by R J Murray
Jacob patted his friend on the back, watching him waddle down the stairs and shook his head softly. He liked the man, had hunted with him more than once and while they may not agree on everything, he was as close to a best friend as Jacob had.
Which made it all the harder to watch him go, knowing that the likelihood of him making it out of the lodge, let alone through the forest and to safety, was low. There was nothing he could do about that however and he had something else on his mind.
He nodded to the two American frat boys and led the way through the building. It seemed appropriate to use the sliding doors in his own room to get out onto the balcony that ran around the length of the building.
They slipped out onto the balcony, spreading out and pressing close to the wall where they couldn’t be seen by the creatures down below. Jacob motioned them both to stay put as he hunched over and crept to the railing.
With an almost infinite level of patience, he slowly rose, until he could see over the railing. His eyes moved, scanning the ground, assessing as he watched the milling infected men and women.
A small group picked over the remains of the deer. A large amount of blood splashed snow that had been churned up around it indicated that there had been a fight over the remains, resulting in it being torn apart and spread around as they devoured it.
More of them moved around the exterior of the lodge, searching for food or somewhere to hide away from the cold until food could be found. Several had crawled beneath the truck and huddled there together.
It seemed to be an instinctive thing for them. They didn’t care about the cold in general, and their bodies burned hot but clearly not hot enough to stave off the frostbite he saw on several of them. When they needed to wait though, they would press their bodies together to conserve heat.
Doubtless, when they formed their little-huddled masses, some on the outside might die of cold in the night but the others on the inside especially would be warm and could awaken to make a meal of their dead companions.
He shook his head slowly at that thought. It wasn’t a pleasant one but he’d seen worse in his time in the army than just cannibalism. He paused as he watched one of the infected run on all fours through the snow, not stopping when it needed to piss, just leaving a trail in the snow and down its leg.
Whatever they were now, they weren’t men and women anymore he realised. That made shooting them easier but presented a whole slew of new problems. Namely, how infectious were they? If they contaminated water with their piss and shit, what effect would it have on people who unknowingly drank from that water? Was it just in their blood or saliva too? He knew bites seemed to turn people so that likely answered that question.
One of the boys crawled over to him, Adam, he thought and said, “what’s the plan old man?”
He lifted his rifle, a smile forming on his face as he said, “we stand up and let them see us.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
“Why not shoot them?” Adam asked through clenched teeth.
“Too likely they’ll get riled up and break in. If we just let them see us, then they’ll try and climb over each other to get to us.”
“Sounds fucking stupid,” Adam said. “Better idea is to thin the herd…”
He broke off as a howl split the air. Half-rising to peer over the balcony as Jacob did the same. Something had alarmed the infected. They were massed in a blood-covered crowd before the main doors, throwing themselves against the glass.
“Oh crap!” Jacob said, rising swiftly to his feet and raising his rifle to his shoulder.
The plan was gone and the only hope now was to kill as many as they could before they made it inside.
“Fire!” he yelled as the glass doors shattered and the first of them ran inside.
Chapter 16
Clive backed away from the door as the sound of gunshots echoed around the building. Most were from upstairs he thought, but some were from nearby.
He took the rifle that was passed to him without thinking and blinked as a box of bullets were thrust into his hands. His eye’s met Terri’s and he saw the fear there, but for the life of him couldn’t get words to form, his mouth was so dry.
“Here,” Terri said, grabbing a carving knife from where it was mounted on the wall. “Shove it under the door.”
“What?”
“Like a doorstop,” she said. “Will stop it opening.”
A scream sounded, high pitched and full of pain and terror. The sound of a man dying and the gathered people all stood frozen, listening to that anguished scream. Tears were in Elise’s eyes and Alan was pale, while Mandy had a look of determination on her face.
She gathered as many knives as she could and began stuffing them beneath the door and then in the thin gap at either side. As many as she could find, one after another she pushed them in as far as they could go.
“Back door,” Martin said as he nodded approval at her work. “Now!”
“What about Jacob and the others?” Terri asked.
“They’re on their own,” he replied already headed towards the door. “Unless you want to try and help them.”
He reached the door and grasped the handle. It turned easily in his hand and he pulled it open before rushing through.
A snarling infected man hit him full on, dragging him to the ground. He had a moment to scream as teeth found his throat and then only a wet gurgle sounded as another infected leapt on him. The two of them tore chunks of flesh from him with their teeth as the men and women in the kitchen watched in horror.
“Imbécile,” Mandy muttered as she raised her rifle.
“Wait!” Clive called but it was too late.
The thunderous roar filled the room and the first Infected man’s head disappeared in a cloud of blood and flesh as the full blast of the shotgun hit him at short range. She didn’t hesitate as she cocked her gun and fired again, taking the second in the chest as it rose to its feet.
“Run!” she snapped as she stepped out of the door, gun swinging in an arc as she searched for a threat.
