by Derek Gunn
He was concerned though that the number of humans was far lower than he had expected. It struck him that this was merely a holding action. Somewhere out there the main body of people were struggling to flee from him. It shouldn’t take too long to find them once they moved past this skirmish and then he could return with the rebels dead and his pens filled with food to trade with the vampires. He smiled. And the special ammunition, of course. It had been a long time coming but, finally, things seemed to be going his way. He looked up at the horizon and saw the sheets of light spreading across the land in the distance. It wouldn’t be long now.
* * *
Harris moved in the shadows. Ahead he could see the thralls pouring fuel onto the ground and he smiled. That was an unexpected bonus. He and the others were crawling towards the enemy lines, their white clothes allowing them to blend into the snow easily. He signalled for the others to take an account of the diesel and he moved ahead.
Twelve humans storming a line of enemy soldiers bristling with tanks and heavy armour was certainly not something he had planned for but he didn’t see much choice. They had left three of their number behind to continue taking pot shots at the thralls and reminding them that they were still there. Two men and a woman were back on the line with enough ammunition to make it seem as though there were more. He hated leaving the wounded but hard decisions had to be made if they were to buy the main force the time to get to the train. They were soldiers, he knew, but it did not make his leaving them any more palatable. There was no way they would be able to make the journey; in fact two of them may not make the dawn but still it rankled.
He could see thralls walking between vehicles, some laughing and others eating as they prepared to make their move. He had long ago lost feeling in his legs and chest from pulling himself along the ground but he forced himself to remain still as he waited.
Gunfire suddenly erupted behind him and he whipped his head around. There was gunfire from beyond their lines. Shit! Cater had sent a force around them and had caught their wounded unprepared. He heard furious answering fire but it only lasted a few moments and then he saw a thrall emerge over the crest and wave at the main force. There was nothing they could do now but take their chances.
Harris rose and ran towards the first tank, pouring controlled bursts at the thralls he could see. Shouts of warning and answering fire erupted around him and he ran on. He heard a sudden whoosh and felt heat behind him and he knew McAteer had set the diesel alight. He looked to his right and saw three thralls stumble backwards, their bodies covered in flame. The fire greedily spread, consuming a barrel that other thralls had abandoned and a sudden explosion rocked the area, sending thralls and humans scattering for cover.
Harris risked a quick glance back and saw the flanking force begin to make their way across the open ground and then they were obscured by a wall of flames. That would hold them for a few minutes but not much longer. The diesel would burn ferociously but die out quickly. They had to push through the lines before they got caught between the two forces.
Harris ran through the vehicles firing at anything that moved and diving for cover when too many returned fire. If he had any grenades he could have taken out the tanks but he had none. Bullets ripped through the air around him and he dove behind a tank, rolling under its metal belly and scrambling out the rear, firing as he rolled. The camp was in total confusion with many thralls still not sure what was happening. Behind him the flanking thrall force were being shot at by their own forces who did not know who they were, the flames and smoke obscuring them enough to add to the confusion.
Harris shot out the tyres of any jeeps and half-tracks he passed and soon he was past the enemy lines and back into cover on the far side. For a moment his heart raced with hope but then he saw only a few other figures rush into the undergrowth around him. There were so few. The plan called for a swift attack, taking out what thralls they could but concentrating on the tyres. No one was to stay and fight the thralls; speed was the only protection they had. Four people lay panting on the ground near him. Despite the plan Harris waited for others but no one came. Gunfire still stuttered among the enemy camp and flames continued to rise high into the air. Thralls ran around in confusion not really sure in which direction the enemy forces were attacking.
“Get out of here,” he shouted at the others and ran back towards the camp. A thrall suddenly appeared in front of him and he did not have time to bring his weapon to bear. The moment seemed to freeze in time. He realised he had played the odds once too often and he had a brief thought of regret that he would not see Sandra again. And then the thrall suddenly fell forward with the back of his head reduced to a pulpy mush. Warkowski. His guardian angel was still in play, despite the fact that he should have already pulled back. What else was new? He himself was rushing back into the fray despite his own orders.
He ran on and saw McAteer pinned down behind a half-track. The flames ahead of him had reduced to a low smoulder and he could see the thrall flanking force surging forward, leaping over the flames and rushing into camp. Harris took one of the thralls from behind and caused the other two to turn in his direction. He had no cover and their bullets stitched towards him. McAteer rose up and took one of them out while a second man, Caulfield he thought, surged upwards and took the last thrall with a bayonet he had improvised onto his XM8. The thrall was driven up into the air by the powerful man and flung to the side where he withdrew the blade and drove it into the thralls face.
The men merely nodded and all three ran for the far side of the camp. Harris noted as he ran that the camp was smaller than he had expected. If that force of thralls had not been sent to flank them it would have been impossible to make their way through the camp. It had been a sound strategy by Carter but one which had worked against him merely because the humans had acted against logic.
