by Max Danzig
“That can be a suicide mission. I’m amazed you even made it here. I have no idea how you got past Manchester. Do you think they’re still there and still alive?” Kendra asked.
“I’m sure they’re still there. They were adamant about staying. I can only hope they’re still alive.” Steve said.
“Do you know how to shoot a gun? Can you handle a pistol or rifle?” Kendra inquired.
“Yes, my dad used to take me target shooting,” Steve said.
“Good. I’ll hook you up, and we’ll go together.” Kendra said.
“Really? We’ll need to take one of the SUV’s. The road to the farm is a rough dirt road.” Steve said.
Kendra just smiled. “I’ve got something much better than an SUV. We’ll take the BearCat.”
Steve blinked and frowned, “What the hell’s a BearCat?”
Chapter 55
Peter came in from the front yard. “We've got a problem,” he said, worry lining his face.
Rachel stopped what she was doing and went to where he stood. “What’s the matter?”
“The Ford Expedition is fucked,” he replied. “There's something leaking out from underneath the engine. I think its oil, and the exhaust pipe is hanging down almost touching the ground.”
“Between bouncing around rough dirt roads and using it as a super market battering ram, I’m not surprised.” She said. “Can you fix it?”
Peter shook his head with eyes downcast. “I’m not very good with all things mechanical. I can drive a car, fill it with gas and maybe change a flat tire, but that’s about it. I wouldn’t know where to start with something like this.”
“So what do we do? Can we get by without it?” Rachel said, her arms folded across her chest.
“We can, but it’s always better to have a backup vehicle in case something happens to the other. I think we need to get another vehicle while the Honda is still in good shape.” he replied.
“What are we going to do with the Ford?” she inquired.
“I’ll move it and put it along the barrier fence to strengthen a section that might not be as sturdy as the rest of it.” Peter said.
Rachel and Peter gathered a few items and snacks to eat and put it in the Honda Pilot for their trip into town for a new vehicle. Rachel stood on the porch while Peter got into the Ford Expedition and started the engine. It was running much rougher and wasn’t as quiet as the last time they used it.
Peter put the big SUV in gear and drove off the dirt parking area onto the uneven surface of the grass along the barrier fence. After a dozen yards, Peter drove through a deep rut causing the truck to bounce up and down, and the Ford bottomed out. The already damaged exhaust pipe slammed into the ground, snapping a weld at the front of the catalytic converter. The broken pipe drove into the ground, crumpling under the chassis and emerging from the back of the SUV a twisted hunk of metal dragging through the dirt and grass.
With no mufflers to deaden the sound, the engine emitted an ear-splitting mechanical roar that shattered the silence and echoed throughout the countryside.
Rachel slapped her hands to her ears and tried screaming over the explosive noise of the engine, “Peter turn it off, turn it off now!”
Peter couldn’t hear her and kept driving it to the spot he thought needed reinforcing. He parked the Ford right up against the fence before turning off the thundering engine. Their ears were ringing in the sudden silence. Peter got out of the cab of the truck and walked back towards Rachel and the farmhouse.
“Can you believe how fucking loud that was?” Peter said smiling, flipping the keyring around his finger. “It’s a damn good thing we’re going out to…”
He stopped when he looked up at Rachel, who was yelling and pointing at him, and then his hearing cleared.
“Peter, look behind you!” Rachel yelled again, still pointing and bending at the knees with the effort.
He turned and saw figures coming from across the fields and emerging from the nearby woods. There weren’t just dozens of them, but hundreds. The dirt road and woods teemed with moving shadowy figures. When the nightmarish sound of their collective moans reached him, it sent an involuntary shiver throughout his entire body. Peter turned and ran for the farm house.
As Peter reached the porch Rachel stood with her hands to her mouth. “There’s so many of them, and they’re all coming this way.” She said.
“C’mon Rachel, we’ve got to go. You drive the Honda and I’ll take care of the gate.” Peter said.
“Are you out of your mind? We can’t leave now. By the time you get the gate open and get the truck outside the barrier, they’d be on us before you have the gate locked. Never mind trying to drive through all of those bodies. There’s too many we’d never make it.” Rachel said.
Peter hopped up to the top porch step and scanned the fields and woods. “You’re right. We wouldn’t make it. C’mon we’ve gotta go back in the house and lie low until they go away.”
Without another word Rachel and Peter retreated into the house and locked the door.
Chapter 56
Kendra led Steve from the back of the police station on a dead run to the garage building in the fenced back lot, minimizing their exposure to the zombies. She unlocked the side door, waved him into the building, and shut the door behind them.
“This is the Lenco BearCat armored vehicle.” Kendra said gesturing with her hands. “It’s almost nine tons of bad-assery.” She said with a grin on her face.
In the muted light of the garage Steve saw an armored car that someone fed a shitload of steroids and turned it into the Incredible Hulk of armored trucks.
"What in hell does the Derry PD need with something like this?" He said looking at the large, boxy, black vehicle with a battering ram front bumper and gun ports all around it.
