Wilson closed the distance and whispered. “Dinner.”
Gary and Marjie spoke in unison. “Is everything all right?”
Wilson shook his head. “Not yet. We got a live one, and he breached the fence line. Russell wants us to meet up at the house. You gotta lose your orange vests so you don’t attract attention. We’ll come back for the deer.”
They quickly removed their vests while Wilson continued. “I need to warn Fred and Jennifer. We can go together. Safety in numbers.” He winked at Marjie and the three headed in a southerly direction with Wilson taking the lead.
****
Fred and Jennifer had reached the southeast corner of the fence line when they were greeted with a variety of bird whistles. Jennifer turned to Fred, concerned but fairly sure it was Wilson. He grasped her hand pulling her close as he whispered. “It’s got to be Wilson. I can’t imagine anyone else coming up with such elaborate bird calls.”
Fred inhaled and whistled back with a bird call he’d been practicing all week.
Moments later, Gary, Marjie and Wilson emerged from behind a section of tall brush. They were moving quietly but quickly as they closed the distance between them. Wilson stared at Fred a moment before speaking. “If you are attempting a warbler thrush, you need to work on pursing your lips. Otherwise, you’re giving the wrong signal. I thought you were wounded.” He glanced up and down at him before continuing. “You appear all right.”
Jennifer cut in. “Of course he is. What’s going on?”
Wilson shot a look over his shoulder. “We got us an intruder. The fence is broken up north. You’ll need to lose your orange vests. We don’t want anyone using you for target practice. Russell wants us to meet at the house.”
Fred and Jennifer removed their vests. Wilson rolled them up and stashed them under a bush, then took the lead. Everyone kept watch in all directions. In a matter of minutes, they were just outside the house. Wilson had them stay in the brush while he checked the perimeter, then the inside of the house. He was outside only seconds later, giving them a rapid hand signal to come in, his crossbow raised and ready to cover them.
Once inside, Russell brought everyone up to speed on the sniper. He pointed to the monitor where he’d last been seen. “He is currently out of view but definitely still a threat. Wilson and I can run reconnaissance along the northern border. The man doesn’t plan well which will make him a danger to himself as well as us. But, with the proper amount of caution, we should be just fine.”
Riley was quick to offer help. “I’ll go with you.”
Russell studied him a moment before speaking. “Wilson and I are well versed in war games. We’ll be in full camouflage and in stealth mode.”
Riley returned the stare. “I guess we need to get changed.”
The side of Russell’s mouth twitched. “All right, Riley. I’ve got extra gear.” He turned to the rest of them. “If by some miracle this guy gets past us and through the main fence, he’ll most likely be heading for the house. Fred and Jennifer, we’ll have you keep watch at the north end of the house. Marjie and Gary, I need you to take the south end. Stay inside and for Christ sakes don’t stand in front of any window.” He cleared his throat. “Just be careful. Have your weapons handy. Sadie, watch the monitors. Remember what I showed you.”
Everyone agreed and took their stations while Wilson, Russell and Riley got changed. The three left the house in total silence. Russell and Wilson took the lead and disappeared almost instantly. Riley hugged a pine scanning the surroundings. Nothing moved, no sign of them. Maybe he wasn’t quite as prepared as he thought. He was used to police tactics, not this sort of military training.
Wilson whispered from behind him. “What are you waiting for?”
Shocked, Riley turned around and whispered. “Wilson that’s a good way to get yourself killed.”
He was talking to air. Several feet ahead, Wilson waved a hand, motioning for him to follow.
Riley approached the tree Wilson had signaled from. He almost felt sorry for the sniper. There wasn’t a chance in hell he was getting through. He scanned his surroundings. Wilson was nowhere in sight. “The man’s like a ninja…” he mumbled under his breath. A hand wave a considerable distance ahead got him moving in the right direction. Even with the wind stirring the trees above, every sound he made seemed overly loud. Keeping his movements efficient, he avoided as many leaves and twigs as possible along the rocky ground.
