by Germann, Tom
T
he vehicles rumbled up the road driving at a slow speed. According to the technical manuals which were just about at a grade school level as they were full of black and white pictures and large easy to understand words, mostly under two syllables, the vehicles should be able to hit sixty miles an hour. The manual called it emergency speed. An average cruising speed of thirty-five miles an hour was a good option with a big thumbs up next to it!
Yet the group was only driving at a speed just over ten miles per hour.
They had discussed it quickly and the fear that the vehicles had not been properly maintained and had just been sitting on the parking lot floor for who knows how many weeks had decided them. That and while speed would be their friend to stay well ahead of the dead, any sort of collision would cause more noise and possibly scrap their mission which the CO had already made clear was not an option.
So, the vehicles rolled along in second gear slowly moving forward.
Each vehicle had vision slits to check the immediate area and the vehicle commander, sitting in the turret was constantly checking while the drivers focused on the roadway ahead.
For some reason the roads were clear of almost any blockages. There were damaged vehicles at the side of the road and even some damaged bits, like broken glass or the occasional shredded tire. But there should have been more crashed and abandoned vehicles in the road.
Sergeant Vajjer put it best. “In every good horror movie, or even every bad one. There are wrecked cars and planes just fall out of the sky. It’s like the clean-up crew came through after someone yelled cut and cleaned up the worst of it. It shouldn’t be like this.”
First Caisson had come back quickly with. “I dunno. I’ve never been through a zombie apocalypse. Maybe the dead asked their victims to clear the way for later? It doesn’t really matter as long as we don’t find the roads are all completely blocked off later.” He paused. “Great, I just jinxed us.”
They drove on.
Through the industrial sector and quickly into a residential zone. So close to manufacturing sites the homes were the tenement houses most of the city had seemed to be made up of.
The housing was usually three stories tall with small shops located on the first floor of most of the row houses. It seemed like there were corner grocery stores on every block and they were all part of the same chain.
As they started nearing the site of the first outpost the neighbourhood started to change. More of the buildings were four stories in height with bigger shops taking up the first two floors.
They turned the corner and there ahead of them was a large structure. A grocery store just like those from home. Big, two stories in height, with a large parking lot.
Most of the building was fire damaged and the parking lot contained a command post set up behind a large fenced area. There had been a small fuel point set up to the far side of the lot, at least that’s what it looked like it had been once. The entire area had been swept by a firestorm with the few vehicles in the lot burned out wrecks and several tents nothing more than canvas scraps on melted metal frames.
The vehicles halted at the open gates to the parking lot.
“Caisson. I don’t want to take my vehicle in there. I see lots of wreckage and don’t want the vehicle hung up on anything. Over.”
“Wagner. Concur. We hop out and the three of us go in and do a quick sweep of the area to see if anything is left. Let’s leave the vehicles running. I’d prefer the option to run to a still working vehicle instead of discovering the starter is blown out suddenly. Over”
“Vajjer. I agree. Do we bring shotguns or rifles? Rifles will do better. Over”
“Caisson. Bring both? Over”
“Wagner. Hmm, just rifle. We have side arms and a shotgun won’t do well for a head shot unless you get close. Over”
“Caisson. Good enough. Out.”
The three men opened the small hatch and climbed out of the turrets on their respective vehicles. Caisson had to struggle more to get out of the snug opening then bring his rifle out.
The drivers had followed them and closed and locked the hatches shut. They stayed in the turret watching around for what was going on and were ready to open if the three soldiers came running back.
All three carefully clambered down the outsides of their vehicles as the heat thrown off by the vehicles was incredible and started walking toward the open gates while preparing their weapons.
Caisson took the lead with Vajjer on his left and Wagner on his right. All three kept their weapons ready and their eyes open.
As they walked in through the fenced gate they kept looking around and noticed several things about the set up. The fence was a nine feet tall mobile set up topped with razor wire. There were concrete blocks set up on the feet of each section of the fence. The gate itself was big enough to let in a big truck or bus but not much more. There were also four small towers just taller than the fence itself.
The towers were just a few planks thrown together with a metal roof and a simple ladder leading up to it.
The rest of the camp had the same hasty thrown together feel to it.
Caisson kicked a wrecked jerry can to the side. It clanged as it skidded across the cracked paving for a few feet. Both Vajjer and Wagner cringed at the metallic noise.
Wagner looked at the fire darkened building ahead of them. “We have to go in quickly and check it out. There could be someone in there hiding out or supplies or maybe even an answer to why this place is a burnt out wreck.”
Caisson pointed over at several fifty-five gallon drums in what appeared to have been the fueling point. “Most of those cans blew up when it got hot, but I can see three from here with bullet holes in them. Someone attacked them and burned everything to cover their tracks.”
Wagner sighed. “Probably. It’s what I’m coming to expect in this horror movie. But we still need to go in and check it out.”
