by Mark Tufo
Harry had insisted that Cecil oversee the meeting, and he was finally able to bring the room under control. “Thank you all. Please be seated.”
After the room quieted and everyone found a seat, Cecil continued, “I believe I speak for everyone in this room when I say the last week or so has been, to say the least, the hardest which we’ve ever had to endure. Our nation, the world, has been brought to its knees. I spent many years in the military and I thought I had seen the worst that humanity could inflict upon itself. I was sorely mistaken.” Cecil spent a few minutes relaying what Captain Overton had told them. Harry and Cecil had decided to keep nothing from the group. Most of those present sat in stunned silence at the news. Others quietly wept.
“Regardless, we in this room and the few outside have made it this far and survived,” Cecil said, looking around the room. “We are part of a group that luck, the universe, or God has decided should continue on. To remain the survivors of the dead and set up this safe haven. Not sure what is to come, but I do know that we will face it together – and together we will do our best to rise from the ashes! I remember something that Winston Churchill once said that I think is appropriate. ‘We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself the means of inspiration and survival.’ The room once again erupted in applause, and this time Cecil was unable to bring them back under control.
After several minutes, everyone finally settled back into their seats and Cecil was able to continue. “I want to introduce you now to the person who was able to reach us at the marina and who, along with his team, literally saved our lives. Many of you have already met him, but for those of you who have not, this is Lieutenant Harold Lancaster from the San Francisco Police Department. I asked Harry to relay to you what he has heard and learned.”
Harry had not been paying close attention to what was being said, as he’d had something weighing on his mind since they’d arrived on the island. Sitting on the edge of a table in front of the room, he was a bit startled when he heard his name and once again watched everyone rise from their seats, applauding.
“I’m seriously too old for this shit,” he said under his breath as he got to his feet and joined Cecil.
35
Harry felt more uncomfortable than ever. Raising his arms and motioning everyone to sit did little to curb the group’s enthusiasm. As he waited for it to play out, he glanced at Cecil who could only grin and shrug his shoulders as if to say ‘it’s not me’.
The applause finally faded and the room became quiet, allowing Harry to speak. “Thanks folks. I know you all have been through a great deal, and what Cecil has just told you does not make this any easier. But you all have to keep in mind that we are not alone in this. There are others that have survived this. They are still fighting and even making gains.” Harry spent several minutes telling the group about the GNN interview he had seen and what Chief Ekers had told him. A few of the other survivors had seen the same interview.
“You all need to understand clearly that there is no help coming. At least not in the foreseeable future. The continued survival of this group depends solely on each of you working together. You are relatively safe for now, but you need to remain vigilant as you continue to get the island fully operational and secure. To that end, Cecil and I wanted to put a few ideas in front of the group.”
For the next two hours, the survivors discussed everything from medical supplies to food. How they could get the word out that Angel Island was a safe haven, and what procedures to be put into place for acceptance of any new arrivals. This created the most debate, as some felt anyone arriving had the right to be part of the community. That was laid to rest when it was pointed out how quickly Treasure Island had succumbed to the infected. The nurse practitioner said that she could develop a very simple blood screen for the infection once she had the proper equipment. Until that could be accomplished, it was decided to set up a closely guarded quarantine location for all new arrivals. There were several buildings on the island well-suited for that purpose, although not in the best of conditions. As harsh as it seemed to some in the group, it was decided that new arrivals could decide whether they wished to go through quarantine or not be allowed to land on the island.
The discussion finally turned to the establishment of a governing body for the island. It was decided to establish a five-person counsel with one of the five being a chairperson. That person would make the final decision should the counsel be unable to reach a consensus on a particular matter.
Cecil and Harry sat quietly during this discussion and allowed the survivors to decide how to set this up. To both men’s surprise, the group not only settled on a five-person committee to act as this new governing body, but they made their choices as to who would serve on that committee with very little disagreement. Cecil was unanimously chosen to be on this committee, and was elected its chairperson. These people had put their lives in his hands at the marina and they trusted him. That, along with his extensive military experience and even temperament, made him ideal to head the committee. With a great deal of humility, Cecil accepted the responsibility and gave his assurances he would act in the best interest of the island and its inhabitants. The five-person committee stood before the group of survivors who once again stood and gave them a round of applause.
Harry had asked Cecil, Derrick, and Frank to meet him at the boat dock right after the meeting. He’d been thinking about what Overton had said, that the National Guard might still be on Treasure Island. It had been several days since the last contact had been made with them, according to the captain, but Harry felt an obligation to find out whether or not they were still alive. The others readily agreed, and a plan was quickly developed. This plan would include Jimi and Phil, as Harry was going to take the SFFD Fireboat Phoenix on this mission.
It only took an hour or so to get everything set and in motion. Phil and Jimi did not hesitate in their support. Jimi had the diesel topped off and the fireboat ready within fifteen minutes. Harry and Frank brought a few basic supplies on board, along with spare ammunition, and Derrick found two additional people willing to go. One was an Alaska state trooper who had been on vacation in San Francisco, and the other the nurse practitioner who had proven her proficiency with firearms. She, along with Phil, should be able to handle any medical issues if necessary.
