Are there any other volunteers?”
To my surprise, nearly everyone volunteers. Even Carter and Jenna, despite the fact they think this is a kamikaze mission. I chose the four people Ben named to round out the team: Caleb, Ash, Reed, and Eric.
Carter is pissed I’m leaving. My son doesn’t get mad very often. But when he’s mad, he stays mad. For a long time. I can only hope to earn his forgiveness.
“You and Jenna are in charge while I’m gone,” I tell them. “Keep up the workouts. Focus the rest of your days on scavenging and installation of new solar panels for the indoor gardens.”
Carter is so furious he can’t make eye contact with me. Jenna gives me a hug. “Be safe, Kate.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.” I kiss Carter on the cheek, pretending he isn’t giving me the cold shoulder. If I die on this mission, he’ll remember that I love him.
I find Ben in the armory organizing firearms. I feel awkward after the thing Carter said. I decide to use the same tactic I’ve been using ever since our awkward kiss. When I enter the armory, I pretend like nothing happened.
“Think we have what we need to take down Rosario?” I ask.
Ben doesn’t look up. “Long-range weapons and explosives,” he says. “Those will be our best line of defense to take these fuckers down. We also have a handful of compact travel rifles that fold in half and fit into a pack.”
I take in the two large backpacks filled with weapons and explosives. “Ben, you don’t have to come. This is my fight.”
He gives me a flat, what-the-fuck look. “This woman chained bells to your neck and set zombies after you, Kate. She deserves to be strung up by her entrails. That’s exactly what I’m going to do if I get my hands on her first.” He goes back to sorting weapons.
“Everyone you named agreed to come with us.”
He snorts. “Of course they did. There isn’t a person in this place who wouldn’t follow you into hell, Mama Bear.”
“Susan and Leo are coming, too. Susan to pilot the boat. Leo to get revenge on Rosario.”
“Good. We can use their help. Don’t forget the alpha recordings. Wish those kids had time to get more than that single command.” Ben slaps some extra magazines into a backpack. “Do you mind grabbing my bug-out pack and running shoes from my room? I’ll meet you downstairs with the rest of the ammo.”
“Sure, Ben,” I say, grateful to have his help on this mission. “See you downstairs.”
“SHIT. THIS SUCKS.” Susan runs a hand over her face, pursing her lips as she stares at her boat.
We stand ankle-deep in the swampy waters of Humboldt Bay. Fairhaven, the charter ship, has been left to its own devices for weeks. It’s become wedged in the soil and lists to one side.
“She’s going to be a bitch to get out of that mud,” Susan continues. “It’s going to take some time.”
Alvarez doesn’t have time. Lives are depending on us. We’ve wasted enough time just getting here.
Crossing the highway hadn’t been any easier this time. We had the trick of setting off car alarms to draw the zombies away, but Eric still managed to get himself grabbed by a zombie with broken legs that was stuck under a car. Only Reed’s quick reflexes had saved him.
“Let’s not stand around with our thumbs up our asses,” Ben growls, sloshing through the water to the boat. “Let’s get our gear loaded and get this girl out to sea.”
We have two large backpacks crammed with munitions. To me, it looks like enough to resupply a small army. For the first time, I’m glad I know how to fire a gun. I won’t hesitate to shoot Rosario if I have the chance.
Caleb and Eric climb into the boat while the rest of us pass gear up to them.
“See if you can find a tarp or something to put over the weapons in case it rains,” Ben says.
“Aye-aye, captain,” Caleb says with a mock salute.
The look Ben gives Caleb has enough rancor to level a city block. The tension between the two men is electric.
“I haven’t figured out why those two don’t like one another,” Leo whispers.
“Neither of them talk about it,” I whisper back. “
Once we get our gear loaded, I turn to Susan. “Now what?”
“The good news is that the tide is in. A captain is never without her tide chart.” Susan taps her jacket pocket. “I checked before we headed out. Good thing I have one that goes through the end of the year.”
“What’s the bad news?” Ben asks.
“Hold up,” Susan replies. “There’s more good news. The bow of the boat isn’t stuck in the mud. Only
the stern.”
“But that’s where the propeller is,” Caleb says with a frown. “We sort of need the propeller.”
“Are you ready for the last piece of good news?” Susan says.
“You have a secret M&M stash downstairs?” Reed asks.
