Dead America The Third Week (Book 5): Dead America, Portland Pt. 3

by Slaton, Derek

  She nodded firmly. “We’ll be ready.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Zion and Calvin headed down the street, back towards the way they’d come towards the boat. They hung a left onto the side street and walked in the middle of the road, making sure they didn’t get caught off guard. As they approached the first intersection, there were a few zombies just off to the left.

  “Shall we?” Zion held up his weapon.

  Calvin grinned. “We shall.”

  Zion stepped up first to a large male corpse, maybe six feet tall and well-built, wearing tattered hunting clothes. He swung, the top of the rebar catching the creature right in the temple and dropping it, the force of the blow sending the body skidding across the pavement.

  “Oh yeah,” he drawled, “that’ll work just fine.”

  Calvin stepped up to the remaining two zombies, two teenagers who looked like they’d been playing football in the park. The blood on their knees offered a nice contrast to the grass stains as they turned towards him.

  He pulled out both drills and rammed them forward while pulling the triggers. The tops bored through their respective skulls like butter, the zombies convulsing for a moment before falling backwards, taking the tips with them.

  “That’s gonna work too,” Calvin declared.

  The duo smiled as they headed towards the woods, and the hardware cowboy inserted new bits as they walked before holstering his weapons. The path was clear, however they paused at the tree line before heading in.

  “Why don’t you follow me through here?” Calvin asked. “Not much room to be swinging that big hunk of wood.”

  Zion grinned, showing teeth. “Lucky for you I’ve spent my whole life swinging a big hunk of wood around.”

  Calvin hung his head, shaking it from side to side. “I walked into that one, didn’t I?” he groaned.

  “Damn right you did,” Zion replied with a chuckle. “Come on.”

  They headed cautiously into the woods. There was a little bit of creaking, and they both stopped short to listen. After a moment, they looked up to see it was just the wind blowing the tops of the trees.

  “Good thing I wasn’t jumpy before all this bullshit started,” Calvin said quietly. “I’d hate to see what kinda catatonic mess I’d be in after all this.”

  Zion nodded. “No shit,” he agreed. “I know some boys back home who, if they’re still alive, have probably spent the better part of the last month in the fetal position underneath their beds.”

  “I can safely say that’s never been me,” Calvin admitted. “Even after that tunnel encounter. I mean, I haven’t been able to fit under my bed since I was a kid.”

  Zion cracked a smile at the self-deprecating joke as they continued through the woods. As they reached the water where their boat still hid beneath the brush, they did a quick scan, making sure nobody was spying on them.

  Calvin swept the area with his rifle scope. “I think we’re as good as we’re gonna get,” he reported.

  “Do you see the beach Tori was talking about?” Zion asked.

  His partner swung his gun to the west end of the opposite shoreline. “Yep,” he said, “looks like it’s just slightly to the east of where we picked the boat up.”

  “All right,” Zion replied. “Let’s get this thing to the water. I’ll get us across while you keep an eye out for trouble.”

  Calvin nodded and they picked up the boat, moving it to the river. He hopped in and his friend pushed it completely into the water before hopping inside to grab the oar, beginning to paddle across the river into a battle they had no idea of the outcome.

  CHAPTER NINE

  As they glided across the water, Calvin sat at the front of the canoe, aiming his rifle across the river. He did continual sweeps to make sure that nobody was hanging around, about to get the drop on them.

  Zion rowed hard, creating some serious momentum as they approached the shoreline. The front edge of the boat ground against the sand just below the water line, lurching to a stop. As soon as it did, Calvin hopped out and crept forward on land, continuing his sweep.

  Zion jumped out behind him, dragging the boat up onto the shore. “How we looking?” he asked.

  “We’re clear,” his partner replied. “Although I wouldn’t suggest we stand out in the open like this much longer.”

  Zion nodded. “Agreed. Let’s move.”

  “Just leaving the boat here?” Calvin asked, motioning to the canoe as he rested his gun on his shoulder.

