“We expect full cooperation on all levels. Major General Knox will oversee all security matters with the assistance of First Lieutenant Reynolds. Armed troops will be dispatched to my sister’s estate. Unless Steven and Blanche Mann are already at the fort?”
“Blanche was there,” Katie said, “until she shot one man and killed two others. To the best of my knowledge, she is now most likely a zombie, staggering through the countryside.”
“What?” The senator rose sharply to her feet.
“Your sister is not the subject of discussion right now,” Katie said firmly. “I’m here to deliver a message to you.”
The senator’s eyes narrowed as she recognized the defiance in Katie’s tone. “Really? And what is that?”
“We are not giving up the fort. The people of Madison Mall are welcome to join us. We’re more than willing to take them in. If you want to come as well, you need to realize that we are building a community based on respect for the individual and freedom of choice.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” The senator looked confused.
“We are determined to give people a chance to have a good life. If they don’t value hard work, loyalty, and the basic ideals of the U.S. Constitution, they can leave.”
“How dare you tell me how to live my life,” the senator snapped.
“Oh, but you can tell us?”
“I am an elected official. It’s my job to make the hard decisions,” the senator retorted. She came around the desk in a streak of red.
Katie didn’t shy away as she was sure the senator expected, but crossed her arms under her breasts and stood her ground. The curve of her belly, pressing against her arms, made her feel even stronger.
“I am in charge here!”
“That is where you’re mistaken. You’re supposed to represent the people who elected you. To help them, not hamper their lives. Kevin told us about your plans. You call people assets and breeders, and you’ve estimated how many of us can die without negative consequences.”
The senator shot a venomous look at Kevin. “You were supposed to convince them to turn over the fort.”
Kevin stood up slowly. “I told them your plans so they wouldn’t.”
“First Lieutenant Reynolds, how dare you disobey a direct order?” Major General Knox finally spoke up, looking furious.
“Easily. I realized you meant to make people into slaves.” Kevin’s eyes blazed.
“Slaves?” The senator barked a sharp, sarcastic laugh. “The people need to be guided firmly or we’re doomed.” She glared at Katie. “How long before your people fall into chaos without experienced leadership? Let’s be frank here. You have no clue what you’re doing.
“The citizens of this country can barely take care of themselves. Why do you think there are so many social programs? The people have no idea how to make good choices.” The senator was speaking in the quiet, persuasive voice she used so well during debates.
“Bullshit,” Katie answered angrily. “You are completely underestimating the people who helped build this country. If folks want to stay here, then they can. But we are offering them a chance to come to the fort, where circumstances are better than they are in the mall.” She looked the senator straight in the eye. “We make you the same offer: Stay here or come with us. But if you relocate to the fort, you’ll be one among equals. You’ll have to find a way to make yourself useful.”
The senator laughed again. “You are completely delusional. I am a proven leader and an elected official. I know that government and the law bring order to the people. They trust us, and without us, they don’t know how to think or act for themselves. Only the educated and powerful truly understand what it takes to run society.”
It shocked Katie to realize that the senator fully believed what she was saying. “I’m not here to debate politics. I’m here to tell you that we are not turning over the fort and we are not going to follow your orders. We are leaving, with whoever wants to go with us.”
“My men will not follow you into mutiny, Reynolds,” the major general declared.
“Most will,” Kevin answered. “Frankly, sir, you are a disgrace to the uniform you wear. The minute you fell into bed with this woman, you lost the right to give orders to any of us.”
The senator’s mouth opened in shock. “Well, I never—”
“Oh, please,” Katie said, rolling her eyes.
“The worst thing I ever did was to allow you to take command of the mall,” Kevin continued. “I should have trusted my instincts. I’ve learned my lesson. I’m leaving and taking these people and my men with me.”
“There is no room for debate on this,” Katie said firmly. “We’re leaving in the morning. We’re going to start organizing people for the airlift right away. You are welcome to join us, under the terms I’ve already stated.”
“Gordon, you can’t let them do this!” the senator exclaimed.
“Try to stop us,” Katie answered.
“We outnumber you,” Kevin added. “Don’t make this ugly.”
Travis opened the door. He, Katie, and Kevin left without a backward glance.
4.
The Last Hours
The fissure among the members of the armed forces was immediate. The senator’s supporters retreated to the second floor as Kevin’s troop claimed the downstairs. There were a few tense moments, but it was clear that no one wanted to start a skirmish. Despite their differences, these men and women had served side by side and had no desire to start a firefight.
“Come with us, Ben,” Kevin urged one of the senator’s men. Sergeant Ben Constantine was a good man and a superb soldier, and Kevin knew if Ben joined him, the rest of the dissenters would follow.
“I won’t turn my weapon on civilians, Kevin, but I’m sticking with the senator. I want to get home. She’s my best shot to do that once she gets to Central,” Ben answered.
Kevin appealed to the others as well, but the loyalists would not be shaken. It was easy to understand why they were unwilling to turn against the authority they had served for so long. When the first lieutenant finally, reluctantly, retreated down the escalator, he was heartbroken, but felt that the possibility of an armed response was minimal.