There were several others who readily volunteered, including Cecil, but he had been dissuaded by Harry who pointed out they needed to limit the number of those on this expedition. If something should go wrong, the loss of a few would not impact those left on the island. Although Cecil could not argue with that logic, he was still not happy being left behind.
“You are going to be much more valuable to this group by remaining and continuing to get things set up, Cecil,” Harry said. “You know as well as I that these people need to have someone they can look to. We also both know that fear of the unknown can be one of the biggest threats to the success of what we’ve begun here. These folks are a great group of people, but they still need to have the voice of reason near them for now. You, my friend, are that voice, and you have become the most vital asset this group has at the moment.”
Cecil had been looking at the Bay as Harry spoke, clearly lost in thought. “Alright, Harry,” he’d said after taking a few moments to let Harry’s words sink in. “I understand your point. Just get there and get back and don’t take any unnecessary risks.” After shaking Harry’s hand, Cecil walked toward a group of survivors who were sorting through supplies they’d found in one of the buildings.
Harry joined the six other people now waiting on the Phoenix. Jimi maneuvered the fireboat out of the cove with expert ease, and headed toward Treasure Island at full throttle. It was a clear and sunny afternoon, and if not for current events, this would have been a beautiful day to take a Bay cruise. Everyone on the fireboat knew the bright sunny day masked the horrors that were still present.
Treasure Island sat approximately a half mile southeast of Angel Island. Since the sma
ll flotilla of survivors had arrived on the island along the western side, Harry directed Jimi to go east of Angel Island this time so they could take a look at that side. Jimi slowed just a bit while Harry and Derrick scanned the island with binoculars. Both men saw a building as they rounded the northern point, passing China Cove and Immigration Station. They continued to scan the shoreline for anything of possible value or the infected. Frank kept careful notes as Harry and Derrick called out locations for Cecil to investigate.
As they neared the end of the island and Point Blunt came into view, Harry was shocked to see something on the sandy beach. Sitting, eerily abandoned, was a helicopter painted a bright yellow with the words San Francisco Bay Tours printed on the tail boom. The nose was facing the Bay waters, and there was barely enough room on the small beach for it to have landed.
“What’s up with that?” Derrick asked, seeing the helicopter at the same time as Harry.
Harry continued to scan the area as he replied, “I have no idea. It’s obviously a tour copter but I don’t see any signs of a struggle. It looks like someone just landed the thing and left.”
“Can I look, please?” Frank asked. He had been squinting at the bird with a hand over his eyes to shield them from the bright sun. Taking the binocs, Derrick handed him, Frank gazed at the helicopter for a few moments.
“That’s a Bell 412 and looks to be only a few years old. Very nice bird,” Frank said.
Derrick glanced to Harry, then said, “Should I ask how you know that, Rook, or do I already know the answer?”
Still looking at the helicopter, Frank replied, “My dad had one. I earned a private pilot’s license when I was seventeen and was working toward the add-on for rotorcraft right before I moved out here to attend the academy. I had enough hours at the stick to take the test but never got around to it.”
Harry looked at Frank with some surprise and said, “You’re telling us you can actually fly that thing?”
Removing the binocs from his eyes, Frank turned to Harry and replied, “Yes, I sure can. As long as it’s airworthy and, of course, has fuel. Whoever flew that Bell may have had to set down over there because they ran out. I can’t be certain from this distance, but the bird looks like it’s in good condition.”
“If that thing runs, do you think there is enough room to land it near Ayala Cove?” Harry asked.
Frank thought for a moment then said, “The rotor blade on a 412 is forty-six feet in diameter and the fuselage is just under forty-three feet long. Yeah, I think the beach area to the right of the docks could handle it.”
Harry looked toward the distant east, thinking of his family in Indiana again. Frank and Derrick had already made it clear that once Harry decided to head inland, and that time was rapidly approaching, they were going with. The men had no ties to the West Coast and the bond the three had developed ensured that there would be no separating them at this point. Harry had tried to argue that they would be better off remaining, even stating he could travel faster alone, but that strategy had failed. Derrick had made it clear that they left together or he would simply follow Harry. Frank had readily agreed with Derrick.
Without answering Frank’s direct question, Harry asked one instead. “Assuming it’s in good operating order and has fuel, or we can get fuel, how far will it fly on a full tank of gas?”
Frank did not hesitate in answering. “Approximately four hundred forty miles with favorable weather conditions. That’s the rated flight distance at least.”
Harry nodded, then said, “I think we may have found a way to close some distance between here and where I need to go. If everything works to our favor, that helicopter could at the very least get us over the mountains and halfway through Nevada. Maybe further if we’re able to locate a fuel source. But let’s keep our heads on what we’re doing right now. We’ll work this out once we get back.”
“I’ll check it out then, Harry,” Frank replied with obvious excitement.
