"Yes, sir, of course. I've had medical field training."
"Good, get to it. Hook the things up, and let's get the hell out of here. I'm tired of flying blind. I want some answers. The kid is riding with you in the ambulance. I'll escort our happy patients here, as soon as you get them back to zombie dreamland."
Road Side Chat
Within minutes of swapping out the old IV bags, things got quiet in the truck. They found keys in the personnel truck, but the keys for the ambulance were missing. No one volunteered to search the pockets of the corpses in the ditch, so Alex hotwired the ambulance. They siphoned gas from the turret truck, and divided it up between the other vehicles. Both tanks read about three-quarters full. Rummaging around in the turret truck netted them handguns, one semi-automatic, and a few rounds of ammunition. Soon, they were rolling down the road towards Fort Knox. Chaz took the lead with the zombies. Alex followed behind, keeping an eye out for anything funny going on in the back of Chaz's truck. They secured the rear flaps open just for that purpose, and gave Christa the binoculars.
"Christa, you let me know if you see any movement from within that truck."
Christa just stared out her window.
"Christa, I'm serious. We need to get everyone to the fort safe and sound. That includes those patients in the back of that truck. Do you understand me?"
Silence.
"Christa ... Christa!"
"Yes, I understand. I'm not deaf."
"I know that, I just wanted to make sure you understood. I'm not your enemy here. We're a team. OK?"
"Yeah, OK. I get it. A team."
The drive through Nashville was relatively uneventful. Occasionally a few lost souls wandered along the highway, but Chaz never slowed down. Racing by, it was hard to tell if they were zombie or human. Not that any of them cared. The last few days had been eventful enough, and nobody in this caravan was looking for more adventure. The strange events of the last few days had everyone on edge. It was one thing to be at war when you knew your enemy. But when the rules change and you're not sure who the enemy is, what’s the point? Everyone needs goals, targets, a reason for doing what they do. Soldiers even more so. Alex knew Chaz was a hardcore soldier through and through. While Chaz rarely showed his emotions, this had to be making him question himself. Christa was getting harder to read. She was withdrawing. That worried Alex.
Chaz kept the pace up, staying on the main highways. Right now getting to Fort Knox was the only thing that mattered. Once he got to the larger centers like Nashville he stuck to the outskirts, staying away from the populated areas. Neither Alex nor Chaz liked the idea of transporting a truck of zombies, drugged or not. No one wanted to explain to local authorities why they had a bunch of comatose zombies in a commandeered military truck.
Once they had cleared Nashville and were back on the main highway, Chaz pulled over. Alex stopped behind.
"Stay here, Christa, and keep watch. If you see anything, honk the horn."
"Sure thing."
Chaz was already in the back of his truck as Alex walked up.
"Anything wrong, Colonel?"
"I just wanted to check that everything was still secure. Maybe give me a little more peace of mind."
"Don't worry, Colonel, we've got your back. Christa's been keeping a keen watch on them."
"Yeah, I bet she has."
"What do you mean by that?"
Chaz looked away, and continued checking the straps. "You could help here instead of just chattering away. Make sure all those IVs have plenty of fluid. Double check the straps there."
"Sure thing."
Once everything seemed secure, they both exited the truck. "What I meant was, I'm sure she's keeping an eye on them. What I'm not so sure about is why she's keeping an eye on them. For our benefit, or for hers? It wasn't too long ago that she was one of them. And even when zombies look like little girls, you know very well what they're capable of. Right?"
"I get that. She seems pretty good though. As human as you and I."
"Oh, so now you're an expert on zombie transformations? I feel so much better knowing the world’s leading expert in zombies turning into little girls has my back."
"Colonel, I just meant …"
"Yeah, I know what you meant. Get back in the ambulance. I'd like to get there while we're still under cover of dark. With this motley crew, I’d rather not have anybody see us coming."
"Yes, sir."
Breaking The Bank
One does not simply walk into Fort Knox. Fort Knox is symbolic worldwide as the ultimate icon of security. If you want something safe, you lock it up in Fort Knox. Located on the corner of Bullion Blvd and Gold Vault Road, it's also synonymous with wealth, or more specifically gold. Arguably one of the safest, most secure places on the planet, but built by an insecure nation. The United States was just coming out of the depression, and war was looming in Europe. With executive order 6102, President Roosevelt ordered every citizen to exchange their gold for US dollars. This swelled the reserves of government-controlled gold, and created the need for a very large piggy bank. Hence, Fort Knox came into being. It was built in the middle of the United States, protected by mountains to the east, and thousands of miles from any open coastline. Having a military base next door with a few hundred tanks didn't hurt either. It was home to the US army's original armored tank division, started by General George S. Patton. Nobody in their right mind would consider an assault on Fort Knox. Unfortunately for its current inhabitants, zombies have never ever been in their right mind.
As it turned out, Chaz got his way. They were less than an hour from the Fort Knox Bullion Depository, and it was still a few hours till dawn. Approaching the fort unseen would be difficult. While the zombie wars had taken their toll on the country, those in charge still understood the long game. Fort Knox was still considered a top priority by the US government, and it was just as tough to get into as ever. If the wars ever ended, the countries with their assets intact would have the best chance of thriving. The depository was over a hundred years old, and constantly updated with the latest and greatest security. When you're protecting hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of gold, there's no such thing as a limited budget.