Using the mall’s public address system, which was located in the offices on the main floor, Kevin announced that anyone who wanted to move to the fort should line up in the food court and register for the airlift.
The line began forming immediately. Jenni and Katie scrambled to get organized. They settled on using separate notebooks to keep track of different groups: families, orphans, and single people, separated into under and over sixty-five years of age. Bill, Valerie, and Greta joined Katie and Jenni in signing up the desperate residents of the Madison Mall.
Jenni carefully translated for any Spanish speakers who were confused and promised them that they were not going to be reduced to noncitizens. Meanwhile, Katie assured the elderly that they would be taken care of and the helicopter ride wouldn’t be too bad.
The complete list held a little over four hundred names. All of the civilian population was leaving, along with most of the military personnel.
Meanwhile, Travis and Kevin worked out an evacuation plan with Nerit via the radio, carefully planning each stage of the withdrawal from the mall.
About an hour before dinner, the senator addressed the mall from the top of the escalators. Beautifully dressed and coiffed, she was a vision of sophistication.
“I realize that many of you have chosen to depart for the fort. This is understandable, since you are desperate to escape the zombie scourge and the conditions here are difficult. But you must consider that you may be exchanging a haven that you are not completely happy with for one that you know nothing about, one that may be in far worse condition than you have been told.
“I want to take the reins of the fort to ensure that all surviving citizens of this great state and our great country are given a fair and equal chance to fulfill their patriotic d
uty. To ensure that all citizens benefit from strong and capable leadership.
“I have worked hard for the people of Texas for many years. Help me appeal to the untried leaders of the fort and help them see that true leadership—experienced, strong leadership—is best for everyone.”
Listening to the senator, Jenni rolled her eyes.
“I am in regular contact with the president and what remains of the U.S. government. They have assured me that they will do all they can to assist us.”
“We’ve heard that lie before,” Amy whispered to Jenni.
“Together, united, we can withstand all that comes against us. Do not give up hope. America will rise again, and President Castellanos is dedicated to helping you.”
Bill shook his head. Katie sighed.
“Come stand with me and let the leaders of the fort see that you want a strong, powerful new home. That you want to be part of the rebuilding of America and the great state of Texas. Join me and we will begin a new world together.” The senator ended her speech with a bright smile. She stood at the top of the escalators, looking expectantly at the crowd below. The people dispersed, ignoring her completely. At last she retreated out of sight.
Ten minutes later, no one had left the ground floor.
“I think that’s a pretty good answer,” Katie said.
* * *
Gordon Knox sat on the king-sized bed he shared with Paige Brightman in the partitioned area of a store they had claimed as their own. Staring into the bottom of his empty glass, he considered pouring another shot from his precious liquor stores. But he was exhausted to the marrow of his bones, and the bottle on the dresser seemed too far away to reach. Instead, he lifted the glass and drank the last few drops of the burning liquid.
He hoped to be unconscious when Paige returned from making her patriotism-driven speech. He knew she would be in a foul mood and he didn’t want to endure it. When she had those dark moments, he wondered why he loved her so much, but his doubts always slipped away when she was happy and loving. They were dating for nearly a year when the zombies had risen. They’d been riding high on Paige’s reelection to the Senate and his new job with FEMA and were planning their wedding.
They’d each been married before, and Knox knew that most people thought marrying a senator was a savvy political move on his part. All his life he’d done exactly the right things to advance his career. He’d never tipped the boat too much, always made the right friends, toed the line, and produced a solid record that was perfectly suited to a transition into politics.
But Gordon’s marriage to Paige wasn’t about advancing his career. He loved her madly.
“You need to talk to your men,” Paige said angrily as she swept back the heavy curtains that served as the door. Their home was part of a furniture display, with three standing walls. It was a good facsimile of a home, almost convincing until he looked at the curtains blocking the view of the store.
“What do you mean, Paige?”
“Go talk to your men, Gordon!” Her face twisted into the angry expression he loathed and he averted his eyes. “I spoke with Sergeant Constantine, and he refuses to take armed action against the soldiers siding with Kevin. He is also refusing to stop people from using our helicopters to leave tomorrow.”
“Paige, you can’t expect soldiers to fire on their own people. Those are Americans down there.” Gordon shook his head in agitation. “Paige, are you even hearing what you’re saying?”
She strode briskly over to his side of the bed and glared at him. “I know exactly what I’m saying. Our perfect opportunity to rise to the top of this new world order is being stolen away, and you’re just sitting here drinking instead of mobilizing your men!”
Gordon stood up as unexpected anger filled him. “Paige, if this was a general election, you just lost. Hell, I guess it was a general election, because the people down there are your constituents and you were just ousted in a landslide.”
Paige’s mouth opened, but not a word slipped past her bright red lips.
“Don’t you understand, Paige? The old world is done. It’s over.” He brushed past her to the dresser and picked up the binder that held her extensive plans for the future. “This is a fool’s dream! The people of the fort have already rebuilt their world. We can’t take that away from them. This plan isn’t about restoring order, it’s about suppressing freedom. Freedom I used to fight for. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I agreed to it.” He threw the binder at her feet.