“This is what our Special Operations Unit uses for the most violent suspects. The glass and body can stop a.50 caliber round and has run flat tires with plenty of ground clearance. It has a 400 horsepower, six-point-seven liter turbo diesel engine with tons of torque and it can do 90 on the highway.” Kendra said admiring the ugly, intimidating truck.
Steve whistled. “This thing is a freaking beast. It looks like it can take on an army of bad guys on its own.”
“Or an army of zombies,” Kendra said. “Besides the gun ports around the sides, there’s a hatch on the roof where you can shoot from with a clear line of sight.”
“This is fucking awesome. I wish we had one of these back at the farm.” Steve said smiling. “Have you ever driven it before? Are you part of the special forces unit?”
“Special Operations Unit,” Kendra corrected, “No, I’m not one of them. It’s only my second year on the force, and no I’ve never driven it, but I always wanted to.”
“This is the perfect vehicle to go and get Peter and Rachel. When can we leave?” Steve said.
“As soon as we grab a few supplies, equip ourselves with some firepower… and create a diversion to get ourselves out of here without too much trouble.” Kendra said.
“What have you got in mind?” Steve asked.
“You’ll see. First, I'll pull the BearCat to the backdoor to make it easier to load.” Kendra said pulling the keys to the truck out of her pants pocket. She unlocked the door and started the truck. The turbo diesel growled into life. She leaned out of the open door.
“Steve, hit that green button by the garage door to open it, then hop in.” Kendra directed.
Steve hit the button and the metal garage door rose. He ran around the passenger side and opened the door and was surprised by the heft and thickness of the door. He pulled himself up into the cab and muscled the door shut. Kendra put it into gear and roared out of the garage for the short trip to the back door.
When Kendra killed the engine and got out, the zombies lining the fence numbered at least a thousand, and the noise that came from them was the thing of nightmares.
“C’mon, something I have to do to draw them away from the fence
.” Kendra said running through the back door. Steve followed without questioning her.
Kendra emerged from a backroom carrying what looked like an overgrown shotgun, and a bandolier of big, cartoon sized bullets.
“What in heck is that?” Steve said.
“It’s a tear gas gun, a riot gun.” Kendra said.
“I don’t think the tear gas will affect the walkers.” Steve said.
“That doesn’t matter,” Kendra said. “Follow me I’ll show you.”
Steve followed her to an interior back stairwell that led to the roof. They went out on the roof and Steve followed Kendra to the southernmost edge looking toward the blocked intersection and burned out gas station.
“Is that your Mustang over there?” Kendra asked, not waiting for an answer. “What do you think; its ninety, a hundred yards away?”
“Yeah, it’s about that.” Steve answered, watching Kendra load a round into the gun and shoulder the weapon.
Kendra sighted along the stubby tube, made a slight upward adjustment then fired. The gun made a THWHUMP sound, and the gas canister arced out and landed near the derelict Mustang. There was a resounding bang like a large firework, and then a cloud of gas. Kendra loaded and fired a second and a third round, each time there was a loud explosion. That did the trick. The zombies moved en masse towards the sound.
“C’mon we’ve got work to do and then we’re going to get your friends.” Kendra said heading back to the stairs.
Chapter 57
Peter and Rachel sat in the living room keeping quiet and still. It didn't matter because any noise they made was drowned out by the groaning coming from the barrier fence. They kept the curtains closed to stay out of sight and sat on opposite ends of the couch, looking at each other.
Over time, instead of dissipating, the sound seemed to grow. Peter looked towards the curtain covered windows with eyes wide. He got up, and Rachel almost said something but stopped herself. She watched him go to one window and look through a tiny chink in the curtains. Peter stood there for a minute then returned to the couch and sat right next to Rachel.
“I don’t understand,” Peter said in a low voice. “We’ve been sitting here for hours. They can’t see us, and we’re not making any noise, but they’re not leaving. In fact, it seems more are coming.”
Rachel moved in closer, also speaking in an unnecessary low voice, “Where the hell are they all coming from? We’re in the countryside for chrissake. Why are they coming here?”
Peter looked at her shaking his head not knowing what to say.
Then there was a cracking sound.
Above the din of noise was the sound of thick wood bending under tremendous pressure. Peter jumped up to peer through the chink in the curtains in time to see the entire front gate collapse in a splintering crash. A tidal wave of bodies surged into the farm yard.
Peter spun from the window, went to the couch and grabbed Rachel’s hand. “We’ve gotta get upstairs right now. The gate has collapsed and they’re in the yard.”
In sudden, numbing shock Rachel limply followed. Her body felt heavy as Peter pulled her with him. She was so catatonic with fear, Peter nearly had to drag her up the stairs.
On the upstairs landing, Peter grabbed her by the upper arms and looked into her eyes. “Rachel! Snap out of it. I need you with me. We have to keep our heads to figure a way out of this.” Peter said.
“Is there a way out?” She said regaining her composure.
“We need to stay up here and see if they leave. It’ll give us time to think and figure out what our next move is.” Peter said.
“Steve was right,” Rachel said. “This place isn’t safe enough.”
