Wasteland in Red Square

by Josh Matthews

  ***

  One of the Purgatoriati stood on top of the mound, hacking away at the Nachzehrer pushing through the breach, when a demon grabbed his leg and pulled him into the horde. Dead hands tore away his cloak and clawed at his skin. He howled in agony as the Nachzehrer ripped open his abdomen and yanked out his intestines while others chewed away chunks of flesh. Two more Purgatoriati dropped their broadswords and rushed forward to save him, only to be swarmed. Father Belsario and the last Purgatoriati tried to free their comrades, but too many Nachzehrer surrounded them. Sasha pushed past the men, slashing at the Hell Spawn. As she hacked off undead hands and arms, Father Belsario and the last Purgatoriati dragged the others to safety. Sasha fell back and joined them. However, the damage had been done. The melee distracted the Purgatoriati from defending the breach. With nothing to stop them, several Nachzehrer pushed through and swarmed the bridge.

  Other openings were forced through the mound. Jason’s team concentrated their fire in those areas, slowing the advance. At least one hundred and fifty Nachzehrer remained. A complete collapse of the line was imminent. Jason checked on Haneef. Even with the minigun, he had not been able to clear an escape route. Jason weighed three options, none of which were good. Stand and fight, and be overwhelmed. Mount up and make a break for it, although he’d lose most of his team trying to push through the horde. Or abandon the horses and supplies and escape by swimming to safety. He had seconds to decide before it would be too—

  “What’s going on over there?” Ian pointed to the right flank where the sound of gunfire could be heard and eddies of blue light formed a cloud over the horde.

  Jason stepped onto the bridge abutment to get a better view. Nachzehrer toward the rear were being blasted apart by a small group of humans two hundred feet to the right that advanced along the shores of the lake. Three mobile machine guns mounted on two-wheel chassis were arranged in a line abreast and fired into the Nachzehrer. Behind them stood fifty men and women in camouflaged uniforms, each firing an AK-47 automatic rifle or light machine gun. The combined fire power cut a large swath out of the horde. When one of the mounted machine guns ran out of ammunition, the gunner lifted the weapon by its carriage and rushed forward fifty feet while the loader followed alongside, carrying the water cooler canister and spare ammunition boxes. As they repositioned and reloaded, the other troops moved in behind them. Within ten seconds, the barrage resumed, bringing down more Nachzehrer. Two machine gun teams and twenty soldiers advanced along the southern shore of the lake, providing the same support to Haneef.

  The attack from the flank caused the bulk of the Nachzehrer, especially those not abutting the pile of corpses, to shift in the direction of the new threat. Sasha took advantage of the distraction. Rushing over the mound, she waded into what remained of the horde, slashing with her saber and dagger. Father Belsario joined in, placing his back against hers to bring down any Hell Spawn that drew near. Lucifer and Lilith emerged from deep within the horde and took up a position on their flanks. The tallest of the Purgatoriati stormed into the breach. He crouched and swung the broadsword above his head, decapitating the surrounding Nachzehrer or crushing their skulls. Two others stood ten feet away, cutting down anything that made it past him and onto the bridge.

  Jason and his team dropped back and resumed firing, taking down those Nachzehrer that had pushed through the smaller breaches. Because the mass no longer shoved against them, these Nachzehrer had more room to maneuver. On the far left, thirty demons broke through in front of Antoine and Werner. Antoine stood his ground, taking careful aim and putting down Nachzehrer one by one. Werner swung around to the right to catch them in a crossfire. Sook-kyoung rushed over to assist. In less than a minute, the mini-horde had been wiped out, except for five demons that converged on Antoine, too close for Werner or Sook-kyoung to fire at. Antoine aimed his FAMAS at the nearest and fired a single round into its head, knocking it backward and releasing its life force. He switched to another and fired, taking this one down, and expending his last round in the process. With the other three too close for him to reload, Antoine switched to hand-to-hand mode. Raising his FAMAS beside his head, he raced forward and smashed the stock into the nearest demon’s face. Bones cracked and teeth shattered, yet the blow barely slowed it. Antoine kept up the assault, bashing the skull four times until it shattered and scrambled the brain, putting the Hell Spawn out of its misery.

