by TW Gallier
"Helicopter!" Kate said, pointing behind us.
I saw the lights before I heard it over the growing storm. It was flying low and fast. An attack run?
"Make for the beach!" Charlie cried, even as he turned and opened fire.
The rest of us shot at the helicopter, which opened up on us a moment later. Sean turned sharply, heading toward the shore. That probably saved us. The helicopter was flying too fast to react to that maneuver. He opened it up, and ran that boat up on shore at full speed.
"Hit the trees!" Sean commanded. "Take your packs."
I watched the helicopter as we ran. It opened fire on something else a couple hundred yards west of us. Another boat?
"Everyone, there's another boat up the ways. Turn left when you reach the trees," I gasped out.
My group hit the trees running. Huffing and puffing, we barely slowed down. Limbs, shrubs, and briars pulled at my clothes, scratched my arms and legs, and slapped me in the face, but I ran with all I could muster. We charged through the dark forest.
"Aaaiiiee!" a child screamed to my immediate right.
"Halt!" multiple voices screamed.
I dropped to one knee, finger on trigger. Scanning the woods all around, I saw numerous others before us. Men, women, children.
"Timmy? Harlan?" I asked in a loud whisper. "Sookie?"
"Daddy!" Harlan cried, racing toward me.
His little body slammed into me, knocking me to my back. Sookie and then Timmy jumped on, hugging and kissing me. Both groups came together with a cry of relief and joy.
"Where's your mother?" I asked.
"She's not with you?" Sookie asked.
"Oh no," I said, looking toward the lake shore. "She must still be out there."
Chapter 34
Jenny
I couldn't see or hear anything over the motor, rain, and crashing through the waves. That had to be the loudest boat ride of my life. We had to shout at the top of our lungs to be heard. Vince's knuckles were white on the motor's throttle control. Everyone was looking around with huge eyes.
We were lost.
"Turn more to the right, Vince," I shouted. "I think you turned too far to the left."
Vince turned hard left when the Canadians started shooting at us with something big. I didn't know if it was cannons or tanks or mortars, but we didn't hang around to find out. He turned away and we vanished into the grayness of that rainy night. And now the rain and wind were starting to pick up again.
We had no idea how much gas was still in the single tank. Weather it was rain or dead batteries, not a single flashlight was working, and we all had one, too.
"I can hear a helicopter coming from that direction," he replied.
"Yes. That's the direction to shore." Okay, I wasn't a hundred percent sure, but it was a good assumption. "We'll go straight up on shore and hide in the woods."
He gave me a doubtful look, and continued in the same direction. So frustrating.
"Boat!" Haley screamed, pointing to our left.
Another small boat was speeding out of the darkness towards us. It only took a second to realize it wasn't one of our three. They fired upon us a second later. Everyone but Vince returned fire, and he turned us toward the helicopter sounds and throttled to full speed.
It was a race. The soldiers backed off, but continued to fire at us. We returned fire, but I didn't think any of us was doing any good. The ride across the storm-driven waves battered us, and ensured we couldn't hit the broadside of a battleship. Still we returned fire sporadically, trying to save our ammo while keeping them at bay.
I could just make out the helicopter's lights when land appeared before us. The helicopter was moving away from us, off to the east. The soldiers chasing us were too close to lose, so we just ran up on the beach at full speed. The boat flipped over, sending us all tumbling. The only reason no one lost our weapons was the one-point harnesses. As it was, my rifle was smashed into me a dozen times during my tumble.
"Oh God, just let me die," I groaned after coming to a stop face-down in the sand.
I slowly climbed to all fours and looked around. Men, women, and gear were spread from the shoreline to my location. I was closest to the trees, which looked miles away at that moment.
"Grab your weapons and follow me," I shouted. "Forget everything else!"
We were going to miss the contents of those packs, but escape was our first priority. None of use moved very well or quickly, but the pain subsided as we moved. I was back to my full stride by the time we reached the treeline.