They powered through the light cover at the back of the camp and continued running. Harris’ lungs were burning from the exertion and the cold air he was dragging into his chest. That was it. They had done everything they could. Now they would have to make their way to the train and hope they had done enough. Carter would have less vehicles to scout with and the tanks would slow him down but he was still able to travel faster than they could walk. It would be close.
“Fucking madman.” He turned his head towards McAteer who was beaming. “How the fuck are you still alive?”
They ran on into the brightening sky.
* * *
Carter surveyed the ruins of his camp and wondered again at his luck. He had done everything correctly. His strategy was sound, his forces had an overwhelming advantage and yet they had come off second best again. It didn’t matter that the humans had picked the one counter strategy that he had never thought of. In all fairness you did not expect a small force to attack a superior line of tanks head on.
Bodies littered the ground, some of them human, he noted, but nowhere near enough. He wasn’t worried about the thralls who had died; he was more concerned about his vehicles. He had ordered tyres moved between vehicles to give him the most mobility possible. He didn’t care if the tyre didn’t fit properly, as long as the vehicle would move. He had already sent four jeeps and three trucks out to pick up the human’s trail.
He knew now that somewhere out there was a large body of humans desperately trying to escape him. He would have them. They couldn’t be too far behind if Harris and the others had risked so much to delay him. Despite his defeat he felt upbeat. He was so close now. He called for a map of the city. Where would they go? Where could they hope to escape his forces? There was no way they were staying in the city; he could tear the whole place apart with his tanks. Harris was no fool. He would want to get his people out of the city. But he wouldn’t leave them vulnerable to the vampires either so whatever he planned it allowed for them to shelter from the vampires’ keen senses.
There were no mountains or caves nearby and nothing less would shield them. His eyes poured over the map. He ignored the
cries of pain and shouted commands around him. He had given his orders and they would be obeyed...for now. The tanks were ready to go but in which direction? Where could Harris be taking his people? The map showed the city and its environs and Carter’s eyes scanned the lines coming into the city. The map was dated from before the fall of civilization so there were hundreds of lines depicting roads winding into the city and disappearing into the large mass that portrayed the city. His eyes strayed to the blue of the rivers and he felt his heart miss a beat. He traced the rivers from the city but none brought him to anywhere that would provide good cover.
His eyes continued to study the map and then his finger traced a line from the city. His mind remembered a daring escape a few months ago and he slammed his hand on the map. “Oh you sneaky bastard, Harris.” Carter laughed and called his Captains to him. There would be no need to search after all. They were using the train they had used before. It would give them the speed they needed and would get them far from this state.
Only now Carter would get there before them.
Chapter 19
Tomas Ventredi was appalled. Of the twenty vampires who had flown proudly to their destiny only five returned. The others had been put out of their misery, though their mottled skin, diseased flesh, and obvious pain from the radiation exposure had not put off the other vampires who were clamouring to be included in the next run.
Ventredi wasn’t so sure they should risk their forces this way. The radiation had not made them any stronger, only changed their dependency and allowed them to exist in daylight. While this was a huge advantage, was it worth losing more than half their forces? Did they really know what the radiation was doing to them? They could all be rotting from the inside. Though, he had to admit he did not feel as though he was rotting. He felt really good. His mind seemed clearer and he had to admit that the sun on his face was something he had missed.
Even Von Kruger seemed calmer. He did not fly into rages quite as often as before. He had received the news of the low number of converted with stoic acceptance, though he had torn one of their human food supply to pieces. Old habits died slowly it seemed.
On the plus side they had added to their number today. Seven of Flynn’s vampires had come to them looking to join their cabal. They had heard of their ability to walk in sunlight and wanted to do the same. Of course, it could be a ploy by Flynn to learn their secrets so Ventredi advised caution and Von Kruger, uncharacteristically, agreed.
Flynn was going to be a problem, he knew. The man was far too clever. If he managed to discover the secret to changing he would either replicate it or find a way to counteract the advantage. Von Kruger had inflicted a major defeat on him but Flynn had more vampires than they had so he could afford a few losses. And if Von Kruger continued to risk their numbers on converting their ranks then they would be doing Flynn’s job for them. This was a complicated new world. Ventredi longed for the simplicity of life when he had first become a vampire. He looked about him now at their cabal and felt shame.
He was the eldest vampire, except for Von Kruger. Most of their ranks were filled with vampires from modern times; many of them were dirty, with blood and gore staining their tattered clothes. There was no pride among these children. Only power and sensation. They gorged, they fought, and they gave into their basest desires. Not one of them spent a moment thinking or planning. Not one considered their position as anything more than a step to their next feed. He hated them if the truth be known. They did not deserve to be vampires, for that matter many of them did not deserve to be human either. And yet, they were now part of his cabal whether he liked it or not—bonded together for all eternity, or until the nuclear fires died out anyway.