When he arrived at the next spot, Wilson was waiting. “Russell smelled smoke. He thinks that guy, Curtis, started a brush fire. He wants me and you to retreat back to the house to see how bad it is. He’ll scope out the situation from the ground.”
Riley shook his head, his voice soft and laced with impatience. “I don’t like it. We should stick together.”
Wilson chuckled. “Russell can handle himself. He’s an incredible tracker. I’d be more worried about our sniper turned pyromaniac. Russell’s very protective of his land. It could get ugly.”
“It’s already ugly.” Riley was speaking to air. “Goddammit.” He looked left, then right, nothing. He stood silent, considering his next move.
Wilson was beside him again. “You coming?”
Riley pressed his lips together before speaking. “Yeah, I’m coming.” It was a day from hell, not that the previous days were winners.
Chapter 25
Sadie nervously chewed a nail as she shifted her attention from monitor to monitor, checking the views from all eight cameras. Other than the dead milling around camera eight, it was quiet, too quiet. She didn’t like being on security. She was sure she would miss something. She shifted camera eight left, then right. Zooming in on what looked like a haze, she realized it was more likely smoke. Panicked, she yelled to anyone within earshot. “I think something is on fire.”
Marjie ran into the room, leaving Gary behind to keep watch. “Did you say a fire?”
Sadie pointed to the screen. “Does that look like smoke to you?”
Marjie adjusted her glasses and leaned in. “It could be wind whipping up dust, but I doubt it. It’s too thick.” She turned back to Sadie. “We have to do something.”
“I agree. Russell doesn’t want us to leave the house, but we have to warn him.” Sadie zoomed out as she spoke, trying to get a better idea of where the smoke was coming from.
Marjie saw movement on camera one, but it was too fast to see who it was. “Sadie, I just saw someone, I’m not sure…” Before she could finish speaking, Riley and Wilson burst into the room, causing them both to jump.
Wilson winked at Marjie. “We got us a fire starter.”
Marjie put a hand over her chest. “I’m so glad you’re all right. We’ve been looking at the smoke.”
Sadie pointed to the monitor for camera eight. “This is all I can see.” She made a quick glance over her shoulder. “Where’s Russell?”
Wilson smiled cheekily. “Worried about him, are you?”
Sadie let out an exasperated breath. “Seeing as there is an army of dead, a sniper, and a fire, yes Wilson, I’m worried about him.”
Wilson’s smile grew wider. “He’s running reconnaissance. He’s fine. He wanted us to see what we could from the monitors.”
Sadie wasted no time getting out of the way. “Be my guest. It worries me that I didn’t see you guys coming in.”
Wilson dropped down into the chair. “We move fast.”
Riley leaned in. “Sadie, you have no idea.”
All four turned their attention to the monitors. With the direction of the wind and amount of smoke, they concluded that it was probably not too bad yet, though the source of the smoke was still out of sight.
Wilson stood and started giving instructions. “Riley, let the others know what’s going on, then meet me in back of the tank. There’re extinguishers in the overflow. Grab four, buddy.”
“I’m on my way.”
Wilson turned to Sadie. “You’re doing a great job. Russell will be very impressed.”
She started to speak, and he cut her off. “Pay particular attention to cameras seven and eight.” He grasped Marjie’s hand. “Do you prefer watching monitors or helping Gary?”
“I’ll help Sadie and check in with Gary off and on.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “A very, wise decision. I’m glad you’re on our side. Someone with your intelligence…”
Sadie turned and barked. “Wilson, get moving.”
Marjie released his hand. “Be careful, Wilson.”
“Always.”
Once he was out the door, Sadie was quick to apologize. “I’m sorry, Marjie. Sometimes Wilson loses all common sense when he’s with you.”
“No, you were right.” Marjie was already studying the monitors.