  His partner nodded again. “We might need an escape route.”

  “Fair enough,” Calvin agreed. “Lead on.”

  They trotted off of the beach into the neighboring park area, finally taking shelter in a brick grilling area with a high wall. They knelt down out of sight, and leaned together.

  “Pretty sure the hotel is half a mile or so to the south east,” Zion said, and they peeked up over the wall slowly.

  There was a strip mall on the other side of the park, and he pointed at it, prompting Calvin to raise his rifle and peer through the scope.

  “I don’t see any movement outside of it, which isn’t surprising,” he murmured. “If they are staying at a nearby hotel there’s a good chance they’ve cleared the area out… wait.” He refocused, noting two guards walking around the far corner of the building. They sauntered all the way across the front and then turned the corner on the far side to go around. “Looks like we have some guards to contend with.”

  Zion frowned. “How many?”

  “Just two on that pass,” Calvin replied.

  His partner pursed his lips. “Let’s hang tight here for a minute and see if they come back around,” he suggested. “If they do, it means they’re patrolling the area.”

  “Probably keeping an eye out for us,” Calvin muttered.

  Zion nodded. “Let’s hope so.”

  His partner turned away from the scope to stare incredulously at him. “Let’s hope so?”

  “Yep,” Zion replied, “because if they’re doing that, it means a lot of others are doing the same, so they’re probably nice and spread out.”

  Calvin thought it over for a moment, and then nodded in agreement as a lightbulb went off in his head. He peered back through the scope, watching for the men as he scanned the building. He noticed that one of the restaurants had a walk-up window, and it was open.

  “If they do come around again,” he said, “I have an idea.”

  Zion raised an eyebrow. “If that ain’t the most dangerous thing I’ve heard all week.”

  “You know it,” Calvin replied with a chuckle. He held up his gun so that his partner could look through, aiming it at the restaurant window.

  A smile erupted on Zion’s face. “We can get in and hit ‘em before they know we’re there.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Calvin agreed.

  Zion sat back on his haunches. “Now we just gotta hope they’re making rounds.”

  They sat for several minutes, waiting and hoping the guards would show back up on the beginning side. After a few minutes, their patience was rewarded.

  “We got some live ones,” Calvin said.

  Zion rose into a squat. “As soon as they’re around the corner, we move.”

  The sniper watched them carefully as they moved around, and as soon as they were around the corner, he slung the gun over his shoulder and followed Zion vaulting over the wall. They took off running across the park, as fast as their legs could carry them.

  Within moments, they were at the restaurant window. Calvin didn’t hesitate, diving straight inside, landing with a thud on the floor after misjudging the length of the counter. He picked himself up quickly, drawing his drills just in case there was company inside, but after a fast sweep, he found he was alone.

  “You good?” Zion whispered as he slid across the counter.

  Calvin holstered his drills and gave him a half-hearted thumbs up. They crept over to the main set of doors, and Zion unlatched the lock, giving them a little wigg
le to make sure they worked okay. He was pleasantly surprised that they swung both ways.

  “When they come by, let them pass,” he said quietly. “We duck out, grab ‘em, bring ‘em in here and knock ‘em the fuck out. Once they’re secure, we can politely ask them where Edward is.”

  Calvin chuckled. “I like how you emphasized politely there.”

  Zion grinned viciously, his eyes betraying his excitement for delivering some retribution for the day these assholes had put them through.

  The duo hunkered down, laying in wait for their prey to wander past the doors. At the sound of footsteps coming up the sidewalk, they readied themselves. There was some idle chatter, and it grew louder and louder, and Zion nodded to Calvin that it was almost go time.

  They remained out of sight as the guards strolled right past the door, not giving it a second look. As soon as they were clear, the hidden duo leapt through the swinging doors to catch their prize.

  Zion grabbed the closest one by the back of his shirt collar, and whipped him back through the double doors. He crashed through them and skidded across the floor, stunned.

