Chapter 16
Luke jumped off the pegs and Tara lay her bike down in the nearly waist high weeds. It was almost dusk now, the light was fading fast. Tara couldn’t help but stare in the direction of the woods, watching for movement. The graveyard within was still a major source of unease. Once we get this over with, maybe we can at least give them headstones, or even rebury them elsewhere.
Tara followed Luke slowly down the steep path. The sun had set beyond the river on their right, and the camp below lay in shadow. Farther to her left, the lake shimmered in the last twilight, and Tara checked the winery steps for movement. Everything was still.
There was no sign of anyone across from them at the last barracks as they passed while walking along the river to the front parking lot. Tara couldn’t even see anyone gathered until they were almost upon them, so she knew no one else would either. Everyone but Jake was there already, off to one side in the trees along the river.
Craig and Bethany, Norma and Chester, Dave Collins and his wife Bonnie, and Luke’s mom, Jenny, all greeted them. Tara explained what had happened to Mary, and they were beyond shocked. A copperhead bite was an extraordinary thing to happen, even in Pre-E times, now it was more life threatening. “She’s doing okay though, Melanie says it will be a week or two of pain but all should be well. Where’s Jake?”
“We haven’t seen him yet,” Craig said. “Melanie should be out here soon, she said she was bringing a couple guards, but it’s up to us to decide how much to tell them.” They talked for another fifteen minutes, and then Melanie and two men came out the front doors and headed their way. She leaned in to Tara and Luke.
“I’ve asked for volunteers for a possibly dangerous mission against armed fugitives, and these two gentlemen have stepped up. I’ll let you explain the rest.” She raised her voice slightly to include everyone. “You have free reign. I wish you all success and I’ll join you inside the camp shortly.”
It was full dark now as they thanked Melanie, and Luke began explaining to the guards.
“There are probably between one and three bad guys, armed and dangerous, possibly holed up inside the camp. We are breaking into the last barracks where these bad guys might be, no one knows for sure.”
Tara glanced at the young, obviously military-trained guards, noticing their firearms in holsters at their sides and it suddenly struck her: I forgot Mary’s gun, for Jake.
“Oh no, Lee has Mary’s gun, and Jake will need it. I’ve got to run back, I won’t be longer than twenty minutes.”
“Ok, Tara, we’ll wait since Jake’s not here yet anyway. But hurry,” Luke told her.
Tara trotted as far as she could. Finally out of breath and with a stitch in her side, she slowed to a fast walk, trying to get up the hill as quickly as she could.
I’m too old for this. It felt like she’d been saying that a lot lately.
Tara grabbed her bike, her heart pounding from the workout she’d just had, and pushed it out of the field and onto the country road. She was sweating now, and hoped she might run into Jake on the way there before she turned down Clyde’s alley. She suddenly remembered he had the van earlier. He would’ve hid out somewhere, so Brenner wouldn’t see him. He’s either lost track of time or I missed him. I bet he came in from the street in front of the Kmart. He was probably at the parking lot waiting on her by now.
Huffing and puffing, lungs burning, Tara rolled into Clyde’s back yard. One of Ben’s toys, his favorite yellow helicopter, the one that had been her son’s, lay on the ground beside the stoop. That wasn’t there when I left. Tara picked it up and went to push open the back door. It was slightly ajar. A horrible feeling descended, threatening to suffocate her with the memory that was attached to it. The night Clyde died the door was open.
Tara pulled her own gun from her waistband, checking to see that the safety was off. Dear God, let everything be alright. She moved stealthily into the hallway. Julie’s bedroom door was open, but it was quiet. No sounds of Ben or Lee. Panic welled up in Tara’s chest. She checked the bathroom, nothing. She carefully pushed open the bedroom door—empty bed, covers spilling onto the floor. Tara screamed. Between the far side of the mattress and the wall, a boot protruded. It was Lee’s.
Frantic now, Tara rushed to him. He lay on his stomach, squeezed into the narrow space, face down. She couldn’t see his head. Tara pulled at him, grasping his foot firmly, his other boot catching and hanging up on the leg of the bed. “Lee, Lee,” she called, trying to get some response. Nothing.