Peter didn’t reply.
Two hours after sitting in the bedroom they shared, Peter got off the bed and looked out the window.
“Jesus,” Peter murmured as he stared out of the window. “There must be over a thousand of them out there.”
Rachel got up and stood next to Peter and glanced out the window. He was right; an army of the dead surrounded the house, and they still moved through the widening gap where the gate had been.
“If we stay here and keep quiet and out of sight for a while they should...”
He shook his head with a resigned sadness. “That won't work anymore,” he sighed.
“Why not?”
Instead of answering her, Peter opened the bedroom window a crack. The noise of window opening sent a ripple of groans through the rotting crowd below them in the farmyard.
“Just listen to that,” he whispered.
Rachel could hear hundreds of shuffling feet, and bodies bumping into things. Even worse was the hellish chorus of groans coming together to create a chilling symphony of horror.
“It's too late for us to sit still and play dead now,” Peter explained. “They're making enough noise by themselves to keep attracting more and more of them here. And with a crowd of this size, it doesn't matter how quiet we are, the fuckers will keep coming, regardless.”
As realization dawned, Rachel stepped back from the window, sat on a chair and rested her head in her hands. “So what do we do now?” she asked.
Peter didn't answer.
A heavy and ominous quiet descended on the room.
“Dammit.” Peter spat, standing up and walking across the room. For the first time since the world fell apart, he couldn't think straight. He didn't know what to do. The farmhouse was under siege. It had been their refuge and now it was gone.
Rachel got up and stood close to Peter. “Do you have any ideas?” she asked her own mind racing. “We've got to do something.”
“We don't have a lot of fucking choices do we?” he grated. “Either we take our chances outside or we can sit in this room and wait until the sheer weight of them overwhelms us.”
“The house is still secure...”
“For now, but if we try to go downstairs, there's hundreds of those fuckers right outside the windows trying to find us. If they see us, they'll go fucking ape shit and then we're screwed.”
“What do you mean?”
"It only takes one of them things to see us and they'll call the others with those fucking moans and press up against the windows and doors. It won’t hold, they’ll break through like they did with the gate and they’ll flood into the house and get us," Peter said.
“What are you saying? Are we going to die here?” Rachel asked.
He shrugged his shoulders and rubbed his eyes. “I don't know...” he muttered.
“We’ve gotta leave.” Rachel said
He nodded. “Yes, we’ll get out, and find someplace better, more secure.” Peter said.
“But how are we going to get out of here?” Rachel asked earnestly.
Peter didn't respond right away. He rubbed his eyes again and looked around the room for almost a minute.
"We've got to keep out of sight of those things," he said, "and get as much stuff together as we can."
“But how are we going to get to the Honda?”
"We'll wait for a couple of hours until its dark," he interrupted. "When enough of them leave, I'll get the generator started and..."
“Why?”
“Because it will distract them. If there's a louder sound at the back of the house it stands to reason they'll go looking for us there. When enough of them move around back, we’ll make a run for the Honda and get the hell out of here.”
“How are you going to get past all the zombies out back to get to the generator shed?” Rachel asked.
“I need to create a diversion in the front yard first so I can get to the shed. We’ll be playing them back and forth like a tennis match.” Peter said.
With that, Peter got to work gathering things he wanted to take with them. Rachel sat on the bed and listened as the dragging footsteps of hundreds upon hundreds of rotting corpses surrounded them. Vague thoughts of Custer’s Last Stand played in her head.
Chapter 58
Kendra instructed Steve how to load and
shoot the police issue Glock 22 pistol, Remington 870 shotgun, and the Colt M4 carbine rifle. They packed the BearCat with a dozen weapons, satchels of magazines and bandoliers and boxes of shotgun shells. Kendra also brought a first aid kit, food and bottled water supplies she gathered. It was time to go.
“All this stuff is just for us?” Steve said looking at everything they were bringing. “We’re just going to get Rachel and Peter, not fight a zombie war on our own.”
“My dad’s motto was, it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it,” Kendra said.
“My dad used to say that too,” Steve said. “He also said, hope for the best but always prepare for the worst.”
“I like that too,” Kendra said. “Okay, let’s get going.”
Kendra fired off three more gas canisters into the distant wreckage strewn intersection and hopped into the BearCat. When the horde moved towards the sounds of the exploding canisters, Steve came from behind the station, unlocked the gate and slid it open while keeping his pistol ready. Kendra started the truck and drove into the parking lot. Steve closed and locked the gate. As Steve got into the truck, the zombies headed back; attracted by the throaty rattle of the diesel engine.
Kendra took the BearCat over the curb, and crossed a grassy area onto the main road. She steered away from the large, dense crowd of zombies and took off in the opposite direction towards the highway.
On the road north, a fat zombie was plodding along in the middle of the road, coming right at them. He was over 350 pounds and stood six feet tall. Kendra’s lips tightened as did her grip on the steering wheel, as she steered right for the fat zombie. Her instinct was to pull away and avoid the person in the road, but she steeled herself, slowed the truck and stayed on her path.