  The last two Nachzehrer reached Antoine. Each grabbed an arm and knocked him off balance, trying to pull him to the ground. Sook-kyoung rushed forward. When she got within striking distance, she initiated a flying drop kick, catching one of the Nachzehrer in the chest and propelling it against the outer guardrail of the bridge. Sook-kyoung side stepped toward the demon, kicked out, and slammed her right foot into its chest, sending it toppling over the rail and into the lake. With only one Nachzehrer tugging at him, Antoine regained his balance. He brought the elbow of his free arm around and drove it into the demon’s face with such force he heard the skull crack. Its grip on his left arm slackened. Antoine yanked himself free. Bending down, he lifted the Nachzehrer onto his shoulders and tossed it off the bridge.

  The battle ended after five minutes. Jason’s team wiped out the last Nachzehrer that hovered around the mound of undead as the three machine gun teams took down the remaining Hell Spawn. On the other end of the bridge, the twin machine gun teams had cleared away the last of the horde, and Haneef and the others had rejoined Jason. Father Belsario and his Purgatoriati searched through the mass of bodies until they found the half-eaten corpse of their friend buried under a pile of Nachzehrer. The others stood with their heads bowed as the cleric knelt beside their fallen comrade and prayed. Jason scanned the killing field for Lucifer and Lilith, breathing a sigh of relief when the two werehounds, now back in their dog-like forms, maneuvered through the corpses toward him. He crouched as they hopped the mound and raced over to him, greeting their master with a double face bath.

  A hand touched Jason’s shoulder. Jeanette motioned toward the opposite end of the killing field. “We have company.”

  Three figures in camouflage uniforms made their way through the mass of bodies. The first carried no weapon other than a holstered side arm. The other two held AK-47s but were more concerned with keeping an eye on the surrounding corpses to make certain none rose and attacked. Jason faced his own team.

  “Stand down and shoulder your weapons.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?” Slava asked.

  “Just do as I ask.” Jason stepped over the mound of undead.

  “Do you want me to go with you?” Jeanette asked.

  “I’ll be fine. You all stay here.”

  Jason made his way across the killing field. As he approached the three figures, the pair with the AK-47s stopped, allowing their comrade to proceed by himself. Jason paused when thirty feet away and studied the approaching figure. He seemed young, probably in his late twenties, with a lean yet toned body. The blue eyes that locked on Jason were friendly, yet they expressed confidence and a hardness born in combat. He had the bearing of a military officer. The figure stopped in front of Jason and offered his hand.

  “I’m Captain Vasiliy Melnikov of Moscow Military District’s 4th Guards Independent Tank Brigade.” The captain spoke with a thick Russian accent. “Are you Jason McCreary?”

  “Yes, I am,” said Jason, surprised that the captain knew his name.

  Melnikov yelled something in Russian to the rest of his group, and then spoke to Jason. “We’ve been searching for you and your team for over a week.”

  “Thanks for helping us.”

  “What is it you Americans say? We arrived in nick of time.” Melnikov examined the killing field as if he only now appreciated what had happened here. “I have message for you. Reno says to tell you he has arranged help you requested.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Melnikov recommended that they leave the area before more Hell Spawn were drawn by the noise, a sugge
stion Jason agreed with. The Russian led them into downtown Minsk, with half of his troops taking point and the other half, including the mounted machine guns, bringing up the rear. When they reached their destination, the Minsk Passazhirsky Railway Station, Jason was taken aback to see their mode of transportation. He had expected a corral of horses. Instead, four city buses modified to sit atop a pair of railroad tender wheels were parked at one of the station platforms. A funnel extended from the roof at the rear of each bus. A dozen soldiers and a sixth mobile machine gun guarded the platform.

  “This is how you get around?” Jason asked.