Vajjer was watching the fence line on his side and spoke up. “Okay guys. No rush or anything but the zombies are starting to show up. I’ve got two at the fence line on the outside and I can see another down the road there coming toward us. Can we go, check this out then leave?”
The three moved forward quickly toward the front entrance of the building and paused making sure there was nothing moving up on them.
A quick glance told them there were four zombies at the fence line and three more shuffling toward the fence.
Wagner turned toward the vehicles and pointed at the walkie talkie he had clipped to his jacket. He pushed the button in to talk. “Wagner. We are going in. Button is depressed so you can keep listening and if anything goes wrong you’ll hear it immediately and be ready for when we come out. Acknowledge, over.”
Sam’s voice came over the radio immediately. “Got it, over.”
“Wagner out.”
The three men turned and carefully entered the building with Caisson pushing the door open into the dark building.
INSIDE
T
he building was indeed a large grocery store. The sign out front made it part of the same chain as all the little corner stores they had seen earlier. This one was just big. The inside was laid out with shelving heading off into the distant back of the store.
There was only one problem. The building was dark. The lights were not working and there were very few windows which were high up and small.
As they stepped into the building there was more fire damage and it looked like someone had thrown rags and other flammable material around the inside of the building but mostly near the entrance.
There was a distinctive crack as Caisson stepped forward.
All three froze with fingers on the trigger.
Caisson carefully shifted some of the ash and wreckage with a booted foot. He had snapped a bone with his weight. As he shifted a bit of the wreckage he saw a body. He shifted to the side and again shifted some of the junk. Another body.
>
He pulled out a small LED flashlight and clicked it on. The bright light cut through the murk and it became more obvious. There were several bodies on the floor. Looking carefully, it was possible to see they were wearing similar uniforms to theirs.
Caisson lifted his eyes up and brought the flashlight forward so he was holding it against the front stock of the rifle then started panning the rifle back and forth looking.
He spoke quietly so as not to disturb the silence.
“Okay. Someone killed these guys. I saw at least two bullet holes and those holes look big. Machine gun I’d say. Then whoever did it covered the bodies and burned the place. But they rushed it. Probably did it with Z’s on the way. This ain’t right.”
Vajjer was watching the inside of the building while Wagner kept his eyes on the outside door.
Vajjer never stopped watching when he answered. “Who attacks a military outpost during an undead outbreak? It doesn’t look like there were other bodies outside. I can understand why you attack other survivors but the army? And they got away with it?”
Wagner shrugged even though no one could see it. “It doesn’t matter. Someone did it. There shouldn’t be anything useful after the fire got at it but the back of the building looks untouched. There could be survivors there or useable gear. Let’s keep on with a quick sweep so no one gets left behind then we bug out. Two more minutes, then we are rolling out of here.”
Caisson gestured to the left. “Let’s head down this way to the left, then to the back and wrap up coming out at the front. We can call out when we get to the back.”
They started walking down the inside of the building. Caisson and Vajjer in the lead with Wagner covering the rear.
The gloom in the building ahead was darker and all three men took a second to adjust themselves.
Vajjer and Wagner pulled out small headlamps while Caisson stayed with his small flashlight and covered them until they were ready.
In seconds the three of them were moving again, faster down the aisle. Small cones of light cut the darkness. At the end of the aisle they turned right and headed for the back.
Caisson stopped suddenly and hissed. “Movement.” It was so quiet that initially Wagner in the rear hadn’t heard what he had said, but he had picked up on the heightened tension and Caissons rifle had gone from probing the darkness to pointing at one spot to the side.
Then they could all hear it. It sounded like cloth moving across the ground. A shuffling dragging sound set their nerves on edge.
Then they heard a wheezing grunt and someone kicked a can.
Caisson started waving back. “Time to go. Bad guys.” He continued facing front while Wagner and Vajjer turned and started walking back toward the front of the building. He bumped into them as they had only taken a few paces.
There was no need to ask what the problem was. All three of them could hear the shuffling sound as more of the dead came around the corner.
Both men brought their weapons up to the shoulder. Vajjer said. “I’ll start on the right, you take the left. C you keep ‘em off our rear for a second. There are only three.”
A few aisles over toward the door was the sound of a body hitting the floor.
“Shit.”
All three men took aim and carefully squeezed the trigger.
ON WATCH
T
here was an argument going on in the vehicles.
“We have to go help them.”
“No, we can’t, we have to stay with the vehicles.”
“Well then Tracy and I’ll go. Gimme all the guns and ammo.”
“Jeez Sue. The boss doesn’t know you’re here. He is going to be mighty pissed off when you show up carrying guns and ammo they don’t need.”
Sue glared. “Don’t be such a fuckie! This is a fricking ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! There are three of our guys inside and they could be dead in a minute. Or bitten. We’re going in. Drivers stay with the trucks. Me and Tracy will go in with shotguns and pistols.”
