Paul Forster
The Last Bite
Deadweight Part II
Copyright © 2020 by Paul Forster
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This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
About the Author
Chapter 1
The Land Rover was barely over the horizon, and the major went straight back to work. “Resume your duties, men. When Kenny comes back, I don’t want to have to bollock him for your falling standards!” The major tried to convey a calm and confidence that his men would believe everything was alright, but the hungry gnashing teeth at the fences betrayed his lies. The soldiers hurriedly got back to their patrols within the safety of the second gate, and the major retired to the main building and made his way to the lab.
The door was locked, as had become standard practice when the soldiers weren’t able to keep a watchful eye. Those trapped inside hated the idea, they saw the danger outside not in. They were too scared to take any risks with the captive creature. Their fear was a major catastrophe outside of the lab, seeing all the soldiers fall and themselves trapped forever in their coffin of a workplace. The major unbolted it and entered.
“Dr Srnicek, may I have a word?”
“Why major, you can have as many as you like if you can see yourself to not locking that door every time one of your brave and bold boys leaves us alone.”
The major offered a pained smile and invited Dr Srnicek to follow him out of the room. She followed and the major took a little pleasure in loudly locking her people in the lab behind them.
They made their way to the director’s office the level above. The office was plush, borderline luxurious. Walls adorned with pictures of a well-dressed, older man with many a famous politician and personality. The director of the site hadn’t gone down with his ship. With his powerful political connections, there was a good chance they had tipped him off about the building disaster with enough time to get to somewhere safe, if such a place existed. Dr Srnicek and the major were in charge now. With comms to the outside world no longer functioning, they had both agreed to downplay this information from their people. Hope was a precious commodity, one not to be pissed away in the name of being open and honest.
The major made himself comfortable in the expensive leather executive chair and said, “Kenny has gone, I’m not sure we’ll see him again.”
“Shame, he was a good one. Hard, but good. Where does this leave us?” Srnicek asked as she looked out of the window, observing the many feeders surrounding the fences.
“I’m half tempted to walk out that gate myself and join the hungry bastards. See how the other half live.”
“Half? We should be so lucky, I’m pretty certain there are more of them than that. We’ve made progress in our lab, but we need months, not weeks.”
“Weeks?” the major said and smiled. “We should be so lucky! We have days.”
“Is there any chance some of those lovely choppers with the big propellers will come and rescue us?” she questioned. Her people wouldn’t be any use dead, whether that was through the creature’s hungry mouths or their own empty stomachs.
“We should be a priority, but who knows what’s left. We can still get a few broadcasts on that old thing, but it’s automated, although it has changed,” the major offered. He signalled at the radio in the room’s corner. “We will hang on, hope a Chinook will appear with either supplies and reinforcements or to get us out of here. If we have any more insurrections, though I’m of the mind to let them go. Kenny’s mission should buy us a day or two before anyone suggests leaving again. After that, we need to protect the lab and its data.”
“People are secondary?” the doctor asked. She had always believed, even before the world went to ruins, that people were valuable and a great asset.
“I don’t think your computers will put a knife in my ear whilst I sleep to get out of here.”
Dr Srnicek looked out of the window, seeing the hundreds of the dead at the fence line. If the world was all like this, then a cure was already too late. “Major, I wish I had answers, we will continue working until it’s over. What else are we to do?”
The major stood up and joined Dr Srnicek by the window.
“Doctor, we have plenty of power, water is still running. If we just had half a dozen more men, a few thousand rounds of ammunition, and two month’s supply of rations, we would be fine.”
“No time left for ifs major. I’ll return to the lab, please, can you think about not locking us inside? If we are truly damned, at least try to give our last few days on this Earth some dignity. None of us want to die in that fucking place.”
It was the first time the major had heard her swear, not so much shocking as a relief. There was a certain calmness in damnation.
Chapter 2
The major sat on his own
outside the main building. He had just accompanied a civilian on sentry duty for the last two hours, eager to give one of his tired men a rest.
Chris Stevens, a squaddie with a few years’ experience in the army, gingerly approached, hobbling on his tired feet. “Sir, I want to help Kenny.”