****
Russell tracked Curtis till he was just yards away from him. He watched as Curtis took cover in some tall brush. The man left a trail even Riley could track. Curtis was so consumed with watching the fire he’d started, he never heard Russell’s approach. Russell waited till he was just an arm’s length away before poking the other man in the back with his crossbow. Feeling for a branch, Curtis turned around, his look of irritation changed to shock when he found himself face to face with Russell.
The dislike Russell had felt for the guy a couple years ago resurfaced in an instant and magnified tenfold in view of current events. Russell reminded himself to stay calm. Emotions would cloud his ability to do his job and keep everyone safe. He took a deep breath and released it slowly.
His adversary was sweating profusely as words began bubbling up. “I’m sorry, I…”
Russell couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his voice as he cut him off. “Let me guess, you got lost and didn’t know you were trespassing.”
Curtis nodded his agreement. “That’s exactly it. I got lost.”
Russell almost laughed at the other man’s audacity. “So that explains the broken fence, the dead you brought with you and the fire you started.”
“Uh, no…I can explain.” His eyes focused on Russell’s raised crossbow. “You’re not going to use that, are you?”
Russell found his first smile of the day. “That depends.”
“On what?” Curtis’s voice was high and frantic.
“On a lot of things. First and foremost…” Before he could finish speaking, Curtis took off. With quick instinct honed from hunting, Russell raised his crossbow, aimed low and released the bolt. He watched in disgust as the man dropped, grasping his foot.
Russell reloaded and walked over to him.
Curtis was holding his foot and moaning. “I can’t believe you shot me.”
“Yeah, life is full of surprises.” Russell reached down and hauled Curtis to his feet. Curtis yelped loudly when he tried to put weight on his injured foot. The crossbow bolt was sticking out of his heel.
Russell turned as moans pierced the air. “Too late to remind you not to make noise. We got company.”
Curtis never took his eyes off his heel while he spat nonsense. “This group’s harmless. If they weren’t dead already, I’d say they were half dead.”
“What? Never mind.” Russell grabbed Curtis and shoved him toward a cluster of pines, never taking his eyes off his surroundings.
Curtis hobbled in front of him, groaning and sounding much like one of the dead as he went.
When they reached the trees, Russell whispered almost inaudibly. “I’m going to let go of you. You move, you’re on your own. You won’t get far with that foot. Hand me your rifle…slowly.” After Curtis complied, Russell emptied the cartridges and handed it back to the man.
Curtis seemingly weighed his options and leaned against the closest pine. Russell shook his head and motioned for silence. He focused on the small wave of dead closing the distance between them. They weren’t moving fast, but they were far from harmless as Curtis had indicated. One of the rules Russell lived by was to never underestimate one’s enemy. He raised his crossbow and released a bolt. The closest dead dropped.
Chapter 26
Despite the fire extinguishers and having to slow his pace for Riley, Wilson made fast work of retracing his steps back to where he’d last seen Russell. Wilson knew every landmark, hill and tree of the fifty acres. The smoky smell was still faint, a good sign that the fire may not have spread too far. They slowed, and Wilson studied the ground and vegetation, picking up small clues indicating the direction Russell had gone. He nodded to Riley. A group of dead could be seen a little further up. Their groans were barely audible. Wilson watched as one of them dropped and quickly spotted Russell and the fire starter up against the pines. Wilson nodded to Riley again. They set their extinguishers down and ran across the small patch of land to join Russell.
“Bout time you two showed up.” Russell hadn’t turned around, but he knew who he was talking to. “You two bring the extinguishers?”
Riley stepped forward. “We brought four.”
“Let’s hope that will be enough. Think you two can help me dismantle this group.”
Wilson answered with a snicker and let loose a crossbow bolt. He glanced over his shoulder at the fire starter. “Who’s your pal?”
“Curtis.” Russell’s tone made it sound like a swear word.
“Is he in the habit of stepping on crossbow bolts?”
Russell held a smile. “It’s one of the hazards of crossing my property line.”
Wilson glanced back at Curtis and smiled. “What’re we going to do with him?”
Curtis fidgeted but was smart enough to hold his tongue.