  Calvin tackled the second guy, who was just turning in surprise, and took fistfuls of his shirt, swinging him around and using the momentum to throw him back with his friend.

  Zion moved swiftly, leaping on top of his fallen guard before he could get off of the floor. He brought his forehead down onto the bridge of the guy’s nose, shattering it in his face and knocking him completely unconscious.

  Calvin managed to punch his opponent, but the guy was a lot bigger than him and all it seemed to do was piss him off. The guard reared back and punched at the shorter man, but the cowboy was fast and ducked to the side, the blow glancing off of his shoulder. Calvin dove for him, but the guy kicked out, sending the country boy tumbling back over a table.

  Zion was on him in a flash, catching the guard beneath the chin and choke-slamming him into the ground. His skull hit the floor with a crack, not knocking him unconscious but causing him to writhe in pain as the ex-gang member held him down by the throat.

  “You good, buddy?” Zion asked Calvin, as casually as if he were discussing the weather.

  His partner got to his feet, brushing himself off, and leaning against the table with a since. “I am not a fan of this fucking day at all,” he declared.

  “Well, it’s about to get a little better,” Zion replied with a grin. “You lock up the doors and I’ll prep our new friends here for a little talk.”

  Calvin saluted him and hobbled over to the doors. “With pleasure.”

  Zion got to his feet, staring down at his grunting prey. He cracked his knuckles and grinned with maniacal glee. “Okay boys, hope you’re feeling chatty.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  With the guards tied tightly to two chairs, sitting in front of the table, Zion and Calvin stood across from them, gazing down at their handiwork. The guard with the bloody nose was conscious, but seemed woozy from the vicious headbutt. The larger guard was more alert, but still hissing in pain.

  Zion snapped his fingers. “Hey, you with me there, bud?” he asked.

  “Go fuck yourself, monkey boy,” the bigger guard rasped.

  Zion looked at Calvin, motioning to their prisoner as if to say did this motherfucker just say that? He crossed his arms. “Looks like we have ourselves a bold one.”

  “Let’s see how bold he is after we talk to him for a minute,” Calvin said.

  “I ain’t telling you boys shit,” the guard hissed, sneering at them. “So why don’t you go over to the corner, jerk each other off, and then get the fuck outta town?”

  Zion sighed, holding his hands out, palms up. “Well, we were gonna be polite and ask you for directions to your boss Edward, but I’m guessing you’re not gonna be open to some friendly dialogue.”

  “Why don’t you go get your mom and I’ll be friendly to her?” the guard spat, and then laughed.

  Zion turned to his partner, shaking his head in bewilderment. “Man, what is it about you white people and your extreme overconfidence?”

  “Fuck if I know,” Calvin admitted, shaking his head. “If I were in his position I’d be pissing myself right now.”

  Zion cocked his head. “Well, you got any ideas?”

  Calvin stared at the smug prisoner, and a sly smile curled his lips. “Yeah, I do,” he said. “Get behind him and follow my lead.”

  Zion shrugged, intrigued, and circled around the table to stand behind the guy. Calvin leaned forward, planting his hands flat on the table, staring eye-to-eye with the guard.

  “So, I’m going to try this the polite way first,” the cowboy drawled. “Where is Edward?”

  The guard laughed. “Probably back at your house, fucking your mom.”

  “I’m a big believer in second chances,” Calvin said, holding up a hand to Zion, “so hold on a second.” He cocked his head. “Once again, I’ll be polite. Where is Ed-”

  The guard spat a massive loogie into the cowboy’s face. Calvin stayed stock still, the viscous liquid dripping down his cheek and glopping onto the table. He waited a second, and then reached up to wipe the residue from his face.

  “Are you a religious man?” Calvin asked calmly.

  The guard threw his head back and laughed again. “Why, do you wanna preach to me?”

  Calvin glanced at his partner and pointed to the guy’s arm, as the guard continued to cackle and shake his head.

  “Nope,” the cowboy replied, “just wanted to see if you would enjoy emulating your hero if you were.”

