The Clock Runs Down_The Servant

by Joe Kelly

  He knew they missed their parents especially on this day but maybe there was a little magic in the air that kept them happy for this small moment. He hoped so, god knew those kids deserved it. The only real worry were the raiders who had yet to put in an appearance after the destruction of their scout team.

  John Graham had thought he was nuts, when Jared had approached him about what he wanted in trade for the rifles, but now with all the decorations and presents, here at the farm and at the center. It was Jared thought a major poke in the eye of evil. It was screaming defiance at the Dark, a challenge daring it to do its worst.

  Not that he didn’t expect a response from the Dark for actually having a moment like this, a big one too, but the dark could take a flying leap off a short pier as far as Jared was concerned. He suspected the Dark would take being poked with extreme displeasure. But it wasn’t like the Dark wasn’t already trying to kill them. which was why they were as ready as possible for the Darks displeasure.

  Jared had already explained to Lloyd if it started going south his first priority was to protect the kids, and that included the ones at the farm. All the kids would be loaded onto the bus with guards. And if the farm fell those guards would fight their way out and keep trekking east if need be to keep the kids safe.

  Jared had even offered a ride out to every woman and kid on the Farm if things fell apart. He would as he promised Lloyd to get as many out as possible. Not that Jared would be leaving with the refugees someone had to stay and slow down the raiders to give the escapees time to get away, and being honest with himself, he really didn’t believe many would get out no matter what they did. He could only do so much after all and if this was where he died he wasn’t going to complain.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  John and his men stopped on the trail and looked back as they heard the distant sound of gunfire from the direction of their compound. The snow and terrain carried the sound well, and John could only stare back through the falling snow, seeing the undead surround the compound in his mind’s eye.

  He wanted to turn back, to deny what his grandmother wanted, but he couldn’t. as he made that decision he saw something that chilled his blood, indistinct shapes staggering thru the snow, from the direction of Cherokee following the nature trail John and his people rode on, just then a cold crisp wind brought the stench of the undead to Johns nose.

  “We have to go,” he called out to his men pointing back to the undead, Frank looked back and saw the first zombie clearly and nodded in agreement.

  With a roar, the snowmobiles shot off slinging snow behind them, racing along the trail till they erupted onto the road. ten minutes later they crossed the second bridge where the Farm had set up a guard post, John stopped only long enough to warn the Farms guards, who moved two vehicles onto the bridge bumper to bumper and blocked it behind Johns people.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  The kids had finally opened their presents shortly after dawn; there had been shrieks of excitement as they discovered what they had gotten.

  None of the presents were fancy, and nothing that required batteries. Dolls, stuffed animals, bats and gloves, and a myriad of other things it was all the two groups could do and it was thankfully more than enough.

  Jared smiled as he watched Billy open his present. With a huge smile Billy held up the old Y combat harness and baseball bat he had gotten. “thanks Mr. Jared” he bellowed happily as he put on the combat harness and attached web belt.

  I’m going to do it, Jared told himself, as he watched Billy strut proudly around in the combat harness, Jared’s dog tags around his neck. I am going to talk to Jill then if she feels the same way I’m going to adopt him.

  Little Sally squealed in delight clutching the Teddy bear she had gotten from Santa, She held it close and stroked its fur, promising the bear that she would keep it safe from the zombies. Sally looked up puzzled not understanding why Jill broke into tears and Jared wiped at his eyes, that simple heartfelt sentence from a little girl had struck him hard. He wanted to promise her that it would be all right, promise her anything to take away the fear but it would be a lie and he was not going to lie to the kids.

  “this is Carrie, to Jared or Lloyd.” Jared frowned at the voice from his ear bud. Stepping outside he replied. “this is Jared go ahead.” He felt his heart sink, Carrie was posted at the blockade at the bridge blockade on the Cherokee side and there was only one reason he would be calling.

  . “Jared, John Graham just crossed the bridge, and says there’s a horde of undead heading this way from Cherokee. He should be at the Farm in a couple of minutes.” Carrie said tension clipping each word. Jared had no sooner acknowledged the transmission, when Ori, who was now stuck up on the blue ridge as long as the bridge was closed, reported in. “Merry Christmas looks like the neighbors are wanting to crash the party and they brought armor.”

  “Roger that Ori, have Jason watch your six, there’s a bunch of undead coming up from Cherokee. If you have a possible escape route take it the instant, you see one of those things.” Jared ordered, fearing for his friend and angry at himself that he had no even considered setting up an escape route.

  Ori really only had a few possibilities to escape from his current position, climb up the mountain, climb down the ridge or go over the barricade they had set up at the first tunnel and strike out on foot. None of those were great options, but no one promised things would be easy. “Roger that Jared, luck to you, out.”

  “Luck to you too brother. Out” Jared replied as he sent a quick prayer for Ori and Jason’s safety winging up into the sky.