It had been three days since Kenneth had left. The men were expecting him back, if anyone could survive out there, it was him. “Stevens, he’ll be back soon. Knowing that big bastard he’s probably running ops with the SAS team. When they get back, there will be more interesting work coming our way, more worthy of your talents than keeping the eggheads safe.”
Chris didn’t seem satisfied with the answer but nodded in approval anyway before heading back to the barracks. Like his fellow soldiers, he’d spent more time walking the grounds of Wellworth and pushing metal rods into the feeders’ skulls than he’d care to think about. But it hadn’t stopped him from striking up a friendship with Tara, the tiny IT girl. They were roughly the same age, and both knew life would be short and painful. Tara was much more at ease with herself than Chris. She was confident and outgoing, whereas Chris was one of the quieter soldiers. On their second sentry patrol together flirting took over from their duties and ended with a quick fuck behind the barracks. It gave them both comfort and took their minds off the world, even as the dead watched their romp from a few feet away behind the relative safety of the fence. They had tried to stay discreet but had enjoyed each other several times since the first encounter.
He entered the barracks and was greeted by Gary sitting on the sofa where he’d been flicking through a well-thumbed adult magazine. Immediately, he placed the magazine down and stood up to greet Chris. “Hello lover boy, fancy a knee-trembler by the fence?”
Chris felt instant embarrassment and anger, Gary had mainly pulled sharpshooter duties in the observation post. He must have seen them either at it or shortly afterwards. “What the fuck are you talking about, Gary? Have you been having fantasies up there in the O.P with your boyfriend? Tell him I’m not interested in a threesome.”
Gary moved closer to Chris and said, “Mate, you’ve got to get me a crack at that girl.”
“Fuck off Gary, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Chris defended. The denial was weak.
“I know what you two have been up to, I want my turn,” Gary spat. There was a menace in Gary’s voice. It was less asking for permission to woo Tara, more a demand to let him know he was next.
“Leave her alone, I mean it,” he seethed. Chris showed an uncharacteristically aggressive side, it surprised even Gary.
The soldiers squared up, going nose to nose before Gary pushed forward with a shit-eating grin before he broke off. “Chris, you need to learn to share. That’s all I’m saying.”
The men glared at each other as Chris backed his way to his bunk, and Gary resumed with his magazine.
Chapter 3
The scientists, when locked in the lab, found themselves at the very least, the freedom to speak freely, if not to leave. Their precautions with the beast had become more relaxed, it was always restrained and never looked close to escaping its bindings to lash out. Where most had worn PPE, they now ignored the gloves and masks. They left the creature out in the open whilst they went about their work, they just gave it a wide berth when passing close by.
Dr Srnicek had gathered the group for the day’s briefing. “Good morning everyone, I hope we all managed as pleasant a sleep as possible. I know that many of you feel our work is of little value, I understand your concerns, but I disagree. Our communications have become patchy, but the data we’re collecting is still valid.”
“Jana, we seem to be going round in circles now. The test subject and samples we have really aren’t telling us anything new,” Robert spoke. Robert was one of Dr Srnicek’s most experienced team members. His dissent wouldn’t be unnoticed by their junior colleagues.
“Robert, we have a live subject. Well, as live as they get, it still has much to tell us. We continue, we document and when possible, we update our colleagues at other sites and they will update us. The major and I are in agreement that we should proceed as we have been until we cannot. His men are continuing their duties, even with some of our civilian colleagues assisting, and as you know, we’re expecting the return of Kenneth, our own little ray of light.”
A few of the younger colleagues smirked at the giant’s mention.
“A new specimen would help. That one is old, it’s not changing. We know how different that was from the early samples they sent us. Maybe if the soldiers can get us a new one from the gates, it could help,” Robert suggested. The idea offered by Robert wasn’t universally popular. The prospect of two of these things inside the fence wasn’t warmly greeted.
“Agreed, I’ll see what I can arrange. Thank you, everyone,” said Dr Srnicek. The scientists got back to their tasks, their enthusiasm waned. Dr Srnicek looked on, unsure how much longer they could keep up the charade.
Chapter 4
The major hadn’t been any keener on having another feeder inside the fence than anyone else. He saw it as an opportunity to display to his men, the ongoing importance of Wellworth’s work and their job in keeping it safe. The men had groaned when he told them, and temporarily at least, he had to perform the role of tough major. He made sure they knew that they didn’t have to agree. It was an order, and not up for debate.
