by Ricky Sides
“Yes, I’ve thought about the noise factor associated with them, but thank you for the reminder.”
“There won’t be time later, so I guess this is goodbye, Herb,” the agent said and extended his hand.
The two men shook hands and Herb turned to go out and resume his sentinel duty. He stopped when he saw the four CDC scientists had entered the room and were looking at him. “We wanted to thank you for helping us get here,” Sam said, acting as spokesman for the group.
“You’re welcome. I wish you all the best of luck. If you’re ever in need of shelter, you’re welcome at my place,” Herb responded.
“These days, that’s no small thing. Thank you,” Sam replied grimly, and then he stepped forward to shake Herb’s hand.
One by one, the other men did the same. Erma stepped forward and hugged him. “I’m glad I got to know you better. During the ride from Little Rock, I had the wrong impression of you.”
“You were mentally exhausted from your ordeal. Who wouldn’t have been after what you went through?” Herb said. He hugged her again, and then he kissed her briefly. “I’ve got to get back on duty. Have a safe trip, Erma. I’m certainly going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too. You be careful on the trip back home.”
“I’m always careful. Don’t worry about me. I’ll make it,” he vowed as he stepped out the door of the trailer.
“He has to make it. His friends are depending on him,” Gil said. “And I get the impression that he doesn’t let his friends down.”
“Not if he can help it,” Erma said, but she was thinking about the many areas where the zombies were overrunning the highways, and what his journey home was likely to entail.
When Herb returned to his perch atop the tower, he saw that there was once more a dark smudge along the highway leading to the interstate. His field glasses confirmed that another group of zombies was heading along the road. This time, they seemed to be following a handful of survivors who were fleeing on foot.
Herb studied the progress of the two groups. As they drew closer, he began to make out the details. There were two men, two women and one little boy that one of the men was carrying on his shoulders. None of them appeared to have been bitten, and as best he could tell, they were about a thousand yards ahead of the main mass of zombies, whose numbers were so great that he couldn’t begin to get an accurate count.
The group of humans was pushing hard in an effort to stay ahead of the zombies, and Herb thought they were gaining on them a bit. Then a group of three zombies came out of the brush alongside the road and barred their path. Herb thought hard for a way to intervene that didn’t endanger the scientists. They were still too far away for him to use his weapons with any degree of accuracy. The sound alone might distract the three zombies, and thereby give the humans a chance to escape. Then again, it might not, but it would surely draw others to his location.
Before Herb could do anything, one of the men took their destiny in his own hands. He drew a pistol and shot the three zombies in the head. He fired with practiced ease that informed Herb that the man was both skilled and comfortable with a pistol.
Once more, the small group began to move. They gave the bodies a wide berth, and then they increased their pace to make up for lost time. Herb noted that the man did not pause to reload his weapon, and realized that probably meant he didn’t have more ammunition with him.
Herb was so caught up in the drama that was unfolding before his eyes that he missed the sound of the approaching helicopters at first. Then he saw them sweeping toward the airport. There were two helicopters in the formation. One broke away from the other and moved out over the road. It stopped to hover in front of the mass of zombies on the road and opened fire with a set of machineguns. In less than a minute, the approaching threat had been neutralized. It then flew over to hover near the other chopper to provide security. Herb stared at the Apache Attack Helicopter as it guarded the giant CH-47 Chinook that was landing on the airstrip near the CDC trailer.
He turned his attention to the people he had been observing earlier and saw that they were running as fast as they could for the airport. He estimated that they were still about 550 yards away. They were obviously attempting to reach the airport before the helicopters left.
Herb grabbed his gear and scrambled down the spiral steps leading to the ground. He saw Agent Marx leading the scientists toward the waiting Chinook. Several men armed with rifles stood guard on the ground near the rear of the chopper.
Herb raced across the intervening grassy section that separated him from the tarmac. “Wait!” he shouted.
Agent Marx had seen him coming and had stopped to wait. When Herb joined the agent and explained the situation, he agreed to wait a few minutes for the people. He then turned to shout instructions to one of the guards, who in turn went inside the helicopter to inform the flight crew as to the reason for the delay.
“I see you’re still out saving the world one small group at a time,” Erma said with a smile.
Herb grinned and responded, “You know me. I do what I can, when I can.”
“Yes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she replied. Then she said, “I was serious about that visit earlier. As soon as this program is up and running, I plan to get a ride on a helicopter to your area.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Herb said.
Neither one of them made rash promises, but they felt a mutual attraction and wanted to explore it, if and when time permitted. Yet both were committed to their current actions, so their relationship would have to wait.
The five people he had observed earlier came around the airport building and into view. Herb spun to stop them before they could approach the helicopters. “Were any of you bitten?” he asked the lead man who stopped when he saw the armed guards.