Alan continued to stare at his partners remains, tears running down his cheeks and it was Elise who grabbed his hand and shoved a rucksack towards him before leading him away. Terri swung her own pack on her back with a grunt and raised her rifle to her shoulder before following, while Clive wasn’t far behind.
Derrick screamed as the infected pulled him down, hitting the stairs with a thump, his shotgun dropping from his hands. Fingers tore at his clothes, teeth at his flesh and his scream cut off as his throat was torn out.
Jacob watched in silence, rifle raised to his shoulder and the infected in his sights. The urge to pull the trigger was overwhelming but with a single shot rifle, he knew he wouldn’t have time to reload before they were on him.
They’d not yet noticed him, intent as they were on their meal. More of the infected were spilling into the lounge area as another cry came from the bar area, followed by two blasts of a shotgun. He swore softly and backed away.
The two young men were still firing into the crowd below the balcony and hadn’t seemed to notice when he slipped back inside. He’d muttered something about reloading but they’d been so intent on firing that they’d paid no attention anyway. Probably hadn’t noticed when he’d locked the door behind him.
He grinned as he trotted down the corridor towards the dumb-waiter. He’d known what had happened with the girl. Not soon enough to be able to stop it, and while some of his generation might argue that she’d known what she was doing, to his mind, they’d gotten her drunk and taken advantage when she passed out. He had no problem whatsoever with leaving them to die.
The rifle went over his shoulder as he swung his legs into the dumb-waiter shaft. He gripped the chains that raised and lowered the tray tightly and let himself hang free for a moment. A howl sounded behind him and he grunted, not bothering to look back as he descended, hand over hand down the shaft.
It wasn’t far and he crouch
ed at the bottom for a moment to make sure the way was clear before slipping through. He pulled his rifle off his shoulder and swung it up as the first of the infected crashed to the bottom of the shaft.
He didn’t waste a bullet, reversing the rifle and using the butt as a club. It took three quick strikes to crack the skull and the infected went still. The next went the same way and he pulled the hatch closed as a third fell down. With the first two blocking the way it wouldn’t be able to get the hatch open anyway.
The kitchen was empty and he noted the knives stuck between the door and the frame. He nodded admiringly as he pondered who had thought of that before he pushed open the door, rifle up against his shoulder.
He noted the dead man and the two dead infected beside the body. He wouldn’t be returning to life as one of them, they only turned if they survived the initial attack. That had happened often enough at the beginning when there were so few of the infected that they could be fought off, that their numbers grew massively.
There were tracks in the snow, leading away towards the forest and he set off at a quick jog, head moving from left to right as he watched for any infected as the sounds of gunfire behind him slowed and then finally died with a cry of terror and pain.
A howl sounded behind him and he increased his pace. He didn’t need to look back to know he’d been seen and they’d be after him. Once he reached the treeline a hundred metres away he would be able to lose them amongst the fir trees. Or so he hoped.
Chapter 17
“I see him!” Terri said as she peered out through the branches of the trees. “Just him though.”
“Good,” Mandy said. “That grosse baise, Derrick, he would have slowed us down, non?”
Terri had no idea what she had said, knowingly only a little French, but she could guess. He might have slowed them down but that was no reason to be glad a man had died.
“Those two Americans too,” she said and couldn’t quite find it in her to be too upset by that. She shared a look with Elise and saw the relief warring with disgust at herself for feeling such a thing.
“Look!” Clive said as a howl cut the air.
Behind him, one of the infected had come around the side of the lodge and seen him. It had raised a cry before setting off running after him. Blood streaked its crazed face and in moments more were coming after.
“What should we do?” Terri asked, raising her rifle to her shoulder. “Should we…”
“Non,” Mandy said softly. “We need to leave before he brings them to us.”
“We can’t just leave him!” she said. “Not when we can help.”
More of the infected were setting off in pursuit and they each knew that gunshots would bring more than the dozen or so already running towards them.
Terri glanced at her lover and he nodded. Whatever else, they would do it together and they were in agreement. To leave him to die would be wrong. Clive raised his rifle too.
“Mon dieu,” Mandy said before unleashing a low litany of rapid French that Terri guessed she was glad she couldn’t understand.
“Leave if you want,” Terri said. “You all have food and your own weapons. No need to stay.”
“I’ll stay,” Elise said crouching down beside them and raising her own rifle.
“Nothing left for me anyway,” Alan said and sniffed loudly.
“Idiots,” Mandy said with a heavy sigh as she raised her own rifle.
They waited as Jacob came closer, the infected struggling to maintain a fast pace in the snow. They were keeping up but not gaining on him and despite his age, Jacob was in excellent shape.
Fifty metres, then forty, thirty, twenty.
“Duck!” Clive yelled and without hesitation, Jacob dropped to the snow-covered ground, rolling to his back and raising his rifle.
A cacophony of gunfire filled the air and three of the infected fell. Clive struggled to work the rifle mechanism, ejecting the spent cartridge as the others reloaded. He felt around in his pocket and pulled out a bullet as a second barrage was fired from the rest.