“Not quite, but it’s almost as good as that. There are seven of us, which means we have at least a thousand pounds between us.”
“That’s good news?” Leo asks. “Won’t we just grind the boat farther into the mud?”
“Not if we’re all standing in the bow. Come on.” Susan leads the way, herding us all toward the front of the boat. “The theory is simple. We stand on the bow together and jump up and down until we get the stern out of the mud.”
We all stare at her.
“Like an apocalyptic bounce house?” Reed asks.
Susan grins. “Exactly.”
Under Susan’s direction, we pile around the bow, all of us standing on the lip and gripping the railing. If Susan wasn’t adamant that this was a tried and true method of freeing a boat that had run aground, I’d think she was delusional.
“We need to synchronize our jumps,” Susan says. “Everyone, squat down.”
We obey, dropping onto the balls of our feet and using the railing for balance.
“On the count of three, everyone needs to push up in a jumping motion. Make sure you don’t let go of the railing or you could end up in the mud. Ready? One, two, three!”
We shove. To my amazement, the entire back end of the boat shifts upward. Not a lot, but enough for my skepticism to morph into hope.
“Let’s do it again,” Susan says. “One, two, three!”
For a second time, we crouch down and jump. The stern of the boat shifts again.
“We need to get a rhythm going,” Susan says. “No more long pauses between each jump. Ready? On my count. One, two, three! One, two, three!”
We push in time to her count, rocking the boat up and down. With each jump, the back of the boat lifts a few inches higher.
“Who needs a tow truck when you have an apocalyptic bounce house?” Reed asks with a laugh. “This is kind of fun.”
“Focus,” Susan tells him. “We’re almost there. One, two, three! One, two, three!”
The back end of the boat abruptly lifts free. At the same time, the front of the boat tips forward at a dangerous angle. Ash slides off the bow and lands in the muddy water below.
“Shit,” she snarls, getting to her feet and shaking off the muck. “I didn’t bring a change of pants.”
None of us had room for much in our running packs. The whole point of them is to pack light so we can move fast if necessary.
“On the bright side,” Susan calls down to her, “we got the propeller out.”
“It’s not your ass that’s muddy and wet,” Ash replies.
The Fairhaven bobs in the shallow water, rocking in the gentle current. Ash climbs onto the deck and Susan hands her a dry shirt.
“It’s the best I can do.” She gives an apologetic shrug. “I used all the towels on Gary’s leg.”
“We have to tell Johnny about this,” Eric says. “This needs to go in his book.”
“Which one?” Caleb asks. “That guy has a lot of different notebooks.”
“How to Thrive in the Apocalypse, for sure,” Reed replies. “Everyone needs to know about the apocalyptic bounce house method. It’s brilliant.”
“It’s standard protocol for a grounded boat,” Susan replies.
“That doesn’t make it any less brilliant.”
I look down at my watch, which I set to zero just after my conversation with Alvarez. It’s already been five hours since we spoke to him. The first prisoner of Mr. Rosario will be executed in nineteen hours unless we stop her.
“Everyone grab a seat,” Susan says. “Time to sail out of shallow waters and find some gas.”
45
Out of Gas
BEN
The Fairhaven trundles along. It’s not a fast boat by any stretch of the imagination, but after traveling exclusively on foot for over six months, it feels like they’re moving at warp speed.
“There.” Susan raises a hand and points. “Manila. That’s where we’ll look for gas.”
“That wouldn’t happen to be the marina where Gary got attacked, would it?” Eric asks.
Susan’s cheerful expression evaporates. “No. The shark attack was several miles south. Sharks don’t usually come this far up in the bay. I’m hoping the waters will be clear of zombies and sharks.”
Ben squints. The microscopic town is a brownish smudge on the horizon. It doesn’t look promising in his opinion, but he keeps his mouth shut. They’re fucked if there’s no fuel. They’re double fucked if there are zombies and sharks in the water.
As though on cue, the Fairhaven sputters and lurches in the water.
“Dammit.” Susan pushes the throttle. “Come on, baby,” she murmurs, urging her boat forward. “Get mama to the shore.”
Ben lets out a breath as the boat motors on, once again pushing through the water.
“What happened?” Leo asks from where he stands at the bow.
“I told you we were low on fuel,” Susan replies. “I think it is now safe to say we are dangerously low.”