"The soldiers just landed," Ally said.
"Vince, lead the way. Turn left when you reach the road," I said. Our map was stuffed in my back pocket, but I didn't have time to look at it. US-2 ran along the coast, so probably wasn't too far inland. "I doubt we've passed Brevort, so we'll head for the first rally point."
He didn't argue, though for a split second I thought he would challenge me. His wife gave him a shove, and Vince led us deeper into the forest. I stayed back and took the rear.
To his credit, Vince kept us moving fast and furious. He found a nice game trail going in the right direction. I dropped back about twenty yards, but stayed close enough to hear them ahead of me. The sound of pursuit reached me as well.
While glancing back, my foot caught on something. "Shit!"
I fell hard, knocking a lot of my breath out. The jingle of the approaching soldiers filled my ears. They'd be on top of me within seconds. I tried desperately not to panic, but failed miserably.
Struggling to my feet, I walked into a low limb that almost knocked me back down. Instead, I grabbed the end with both hands and started backing off the trail. The limb was thick, and I strained to keep hold of its slippery smaller branches. When I heard the faint sounds of cracking, I stopped and braced myself.
The strain on my arms became insufferable. My muscles burned and my fingers ached. The limb began to pull out of my weakening grasp. And the Canadians' point man appeared on the trail, with others crowded behind him. The sight of them startled me. They looked like something out of nightmares. Then I realized they were wearing gas masks and chemical warfare suits over their uniforms.
The soldiers were jogging, moving fast and incautiously. Even as a civilian I knew it was a mistake to move so closely packed together. I tightened my hold on the straining branch, holding my breath.
The point man suddenly stopped, looking straight at me as he swung his rifle around and shouted a warning. I released the thick branch and it whipped around. The point man was struck in the chest, his rifle going off. I watched as he was forced back into the next man.
"Wow," I muttered, more than a little surprised it worked.
After that brief hesitation, I moved quickly and charged back onto the trail. Ducking under the still sweeping limb, I stood off to one side and threatened them with my rifle.
"Halt, or I'll shoot!"
They froze, those eerie looking gas masked faces looking at me. I raised the butt of the rifle to my shoulders, and took careful aim in the middle of that pile of men. One by one they reluctantly discarded their weapons and lifted their gloved hands.
How paranoid are these people?
"Take off your masks."
Every one of them shook their head. I didn't care. I fired two rounds into the ground on either side of them.
"Take off your fucking masks!" I shouted. "I want to see the faces of men trying to murder women and children."
Several of them cringed. One man pulled off his gas mask, and then another and another. It took a moment, and some more threats, but I soon had all twelve of them unmasked.
"Jenny, are you all right?" Vince's voice came from up the trail. I barely heard him. "Is it safe?"
"Be alert," I said. "I think I got them all, but I can't be certain."
Vince, then Jake crept out of the darkness.
"Everyone else stay back under cover," I called. "Cover us in case there are more of these godless killers."
&
nbsp; "We're just defending our borders from the zombie plague," one of the soldiers said.
"Really? You must be lost, because this is MICHIGAN," I shouted. "You've crossed the border to kill innocent Americans, bastard."
"We got the message you didn't want us in your country," Vince said. "We're just trying to find a place to live now. Leave us the fuck alone."
"We're just doing our job," another soldier said.
"Must be nice to be able to justify murder," I sneered.
"How are you going to justify murdering us?"
That struck hard. For a second I couldn't breathe. I could see they were all terribly young. Really, just boys. My eyes began to burn, but I regained control of my raging emotions.
"We aren't going to kill you," I said. "I knocked you down with that branch, when it would've been easier and safer for me to just gun you down."
"What are we going to do with them?" Jake asked.
"March them back to their boat and make them go away," I said. I caught their eyes. "You have a problem with that?"