Tara unhooked his other leg, straightened it, and with a mighty heave, succeeded in yanking him partway out. Another desperate tug and his two hundred pound dead weight slid out further. Finally, she leveraged herself one more time and pulled him around to the foot of the bed, pushing his heavy torso over so she could see his face. Oh God, they’ve shot him.
Lee’s face was covered in blood. A bright red cascade streamed over his left eye and made bubbles as it passed his nostril. Wait, bubbles! He’s still breathing!
Tara grabbed the end of the bedspread and wiped at his face, clearing away the worst of the gore, all the while calling his name. A nasty gash at his hairline soon became visible in the sticky crimson mess. Was it a bullet? Tara could not tell. Suddenly Lee groaned and his eyes fluttered.
“Lee, who did this?”
“Meyers,” Lee whispered harshly.
~
“Where the hell is Tara?” Luke muttered under his breath. This wasn’t like her at all.
“Maybe she ran into Jake, or went to see where he was?” Craig offered. They had waited just about as long as they could.
Luke took charge.
“Craig, let’s do this. Come with me, we’re going out around the barracks. We can squeeze behind the fence near the path. Everyone else, cover us from the inside. Take cover and watch the last building. Whistle low when you’re in place. Stop anyone from getting away. Be ready for anything.”
He thought for a moment, trying to cover all the aspects of the raid. “Melanie has moved patients out of the two closest barracks on either side. Okay, let’s go, good luck.”
Bethany wanted to go with her man at the last minute, but Craig said no. Luke’s mother offered instead, and they took her, since she had experience with the Resistance.
Luke led the way. He, Craig and Jenny were all dressed in black. They kept low, along the shadows beside the river toward the high wall at the bottom of the path. They approached the gravel pit’s dirt wall and Craig squeezed between it and the fence first, wiggling on through to the other side closest to the lake. Jenny stayed at the opposite end, positioning herself near the path, while Luke slid directly to the middle, ready to open the jury-rigged secret gate.
Luke waited for the signal that the others in the front were in position, ready to smash the padlock. Soon, Dave’s low whistle sounded over the continuous hum of the generators. Luke popped the U-brackets off one by one, as quietly as he could.
He heard no sound from inside the wall of the building. Following a hunch, Luke took a small penlight flashlight from his pocket, shining it on the wood a foot in front of his face. He noticed a vertical seam where none should be. Gun in one hand, he pushed on the section and the hidden door swung open. He gave a startled answering whistle, and heard the others begin smashing the lock at the front entrance. The opposite door flew open and someone hit the switch.
Bright light blinded Luke for a moment, but not so much that he couldn’t see the room was empty of bad guys. The space was full of beds and machinery, probably left over from whatever God-awful experiments had once been done there. There were dark stains on the wooden floor.
Luke holstered his gun as Craig and Jenny joined him. Dust lay on the medical devices, and particles danced in the lights from their disturbing it. Tracks on the floorboards in the grime showed someone had been here. But they certainly were not now.
Luke looked at the others. “Damn,” was all he said.
~
Tar
a cradled Lee’s head gently. Meyers? It was Meyers? Lee drifted in and out of consciousness. “Lee, Meyers did this? What happened? Where’s Julie and Ben!” She had been so involved with Lee’s injury she’d almost forgotten them. Guilt flooded her. Dear God, let them be alright, not buried in the graveyard!
Lee’s eyelids fluttered open again. “He took them,” Lee choked out, groaning, “hit me over the head. No chance to use the gun.”
“Where Lee, to the barracks? Everyone’s there, they’ll get them!”
“No, the winery. Said he’s tired of the killing. Go. Hurry. Brenner’s going to kill them.”
Tara lifted Lee’s shirt and took Mary’s gun tucked into his waistband. She tore out of the room, yelling she would be back for him soon. Suddenly it struck her: They must have Jake too! He somehow tried to stop them, I know it!