“You sure you know how to fly that thing?” Derrick asked with a trace of anxiety in his voice. He watched as the bright yellow Bell 412 grew smaller as the fireboat picked up speed, again heading toward Treasure Island. “I mean, are those things really safe?”
“Damn, Derry, I forgot you had a fear of flying!” Harry quipped as he winked at Frank.
“I don’t have a fear of flying! I just never understood how a helicopter stays in the air!” Derrick retorted.
With a slight smile on his face, Frank said, “Don’t worry Derrick. I’ve got enough hours logged to handle that bird. Not to mention it almost flies itself. Oh, there was this one time though that ...”
“Okay, I don’t want to hear about that!” Derrick interrupted. “Can you fly the damn thing or not!”
Frank raised his hands in a surrendering gesture and said, “Just kidding! Seriously, I am comfortable in that helicopter or I wouldn’t try to fly it. We’ll be fine. For the most part.” He could not resist one final jab.
Derrick just stared at Frank as Harry attempted to keep from laughing. “You’re real funny there Rookie. All those points I said you got recently? You just lost them all!”
Harry couldn’t contain himself any longer. His laughter was contagious and Frank was soon bent at the waist, laughing hysterically.
“Oh, you guys are just a riot,” Derrick said in disgust as he turned and headed toward the pilot house to join Jimi. “Have a good laugh, but you just remember that I voiced my concerns when we crash our asses into the side of the damn Sierra Nevadas because you know that’s where it’ll happen!” That just made Harry and Frank laugh harder.
36
It took twenty minutes to reach the western tip of Treasure Island. During that time Harry wondered how they’d know which building the Guardsman were in – and hoped they were still alive. He wracked his brain for facts about the island. He’d read somewhere that it was over five hundred acres in size and man-made, first constructed for the 1939 World’s Fair Golden Gate Exposition and then taken over by the U.S. Navy in 1942.
As they neared the island, they saw its breakwater and a two-lane road which separated the Bay waters from the apartment buildings, now clearly in view. What was also clearly in view were dozens of the infected surrounding one particular apartment building. There would only be one reason to draw their attention like that.
“Frank, do you think we can use our radio to contact anyone on a military frequency?” Harry asked.
“No, unfortunately our equipment is not compatible unless they happen to be listening.” Frank was taking in the scene before them through binocs. “We could try to send out a general broadcast. Maybe someone might be monitoring on the other end, or the Tern will be listening again and relay.”
“I’m not putting much hope on that right now,” Harry commented more to himself than to Frank. After a moment’s consideration, Harry said, “I think we need to get their attention first.” Making his way quickly into the pilot house, Harry instructed Jimi to sound three sets of three long blasts from the Phoenix’s air horn at his signal. Derrick, who had been watching the activity on shore from his position alongside Jimi, was preparing his sniper rifle. Harry then had Phil man one of the forward water cannon and stand ready to flood the area.
“If we could get whoever is in that building through a back window, I can easily cover them with the cannon at this distance,” Phil said as he made ready to open the heavy stream of water. The fireboat was now only about ten yards from the rocky breakwater.
Harry made his way back to Frank and told him to be ready to start broadcasting the fireboat’s position and that they were here to render help. “You know what to tell them once the water starts and what to expect.” Frank nodded his understanding and went into the pilot house to use the fireboat’s more powerful radio.
The last instructions Harry gave were to the state trooper and the nurse; he had them position themselves at the bow of the boat with their rifles. He reminded them that visibility was going to be extremel
y limited due to the water, and told them not to fire at anything unless they absolutely were certain of the target. Both indicated they understood and got into position.
Making eye contact with everyone, Harry finally gave Jimi the go for the air horn. The blast was nearly deafening, but it immediately got the attention of a large number of the infected around the building. The second series of blasts got them moving away from the building and toward the sound. The last series just seemed to agitate them. Harry made the decision to try to clear some of the things, so he joined the other two at the bow, reminding them not to burn through their mags and to make each round count. All three began to fire, with Derrick adding to the efforts with the sniper rifle. Each round sent into the horde brought a body down. But for every one downed, at least two fought to occupy the space that had been vacated.
Harry looked back toward where Frank was standing in the pilot house. It was obvious he was frantically relaying a message through the mic, then pausing to listen for a reply. Frank saw Harry looking in his direction and shook his head, indicating that he had not received a reply from anyone on shore.
Harry motioned for everyone to cease firing. There was no reason to waste more ammunition than was necessary. He was just turning to make his way back to join Frank when he heard a shot ring out from the direction of the apartment building. He let his rifle drop on the tactical sling and quickly brought the binoculars to his eyes just as he heard another shot. This time he saw one of the infected toward the back of the horde fall. It took him a couple of moments to pinpoint the location of the gunfire but finally looked to the roof.
There were five soldiers waving frantically and a sixth using a pair of binocs looking straight at Harry. This soldier waved and Harry returned the gesture. Harry watched as the soldier then said something to the others on the roof. They stopped waving and just stood looking toward the fireboat.