“No,” the man responded. We made it out of that hell without getting bit, but don’t ask me how. Until today, I never considered myself lucky, but now I feel like I just won the lottery.”
“You did. Not many people escaped that traffic in one piece,” Herb said.
“Are they clean, Bennett?” Herb heard Agent Marx ask from behind him.
“They say they are,” Herb informed the federal man.
“I’m sorry, but we can’t take a chance on your being dishonest. I’m afraid you’re going to have to strip down to your underwear,” one of the security men for the helicopter said.
None of them liked being forced to take off their clothes, but the adults understood the caution and complied. After the inspection, they were permitted to put their clothes on and board the helicopter.
Erma paused to kiss Herb once more before she boarded the Chinook.
“Good luck, Bennett. When we lift off, I’ll have the pilot recon for safe passage back out to the interstate,” Agent Marx promised. “I’ll call you with instructions, so have your phone ready.”
“Will do, and thanks. That beats trial and error, especially when an error can get you killed these days.”
While the choppers were taking off, Herb got in the truck and checked his fuel level. He was pleased to see that there was more than enough to make it to Salina. He hoped there would be fuel available there, but if there wasn’t, he thought he could get to other areas that were still operating.
While he was waiting, he placed his weapons within easy reach. He had just completed that task when his phone vibrated, indicating a call. Agent Marx told him the shortest route to safety, adding, “Once you’re back on the interstate, it’s clear to Salina. Buy fuel there, and fill your extra cans. From there on, fuel is going to be an issue. There’s plenty in the region, mind you, but there are also plenty of zombies who’ll be hunting you while you hunt gas.”
“Thanks, Brian. If you ever need shelter, you’ll be welcomed at my place.”
“I appreciate that, Herb. These days, you just never know when you may need a safe harbor. Good luck to you. I hope you make it home in time to save the girl.”
&nbs
p; “So do I,” he responded, and then he wished them all luck and said goodbye.
Herb found the roadways clear of obstruction. The detour Marx had recommended led him back to the interstate without incident, and soon, he was on his way to Salina. As he neared that city, he called Randy’s phone, but the call went to voice mail. He left a message letting his friend know where he was, and that he was heading back home with a cure.
Chapter 24
AniZombie
Ox rested on the front porch. The previous two days had been hard on the dog, but he had managed to lead the mother bear away every time she encroached upon the cabin. She was more difficult to control than the human zombies were. The dog considered them entertaining, unless they came along when he was dealing with the bear, as had been the case that morning.
Ox ate from a bowl that Randy had set out for him and drank his fill of water. He lay down to sleep with his head pointing into the light evening breeze. His nose gathered the scents and his instincts told him that all was well with the night, but he had learned to sleep lightly in late afternoons and at night, because that was when the zombies and especially the anizombies were most active. He had learned their tainted scent, which was different among the animals than it was for the humans afflicted by the parasites. If the scent of either version reached him, he would awaken and once more defend his people and their animals.
Inside the cabin, Randy paced the floor of the living room in frustration. “I know you’re concerned about her, we all are, but you shouldn’t go out there at night. It’s too dangerous,” Henry said persuasively.
Amy lay in her bed in her room resting while the others discussed her condition.
“She’s getting worse. She says she feels a burning in her chest and head. I can’t just sit here and do nothing?” Randy protested.
“Son, explain to me how getting yourself killed is going to help her,” Henry said.
“It won’t, but standing around doing nothing won’t help either,” Randy countered.
“Have you tried using the phone all over the house? I know there were times when some people had to get near windows at our house,” Martha pointed out.
“Yes, I’ve tried every room.”
“Even the bell tower?” asked Henry.
Randy stopped pacing and looked at the old man. A smile spread across his face. “I haven’t, and that just might work too.”
“Take your rifle. You just might see that damned bear while you’re up there,” Henry advised.
Randy closed the trap door behind him and stood surveying the grounds around the cabin. It was quiet and peaceful. His eyes soon adjusted to the darkness and he could see no sign of a threatening presence.
His duty to his fellow survivors discharged for the moment, Randy turned his attention to his phone and saw that he had two bars of service. He was about to call Herb when he received notification that he had voicemail. It turned out that he had three messages from Herb. The first confirmed that he was now en route from Russell Kansas to the cabin with a cure for Amy.
The second stated that he had made it to Salina and had topped off the tanks on the truck, and purchased extra fuel which he stored in smaller cans loaded in the back of the Ford. That message also informed him that he was pulling the CDC trailer.
The third message was to inform Randy about the air drops that the government was supposed to make the next day. He also told him that he had heard from Erma, and that they had made it to Fort Collins and were scheduled to meet with manufacturing experts that were being flown in for a meeting later that night. If all went well, the nanobots should go into production in a matter of days. That message went on to state that he planned to drive straight through because he knew how important time was for Amy. He joked that Randy would have to pull his guard duty tomorrow night because he’d be too tired.
