by RR Haywood
We get through the park okay and then onto a novelty pitch and putt area with ornamental windmills, toadstools and model churches. All of which get mown down or battered aside as I swerve and weave to avoid the thick masses flinging themselves at us. The vehicle takes an almighty battering, bouncing and jolting as it lifts and drops, destroying everything in its path. Aiming for the far end and then veering towards the left I try to guess where the back of that junction will be, trying to batter a way through to get behind it and work through the side streets to the far end of town.
With the constant firing filling the vehicle, the smell of cordite and gun oil, the oppressive heat that sucks all the moisture away it is bloody hard work. The headlights are great but using them means I can only see what they’re pointing at as they ruin my natural night vision. Hard going with many twists and turns, avoiding the larger obstacles. Lani comes to the front, pressing a bottle of sweet syrupy energy drink to my lips. I end up wearing most of it due to the jolts and bounces but some gets into my parched mouth.
She grabs a water bottle to soak a cloth, using it to wipe the back of my neck and forehead. The effect is lovely, so cooling and refreshing and with her gentle hands it lifts my mood.
In the end I aim for a house in the far corner, some kind of grace and favour park keepers cottage lovingly maintained by hard working people. We ruin it anyway, well the grounds and in particular the front garden. Battering through the fence to churn up the nice grass, drive over the pretty flowers bed and smash through the fence on the other side.
They think that’s bad, but we’re just one vehicle and we’re being chased by fucking hundreds of hungry buggers that will pour through and ruin all of the flower beds, still, the ones we shoot down will rot away slowly and maybe give some nourishment to the soil.
Onto a road in front of the park keepers house and the going is suddenly smooth and easy. Clarence shouting that it’s okay as he has at least one unbroken rib left to go.
Clever bastards have come over the vehicles in the jammed up junction and are now coming at us from that direction.
Making use of someone else’s driveway I turn round, miscalculating my speed of approach and shunting into the back of a little hatchback that slams forward into the front of the house, ploughing through the porch and embedding in the frame of the front door.
Reversing out and we get back to facing the other way, Dave twisting his aim to shoot the buggers down that were running up behind us.
I charge on, ploughing the front of the Saxon into the running bodies which splatter and bounce off. Blood and goo splashes over the windscreen making me use the washer and wipers to smear it over the thick glass. Thumps and bangs join the sound of two guns firing. One clever zombie tries to leap high over the front, sailing gracefully through the air before being flown backwards by the rounds of the GPMG splitting him apart.
We pass the park keepers ruined front garden and break out to an empty road ahead of us, now with a thick stream pouring after our vehicle that both Dave and Clarence take great delight in shooting down.
With Lani now at the front helping me navigate the route while I try to avoid destroying everything in sight we get into the side streets and start working along adjacent to the town. Using the now massive fires of the High Street to guide us along. Both weapons stop firing within seconds of each other with Clarence shouting they’ve stopped running.
Now the pressure is on, knowing they’ll either be heading back to the town to bolster those forces trying to take Maddox or maybe even finding a more direct route to cut us off. The silence is blissful, even just for a few minutes and the lads take full advantage to grab drinks and Nick shouting for Lani not to look while he pisses out the back door.
Both Dave and Clarence change magazines, feeding fresh belts in and although I know we got good supplies from the navy ship they won’t last forever and the sheer numbers being sent against us is staggering. Relentless and utterly determined, and it wouldn’t be so bad if they stayed behind us as we could cut them down with ease. But by dropping back and reserving their resources it means we know they will wait to attack on mass again. One or two points of attack we can handle, but multiple points and that’s when we have problems.
‘Did you see that?’ Lani asks quickly as we sweep past the entrance to a side street.
‘No, what was it?’
‘They were running down it towards us, whole street was thick with them.’
‘Nice.’
‘They really don’t like us do they?’ Cookey calls out.
‘Who is smoking?’ Dave shouts down, ‘Nick is that you?’
‘I’m at the back!’ Nick replies in a half apologetic and half defensive tone.
‘I am too Dave,’ Blowers adds.