  “This is Bill up on the Gap Barricade, we have a whole mess of those things heading this way.” Jared grimaced, the next time I decided to poke the devil in the eye, remember this moment and make sure you piss in his cheerios too. Might as well go for broke.

  Jared ducked back into the cabin and summoned Lloyd, Steve and Rachael to join him outside. “I wish I didn’t have to say this” Jared said once they had joined him on the porch. “It’s about to happen. Rachael get the kids onto the bus. Steve get the extra .50 out and take it down to the wall we are going to need it. Tell Rob to get his special projects ready. It looks like we get to deliver the other presents today.” He turned to Lloyd. “Sorry that it happened today. I thought it might. Evil just loves trying to screw up a good time.”

  “I will get my men ready” Lloyd said turning on his heel and striding off to gather the men not already on the wall, or patrolling the edges of the farm.

  Jared stood there for a moment as the others rushed off to get their tasks completed. He looked at the wall, but his eyes kept drifting to the meager defenses and the DFP’s that were supposed to cover the trail approach. He had a bad feeling about that spot.

  The children were led out of the Cabin looking scared and clutching their new toys. The happiness and excitement of minutes ago gone as they were taken to the waiting bus, Jared felt a slow fury rise, no the world wasn’t fair, never had been, but what stupid damn rule would it break to give those kids one damn special day.

  Jared heard the rumble of the snow mobiles, then spotted John Graham and ten others come around the cabin near the footbridge, Graham waved and came to a stop next to Jared, “ Gayle sent us, she said zombies might be in the woods on the ridge back there,” he told Jared, before the Red head could say a word. Jared shook his head hating the fact he was right about that ridge then grunted a bitter laugh. of course, there are zombies in the woods, it never rains but it damn sure pours a lot.

  “Already planned for it” Jared said as he looked towards the wall, where a few shots rang out, the scattered weapons fire was growing into a full-scale fire storm as the first of the raiders appeared on the road.

  “You can support the line that covers the slope. Do what you can John, but keep your people alive. I think they’re going to need you back home.” Jared said extending a hand. Graham shook the other man’s hand. “You too.” John said.

  “Logan get your people
out to the DFP’s, John says that there might be a large number of undead up there on the ridge.” Jared said as he turned to Logan. “You only have to hold till the cabins are evacuated then run like hell for the camp.” Only four men were on guard at the DFP’s Logan and the others would be sorely needed to hold back the dead if there was going to be any hope of slowing them down to have time to get everyone to the Camp and its walls. He had no realistic expectation of stopping the dead till they reached the bridge and even that was only a small chance.

  “I got the bus” Kyle said motioning to Henry and John Madoc to follow him.

  “Keep those kids safe and if you have to leave, don’t hesitate.” Jared said.

  “I won’t” Kyle called back over his shoulder as he jogged away.

  “Okay folks this is it.” Jared transmitted as he raced across the churned-up snow towards the wall. “Good Luck and God speed”

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Reed stood in the back of his Command truck studying defenses up ahead. He wasn’t eager to engage now that he saw it for himself, the survivors of his scouting party had done little note taking and that one-eyed bastard had left out a few details as well Reed noted.

  Like the machine gun that periodically fired on the ferret Armored car every time it started to move, forward. It wasn’t a .50 he knew, it was to light to do more than make sparks when its rounds hit the Ferret. But if the gunner realized that and shifted his fire to the men accompanying the Ferret he would do some serious damage. There wasn’t a lot of ammo for the .50 that had been mounted on the Ferret or he would have had the gunner tear apart that wall and the machine gunner. Damn them, this should have been a cake walk.

  He lifted his binoculars and studied the area around the wall and bridge, frowning angrily. He didn’t like the way those abandoned vehicles had been placed, creating a maze that covered the road and both sides of the road cutting off a direct approach to the wall or the bridge to the left of the wall.

  From what he could see and hear there were more defenders than he had thought or been told about, he half blamed Michael but the truth was he should have waited till he could get more scouts out and get the intel he needed but he had let the anger of his men lead him to an attack. They were too used to small bands of mostly unarmed survivors and that had made his men soft. Whatever I do now, it’s still going to cost us men and munitions.

  .

  The advance platoon was taking heavy fire as they advanced under cover, much heavier fire than he would have expected. Where had they gotten all the ammo they were using, he wondered. Second platoon was laying down covering fire trying to keep the farmers from looking and firing over the wall, but the farmers had prepared for that too, they had simply removed wooden plugs from the firing slits they had made in the wall and their fire continued.

  He grimaced as the Squad Automatic Weapons, SAW for short, turned its fire on four of his men running for cover. Their bodies tumbled to the ground. sharpshooters on both sides shot the corpses in the head. At least Adkins and his company showed up yesterday and even with the extra men this is going to be a hard nut to crack.