Chaz pulled over to the side of the road and Alex followed suit. Chaz motioned for Alex to approach.
Alex looked to Christa. "You know the drill, right? Hit the horn if you see anything funny. I think we're almost there."
"OK."
Alex got out of the truck, and walked to the back of the personnel carrier. He shone his flashlight over the cots and at each of the IV bags above them. None were moving, and the IV bags were still half full. He walked up to Chaz's window.
"What's up, Colonel, why didn't you just call me on the radio?"
"I wanted to have a private talk before we got closer. The army base could be monitoring the radios."
"It's about Christa, right? Look, she won't be a problem. She's doing her best, and she’s been real good about keeping an eye on our patients. I think ..."
"I don't give a shit about the girl right now. We've got bigger concerns. This is Fort Knox we're approaching. We're about to break into Fort Knox with a truck full of comatose zombies, a demon child, and stolen military equipment. Equipment that once belonged to soldiers now lying dead in a ditch. Soldiers that have friends and maybe family in that fort. We're going to have a lot of explaining to do."
"Colonel, we're both military. That has to count for something, you especially. You're a war hero."
"Hmmf. Well, thing change. Remember, we're losing this war. The losing side of any war never has many heroes in the history books. I don't know what kind of military force is still at the fort. Stories I've heard had them doing better than most bases, but that's old news."
Alex looked at his feet. "So I'm assuming you have some sort of plan. Something more than just doom and gloom."
"Of course. I've had plenty of quiet time driving up here. Without chatter from the two of you dro
wning out my every waking thought, I've actually had a few good ideas."
Alex smiled. "Alright, let's hear it."
"OK, first thing. There's no point in trying to sneak up to those gates unannounced. They'll see us coming from miles away. Even slowing down and driving by is likely to draw attention. First thing I want is for you to wait here. Don't move."
"Stay here? And do what? We're still like thirty miles from the fort."
"They keep track of every vehicle that drives by on Dixie Highway west of their property. Even army vehicles. If we split up, we improve our chances of getting through. I want us to drive by the base one at a time, at least thirty minutes apart. I'll go first. I want to get a look at what we're facing before we try getting in. I'll take Dixie Highway and drive by from the west. I won't slow down and draw attention, so I'll only get a quick view."
"It would be better if we knew what we were getting into."
"You should get a better look. I want you to take Bullion Blvd right past the front gates of the depository. You can also check out the military base after you pass the depository. It's riskier being so close, but it gives you a better view of both facilities. Both of you need to take note of everything you see. Count zombies, soldiers, fortifications, and note anything that we can use to our advantage."
"We can do it. I'm a little worried about driving the ambulance with a little kid next to me. She'll stick out like a sore thumb."
"Boost her up. Anything that makes her look taller in the seat. Look for uniforms in the back of the ambulance. If she's wearing a military jacket from a distance, they may not notice. Once you pass the depository and the military base, keep driving towards town. There's an old cemetery just north of the airport. We can meet up there, debrief, and decide our next steps."
"Great, I always wanted to hang around a cemetery in the middle of the night during a zombie apocalypse. Then again, if I get shot sneaking around the most fortified facility in the world, I won't have to worry about the cemetery."
"Exactly. Be one less thing for me to worry about as well." The colonel smirked. "Now, there's one more thing. Keep your radio tuned to 243 MHz. That's reserved for military aircraft, so no one is likely to be scanning it. When I get to the cemetery, I'll transmit on that frequency, but nothing verbal. Just three short taps on my microphone. If more than an hour passes and you don't hear from me, you'll proceed with the plan regardless."
"And do what? Just drive by the base and hope for the best?"
"Grow up, boy. Yes, drive by the base. Pay attention and come up with a plan. I'm not going to be around to wipe your ass forever. If something happens to me, then you're going to have to figure things out."
"Yes, sir."
"And most importantly, keep that kid safe!"
"What ... really? Since when do you give a colonel’s crap what happens to her?"
"Just do it. Like I said, I had plenty of time to think driving up here. She may be a pain, but that kid may represent our best chance of turning this thing around. Besides, she's just a kid, right? Or so you keep telling me. It's your job tonight to make sure she still has a chance to grow up. Now get your ass back in the ambulance, and wait for my signal."
Chaz dropped the truck into gear, and took off before Alex had a chance to argue. Not that he would have.
Sleeping Through
Alex slammed the door shut, and locked all the doors.
Christa stared through the binoculars, watching Chaz drive off with their zombie patients. "Well, what are you waiting for? Aren't you going to follow him? I can't keep an eye on our patients from back here."
"No, we're not following him. We're waiting right here, just like he said."
"Wait? Wait for what? We can't just sit here. We need to follow him. Get to the fort ... right?"
"Not yet. New plan. We need to wait for the signal. Three taps over the radio." Alex tuned the radio to 243 MHz. "There we go, all set. Nothing to do but sit and wait. The colonel is going ahead to scout things out, then we'll follow him and do the same. After that, we head to the cemetery."