Of course not. Vince and Jake walked to either side of them, while I followed. We forced them back to the shore. Their boat was only half-pulled up on shore. They didn't hesitate or object, and just silently pushed their boat back into the water, started the motor, and sped away while we watched.
"Let's grab our packs and get the hell out of here," I said. "Vince, we'll follow the highway west to Brevort, but stay in the trees."
"What if the other boats made it past Brevort?" Selma asked.
That was the million dollar question. Were they east or west of us? We might've made it further than them. They might've been captured or killed.
Everyone was looking at me for the answers. When did I become leader? Or did I just assume leadership? Roger always accused me of being bossy.
"They'll come back for us," I said. "We'll leave a note that we're heading to the second rally point if they don't show up soon."
I prayed I sounded more confident than I felt. There was a very bad chance we were all that was left. My throat tightened, heart hammered, and head spun when I thought about my children being dead, so I forced that thought away. Brutally forced it down.
I had to be strong, until…
"Define soon," Willa asked.
I just looked at her and shrugged. I was winging it. Roger and Sean made all the real decisions. The rest of us just followed obediently. Maybe that needed to change.
Vince shouldered his pack and headed back up the trail, followed by Leslie, Willa, Jake, Haley, and Selma. I paused to look off into the rainy gray of Lake Michigan. Where were Roger and the kids? Were they even alive? Did they think I was dead?
Chapter 35
Roger
We found a house on US-2. After Mike and Charlie searched it, we moved everyone inside out of the rain. That was a major relief on everyone. I felt warmer instantly, and the stress level all around eased up. Even though it was the middle of summer, the rain brought cooler temperatures and we were all wet. So we were cold as shit.
The house was a lot warmer than outside, but not by much. All of the windows were smashed out. We found some quilts, hammer, and nails, and sealed off the living room. The children were wrapped in blankets, while the women dug food out of the packs for everyone.
"Thank God there is a fireplace," Sara said. "And firewood. We can dry our wet clothes while warming the room."
There was a large fireplace with dry wood stacked in a cubby hole to one side. Sara and Nicole began stacking wood inside the firebox. I looked at Sean, who grimaced.
"We can't have a fire, ladies," I said.
"What? We're cold and wet," Sara said. She graced me with an angry look. "The children need heat."
"Heat is one of the problems," I said, noticing everyone but Sean staring at me like I was crazy. "The helicopters use infrared and passive night vision. Heat lights up the world for them. They will spot every single source of heat in the area and investigate."
"We're inside a house," Nicole replied. "I'm sure it's insulated, so they won't see the fire."
"The smoke is the main issue. It can be seen from a long way off and is super hot, so might create a hot smoke signal for them to zero in on," I said. "We can't have a fire until we're certain we are well past the territory they patrol."
Everyone looked at Sean, who looked apologetic as he nodded. They scowled at both of us, but Sara and Nicole gave up their efforts.
"Everyone should have a set of dry clothes in their packs," Sean said. "Get the kids in dry clothes first. Hopefully this storm will pass quickly, so we don't have to go back out into it."
We watched as the women jumped to it. Even the women without children seemed super intent on the kids. The childless women fed, dressed, and comforted the kids like they were their own. It could've been a beautiful moment, except for eight missing people.
"Thanks for letting me be the bad guy," I said to Sean. "I was so afraid you were going to step up and steal my evil glory."
He clapped me on the shoulder. "No problem, Sarge. I'm proud of you for stepping up and taking that bullet for me."
I gave him a friendly punch in the chest. Mike, Charlie, Terrel, and Brett stood with us, and just grinned. That happy moment didn't last. Thunder boomed off in the distance. The storm was going to get worse before it passed. And we had a boatload of people missing, including Jenny.
"I'm going to go scout the coastline and see if I can find Jenny's boat," I said. "Anyone want to come with me?"
Mike, Charlie, and Brett all raised their hands.
"We can't all go," Sean said. "I'll take one of the guys and scout the road. You take someone and look for the other boat." He glanced at the other men. "I'll take Mike. He's crazy enough to be a Marine."