  “Send half the company forward to support the ferret, have Lt. Carwells mobile units act in support.” Reed ordered, his nerves taut. He was sure now that the farm was worth it. Whatever his final losses, the food, weapons and women he would seize would go a long way to offsetting his losses.

  He shouldn’t have given the farm time to prepare he knew but his men had needed that week. I should have been in position to follow up the scouts with an attack with an hour, not a week later. Well hopefully the Defenders were enjoying their Christmas present, because he was going to enjoy opening the farm up and getting everything inside.

  Reed shifted his gaze to the ridge where his scouts had been taken under fire from and saw nothing. Why he wondered why ignore a position that would give them a tactical advantage. Was it possible he had taken them by surprise, and they were unable to reach the ambush spot because his men were in the way. That made no sense, there had to be a way from the farm to that spot that would avoid the road. No matter how rough it looked from down here.

  Michael had tried to convince him to send men along the ridgeline, but he had refused for the simple fact it was more than likely heavily booby-trapped. It was what he would have done, spikes hidden under the snow, grenades, claymores. No, his decision to use the road was the best. He started to swing back to look at the wall, when he saw something dark against the snow up there. Their ambush team might just be getting into position now. He thought.

  A man appeared up there, and it took a second for Reed to realize what he was seeing. The man dressed for summer, stumbled forward and slipped in the snow and began to tumble and roll down the ridge. Behind him a line of people appeared.

  “Zombies right flank” he shouted as the wall of undead began to make its way down the ridge. It was a nightmare avalanche of dead flesh that hit the road. Five of his men were ten feet from a pile of bodies and began to fire into them. But more undead fell around them and then the five were taken down as the undead gained their feet.

  Reed turned his binoculars back to the ridgeline, A zombie stood on a boulder, silhouetted against the gray blue sky. Shadowy almost indistinct, Reed focused his binoculars on it and almost took an involuntary step back as he saw the narrow triangular face with a pointed chin, an almost impossible long hooked nose. Oddly shaped cloudy eyes stared down at the militia from sunken eye sockets. The wispy white hair that dangled from under the Old Bowler hat it wore blew in the breeze. Its clothes were old fashioned, looking like something from a old western or turn of the century movie.

  And then those dead eyes focused on him. He didn’t know how it knew he was looking at it, but it was staring at him. a strong primal fear blew through Reed as those lips quivered into a grin, or maybe it was a grimace, that bared filed down shark like teeth. He didn’t know, didn’t care. “Shoot it, fucking shoot it” Reed yelled pointing a finger at the figure so far above.

  He dropped his binoculars, taking deep breaths before he grabbed his rifle and lifted it to his shoulder intent on taking out that creepy looking zombie. It was gone, how was that possible he asked himself, zombies did not hide, did not take cover. So where is it then.

  Motors rumbled as Five trucks with jury rigged armor rolled towards the wall, thankfully none of them mounted a heavy weapon or this fight would be over in a minute or two. Steve lifted his weapon and sent a 40mm HEAP grenade downrange. He ducked down before he could see if it hit the target.

  The Grenade sailed upwards into the steadily growing morning light, rotating as it felt, then reaching the highest point in its short flight it proved that what went up came down, it tilted and fell towards the earth. Less than a second later it landed, by luck, on the front bumper of the truck Steve had been aiming for.

  The explosion ripped away the grill, radiator, water pump and other things, the windshield shattered under the pressure wave, the glass ripping through the interior like a lethal rain storm. The driver who had managed to survive the explosion didn’t fare as well as against the glass, face shredded, blind and already bleeding out, he lost control of his truck. The heavy vehicle swerved to the left plowing into another truck, both ended up smashing into the rocks at the base of the ridge. Where zombies were falling, literally over themselves to get to the wounded who remained in the wreckage.

  “yes” Steve muttered as he popped up and saw his handiwork. He loosed a stream of fire on the mass of men then ducked back down as his weapon jammed.

  “Damn M16 piece of shit” he muttered trying to clear the jam as bullets slammed into the wall or screamed by overhead. The fifty he had humped to the wall, sat ready for use, when Jared called for it.

  “It’s not the weapons fault, those things just never liked you” Chris said as he popped up and fired into the advancing men ducking back down quickly. the .50 mounted on the Ferret fired at the wall, the wall shuddered under the assault shedding jagged splinter
s as the big gun began chewing it apart.

  “you know I wish those A holes had the old .30 machine gun on that thing” Steve commented.

  “This wall aint going to last long” Chris remarked as he glanced at Dennis who was using one of the M249 SAWs, they had recovered from the check point. The weapon had only slightly more ammo than the Fifty. Dennis fired again, then fell away from the weapon as the return fire chewed up the top of the wall.

  “Long enough” Steve said as he finished clearing the jam. “I’m guessing they have as little ammo for their fifty as we do, that’s why they aren’t just firing till the wall comes apart.”

  “I really hope you’re not bitching about that,” Chris asked. Steven grinned as he lifted the M16.