"Cemetery? Why do we have to go to a cemetery? Don't zombies hang around cemeteries?"
"That's silly, why would a zombie hang around a cemetery? Nothing for them to eat there. Don't believe everything you read and hear. We'll be fine."
"I hope so. What if they find us here? We're food, right? Wouldn't they eat us?"
"Well I'm definitely food. There's no doubt they'd eat me. You, I'm not so sure about."
"I could be food too. They might want to eat me. You don't know for sure. Just because they let us go before, doesn't mean they will again. I'm nothing special."
"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Just pretend I didn't say that. And stop thinking about those zombies on the bridge. Maybe it was you, maybe it wasn't. Maybe they just had a hankering for bacon real bad."
Christa smiled. "I suppose it isn't so bad. You're right. You guys needed help. It's a good thing we ran into each other."
Alex nodded in agreement. "Think of it like you're a superhero. Our superhero. You have an anti-zombie force field around you. It protects you and all your friends."
Christa looked down. "You might be my friend, but I don't know about Chaz. He mostly makes me feel bad. That's not what friends do."
"And you saved him anyway. That makes you even more super in my books. You use your super zombie-zapper powers to keep everyone safe. No matter how big a jerk they are."
Christa giggled. "You’re my friend, I'm glad I saved you."
"Me too." Alex smiled back.
"You should try and get some sleep if you can. We're going to be here awhile, and you're officially off zombie watch. Today's gonna be a pretty one."
"I'm not tired. Not really. I don't mind talking more."
"You're not tired? Not even after those last few hours of driving and talking?"
"Oh, maybe I am. A little nap wouldn't hurt."
Christa grabbed a pillow from the back of the ambulance, and propped it up against the window. Alex took the opportunity to root around the ambulance for anything useful. He found a med kit case big enough to boost Christa up. In addition, he found some rain gear with military logos. If they rolled up the sleeves, they should fit Christa. Not ideal, but better than her school clothes. There wouldn’t be that much light, so Christa should pass. He found extra medical supplies for his pack. Disinfectants, field suture kits, and a few wraps for large wounds.
With the pillaging of the ambulance complete, Alex focused his attention on the radio. He set the radio to auto scan in the hopes he'd hear something from the depository or the base. There was nothing but static, and occasional conversations from state troopers in the area. The usual speeding and license-check requests. It would be nice to hear from the fort.
Alex hadn't been a soldier for that long. In the zombie wars, nobody lasted as a soldier for long. Relatively speaking, he had lasted longer than most. Chaz's survival instincts had something to do with that. It had been twenty minutes since Chaz had headed off, and Christa was sound asleep. He switched the radio auto scan off and dialed in 243 MHz. Chaz should be checking in soon.
Alex supposed it was as good a time as any to run scenarios through his head. Be prepared. What to do if Chaz didn't check in? He didn't have to do the drive-by if Chaz was missing. He did say to come up with his own plan. The drive-by was a good idea. What if I don't want to do the drive-by? Maybe he'd go save Chaz. It could happen. If something happened to Chaz, what would be the best way to save him? Alex could run into the same problem. He could always do the drive-by, and go to the cemetery. If Chaz wasn't there, then he’d follow his trail backwards, looking for him. He'd have the advantage of being on the lookout for trouble. As Alex imagined more scenarios, he found himself getting drowsy. He shook off sleep a few times, tried moving around in his seat, and even slapped himself a few times. Eventually, the day’s fatigue wore him down, and he drifted off.
Race To The Bank
THUD! THUD! THUD! Alex nearly leapt out of his skin as he abruptly woke from a bad dream into a bad reality. Three of those half-dead things were pounding on his window. He started fumbling for loose wires to start the ambulance.
"Damn it, I really wish I had found those fucking keys!" he muttered as he fumbled in the dark. Eventually, he got a few sparks, then nothing. He tried again. The wires sparked a few more times, and the engine jumped to life. The thumping and swearing hadn't roused Christa, but the starting engine did. Once Christa caught a glimpse of the freaks, she let out an ear-splitting scream. That chased the last smidgen of sleep in Alex's brain into oblivion. Then, the thumping stopped. The freaks outside Alex's window just stood there. No moaning, no pounding, just motionlessly stood there. They didn't know what to do. They didn't stare at Alex, but right through him to Christa. Then they shuffled around the truck to Christa's side. They just stood on Christa's side, staring at her. No moaning, no pounding, no murderous intentions whatsoever. Alex had never seen anything like it. Christa was hardly impressed as she shifted in her seat, shuffling closer to Alex.
Alex shifted the ambulance into gear. "Shit, we gotta get out of here. This is too weird, even for us."
Tearing down the road, Alex glanced at the dashboard clock, and realized he had dozed off for way too long. Chaz was an hour overdue signaling, assuming Alex hadn't slept through the signal. And they were losing the cover of dark. This was definitely not the way to start the day.
"Sorry, Christa, but I've got to break a few speed limits here. I think I missed Chaz's signal. Assuming that he even sent one. Damn, I sure hope he did. I hope he’s still there waiting for us. I can't believe I did that."
Revealed: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction Page 4