‘I said they could have one,’ Clarence calls up, ‘give ‘em a break.’
‘Have they got the empty shell casings out…’
‘Yes Dave they have,’ Clarence snaps, ‘it’s hot as hell and we’re on our chin straps so ease up.’
‘We are not on our chin straps,’ Dave replies pointedly, ‘we have hours to go yet so…’
‘Dave,’ Clarence growls with a low warning grumble.
‘Yes Clarence?’ Dave replies but with a very rare edge to his voice.
‘Can someone pass me a drink please,’ Lani calls out diplomatically. As Cookey walks up she motions something with her hands, pointing at me then at something else. A flame is ignited and I glance across to see Lani lighting a cigarette before passing it over to me with a wink.
Grinning I take it and lean towards the open window, knowing Dave will be tutting and shaking his head above us.
I inhale like a schoolboy hiding from the teachers in a second of a shared secret, grinning and trying not to laugh while Lani waves the smoke away. After a few drags I tap the ash and smile at the thought of Lani lighting one up for me, as well as wiping my face with a damp cloth. Jesus. She lit the cigarette, it was in her mouth. I stare down at the end as my heart thunders in my chest.
‘Shit,’ she gasps, ‘put it out.’
The red end swirls into the night but the damage is done. We have shared. Whatever is in her system and on her lips is now in me. She looks utterly horrified, with wide eyes full of tears and one hand covering her mouth.
‘Oh Howie…oh my god Howie.’
My hand finds hers and grips tight, I don’t know what to say except it’s done now. There was no malice or evil doing here. ‘It’s okay,’ I whisper back, ‘Lani, look at me…it’s okay.’
Bringing the vehicle to a quick stop I start to clamber out of the seat, ‘Blowers, you drive. Nick, take over from Dave I need him down here.’
They react instantly and without question. Clarence staring at me with a puzzled expression. Blowers takes over, jumping into the seat and pulling away within a few seconds. Dave slides down and steps to face me as Nick climbs up top.
‘Lani lit a cigarette for me, I put it in my mouth without thinking…’ I draw my pistol and hand it to Dave who just looks at it for a few seconds, ‘Dave, take it…when I turn you’ll have to do me.’
‘What?’ Cookey asks appalled, his voice trembling.
‘It was my fault…I didn’t think,’ Lani cries, shaking from head to toe she looks wretched and mortified.
‘No,’ shaking my head firmly. Clarence just stares at me with utter shock etched onto his face, like everyone has just come to an end.
‘What the fuck?’ Blowers twists round, glancing back between me and the road. Even Nick drops back down, unable to stay up the top. All of them look more frightened than I have ever seen them. All apart from Dave who just stares at me with funny look on his face.
The rear doors slam shut as Clarence seals us in. Meredith staring up at us all with interest, wondering what’s going on.
‘Mr Howie…’ Nick says softly, ‘maybe she didn’t lick her lips or…maybe it didn’t pass…’
‘Nick it’s done mate…’
‘
No,’ Cookey shakes his head defiantly, ‘no Mr Howie, no…not you…’
‘Oh god,’ Lani bleats, ‘oh my fucking god…what have I done…’
‘Not like this,’ Cookey keeps going, he slumps down onto a seat staring up with a slack expression of shock, ‘not like this Mr Howie…’ shaking his head he repeats it over and over.
‘Listen in,’ I speak fast and firm, ‘don’t any of you blame Lani for this…not ever…you understand?’ I glare round getting nods from them all, ‘Blowers, did you hear me?’
‘Yes,’ he replies, his voice muted and weak.
‘Good, this has happened and we’ve got to deal with it the same as anything else…’
‘Oh god no,’ Lani weeps, tears streaming down her face. Clarence stretches one hand out to steady her trembling form.
‘When it happens, let Dave take me outside…just me and him…got it?’ Not waiting for a reply I keep going, ‘you keep going, help Maddox and the others and do what we set out to do…find doctors for Lani and Meredith…and kill as many of them as possible…’
‘I can’t….I didn’t think…I just didn’t think, you looked so hot and tired so I washed your face and gave you a drink and…and…I got Cookey to give me a cigarette for you…’
‘It’s my fault…I should have lit it,’ Cookey joins in.