Ventredi wondered if it was worth it anymore. Would he care if he were to slip into oblivion? Should the vampires allow the planet to heal itself? Had their time come and gone? He had found himself thinking like this more often of late. The many centuries had passed slowly at times— to be sure— but he had never doubted his place in the world. He had never considered the crawling passage of time as anything but a slow seasoning of his skills. He had hunted, pitting his skills against many hunters who had discovered their existence. He had watched in fascination as humans had pulled themselves from one age to the next, their short lives fuelling their rapid advancement.
But now there was nothing to measure himself against. There was no foe worthy of their notice. The world had changed too much. Was it time to slip away or take everything with them in one last blaze of agony?
He would think on it. He watched as Von Kruger approached them and he could feel the rising excitement among those vampires who yearned to be converted. His Lord’s face gave nothing away as he faced his cabal. Two hundred vampires thronged the area, many standing and others swooping low overhead, unable to contain their excitement. Still others perched on the ruins of shattered buildings from an age that was gone forever.
“We shall no longer wonder if we are worthy. We will take the reins of our own destiny and forge ahead.” He paused but Ventredi already knew what he was going to say. The dye was cast and the fate of the world lay in how many survived Von Kruger’s decision. He would not hedge his bets and keep some of his forces as blood vampires. Von Kruger had always been a creature willing to risk everything. And now he had decided their fates.
“All our brothers will purge themselves in the fires of rebirth and we will see who among us is worthy.” There was a huge roar and the vampires surged into the air. Ventredi watched his cabal rise like a great shadow. Not one vampire hesitated. Such was the power of Von Kruger’s oratory skills and the promise of achieving that which others could not. Ventredi could not help wondering if they would all be better off if they died in the nuclear fires. He sighed and took to the air. It didn’t matter what he thought in the end. He would remain at Von Kruger’s side no matter what. And he would follow him to final death if that was where he led.
* * *
Chandler Flynn watched from distance and saw the vampires surge into the air. Whatever was going on it was certainly serious for Von Kruger to pull all his resources together. All along his territory vampires had abandoned their stations. Flynn had been received reports from his thralls and vampires—whole areas had been abandoned. It was certainly an opportunity to grab more territory but Flynn had never been one for the quick win. Most quick wins were fleeting at best.
Von Kruger would not abandon his boundaries without good reason. Anything that took such a risk must also promise a game changing reward. Flynn was tempted to advance his forces but that would stretch him and make him vulnerable along all his fronts. Instead of expanding Flynn was considering consolidating, combining his considerable forces and waiting out whatever Von Kruger had planned. He had plenty of human food and his thralls were still obedient. He would not assume they were loyal. He had heard too many reports of the rebel thrall, Carter, and his breaking away and challenging for dominion against Von Kruger. He would not be so naïve as to assume his own thralls’ loyalties.
Though, his thralls did not appear to have been infected with the same lust for freedom. Of course, he treated them better than Von Kruger. Somehow Von Kruger had discovered a way for vampires to walk in sunlight and that changed everything. His own thrall forces would not be able to hold back Von Kruger’s cabal if they attacked in daylight and all Flynn could do was hide and hope he wasn’t found. And that was unacceptable.
He signalled for his small party of vampires. They looked nervously at the crack of light on the horizon heralding the oncoming dawn but Flynn glared at them, and they dropped their eyes. If he was to stand a chance against Von Kruger, he had to understand how he had managed to survive in sunlight. The fact that such a large number of vampires were heading on masse somewhere was proof enough that they were planning something. He would be there to see it played out. Once he knew Von Kruger’s secret he would not be taken by surprise the next time. What his cabal did not understand was that the oncoming dawn would be
the least of their problems if Von Kruger was allowed to take control of the day as well as the night.
The four of them rose silently into the air after the huge black cloud. Behind him two of his Lieutenants remained and then sped off back towards their lines. They would send the word out to the rest of his cabal and his thralls. The time had come to play all their cards. He would risk pulling his forces from his far borders and fortify here where the risk was greatest. He had never been a gambler, but it was time go all in or risk losing it all. Of course, if he won, he would win it all and that certainly appealed to him.
* * *
Von Kruger surged through the air, the faint prickling of the weak sunlight on his skin reminding of a time when he had been ruled by that powerful orb in the sky. But no longer. The vampires around him began to fly faster as the light burned their skin. It was a mere annoyance this early, but it would not be long before flesh would be seared from their bones.
Ahead he could see the pulsing of the fires from the old plant. The heat and the radiation were still there but for how long he did not know. He also did not know how long he could survive without the radiation baths. He had gone three days without any ill effects or need to feed but he would have to plan for their next food station soon.
He flew down into the ruined area, barely noticing the devastation and corruption the radiation had wrought on the surrounding area—devastation for the living—but this sickly and feared fallout had offered him a new beginning. In death there was a rebirth of sorts.
