CHINA RED

by Bruce W. Durbin

Doug, "Yeah, people..."

  Rachel looks at Doug, then slightly snuggles next to him, closing her eyes. Lee looks around, seeing Jim looking at him.

  Jim seems to think of something and stands up, walks over to Lee, as he takes out some handcuffs.

  He snaps the handcuffs around a chain, which is around Lee's ankles, then snaps the other end to a piece of metal, bolted to the floor of the airplane.

  Jim, "Just in case you want to take a walk.

  Jim moves in front of Lee and they look at each other."

  Lee, "You know...if those men and...animals tasted the China White...you won't be able to kill them, just by shooting them in the head?"

  Jim, "You an expert on zombies?"

  CHAPTER 90

  Jim moves and sits down, but looks at Lee. Jim, "I mean, I know you're an expert on extortion, prostitution, drug smugglin', murder, money laundering, organized crime..."

  Lee slightly smiles, "You are too kind."

  Jim, "I just picture you as being into zombies."

  Lee, with a questioning look, "Really? Unlike drug addicts, who often weigh the decision between getting their fix or eating...zombies' only focus, their only desire, is one thing...to eat brains and nothing can dissuade them of that one desire."

  Jim looks at Lee, then laughs, "Yeah, I can see why a crook like you would be interested in the zombie market, but you're forgetting one thing."

  Lee, "Please, enlighten me."

  Jim, "Zombies don't have money."

  Lee looks at Jim, then laughs, "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right."

  Lee stops laughing and gives Jim a hard look, "Of course, a gun doesn't have money, but it serves a purpose."

  Jim's face goes hard, "A weapon? You'd use zombies as a weapon?"

  Lee stares at Jim, then laughs, "We're just talking."

  Jim gives Lee a hard look, "Yeah, just talking."

  Lee, "Did you know...my family was from this area? Farmers, but...everyone knew about the legend of China White and...China Black. The dead who could not be killed. The Emperor Soldiers. General Zhou and the...evil General Tong. My parents would often tell me...if you don't do as you're told, if you're not a good boy...the dead soldiers will come for you."

  Jim gives Lee a hard look, "Guess that proves the legend is just a legend, because...looks like they never came for...YOU."

  Lee gives Jim a hard look, then smiles.

  Lee, "I'm just saying..."

  Jim closes his eyes, "If you want to find out whether you're a zombie...try and escape. Save the U.S. and China a bunch of money, if I put a bullet in your head."

  Lee, "Ah, yes, but would justice be served? No, I think..."

  Jim, "Shut the fuck up or I'll tape your mouth." Lee looks at Jim, smiles, then closes his eyes.

  CHAPTER 91

  The helicopter banks around the airplane crash site, moving in behind, trying to avoid alerting the survivors of its presence.

  The helicopter lands, with Daniel and the other men jumping out. They move, slinging packs over their shoulders.

  The helicopter's rotors slowly spin, then stop, as Daniel looks around, seeing the cargo airplane, in the near distance.

  Pilot, in his 40's, steps out of the helicopter, with Daniel turning towards him.

  Daniel, "You wait for us."

  Pilot, nervously, "Yes, yes, of course, I'll..."

  Daniel moves closers, grabs Pilot by the front of his jumpsuit, pulling him closer.

  Daniel, "An hour, a day, a week...if I come back here and you're gone...I'll hunt you down and kill you...SLOW. Understand?"

  Pilot looks at the hard expression on Daniel's face, then nods his head, "Yes, yes, I understand. Armageddon can occur and...I'll still be waiting for you."

  Daniel slightly smiles, then releases his grip. Daniel lightly pats the front of Pilot's jumpsuit.

  Daniel, smiling, "I like that. Armageddon can occur and...I'll still be waiting for...YOU."

  Daniel turns away from Pilot, seeing the distant cargo airplane.

  They see the faint GLOW of the lanterns, from inside the airplane.

  Daniel motions with his arm and the MEN, armed with rifles, begin walking towards the airplane.

  Daniel takes a few steps and then turns back around, facing Pilot.

  Daniel, "You better wait."

  Daniel turns back around, continuing to walk.

  CHAPTER 92

  Inside the airplane, everyone is sleeping, except for Timothy, who is nervously looking around. He looks towards Lee, who opens his eyes, staring at him. Timothy slightly shakes his head .