Having said her piece Sue made sure both holsters on her hip were secure and grabbed a shotgun. She had the sense to grab one of the go bags of ammo for the shotgun and she headed for the turret. The legs still weren’t moving so she cursed some more and headed for the side hatch. Tracy was crying but following with another shotgun and a pistol with more ammunition.
As Sue kicked open the hatch she called back. “When we exit make sure you re-secure this hatch so the zombies don’t get you!”
She was out like a shot and Tracy was just behind her waving the shotgun in the air.
There were four zombies nearing the vehicles. When they saw Sue and Tracy they started shuffling faster and raised their arms reaching for the women.
DOWN THE AISLE
C
aisson had been aiming at the first zombie once it came around the corner. It had been a woman je guessed from the long hair and the remains of the dress it had been wearing. There was no way to tell colour in the murky light.
He simply lined the rifle up for a headshot at not even thirty feet and squeezed the trigger as it came closer.
The click was loud. There were two more clicks in rapid succession.
Caisson pulled the cocking lever ejecting the current round. When he released it the snap of the bolt closing and the click of the next round being loaded was clear. He aimed again quickly and squeezed the trigger. Another click.
Caisson was slinging the weapon while calling out. “Weapons are busted go to backups.” As soon as his hand was clear of the rifle he was grabbing the holstered forty-five at his hip and ripping it out of the holster.
He brought his second hand down and cocked it then brought the pistol up and took a firing stance. The zombie was only ten feet away. He was used to the ranges and his aim was solid. He squeezed the trigger and it was a surprise just like any good shot was.
The dead woman was blown backwards with most of the side of her head gone. There were four more behind her though they were further back.
There was the rolling sound of several shots being fired then Wagner was speaking. “We’re clear here. Reloading.” Right after Vajjer was grunting. “Reloading, damn seven shot magazines. Need twenty or thirty.”
They started walking toward the front of the store while reloading. Caisson stayed in the rear covering as they moved.
Just as they started walking they could hear more shots being fired outside. There were two different weapons firing and they seemed to be firing a lot but it was hard to tell after the punishment their hissing, ringing, unprotected ears had taken.
They came to the end of the aisle and the three turned toward the exit. There were several more shapes walking toward them from that way.
Vajjer cursed quietly. “I guess we shoot our way out and run. I wish I had my fire extinguisher.” He brought his pistol up and slowly but methodically shot those closest before advancing.
As they walked forward they could see more coming toward them up the aisles. Wagner shot those closest while Caisson kept the rear covered.
The inside of the grocery store was full of rolling thunder.
The three men had made it half way to the front door.
Vajjer called out first. “Last mag.” Almost immediately after that Wagner and Caisson echoed him.
They paused for a second while they finished reloading. They had cleared a bit of space but they still had a fair distance to go to make it to the door.
Vajjer looked at the other two. “We don’t have enough ammo to keep this up. Just run for the door with one in lead, shoot dry and fall back using the rifle to club them away.”
Caisson considered. “Kinda like an Aussie peelback but forward. Guess we gotta do it. I’ll lead.”
He moved forward and started shooting. As soon as he ran dry Vajjer moved up and Caisson pulled the rifle off his shoulder to act as a club when the dead got close enough. Finally, after just a few feet Wagner moved up.
There were only two zombies left in the aisle, but then another two stepped out from aisles between them and the door. In the distance, it looked like another four or five were coming from further in the store.
They were about to start pushing forward when those dead moving in front of the door started jerking and they could clearly hear firing.
Then one after another the dead were blown sideways and it was obvious a shotgun was being used.
In seconds the way was clear except for the four ahead of them.
Wagner took out three of them before running out of ammo. They clubbed the last one out of the way and ran for the door.
A few more zombies had wandered toward the door but whoever was shooting had put them down.
The three men stopped just short of the door and Caisson bellowed. “It’s us! We’re coming out from the left side of the door! Don’t shoot!”
There was a garbled shout back and the three men stepped out.
Sue had the door covered with a revolver while Tracy stood behind her and to the side with a shotgun. There were four more zombies blown to pieces outside in the parking lot.
As the men made it up to Sue she tapped a small bag at her feet and yelled. “More loaded mags for the forty fives in here. Can we leave now?”
Caisson grabbed the bag, passed each man a magazine then all five ran for the vehicles.
Wagner yelled while they ran the short distance. “Where the hell did you two come from?”
Sue yelled right back. “We weren’t going to stay there waiting for them to come for us again. We hid in First Caissons vehicle first thing this morning. You’re welcome!”
Sue had skidded to a stop at Caissons vehicle and started climbing. More dead were coming from inside the store and from around the side of the building as they followed the fence line.
Vajjer grabbed Tracy and dragged her to his vehicle. “Get up there! We don’t have time to carefully load here. Climb!”