Tara tore down the road, praying Lee would be alright and she could somehow stop them from hurting Julie, Ben and Jake. The thought of the other little boy in the graveyard with Jake’s dog attached to him made her stomach lurch. It’s Brenner or Morgan then, the monsters. I’ll kill them if they touch any of my friends. Her fury boiled over.
Tara raced down the winery road, imagining scenarios then discarding them, hoping the best way to save the people she loved, these friends who were now more like a family, would come to her. Maybe Morgan knew everyone was at the barracks, or maybe they’re so far gone they don’t even care. They’ve worked without consequences so far.
Tara saw the faint glow of lanterns through the barn windows. She laid her bike down near the fence and ran to the doors, crouching in the bushes beside them. Suddenly a psst came from the other end of the barn. Jake! He waved an arm and Tara ran to him.
“Jake, thank God! They have Julie and Ben!”
He nodded. “I know, I was watching the barn and lost track of time—then I saw Meyers bring them in. I couldn’t leave! But I have no gun, nothing.”
“I’ve got one for you.” She handed over Mary’s. “You know the layout in there, where would they be?”
“In the attached brick building, it’s where they make the wine, there’s a room there that’s always been off limits to me, their office. That’s got to be it.”
“It’s on this side.” Jake pointed down the length of the barn to a window near the far end on the building’s brick wall. “There.”
“C’mon.” Tara ran to the window, standing on tiptoes to see in. There was a small slit in the blinds and she could see a sterile looking room, there was machinery around and she thought she saw something flesh colored on a gurney. It’s Ben’s arm!
“Let’s go.” Tara pulled open the door as quietly as she could. It was dark inside and she grabbed the nearest lantern to take with them. Jake pointed the way, and they crept through the barn toward the wine making section. It was even darker here, and Jake led the way past the shiny vats and stacked barrels. They stood listening at the door, but there was no sound from inside. Jake looked at Tara. He pushed open the door.
Neither Brenner nor Morgan were there. Julie and Ben were strapped to gurneys in the center of the room. A steel tray with scalpels and other instruments was stationed between them.
“Hurry, they’re in the building somewhere!” Tara set her lantern on the floor outside the door and moved quickly to undo the straps on Ben. He appeared to be unconscious, drugged. Julie was slightly more awake. Tara threw Ben over her shoulder, frantic to escape with him. Jake followed behind Tara, half dragging, half carrying Julie to the door. They had just crossed the threshold when another door in the far corner of the office opened, and Brenner stepped in, a colonel’s hat tilted at a rakish angle on his head. A moment of shock registered on his face, and Jake scrambled for his gun while still trying to hold Julie up. He finally got it aimed at Brenner.
“Morgan,” called Mr. Brenner, and the big man with the craggy face entered, gun already drawn.
“What a nice surprise,” Brenner cooed. A slow smile spread on his face as Tara and Jake stood frozen. “We can take care of you all at once. How expedient.”
“You sick freak!” Tara screamed. She couldn’t help it. Too much had happened for her to restrain her emotions.
Brenner just smiled politely. Morgan showed no expression at all.
“Jake, I’m sorry you had to find out in this manner. Put the gun down. You’ve been a very helpful boy all these years. Up until you made friends with these people,” he inclined his head toward Tara.
Tara could see Jake was in shock. Even though she had showed him the graveyard and told him their suspicions, which added to his own, he hadn’t wanted to believe. His lip quivered slightly and Tara’s heart went out to him. But her rage came right back.
“What in God’s name are you trying to do? What made you decide to destroy what’s left of this world?” This was the burning question for her. Why? They might be dead soon, but she had to know.
Brenner’s thin face broke into another smile. “I’ll humor you, my dear. Think of it as a last wish.” Jake’s aim had slowly lowered, as though unsure of the target. He still stood rooted to the spot, holding Julie up as Brenner went on.
“I want to erase the mistake God made. It is my duty to do so. Ebola almost did it, but not quite. I saw my chance to finish the job. I’ve been breeding GMO grapes— agrobacterium tumefaciens—it transfers DNA between itself and plants. With a little tweaking and a few years work, I’ve developed the means to wipe out the rest of the human race, a miserable little disease for a miserable little race, a perfect match. Quite a lot of experimentation went into that research, as you are well aware. I’m not entirely sure you appreciate the efforts involved.”