  Lee, softly, "Where is it? Where is the China Black?"

  Timothy shakes his head, softly, "It's just, just legend. There is no Black China."

  Lee, softly, "China Black."

  Timothy, softly, "China White, China Black, China Red...it doesn't mean

  anything, because it's all just legend and..." Lee, softly, but with a hard tone, "I KNOW men like you. You would not have spent so much money to first FIND the, the legend, to just, to just have PART of it. No, you found the China White and...the China Black."

  Lee stares at Timothy, then smiles, "Any MAN..."

  Lee turns and looks at Rachel, taking in her sensual curves, as she sleeps. She slightly moves in her sleep, stretching her legs. Lee smiles.

  Lee, softly, "There's no need for any chemical, any virus to turn man into

  zombies, where they only have one purpose, one focus..."

  Rachel again slightly moves, with her movement accentuating her curves. Lee licks his lips, "Any WOMAN can turn men into zombies, to create

  terror, but..."

  Lee loses his smile and turns, looking at Timothy, with a hard look, "The

  real power is when you can stop the terror, because...then, you become a savior...a

  hero."

  There's a noise outside of the airplane, with Timothy and Lee both jerking

  their attention towards one side of the airplane.

  There's another noise outside of the airplane.

  Jim jerks his eyes open and listens.

  There's another noise out of the airplane, with Jim pushing Ming, who jerks

  awake.

  Jim takes out his handgun and motions for Ming to wake Tommy and Doug. Ming moves and pushes Tommy, who jerks awake.

  Tommy, "What?"

  Ming puts a finger to his lips.

  There's another noise outside of the airplane.

  Doug and Rachel jerk awake.

  There's another noise outside of the airplane.

  Tommy takes out his handgun, as Doug moves, picking up the shotgun. There's a noise outside of the airplane.

  CHAPTER 93

  Outside of the airplane, the Village Man #1 and Village Man #2 have approached the airplane, while the other Village Men have moved around and are looking at some of the air cargo containers.

  Village Man #1 moves closer and in Chinese, "Hello? I am Song from the Village Hunan. We saw the airplane crash."

  Village Man #2, in Chinese, "Perhaps, they are all dead?"

  Village Man #1, points towards the faint glow coming from inside the airplane, in Chinese, "They who's inside?"

  Doug, Tommy, Ming, Jim, and Rachel step outside, seeing the Village Men.

  Village Man #1 quickly turns towards the group, in Chinese, "We came to help..."

  Village Man #1 starts to turn towards the side, in Chinese, "This, this place...it isn't safe and..."

  There's a scream.

  They all turn, seeing ZOMBIES, which are starting to tear into the Village Men.

  Doug, Tommy, Ming, Jim, and Rachel (with her bow) try to help, but it's complete chaos, as ZOMBIES and the dead animals, tear into the Village Men.

  As they shoot the ZOMBIES in the heads, they fall to the ground, apparently dead, but now, several of the Village Men are turning into ZOMBIES.

  Doug watches, as a ZOMBIE, who has been shot in the head, begins to get back to his feet. Doug slaps Tommy on the shoulder
.

  Doug, "Tommy? Keep them distracted."

  Tommy, "What? What..."

  Doug starts to run towards the crashed helicopter.

  Tommy, "Hey."

  Tommy turns towards the ZOMBIES, in Chinese, "Hey...you idiots."

  The ZOMBIES turn towards Tommy, who fires at them, with Jim and Ming also firing.

  Jim sees that Doug is running towards the crashed helicopter.

  Jim, "Ming? Go help him."

  Ming stops firing and runs after Doug.

  CHAPTER 94

  It's still night, as Doug reaches the helicopter and moves to the rear, opening the fuel tank, just as Ming runs up.

  Jim and Tommy continue to fire.

  Ming looks at Doug, who looks up at him, with a slight smile, "We'll burn 'em."

  Ming smiles, then looks around.

  Ming, "We need something, something to hold the fuel."

  Ming looks around, then runs to a container, looking inside. He reappears and runs to another container, stepping inside.

  Ming comes running out with some ornamental vases.

  Ming runs back to Doug, seeing that Doug has stuck a tube into the fuel tank.

  Doug takes out a small hand-held pump (squeeze type), attaches it to the tube, and starts squeezing. He looks up at Ming, who is giving him a questioning look.