‘No,’ I cut them off, ‘it doesn't matter…none of this is anyone’s fault but those fucking things out there…stay together and keep going, listen to Dave and Clarence and do what they say okay?’
‘Howie no,’ Lani cries harder, the tears streaming down her cheeks.
‘Boss,’ Clarence shakes his head, his voice so low I can barely hear him. He looks awful, white as a sheet with his big hands shaking.
‘Blowers, speed up and find us somewhere to pull over.’
‘Okay,’ he whimpers soft and scared and I feel the surge of the vehicle accelerating.
So many things I want to say, so many things I want to tell them but the words don’t come. The speed of it all, the shock just sends me numb, ‘lads, you’ve done me proud okay…’
‘Stop,’ Cookey sobs, ‘don’t…please…’
‘Cookey, you’re going to be okay…all of you are going to be okay. Stay together and keep going…’
‘Mr Howie,’ Dave interjects staring at his watch.
‘Yes mate,’ I sigh, staring at the man who has saved my life more times than I can count.
‘It’s been well over three minutes, do you have any pain?’
‘No.’
‘No sensations anywhere?’
‘Er…’ I pause, dipping my head while I focus on my own body. I feel tired, hot, very bloody hot and my heart is going like the clappers but other than that…I don’t feel anything, ‘no…nothing.’
‘Then you’re fine,’ he says firmly, ‘it would have taken by now.’ He looks up, his face as devoid of expression as ever.
‘Do what?’
‘I said you’re fine,’ he repeats, ‘it’s almost four minutes now…it never takes that long.’
‘Shit…oh….’ I stare round at the faces staring wide eyed and suddenly I feel like a complete dick, ‘oh…right…’
‘YES!’ Cookey’s on his feet grabbing me while shouting with joy. Laughing more out of embarrassment I give him a quick hug.
‘Sorry about that…er…’ Cookey steps back and I find a big grinning bear coming at me.
‘Don’t ever do that again,’ he rumbles giving me another hug, ‘shit…’
‘Sorry,’ I laugh again, the tension crumbling away, glancing at Dave who tells us all it’s now five minutes.
‘Howie, I’m so sorry,’ Lani says softly. Reaching out I pull her in for a hug, wrapping my arms round her body and smelling the sweet fragrance of her hair.
‘Don’t worry,’ I whisper, ‘if I was going to turn I’d want it to be you,’ I joke.
‘Don’t,’ she snaps, ‘don’t say that.’
‘Er…are we pulling over or not?’ Blowers shouts back.
‘Yes please Simon,’ Dave replies, ‘Mr Howie is driving.’
We all freeze as Meredith starts growling low and deep, her upper lip curling back to show her long white teeth. My heart, just easing off from the first fright has gone straight back up to full on hammering again. Everyone stares at me, the vehicle filling with her throaty growl. Holding my breath I wait for the leap and her teeth to clamp round my throat.
‘Is that the dog?’ Blowers calls out, ‘we just passed a side road with fucking loads of them…how does she know they’re outside? That dog is amazing.’
Swallowing I finally exhale and take a few deep breaths, Clarence chuckling softly and Cookey sinking down onto the seat whimpering to himself.
Nick goes back up to the top and within a few seconds we can smell cigarette smoke coming down.
‘Here’s clear,’ Blowers brings the vehicle to a stop, jumping out as I wait for him to pass, ‘I’m glad you’re okay boss,’ he gives me a quick grin, reaching out to shake my hand.
‘Fuck! Me too,’ I mutter in reply, patting him on the shoulder.
Driving on I keep taking deep breaths, my mind working like a demon as I try to understand if that means anything, if it means Lani isn’t infected, or there simply wasn’t enough on the cigarette end to get into my system. It could be still working into my system now, driving into my cells to start the process. But then Dave was weird, the way he stared at my pistol before taking it and he was so quick to say I was fine.