  “We make do,” Melnikov replied. “After EMP destroyed all electronics, we improvised. Horses were okay for local travel, but Russia much larger than Europe, so we pulled several old steam locomotives out of storage and refurbished them. We did same for our military hardware. Our machine guns are old M1910 Maxims from Great Patriotic War we found in military museum outside of Moscow.” Melnikov held up his weapon, which had a bipod mount attached to the barrel and a round ammunition drum on top. “We also found several dozen crates of DP28 light machine guns which we confiscated. What we couldn’t scavenge, we adapted. Let me show you.”

  Melnikov led Jason and his team onto the nearest bus. The seats in the rear portion had been removed and were replaced with a steam engine and a makeshift tender filled with coal. Two men in ash-covered overalls smoked cigarettes, one leaning against the interior wall, the other lying down on top of the coal. Upon seeing the captain, the man against the wall snapped to attention and saluted.

  “Vol’no, Gennady.” Melnikov saluted back. When the two men went back to smoking, he continued. “After failed attempt to close vrata in Moscow, what left of Moscow Military District relocated to rail yard thirty kilometers outside city. To get around, we converted buses into steam engines.”

  “Ingenious, mate,” said Ian.

  “It’s quite simple. We just replaced diesel engines with smaller steam ones hanging around yard, modified transmission, and converted rear of buses to hold coal. What they lack in comfort, they make up for in efficiency. We should be back in Moscow early tomorrow morning. Which is good thing. General Zhirinovsky has been anxious to meet you ever since he received radio message from Reno.”

  “I’m glad my uncle reached you,” said Jeanette.

  “It was miracle he did.” Melnikov lowered his voice so the crew couldn’t hear. “General has been going into depression for months. One by one, other groups of survivors around world we in contact with dropped off airwaves. Last contact with any one was four months ago. Two months ago, general stopped monitoring radio. Only reason we picked up Reno’s message because one of our radio operators still tuned in at night for a couple of hours because he had nothing better to do. Ten days ago, he hear message from Reno that your team on way to Moscow. General ordered me to take unit out to find you and bring you back. When he heard you were on your way, it gave him hope again.”

  “Why?” asked Sasha.

  “Until you, no one had attempted anything against vrata. We tried once, a week after first opened, but miserable failure. General abandoned hope of ever saving world, and had pretty much sat back and waited for death. Now he’s old self, and wants to do everything possible to make certain you succeed.”

  “Spasibo,” said Slava.

  “Ne stoit blagodamosti.” Melnikov placed a hand on Slava’s shoulder and squeezed. “We don’t have enough transport to take your horses, so we’ll have to leave them here with some of my men for a few days until we can send buses back for them. Will that be okay?”

  “As long as they’re safe,” said Jason.

  “I guarantee it. These buses will get us to Moscow even if we run into any mertvyye demony.”

  “Mertvyye demony?” Jason asked.

  “How you say in English? Dead demons. You know, like plot’ yedokov we encountered outside Minsk.”

  “Plot’ yedokov?” Jason was confused.

  “Flesh eaters,” said Slava. “What we call Nachzehrer.”

  “They’re most prevalent mertvyye demony out here. Them and ravagers,” added Melnikov.

  “What are ravagers?” Jeanette asked,

  Melnikov shivered. “They’re human in form. Blood red eyes. Talons for fingers.”

  “We ran into a pack of them two days ago,” said Jason.

  “They rip people apart and eat them. They are worst mertvyye demony out here.”

  “Why do you call them mertvyye demony?” Ian asked.

  “I don’t,” said Melnikov. “Demons are demons, as far as I’m concerned. But Dr. Frankenstein likes labeling them.”

  Ian’s eyes went wide. “Dr. Frankenstein?”

  “Forgive me. That nickname we give Dr. Ustagov. He is biologist from University of Volgograd. Has examined every demon we’ve been able to capture.”

  “I want to talk with him,” Ian said excitedly, reminding Jason of a kid in a toy store.