The practicalities of how to get another live specimen would be more difficult this time. Hundreds were outside the fence compared to the dozens previously, and firearms were now a last resort, rather than the first choice. The major volunteered himself, and this act inspired one of his men to step forward. Chris hadn’t been keen to step forward, but with Tara watching on with the other civilian sentries, he wanted to show her he wasn’t afraid. She had been losing interest, and she was the only thing keeping him going. The other soldiers would happily remain within the fence, killing and distracting the hungry horde, or providing cover in case things didn’t go to plan.
The major and Chris didn’t want to waste any time, both wanted it over as soon as possible. The major set the civilian sentries to the fences far from either side of the gate, they were to make a noise from the safety of the inner fence. They would station a handful of soldiers to the outer ring of the fence, they would attract the feeders and thin out a few of their numbers. When the gates were clear, the major and Chris would spring out to grab the nearest one, secure it and drag it back through the gate. It was simple but laden with danger. A few rifles on the ground and Gary in the observation post with his L129A1 sharpshooter rifle would be their best protection if the situation turned bad.
The civilians and the soldiers got to work and the masses of gnashing teeth on the outside of the fence played their part as they started to move towards the teased meals. Chris placed his rifle on the ground, he wouldn’t be using it and placed his trust in his fellow soldiers. The major unbuckled his holster, easing access to his pistol should he need to defend himself and his man. They sarcastically stretched and smiled at each other. Their nerves were getting the better of them, better to laugh than to show the fear that filled them. Chris picked up a piece of wood that he took a practice swing with, weighty enough to be useful, but easily discardable.
Most of the creatures had moved, only a few straggles hung back, not taking the obvious bait. The majority of the threat was slowly shuffling away from the gate, eager to find out what tasty treat was on offer further down the fence line.
“I’ll bag its head, you crack it on the back of the knees and we’ll drag it through the gate across the ground. Be careful, it’ll thrash around, no scratches, no bites, we do this clean,” the major ordered; he was ready. Chris nodded, and they signalled to a soldier who had been hanging back but now approached the gate, ready to open it but not wanting to attract the attention of the monsters on the other side.
The soldier quietly unbolted the gate and looked on for reassurance. The major gave the nod, and
they all sprang into action. The gate was thrown open, and the major ran through first, bag in hand, and sprinted towards the closest beast, its back turned as it hobbled after its own kind to investigate the potential feed. Chris followed closely behind, ready to strike.
They caught their victim unaware. The bag was slammed down on its head, but the major and its legs swept out from underneath it by Chris and the piece of wood. Within seconds they were dragging it towards the gate, only fifteen feet, but it seemed like a mile. Neither man keen on getting touched by it, their attempts to drag it were clumsy. Dragging it under its arms, they stumbled as they closed the distance to the gate. They recovered as the first of the creatures turned to see a meal was closer than they originally thought. The men recovered, but their progress was slow, slower than the creatures. The first was within two feet when its head popped open and it slumped to the floor.
Gary looked through the rifle’s scope at his handiwork before picking out his next target.
The next creature dropped to the floor as Chris and the major got to the gate, a third feeder was on them, Gary fired but missed with his first and second shot. The major let go of their captive and drew his Glock, firing at it, striking it in the throat then square in the nose. Chris had dragged their monster through the gate on his own as the major withdrew, firing twice more into the approaching mob. Chris let his attention wander from the danger he was holding to that bearing down on the major and he tripped, dragging the creature on top of him. It thrashed widely, anger, fear, or just hunger driving it to free itself. It whipped off the bag from its head and turned to Chris. His odour was intoxicating, it became more ferocious, desperate to taste his flesh. He was trapped underneath, helpless to fend it off, its broken teeth and stinking breath terrifyingly close to his face. With all of his might, he pushed it up.
Gary had the creature in his sights but had struggled for a clear shot until Chris lifted it above him. Gary took the shot. The round struck the base of the feeder’s skull; the round smashed through bone and flesh, making it limp instantly. Chris pushed the creature off of him and crawled free. He looked to the observation post with a smile before giving Gary a thumbs up.
Deadweight | Book 2 | The Last Bite Page 1