"Is that a backhanded compliment?" Mike asked. "Me? A Marine? Perish the thought."
"You should be so lucky," Sean said.
"I'll take Charlie," I said. Looking at Brett, "Sorry, my man, but someone has to be in charge here."
"You don't look sorry," he grumbled.
A long rumble of thunder shook the house. It sounded closer. I already dreaded going back out in that mess.
"It doesn't rain in the Marines," Sean said with a weary sigh. "It rains on the Marines."
"What the hell?" Mike cried. "Did you hear that crap? It's bad enough the jarheads steal all the glory for themselves, like they're the only ones who fight wars, but now they're stealing the Army's favorite sayings." He jabbed a finger at Sean. "It rains on the Army."
"Actually, you're both wrong," Terrel called from across the room, his son between him and Sonya. "It's the Air Force. It rains on the Air Force. Idiots."
"Word," Terrel, Jr. said, making a dropping mic motion.
"I guess that is settled," I said, winking at little Terrel. I walked over to Sookie, sitting in Sara's lap. "I'm going to go look for Mommy. You kids be good."
I kissed Sookie on the forehead, and then did the same with Timmy and Harlan. Sean kissed Kate, while Charlie and Mike found their new ladies for a lot more hugging and kissing.
"That's enough," I said. "There are children in the room, for Christ's sake."
Sean and Mike left through the front door, while I led Charlie out the back. The lake shore wasn't far. We moved quickly through the woods, getting thoroughly soaked again. The rain might've been blocked in part by the forest canopy, but it all dripped down and came off on us as we brushed against vegetation.
I paused to look up and down the coast. We had binoculars, but in the rainy night they were pretty much useless. Night vision would've been nice. There was so much crap washed up on shore it was impossible to make out one of the dark gray boats we used.
"We'll check to the east for a mile or so," I said. "Then turn around and do the same to the west." I pointed at a large piece of driftwood. "Remember that. This is where we need to come back to so we can find the house."
Chapter 36
Brett
Ev
eryone sat in silence along the walls a long time after Sean, Roger, Mike, and Charlie left. It was dark, cold, and miserable. There was no reason to speak. In fact, I could see most of them starting to nod off.
I was fine with that.
After about twenty minutes Kate got up and went into the master bedroom, just off the living room. I heard her pissing a moment later, the sound loud in that quiet house. She returned a few minutes later and started exploring the house. Fred got up a few minutes later when we heard her softly cry out about something in the garage.
"Look what we found?" Fred said when he returned. "The garage is full of camping stuff."
What he had was two lanterns and a can of fuel. Kate followed him in with a camp stove that operated on the same fuel.
"Are you sure the lanterns are safe?" I asked. "Can't the soldiers see it from the road?"
"I'll go out and walk around the house. If I see any light, we can nail up some more blankets to block the light."
"Yeah," Fred said. "It's too dark in here, and the lanterns will give off a lot of heat. Between the lanterns and the stove, I think we can heat this room nicely."
"But Roger warned us about that," I said. "The helicopters can see heat."
Fred shook his head. "He was talking about the heat and smoke going up the chimney. This heat will all be contained inside the house."
Kate placed the camp stove atop the coffee table in the middle of the room. There was a box of kitchen matches inside. Fred took a match to light the lanterns, while Kate filled the stove's little tank. Soon bright light filled the room, and a moment later Kate had the stove blazing away.
"And we can hang the wet clothes around the stove to help dry them," Kate added. She headed for the front door with her rifle. "I'll be right back."
Despite my misgivings, I walked over to warm myself beside the stove. With the room brightly lit, people began to move around. Except for Sookie, the children remained asleep. Sookie followed Sara around and helped her gather clothes to dry. Hangers were found, and then the first batch of clothes were hung around the stove and above the lanterns, which were putting out almost as much heat.