  The guard sneered, trying to mask his confusion, and then Zion released the restraint on his wrist, pinning his arm down onto the table. The prisoner’s expression faltered, the confidence melting away to confusion, then concerned as Calvin drew one of his drills.

  He wasted no time in positioning the bit against the back of the guy’s hand.

  “Wait no no no-” the guard shrieked, and then his words turned to garbled screams as Calvin drilled down into his hand, securing it to the table.

  The cowboy released the bit, slamming his drill down next to the bleeding carnage, and slapped his palms back onto the table. “Listen up you ignorant motherfucker,” he snarled. “You assholes have already trashed my baby, shot at me, punched me, and thrown me across the room like I’m a fucking rag doll. So unless you want to help me relieve more stress by drilling every single appendage you have to the goddamn furniture, you will fucking tell me where Edward is!”

  The guard’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, and he squeaked as his pale face broke out in a sheen of sweat. “Okay, okay,” he huffed, writhing against his bonds, “he’s in the courthouse!”

  Calvin leaned closer, eyes like steel. “Do I look like I know where the fuck the courthouse is?” he demanded.

  “It’s… it’s…” the guard seethed. “It’s south of the interstate. A few blocks, maybe.”

  Calvin stood up straight, planting his hands on his hips. “Now, do we have to be worried about your buddies out there?” he asked, motioning outside. “Like over at the hotel by the bridge?”

  “No, no, just a couple of patrols,” the guard assured him, head bopping up and down like a bobblehead.

  Calvin slammed his hands down on the table again. “Bullshit! We know that there’s all kinds of activity at the hotel!” He grabbed his drill and squeezed the trigger a few times, enjoying the look of pure fear in his prisoner’s face. “Get his other hand.”

  The man thrashed as Zion reached for his other arm. “It’s just our families!” he screamed. “I swear, it’s just our families!”

  Calvin paused and locked eyes with his partner, who nodded in approval. The cowboy holstered his drill as the guard broke down into sobs, his bravado long dissipated. The duo stepped away from the table and leaned together.

  “Do you believe him?” Calvin asked.

  Zion nodded. “Yeah, I think he’s telling the truth,” he admitted. “Makes sense to keep the families near the river. A
horde pops up and they can get to the water pretty easily.”

  “I’ll buy that,” Calvin agreed. “So what’s the play?”

  Zion inclined his head to their prisoners. “We leave them tied up, and see if we can get to the courthouse to have a chat with Edward.”

  “Let’s do it,” his partner agreed, and nodded firmly.

  As they broke apart, Zion put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Hey, you good? You okay?”

  “Yep, I’m calm,” Calvin replied confidently.

  Zion raised an eyebrow, blinking at him. “You’re calm?”

  “You should see what’d I’d do to him if I wasn’t,” his partner replied with a laugh, and winked at him. He headed over to the prisoners to make sure they were secure, and Zion scratched the back of his head, hoping that his friend wasn’t cracking up.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Zion and Calvin ducked down behind some trees on the edge of the interstate. They looked across to scan several rows of buildings, making up the small business district of the town. Calvin pulled out his rifle, peering through the scope to do a thorough sweep. There were a few patrols, both on foot and in vehicles, moving about.

  “How we looking?” Zion asked.

  Calvin shook his head in dismay. “Whole lot of company,” he replied.

  “Think he was telling the truth about the courthouse?” his partner asked.

  Calvin nodded. “If they have that many people keeping watch, it’s a good bet that Edward’s there.”

  “So what you thinking?” Zion cocked his head.

  Calvin continued staring through the scope, honing in on a storefront with broken windows. He moved his head so his partner could look through and see.

  “Get into the stores and move through it?” Zion asked as he looked. “I like it.”

  Calvin nodded. “I figured that would give us a chance to check out the area, too.”

  “That’s a hell of a run across the interstate and through the parking lot to get there, though,” Zion pointed out, tapping his chin.