Riley shot one of the dead in the stomach and watched as both Wilson and Russell followed with two more bolts. They ended up sticking out of the guy’s head.
The group of dead had thinned and was beginning to slow. Some got stuck in the brush and had to work to pull themselves free. Wilson noted their condition. Most of their clothes were covered in blood and dirt. Their hair stuck to their heads or hung in stringy strands. Many of them walked unevenly. He turned, making quick eye contact with Curtis. “Sweet baby jeepers, this group is in bad shape. It is the cruelest sort of person who takes advantage of someone when they’re dead.”
Riley growled. “Wilson, don’t start.”
Wilson sniffed and released another bolt, striking an armless woman between the eyes. “All I’m saying…”
Russell shushed him, his voice a loud whisper. “Let’s not lose focus. There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
Wilson nodded but gave Curtis a look.
They shot a few more and were down to stragglers up front and the rest of the wave in the distance before Russell spoke again. “Wilson, you and Riley work on the fire. Sparky and I will take care of the rest.”
“You got it, Russell.”
****
After grabbing the extinguishers, Wilson and Riley made their way back to the scorched area of the property. Through the smoky haze they could see less than a quarter acre had been burned. Wilson guessed that it had spread quickly then slowed when it hit the empty patches of ground surrounding a small area.
Riley pulled the key for the extinguisher and began dowsing the short flames. “Lucky for us Curtis is about as good at starting a fire as he is gathering troops.”
Wilson snorted and began dowsing flames too. “What kind of man uses dead people?”
“I suppose one with a bolt sticking out of his heel.”
They walked in opposite directions, carefully dowsing the scorched ground, then retraced their steps to be sure that nothing new started to smoke. Wilson studied the exterior of the burnt area where sparks could have been picked up by the wind. He found several places where the dry brush had begun to smoke and put them out. “Not too bad…” He stopped speaking and squinted. “We have company.”
A man in a jogging suit with a grey complexion moved their way at a respectable speed. Riley raised his bow, surprised Wilson hadn’t done the same. “Either you’re getting more confident in my aim or you have some reason for no
t taking this guy out.”
Wilson nodded. “He’s in great shape. Bet he was a hell of a runner.”
“Yeah. and he’s got a nice set of teeth and a healthy appetite.”
Wilson raised his crossbow, then lowered it again. “Maybe we could put him with Jane.”
“Dammit, Wilson, help me shoot this guy before he gets any closer.”
“I like him. He’s different.”
Riley let an arrow loose. It flew past the jogger’s head, landing in the soft dirt behind him. He was less than twenty yards away. “It’s impossible to know he’s different. Shoot him.”
Wilson lifted his crossbow, took aim and lowered it again. “We’ll put him in the front seat of Sadie’s jeep.”
Riley didn’t answer but loaded another arrow and prayed to God he hit the dead man. The jogger’s speed and awkward gate made him difficult to hit even at this distance. He released the arrow and watched as it tore a clean section of fabric off the man’s jacket arm.
Wilson nodded. “You can’t hit him because you want him to live too.”
Riley lowered his bow. He’d wait till the guy got closer and just hit him with the weapon itself. He turned furious eyes on Wilson. “The dead are people eaters, not pets.”
“I know they’re not pets.” Wilson sounded like the wind had been knocked out of him. “But Jane’s special. I didn’t turn, and this fellow here is doin’ pretty good.”
Riley found himself mumbling “why me” and tried to look at the jogger through Wilson’s eyes. The guy was just yards away. He was in good shape. His color was bad, but he’d seen worse. Riley jumped back as the man lunged forward. Wilson grabbed Riley’s arm pulling him further away. “We’ll come back for him, buddy. Let’s not tell Russell just yet.”
They jogged toward the trees. “You really think you can hide anything from Russell.”
Wilson snickered. “Plenty of times.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it. As for me, I’m staying uninvolved.”
“Admit it. You like the guy too.”
Situation Z Page 16