  Doug, "I'm a thief."

  Doug holds out his hand for a bottle, with Ming handing him a vase. Doug looks at the vase, then up at Ming.

  Doug, "National treasure?"

  Ming, slight smile, "No, made in Korea and besides....I'm a national treasure, a LIVING national treasure."

  Doug smiles, "Yeah, me too."

  Doug takes the vase and squeezes the pump, with fuel starting to flow into the vase. Doug fills it, then hands it back to Ming, who sets the remaining vases down, then takes the vase from Doug.

  Doug, "Better go see if this works, while I fill more vases."

  Ming runs back towards Jim and Tommy, who are continuing to fire. Ming slows down and seems to think.

  Ming, in Chinese, "Hey, hey, over here."

  The ZOMBIES slowly turn away from Jim and Tommy, seeing Ming. They start to move towards Ming, who starts to smile. He then stops smiling.

  Ming, softly, "Shit."

  Ming, screaming, "A match...a lighter. I need something."

  Ming starts to back up, as the ZOMBIES start to move closer.

  CHAPTER 95

  Jim and Tommy look at each other and quickly search their pockets. Tommy, "Shit."

  Jim, "Yeah, shit."

  Tommy, "Rachel?"

  Rachel fires an arrow, hitting a ZOMBIE in the head. The ZOMBIE staggers and then falls to the ground.

  Rachel reaches into her pocket, then frowns.

  Rachel, "The airplane. I left it..."

  Jim quickly raises his gun and fires directly at Rachel, who jerks her eyes closed.

  There's a gunshot, as Rachel jerks her eyes open and turns slightly, seeing that Jim has just shot a ZOMBIE, who was almost on top of her. Rachel recovers and runs into the airplane.

  Jim fires at the ZOMBIES, who turn back around, starting towards him.

  Ming moves up closer, just as Rachel comes running out of the airplane.

  Rachel flicks open the ZIPPO, with Ming seeing the slight flame and then smiles. He tosses the vase towards the ZOMBIES, hitting one, with the vase breaking.

  The ZOMBIE spins around, facing Ming, as the fuel flows over him.

  The other ZOMBIES also turn around, starting towards Ming.

  Ming, screaming, to Rachel, "Now."

  Rachel flicks the lighter, runs a short distance, then tosses the lighter.

  CHAPTER 96

  In slow motion sequence, the lighter tumbles towards a ZOMBIE, but drops just behind him, with the lighter closing and the flame going out.

  As sequence returns to normal, Ming begins backing up, as Jim and Tommy stare at the lighter. The ZOMBIES are getting close to Ming, as he backs up. He suddenly trips, falling to his back. Ming starts to scoot on his bottom, as the ZOMBIES move closer.

  In slow motion sequence, a lit FLARE tumbles in the air, with Ming looking up, just as the FLARE goes over his head.

  Ming follows the FLARE, as it tumbles, then hits the first ZOMBIE.

  As sequence returns to normal, the ZOMBIE catches on FIRE, with the fire spreading to the other ZOMBIES.

  The ZOMBIES stumble, as the flames engulf them, with Doug coming into view, as he holds a vase in one hand. He tosses the vase, which hits another ZOMBIE, causing more fire to ignite.

  Doug moves forward and helps Ming up, with the two of them, backing away, watching the ZOMBIES burn.

  Timothy exits the airplane, seeing the burning/spinning ZOMBIES.

  Timothy is horrified, as the burning ZOMBIES begin to drop to the ground. They move around and then their bodies go still.

  Doug and Ming start to move up to the others, when Doug seems to sense something and starts to turn around.

  Just as Doug starts to turn around, Ming is grabbed by the TIGER, which rips into Ming's neck.

  Tommy and Jim begin shooting the TIGER, as Rachel fires arrow after arrow into the TIGER, but it has no effects, as Ming SCREAMS, with the TIGER dragging him out of sight.

  CHAPTER 97

  Jim starts to run after the TIGER, but Doug grabs him, trying to pull him back.

  Doug, "It's no use and...it's too late."

  Jim jerks free and runs a few more steps, then stops, and looks down, seeing a large blood smear on the ground.

  Jim looks out into the darkness, but sees nothing. He slowly turns around, seeing the still burning ZOMBIES, with several staggering/spinning around, like torches.

  Doug moves up to Jim, "There's nothing you could have done."