Tara and Jake stood openmouthed. The man was insane. But he was also a genius.
“What a waste to use your intellect to come up with such a thing. Why not channel that energy to get the world back on its feet? I don’t understand.”
Brenner laughed. “Nor do I expect you to. After all, you are one of that miserable race.”
Ben stirred on Tara’s shoulder and she thought fast. Jake seemed to recover his senses and made a small movement to re-aim the gun at Morgan in their Mexican standoff, and Morgan turned his focus to him.
In that instant, Tara remembered the lantern burning on the floor beside her. With once grab, she scooped it up and swung as hard as she could, flinging it into the room. It hit Morgan, kerosene splashing out and instantly igniting in a whoosh. Jake dropped Julie to the floor outside the door, and grabbed one of the five gallon pails stacked there along the wall. With a twist of the cap, he threw it into the fire. The room was instantly engulfed in flames, and the screams of Brenner and Morgan turned shrill as their clothing caught fire. In a flash, Tara saw their skin blacken and begin to peel away as they writhed and beat at themselves. Then she ran.
Jake ran too, first dragging Julie then carrying her, as Ben flopped and bounced on Tara’s shoulder. They raced out through the long brick building and the barn doors. The window on the far end had flames jutting through it now, and Tara could no longer hear the screams.
Jake and Tara collapsed on the grass near the road, laying Ben and Julie beside them as flames overtook the barn and rose high into the night sky. The immense fire made the air in front of them waver with heat, and Tara shielded her face.
“My God, we killed them,” Tara panted.
“It’s a good thing, Tara.”
Suddenly, the sound of yelling came from the direction of the road, and Tara knew their friends had seen the fire and were coming. Thank God. But where’s Meyers?
~
I’m on fire, Brenner’s mind told him. I’m dying, before I can see my work through.
Memories of his life flashed before him, of his father who had started him on this journey. He saw himself as a boy, holding still while his shirt and trousers were removed. He lay shivering on a gurney in the cold clinical operating room, his old scars glowing bluish against his white skin. Next came the straps, and his dad rolled
a surgical cart full of instruments closer, picking up a long needle, squirting a stream of liquid from it, and injecting it into the crook of the boy’s small arm, his arm.
As his childhood self began to drift off, he felt the surgical cloths being placed between his legs and saw his father pick up the scalpel. Gratefully then, both Brenner the dying man, and the boy he had once been, sank into sweet oblivion.
~
Meyer’s had one last cartload to retrieve and he was out of there. He’d waited until everyone left the barracks, headed toward the glow of the major fire whose origins seemed to be the winery. He could see the barn from the last barracks now, burning atop the high wall above the pond. Even the long wooden fence was on fire, quite a striking sight.
The crazy bastards, maybe they’ve burned themselves up. I hope so. Meyers lifted the hidden gate, which was still hanging open from the intruders. A bit of luck and a lot of timing and he might just make it out of there scot free. He’d paid his damn dues, the hell with them all.
He stepped into the last barracks, followed his earlier tracks in the dust to the hatch in the floor, and flopped it open. He jumped down into the hold and began stacking the last of the bars of gold bullion up on the floor around the hatch. He loaded the last three backpacks full and hoisted the heavy cargo out onto the path. He closed the door and placed the gold in the waiting cart, struggling to haul it up the hill. A diesel van idled there, and he loaded the bars in, listening to the shouts coming from the direction of the winery. It made a pretty sight, orange flames against the June night sky. Life is good.
Meyers drove away, whistling.
~
Tara heard van doors slamming and then Craig and the guards crowded around Tara and Jake as Luke, Jenny and Melanie knelt beside Julie and Ben. The boy was whimpering a bit, but coming to. Julie tried to sit up and Luke held her in place, trying to calm her.
Jake explained what happened as Tara caught her breath, finally choking out. “Lee’s hurt, he’s at Clyde’s house.”
Red Death (Book 2): Survivors Page 17