“What’s the difference between low and dangerously low?” Reed asks.
Ben snorts. It’s impossible for him to hold back his words. “It’s the difference between driving to Manila and swimming to Manila.”
Kate frowns at him. Fuck it. He gives her a non-apologetic shrug. He’s an asshole. Everyone knows it.
“Ben isn’t wrong.” Susan watches the growing smudge of Manila. She rubs a loving hand across the dash of the boat. “Come on, baby. Mama doesn’t want to go for a swim today.”
Ash mutters something cross in Spanish.
“I second whatever you just said,” Ben tells her. “It sounded cranky.”
“I didn’t bring a swimsuit,” she replies.
This brings a few chuckles. Ben just feels grim. He’s pretty sure no one packed a swimming suit. That means if someone goes into the water, they’re either going in fully clothed or in their underwear.
The Fairhaven gives another lurch, stalling in the bay. Ben watches Kate and measures the mounting anxiety on her face. She starts looking this way when she’s contemplating something particularly nuts.
It’s her concern for Alvarez. He understands it, even if Alvarez isn’t a personal friend.
The Fairhaven coughs and spits in protest, then keeps going. Ben lets out a breath. He focuses on the approaching landmass, willing it to come closer, closer ...
The charter boat gives one last sputter. Then another.
Then the engine clicks off.
Silence fills the air, so loud his eardrums feel the pressure. In the distance comes the cry of seagulls.
“Damn.” Susan’s voice is the only sound beside that of the gulls.
Kate’s face is pinched, her jaw set as she gazes at the shoreline of Manila. The hamlet is a solid quarter mile away. Ben already knows what she’s thinking.
He heads her off at the pass. No way is he going to let her risk her life.
“I’ll go.” He stands, unbuttoning the shirt of his fatigues.
Caleb turns sharp eyes on him. “Me, too. I completed in a few triathlons. I’m a good open water swimmer.”
Of course he is. “Fucking golden boy,” Ben mutters.
“You guys sure about this?” Leo says as he comes around from the bow.
“It’s not safe,” Kate says.
“Tell me you weren’t planning to jump into the water thirty seconds ago,” Ben says to her.
She doesn’t respond.
He snorts and tosses his shirt aside, next going for his shoes.
“We’ll find some gas,” Caleb says. “Then we’ll find a boat or a kayak or something and come back.”
“I’ll go, too,” Ash says, rising. “Safety in numbers.”
“No.�
� Kate stops her. “I don’t want our group fractioned any more than it already is.” Her attention turns to Ben and Caleb. “You get gas and get back here as fast as you can. In one piece. Understand?”
Caleb gives her a somber salute as he hands his shirt to Ash. “Yes, ma’am.” There is no mock or teasing on his face this time.
Susan studies the coastline through the binoculars. “The waters look clear,” she reports. “Zombies sink when they fall into the water. Be careful as you get closer to shore.”
“No shark fins?” Caleb asks.
“No shark fins.”
“Eric, rooftop,” Ben says. “Get the rifle ready. You see a shark fin, you shoot.”
“Got it.” Eric grabs a rifle, scrambling onto the rooftop of the Fairhaven.
Ben removes his belt from the loops of his pants and refastens it above his waist, double checking the strap on his knife to make sure the blade won’t slip free in the water. Then he hands both of his guns to Reed. “Hold onto these until I get back.”
“Be careful out there.” Reed takes his gun. Then he removes his knife and zom bat from his belt. “Take these. Mama Bear always tells us to have a Plan B and Plan C whenever possible.
“Thanks, kid.”
Ash also exchanges her spare weapons for Caleb’s firearms.
“I’m taking notes,” Eric says, even though he doesn’t have a pen or a notebook in hand. “You both better come back. Johnny will expect precise details for his book.”
“I meant it when I said you better come back in one piece.” Kate puts her hands on her hips as she faces Ben.
“Only way I could possibly come back,” Ben replies. All the drama is making him edgy. Not giving himself time to think too hard on what needs to happen next, he sheds his pants.
Ben’s never paid too much attention to his body. It’s always served him well enough and gotten the job done. And hell, he’s pushing fifty. Though he’s lean and fit, his muscles aren’t what they once were. He’s scarred and tattooed and has an uneven tan.
Undead Ultra Box Set | Books 1-4 Page 82