The rear doors get opened up again as Dave shouts up to Nick, asking if he’s finished that smoke and to come back down. They swap over and I hear low murmurs from the lads as they talk quietly, then Clarence’s deep rumble. They all looked terrified which worries me. They have to be able to keep going if anything should happen to me.
‘You okay?’ Lani asks quietly, leaning over from her position in the front with me.
‘Fine,’ I grin back, ‘that probably means you’re not infected,’ I keep my voice loud enough for the others to hear.
‘We were just saying that,’ Nick shouts up, ‘that’s got be a good sign.’
‘Definitely,’ I reply.
‘Still shouldn’t have happened,’ Lani says.
‘You can probably snog again,’ Cookey laughs.
‘Mr Howie, up ahead we can go left and get back into the town I think,’ Dave calls down, switching our minds back to the job at hand.
I take the junction onto a wide road and work down, recognising the route within a short time as the road that leads to the multi-level car park.
‘Shots ahead,’ Dave calls down again, ‘can’t see anything yet, they’re muffled…must be inside somewhere.’
As the town comes into view we see exactly where they must be from the monumental horde surging into the bottom of the multi-level car park. The street is packed and dense from figures straining to get inside. Bodies stacked back far down the road and more streaming towards them, glowing and bathed from the flames shooting out from the windows of the burning buildings on both sides. A scene of utter devastation but if Dave can hear shots then they must be alive.
‘I’ll turn round,’ I shout out, giving Clarence a chance to get ready to fire out the back doors again.
Once turned I start reversing, taking the Saxon closer and closer to the horde, and the closer we get the more of them we see. They’re straining and pushing, physically driving each other into the opening ramp of the car park. With the back facing them I can just make out the muffled gun shots coming from inside and what looks like thick black smoke coming out from the open sides.
‘Muzzle flashes,’ Dave shouts, ‘second level.’
‘How many levels are there?’ I ask.
‘Three,’ Clarence shouts, ‘top one is open air by the looks of it, they’ll be trapped…they must be holding them on the ramps…’
‘But getting driven up if they’re on the second level,’ Lani adds.
‘Start firing whenever you w
ant,’ I prompt as both guns stay silent. The prompt works and both of them come to life, booming into the air and instantly ripping into the densely packed ranks.
Blowers and Nick kneel either side of Clarence and join in, firing their assault rifles on single shot. Lani opens the passenger door and jumps down with her rifle, bringing it to aim and firing within a second of landing.
That just leaves me and Cookey sat there twiddling our thumbs, with a quick nod he jumps over the passenger seat and gets out behind Lani to start firing.
Left on my own and I feel all left out. So I clamber down and join in with the fun. All of our guns now firing and we shred them to bits.
Sustained and constant firing, a deafening and glorious noise that will hopefully tell Maddox and Paula we’re outside and doing what we can.
The horde don’t react like I thought they would. I figured they would separate and start charging at us, but instead our attack seems to motivate them to get inside the car park. A definite fresh surge ripples through them as they push harder with more disappearing from view.
Realising we could be making it harder for Maddox but there is little we can do other than keep going and with seven automatic weapons going, we’re ripping them to bits.
Changing magazine I glance round to see movement further up the street, figures emerging from the shadows as they charge down towards us. Cursing at how they’re moving so quickly and getting us trapped I shout for Dave to turn round.
Lani and Cookey spin about too and we at the front start directing our fire at the new lot, leaving Clarence and the other two at the back.
‘They’re charging,’ Clarence roars. Looking back and they’ve timed it perfectly. Waiting for the fresh horde to attack from the other side before sending huge numbers from the High Street towards us.
Now it’s frantic. We cannot lose ground either way. Leaving here will be abandoning Maddox and everyone else to certain death and there are still so many of them left, and more arriving with every passing minute.
We can’t leave Maddox. That just cannot happen. They’re trapped and getting overwhelmed and if we stay here we’ll get bogged down and never be able to help them. Other than Maddox, Paula and Roy they are just kids. Fucking hard little buggers but kids nonetheless.