“You were thinking we needed to restore America!”
“Maybe,” Gordon said, nodding. “But now I see that it’s all about restoring you to power!” He grabbed Paige’s arms, staring into her beautiful eyes. “Paige, we’re not in charge anymore. If we believe in the true American spirit, then we must accept that we serve the people, not vice versa.”
“You’re drunk. I can smell the brandy on your breath,” she said scornfully, pulling away.
“Paige, please.”
“Oh, shut up, Gordon.” She set her hands on her hips and leveled her furious gaze on him. “I came from the fucking trailer park. I know what imbeciles those hicks are. I had to fight my way out of poverty. I plastered on a fake smile, taped up my tits, teased my hair, and wore gobs of makeup just so I could win enough beauty pageant scholarships to attend college. I used the assets God gave me to get me and my sister out of that backwater hellhole, and I am not going back there. If we lose the fort, then we’re nothing more than another fucking idiot trying not to get eaten.”
Dizzy from the alcohol, Gordon sat down hard on the bed. “Paige, we’ve already lost. Let’s go with them tomorrow. Let’s start over. We can get married and work with those people to make a new America. Darling, I have every faith that when the next election rolls around, you will win.”
Tapping her foot, Paige stared at him incredulously. “I am not starting over.”
“Paige, please.”
“Go to bed, Gordon. You’re a drunken idiot.”
Gordon lowered his head, anger and disappointment filling him. “Paige, we should leave tomorrow.”
Without a word, she stalked out of their room, the curtain swishing back into place behind her.
“Don’t do anything foolish, Paige,” Gordon called after her, then passed out.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
1.
Exit the Wickedest Woman in Texas
In the gray dawn, the senator and her people quietly rushed down the employee staircase. A guard swung open the double doors at the bottom, and the group stepped into the mall’s main entrance at the top of the A, just in front of the blacked-out doors that led to the outside world.
“Take care of the front gate guards, Sergeant Constantine. They’re Kevin’s men and won’t let us leave peacefully,” Paige ordered Ben.
Giving a brisk nod, Ben signaled two other guards to follow him and hurried outside. The door opened and shut quickly, but not quickly enough—they could all hear the zombies moaning beyond the walls.
Raleigh, the senator’s campaign manager, stared into the mall, at the darkened stores where people were sleeping. “If we blow the front gate…,” he said uncertainly.
“The zombies fear fire. We’ll be okay.”
“I would hate for these people to end up dead,” Raleigh continued.
“I didn’t know you were such a bleeding heart,” the senator said teasingly.
“Where’s Major General Knox?”
“He’s had a change of heart. He turned out to be a coward,” the senator said dismissively. The truth was, she was done with him. His words the night before had been an unforgivable betrayal. So she’d left him. If she could not claim the fort directly, then she would make her way to Central and get them to help her. One way or the other, that fort would be hers.
A paint-blackened outer door swung open, and Ben and his soldiers rushed inside. Ben said, “Okay, the guards are neutralized and we’ve moved two trucks into position. I don’t think we were
spotted.”
“Good,” the senator said with a smile. “Well done, Sergeant Constantine.”
“We should pull the guards inside,” Ben continued. “So they won’t be killed.”
“Excellent point. Go ahead,” Paige said, trying not to let her annoyance show. How many more delays must she face?
The parking lot was shaped like a trapezoid, with the main entrance at the narrowest end. The securely locked gate was solid metal, unlike the three wrought-iron gates behind the mall. The rear gates had been heavily barricaded and the two narrow parking areas along the sides of the mall blocked off months earlier. If the zombies broke in on one side of the parking lot, the other side would still be protected.
When Brightman and Knox had taken over the mall, the main gate was wired with explosives. Additional explosive devices had been tossed over the gate; wires connected them to triggers inside the parking lot. The plan was to blow the gate, then set off the bombs in the crowd of zombies to clear a path for the escaping vehicles.
The unconscious guards were carried into the mall and laid carefully on the floor.
“None of this feels right,” Raleigh protested.
“Do you want to go to Central, or do you want to go to the fort and be led by those hicks?”
“I just want to get out of here.” His hands were shaking.
Paige was disappointed in his weakness. She knew that mistakes had been made here at the mall. But she would learn from her mistakes and move on. Once at Central, she would make sure the president understood her determination to stand with him and rebuild America.
“Ma’am, you ready?” Sergeant Constantine asked.
She flashed her perfect, beautiful smile once again. “Yes, I am.”
He opened the door for her and she walked out to the waiting truck, ignoring the sounds of the undead.
* * *
The gate slid open soundlessly. The explosives detonated with a loud thump. Flames erupted, setting the zombies near the gate on fire. A stampede spread quickly as their primitive fear of fire sent the undead scrambling away. The secondary explosives went off, setting more zombies on fire. The two military trucks roared out of the gate and down the street, crunching burning zombies under their tires.
As The World Dies Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 83