He loaded the rifle, pushed back the bolt and lifted the rifle to his shoulder. He looked through the scope fixing his gaze on one infected woman who was almost on Jacob and he squeezed the trigger. The rifle bucked against his shoulder and the woman fell, a bloody hole in her head.
The urge to vomit was strong but he went through the motions of ejecting the cartridge and reloading. Terri was pale, sweat on her forehead and he knew she was hating what they had to do as much as he was.
As the last of the infected fell, Jacob rolled to his feet and set off running. As he reached them, more of the infected spilt out of the lodge and began running their way.
“Move people!” Jacob snapped as he pushed past them.
The others were on their feet and moving without hesitation and without looking back. They kept their weapons ready to hand and their voices still. The only sound the crunch of the snow beneath their feet and the distant cries of the infected.
They walked for an hour, moving in a random fashion between the trees, trying to lose the infected amongst the snow-covered firs. There was little for them to say and they all walked, lost in their own thoughts.
No one asked what had happened to the Americans and they could guess what fate had befallen Derrick and none of them needed to have it described to them to haunt their nightmares.
As the day wore on, the sounds of the infected died down behind them and they began to breathe a little easier. Slinging their rifles over their shoulders and their hands in their pockets, the six of them stayed close together.
“Need somewhere soon,” Jacob said softly. “A place for the night.”
“Plenty of cabins in the area,” Mandy replied, hurrying her pace to move up alongside him. “Lots of people visit here.”
“True, but we need one we can secure.”
“I think…” Alan began then screamed as he fell to the snow, a loud crack audible even to the others.
“What the hell?” Clive said as the others rushed to help him up.
“Dammit!” Jacob cursed as he knelt beside the other man. “You stepped into a rabbit hole. Pure bad luck.”
“Is his ankle broken?” Terri asked, with a fearful glance. They all knew what that would mean.
“I think so,” Jacob said, pressing his fingers gently on the other man's ankle. He sucked on his teeth and glanced at each of the others in turn. “Help him up.”
Clive was the first to step forward. He was the biggest one after all and the best able to take the other mans weight. He passed his pack over to Jacob and slung Alan’s arm over his shoulder while he put his own arms around the man’s waist, holding him upright.
“Will be slow going,” Jacob said, frustration in his voice. “And they probably heard that cry. Might not be enough to locate us but they’ll have the general direction.”
“Better get moving then,” Terri said. She watched the trees around her as though expecting the infected to jump out at any moment.
They set off, slower than before and each of them watching the snow-covered ground. No one wanted to hurt themselves like Alan had. They all knew that it was a death sentence.
Chapter 18
The cabin was set deep into the woods, a walking trail the only way to reach it and it was on the edge of a low cliff. Anyone standing on the back porch would be able to look down the twenty or so feet to the forest floor below.
There was a woodpile at the far side and an axe stuck in an old tree stump that was likely used for chopping the bigger logs into more manageable sizes. The cabin was dark, any occupants long gone.
Jacob had to use the axe to open the door and Clive half carried Alan inside before letting him fall to the sofa. He paused, hands on hips breathing deeply.
“Gather some wood,” Jacob instructed. “We’ll get a fire going and secure the door. Then make a meal and decide on what to do.”
“What do you mean?” Terri asked with a fearful look at Alan.
/> Jacob just stared at her until she looked away. His eyes met those of Mandy and Elise and they headed out to gather wood.
Each of them brought in several armfuls of wood to stack beside the fire while Clive and Jacob did what they could with the door. They finally settled on bringing the axe inside and wedging the head under the door before kicking it in as far as they could. It wasn’t ideal but it would keep the door shut long enough for them to escape out the back.
In a short time, they had a fire blazing and Mandy had shooed everyone away from the kitchen and was keeping herself occupied preparing a meal. Elise went through the cabin closing all of the curtains while the others searched for anything of use.
Finally, they couldn’t put it off any longer and they gathered before the fire and inspected Alan’s ankle.
“Definitely broken,” Jacob said.
“We can make a stretcher,” Clive said quickly. “Carry him down to town.”
“There’s no one left in any of the nearby towns,” Jacob snapped. “You know this. It’ll be weeks before he can walk on it.”
“Then what do we do?” Terri asked in a small voice.
“Leave me,” Alan said and they all looked at him.
His face was pale and sweat beaded his forehead. It was clear that he was in a great deal of pain and there was a despair in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
“I get it,” he said. “I’ll slow you down and if you have to leave me anywhere, I’d rather it was here and not out in the woods when those things attack.”
“There’s wood and we can leave food,” Jacob said musingly. “Not enough though.”
“Just leave me what you can,” he said. “I’ll make it last.”
“We could all stay,” Terri suggested. “Wait here until help comes or he’s well enough to move.”
“Maybe if we were somewhere safer,” Jacob said. “Here in the middle of nowhere, it’s too dangerous.”