  “You will, once we get to Moscow.” The captain clapped his hands to get the attention of his own men. “Let’s load up. We head out in ten minutes. I want to be in Domodedovo by noon tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  They arrived at Domodedovo shortly after sunrise the next morning. The Russians had set up camp at a small rail yard halfway between the town and the airport. To secure the compound, the Russians had erected walls comprised of steel sheets twenty feet high, with each sheet held in place by torn-up railroad tracks, one end of which had been dug into the ground and the other welded to the plates. To the north and south, the walls had been anchored to the outer perimeter of warehouses and administrative buildings, and each structure had been walled up and covered in more plates. To the east and west, boxcars had been knocked onto their sides to block all the tracks but one, and the steel wall had been erected around the exterior of this barricade. One hundred feet from the enclosure, a four-foot high, reinforced chain link fence circled the compound. This had been topped with a foot of coiled barbed wire from which the decayed corpses of several Nachzehrer still hung. Guard posts had been erected at one hundred foot intervals along the wall, each manned by a two-person machine gun crew. When the buses approached, guards slid aside a heavy steel gate, exposing the tracks. Two other teams raced out, unlatched the sections of chain link fence that served as a gate, and opened them. Once the buses had passed through the perimeter and entered the compound, the guards secured the chain link fence and closed the metal gate.

  More buses and cars converted into steam engines were parked on sidings off the main track. The atmosphere inside the compound bustled with activity, with soldiers repairing and modifying vehicles, performing calisthenics, or cleaning their weapons.

  “Why did you decide to set up camp here?” asked Slava. “Isn’t Domodedovo forty kilometers from downtown Moscow?”

  “Forty-five, to be exact,” answered Melnikov. “When vrata opened, this was ideal location. General had decided to use steam engines to get around, so Domodedovo near enough to Moscow we could be there in a few hours, and at time still outside range of demony. After our failed attempt, General decided to hold this compound to launch our next attack once Dr. Frankenstein came up with new plan. He never did.”

  “Didn’t you get swarmed by Hell Spawn?” Jason asked.

  “In beginning, yes. When plot’ yedokov arrived, we stayed quiet and they passed us by. Ravagers were other story. They sensed us in here and attacked on three occasions. We stopped them each time, but with heavy casualties. Last attack happened five months ago. We have not seen any zhivyye demony. They seem afraid to come through vrata, as if they’re aware of radiation.”

  “Radiation?” Haneef joined the conversation. “Where did that come from?”

  “Every question will be answered in due time.” Melnikov pointed outside. “First, I need to introduce you to General Zhirinovsky.”

  As the other three buses carrying soldiers moved off onto a siding, their bus continued straight along the ma
in track. The driver stopped in front of a warehouse near the wall of the compound. A tall, stout figure stood by the door. He wore the same camouflage uniform as the other Russians, but sported a leather bomber’s jacket and a green officer’s cap. A large, bushy mustache covered his upper lip. When the door opened, Melnikov stepped out. Upon seeing the captain, Zhirinovsky stepped forward, embraced the junior officer, and slapped him on the back. The two chatted in Russian. As Jason exited, Melnikov pointed to him. The general walked over and hugged Jason the same way he had Melnikov. He placed his hands on Jason’s shoulders.

  “Weelcome to Moscow,” Zhirinovsky said in a heavy accent.

  “Thank you for helping us,” said Jason.

  Melnikov translated Jason’s statement and Zhirinovsky’s response. “Quarters have been set up for you. If there’s anything you need, just ask. Jason, General wants you and me to discuss plans for closing vrata this afternoon so I can brief him before dinner. Is that okay?”

  “That’s fine with me.”

  “Good.” Melnikov passed on Jason’s approval. Zhirinovsky headed back to his office. Two young soldiers stepped forward to show the team their quarters.

  “Before we discuss plans,” Melnikov said to Jason. “Gather your team leaders and meet me back here in thirty minutes. I’ll introduce you to Dr. Frankenstein.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  After getting settled, Jason met Melnikov in front of Zhirinovsky’s building. He asked Haneef and Jeanette to accompany him. Ian begged to come along, saying he wanted to compare notes with the doctor on the Hell Spawn Ian had examined outside of Minsk, so Jason agreed. Father Belsario and Sasha joined them.

  Melnikov led the group to the main gate where the buses had entered. Two guards opened it while two more rushed out to open the gate in the chain link fence. Five soldiers armed with AK-47s surrounded the group and escorted them off the compound.