“You just get here with her medicine, buddy, and I’ll gladly pull night watch for a month,” he said to himself as he selected Herb’s name on his speed dial.
“Hello,” he heard Herb say.
“Hi, Herb. Henry thought we might be able to get reception in the bell tower, so here I am giving it a try.”
“I can hear you, but you’re breaking up a bit,” Herb said.
“I’ll keep it short. Are you still planning to drive straight through?”
“I am. How is she doing?”
“She’s getting worse,” Randy responded.
Herb could tell that his friend was upset by the tone of his voice. He knew that what he had to say to him would further upset him, but there was no avoiding this conversation. “You know that this medicine won’t work once she dies and turns, right?”
“I remember. That’s why I’m calling.”
“I’m doing my best to reach you. I’m just the other side of Tulsa now, so I’m still a good six hours out at best. Possibly more, depending on what the roads are like, but so far, the other traffic is sort of sparse. I’m seeing a lot of abandoned autos near cities, but the open roads seem pretty empty.”
“That’s great. That should make it easy for you to make good time,” Randy said.
“Believe me, I’m trying.” There was a moment of silence, but then Herb continued, “You know what has to be done if she dies, right?”
“I do,” Randy said, “but I don’t want to think about that right now. You’re going to make it in time.”
“I’m damned sure going to try, buddy, but I need you to tell me you’ll do what has to be done, worst case scenario. I’ve been worrying about that for almost two hours now.”
“She made me promise not to let her turn. She... she asked me if it would hurt when I shoot her, man,” Randy said.
Herb could hear the emotional strain in his friend’s voice. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, buddy, but if it does, make sure you do it right, and don’t wait till she turns.”
“I can’t wait that long. I gave her my word I wouldn’t.” Randy said with a catch in his voice, “I can’t believe I’ve formed such an attachment to her so quickly, but I have. It’s amazing to me. I’ve never fallen for a woman so fast.”
“It’s what we’re going through. The same thing happens in war zones. The constant danger of being killed causes people to accelerate such matters. The same thing has happened to me with Erma. She might come to visit us when she can get away from the CDC work.”
“That would be great.”
“Whoa! Shit! I’ve got to go now. I need to concentrate on driving. I just missed a deer on the highway.”
“You be careful. I’ll see you when you get here,” Randy said. When he ended the call, Randy looked at the power level on his phone. It was getting low. As he shut it off for the night, he made a mental note to hook the phone to his car charging system the next day. It wouldn’t do him any good in the house below, and he was going to go tell everyone the good news as soon as he did another scan of the area.
He frowned as it took his eyes a couple of minutes to adjust to the darkness once more. Looking at his phone to determine its charge level had blown his night vision. It was a simple mistake, but Herb was always saying that mistakes like that could get you killed.
Even though Randy was impatient to go and share the good news with the others, his devotion to their mutual safety caused him to remain in the post until his night vision cleared and he was able to scan the area once more. He saw nothing alarming, so he opened the trap door and went down the ladder into the house.
In the woods across from the house, a pair of malevolent eyes stared at Ox where he lay sleeping on the porch. The animal was keeping her from the people in the cabin and the animals around it. Every time she approached, the dog would harass her, unless she ignored him. When she did that, he went into the woods in search of her cub, forcing her to pursue him.
The cub refused to stay in the tree where it would be safe from the dog, often bawling and making its way to the ground before she could even leave the area. As a result, she had been unable to fe
ed as her body demanded, and the hungry parasites had been living off her fat stores. Now she was growing weaker by the day. She could move to new hunting grounds with her cub, but she needed to feed first, and the people in the cabin were the nearest source of food sufficient for her needs. The cow was too wary. It always ran if it scented her, and she was too weak from hunger to give chase effectively. The chickens held little interest for her. They were too small. She had raided a chicken coop in the past and learned that once she broke through the flimsy fence, the birds escaped through the hole she made. She would get one or two, but in her state, she needed more food than they would yield. Her instincts told her that the people in the cabin were a threat to her offspring, and that they were the best source of food for her at the moment.
The desperate bear moved out of the woods and headed for the cabin. This time, her hunger would prevent her from leaving before she fed. She no longer had the energy to chase the dog as it played its games. She had hidden her cub well. If it remained where she had placed it, then it would live.
Inside the cabin, Randy informed Amy that Herb was going to drive all night to deliver the medicine she needed to survive the bite. She wept in relief at the news, and Randy reached out to take her hand and comfort her, but she drew away. “Don’t touch me. I have fever now. In fact, you need to leave the room. It’s not safe for you to be in here with me.”
“You haven’t been coughing yet, have you?”
“No, not yet. I just have a bad headache and a fever.”
“It’s safe to be in here with you as long as you aren’t coughing. But you’re right. I shouldn’t touch you.”
“I want to thank you for being so kind to me.”