  Jim looks and sees Timothy, who seems to be studying the burning/spinning ZOMBIES, like test subjects.

  Jim's face goes hard and he starts to move towards Timothy.

  CHAPTER 98

  Timothy is almost smiling, as he watches a ZOMBIE, as it burns and spins. Timothy, "Amazing. Obviously dead, but it still has motor skills. It appears that the effect of the China White, passed through blood or saliva, varies from one subject to the..."

  WHAM!!!

  Jim hits Timothy, dropping Timothy to the ground. Jim reaches down and jerks Timothy back up to the ground, with Timothy being in almost shock.

  Jim, "My partner...Ming...he's gone, because of..."

  Jim starts to punch Timothy, but Doug and Tommy have ran up, each grabbing one of his arms, pulling him away from Timothy.

  Jim struggles, as Doug and Tommy force him back.

  Timothy slightly staggers, then looks at Jim.

  Timothy, "Certainly, certainly you don't blame me? That, that tiger, it wasn't mine. These, these..."

  Timothy slightly motions to the ZOMBIES.

  Jim, "Yeah, they're your fuckin' zombies. You OWN this. That tiger should have been dead. All of these, these zombies...they should have been dead, but..."

  Jim struggles, trying to break free, but Doug and Tommy hold him.

  Jim, "You...your China White. You, you're responsible and I'm gonna..."

  Tommy suddenly screams, as he lets go, then drops to the ground.

  Doug and Jim both look down, seeing Tommy grab his shoulder, with his fingers drenched in blood.

  CHAPTER 99

  Suddenly, dirt kicks up beside Doug and Jim.

  Jim twists free and starts to turn around, when he's hit by a bullet, spinning him around. Doug drops down to the ground, grabs Tommy, and starts to drag him towards the airplane, as Jim lays on his stomach, pointing his handgun, with one hand, away from them. In the near distance, Jim sees the silhouettes of Daniel and his men, as they move forward, firing their rifles.

  Jim, "Get to the airplane."

  Timothy is in shock, as he just stands there. Rachel runs, grabs him, and pulls him back, as bullets hit the dirt around them. Doug manages to get Tommy to the entr
ance of the airplane, just as Rachel and Timothy enter the airplane. Jim is looking out into the darkness, but sees nothing.

  Jim, screaming, "U.S. Deputy Marshal. Hold your fire."

  Bullets hit the dirt around Jim's face, with Jim bowing his head.

  Daniel and his MEN are approaching the airplane, with a couple of the MEN firing at Jim, keeping him pinned down.

  They watch as the last burning ZOMBIE drops to the ground, continuing to burn.

  Daniel almost smiles, as he moves closer to Jim.

  Suddenly, MAN #1 screams, with Daniel jerking to the side, seeing that ZOMBIE HYENAS have grabbed MAN #1 and are tearing him apart, with two ZOMBIE HYENAS fighting for pieces of him.

  Daniel fires at the ZOMBIE HYENAS, as MAN #2 and MAN #3 also turn and fire at the ZOMBIE HYENAS, with the bullets hitting the ZOMBIE HYENAS, but having no effect.

  They watch as two ZOMBIE HYENAS start to run away, with one carrying a leg in its mouth, while the other one carries a leg.

  Daniel hurries up to MAN #1 and looks down, at the bloody mess.

  Daniel turns and looks towards the airplane, seeing that Doug has helped Jim up and is moving towards the entrance of the airplane.

  Daniel raises his rifle and starts to aim, as MAN #2 and MAN #3 also move up to the sides of Daniel, raising their rifles.

  CHAPTER 100

  Doug is helping Jim into the airplane, just as a bullet rips into the airplane. Doug gives Jim a push inside the airplane.

  Inside the airplane, Rachel moves and helps Jim, as Tommy moves up, looking at the wound. Doug moves into view, then stops, looking around.

  Doug, "This isn't good."

  Timothy and Rachel give Doug a questioning look.

  Doug, "Get down. Everyone get down."

  They hesitate.

  Doug, screaming, "Now."

  Doug moves pushing Timothy down, then pushing Rachel down, as he drops over her.

  Suddenly, bullets begin tearing through the airplane.

  CHAPTER 101

  Daniel, MAN #2, and MAN #3 are firing their rifles at the cargo airplane. The cargo airplane is quickly covered with bullet holes.