How we made it back without being seen I'm not sure. I think God had a hand in it, protecting the young and the foolish, but we did. There were a couple narrow escapes as the little guy rode on my back giggling occasionally. No amount of hushing could get him to stop. He was having fun. The first in days I suspected. I estimated he was two and a half and to this day, I'm surprised he survived. Jason had grabbed up a bunch of his warmer clothes from his room upstairs and stuffed them in several pillowcases. I had put his winter coat on him and off we went. Rosita took him from me when we finally arrived. Yeah it was almost five in the freaking morning and she was still up. She cried when I described the scene within the house and just outside and hugged the little guy to her tightly. Miguel didn't get any sleep and I didn't see any coming my way either. Many people were up. I called a meeting. Jason and I had information to impart and our lives just got an order of magnitude busier.
We tried to make the back room work. No go. It was too small. And every room in the house had people sleeping in it. We went outside. God yes it was cold.
Michael had lit two lanterns and we sat around the backyard fire pit, which some thoughtful soul had lit. I stood with my back to it enjoying the warmth it was starting to provide. Sure, I was worried about the light but we were four-hundred feet back from the road surrounded by a dense stand of thick hardwoods and we already knew the creatures were more attracted to movement than lights.
"Alright folks things just got busier but before I explain, Miguel, how many adults do we have?" His answer was almost sixty. Wow. Lots of refugees. I didn't bother asking how many children as I knew it would be twice that at least. I saw earnest faces gazing at me. Waiting for what I had to tell them. Why they trusted me, I don't know.
"Any issues?" I inquired. He shrugged.
"A few Señor, Jay. Mostly some of the men not wanting to help. To guard or do chores. A few of the women also but I showed them the driveway and told them to leave if they didn't and we are okay now." I nodded. I had expected it. Some of these folk had never worked a day in their lives and had no conception of doing anything different. Good that Miguel had taken care of it. I'm positive he had been much nicer than I would have been.
"Okay, we have children out there. Hidden by their parents. Michael and I knew this would happen. We need to get them. This morning Jason and I rescued a 2-year-old boy. You don't want to see the inside of the house trust me. It's obvious his parents died hiding him. But where there's one there's more. We need more food. More Medicine. More everything. The zombies are much smarter than we thought and we think they have some means of communication. Jason, tell them what we saw tonight."
Jason told the assembled men and women about our excursion. All of it. There was a sharp intake of breath when he related the zombies all walking in at the same time. There were more than a few tears when he got to the rescue of the boy and the description of the hallway and backyard. They understood what we needed to do. Most important the urgency. I relied on Miguel. I had quickly figured out he was much smarter than my main man Michael. I spelled it out for them. I needed as many teams as we could muster.
We had to empty out the two pharmacies in town. Get those drugs under lock and key at RAC. I had no doubt some of these survivors were or had been drug addicts. They had the look. While they were at it, empty out Pine Medical of anything useful. We needed a second generator. Lakes Energy had a big one that was 120/240 three phase. Perfect for our needs. There was some bitching about that. RAC already had one but I wanted a spare. We would need the additional power later. We also needed to get the fans turned on in the grain storage at RAC. There were upwards of three million bushels of wheat, corn and soybeans stored there. If the ventilation fans quit for any length of time it would quickly rot.
We had to empty out the grocery stores and restaurants in town like now and we had to start searching for survivors. Later after some sleep, I would lead a team to get fuel. We would need a lot of it to be established. The fuel farm depot south of Grant would supply all our short-term fuel needs. The list went on and on. The supplies would be gathered and the empty rail cars at RAC would store any excess we couldn't fit inside the main buildings.
Of special importance were the twelve feet concrete ‘T’ barriers I wanted assembled around RAC. I knew the Newaygo maintenance yard had a couple hundred of the damn things along with a flatbed truck to haul them and I wanted every single one a quarter mile away at RAC arrayed around the buildings. Years ago, I had seen a movie about a volcano erupting in downtown LA or somewhere. At four feet high and twelve feet wide, weighing two and a half tons each, the things stacked two high had kept the lava away so I knew they could keep zombies at bay. I wanted a double row surrounding the complex. They could use the propane forklifts at RAC to move them. I also wanted every single forty-five foot electric pole from the LE yards. They had hundreds and we would need them along with a line digger and pole truck. I was getting ready to fortify.
Each crew would be accompanied by a snowplow. My reason was simple. If the damn things could shove aside a six foot drift of heavy wet snow in the winter they could for sure move any number of zombies out of the way no matter how determined the creatures were and with their low prows and rubber skirts we didn't have to worry about the dead mother fuckers getting underneath and jacking the trucks up. Simple really.
My gut told me we would continue to see more and more zombies as they migrated from the major cities. If we were going to get stuff, now was the time. I also dreaded the outbreak of violence or gangs of marauders. Those I also knew were coming to any community that advertised its 'alive' presence, as we were doing. Everything had to be done yesterday. We had no time to relax or we were done for. With a sigh, I passed the meeting onto Michael and Miguel leaving instructions to wake me in four hours. I hoped I got that much sleep but doubted it.
I knew sleep would be elusive when I dragged my tired ass into the bedroom. When I did in the lamplight saw both girls sitting upright in bed still naked with the covers bunched around their waists smiling at me. A man does what a man needs to do I thought as I smiled back.
*****
Chapter 9
DAY 5: 0600 ET
Jean got dressed quickly. The sun was still below the horizon but enough light came, from the vehicles she saw sitting outside, through the window that she had no need to turn the lamp up. She had been staying in a bunkroom with the other unwed girls, eight of them in narrow double bunk beds. It was unusual for a male to enter so she hurried. It was important. Exiting the room, she found Jedediah had waited patiently just outside. He led her out the front where several military vehicles were pulled up. Humvees they were called and groups of soldiers were standing there waiting. She looked and saw large guns manned on the tops of the Humvees. Big ugly looking guns with multiple barrels. Each, manned by figures in camouflage clothing, looked quite deadly. In the distance, she could still hear explosions and the rattling of automatic weapons. She was tucking her Glock in the waistband of her jeans the spare magazine already jutting out of a front pocket when they approached.
"Jean. This is Major Weston. Major, this is Jean, the woman I told you about that you appear to be seeking. She can use your help to reach her family." Elder Jedediah was making the introductions and the major turned to her and tilted his head briefly in acknowledgement before turning his attention back to Jedediah.
"Sir. I implore you. Let us get you and your people out of here and to a safer place. There are camps set up south of here for that purpose. Command has told me that's your safest alternative to trying to survive out here on your own. These things are everywhere and there are hundreds of thousands." But the Amish Elder was already shaking his head.
"No. I'm sorry Major but my answer was firm. We will stay. If the good Lord decides it's time for us to go to our Father in heaven then we shall." Jedediah's voice lowered slightly so most of the other Amish behind them couldn't hear. "Besides you already admitted these camps are on the verge of b
eing overrun as it is. Where would we go then with no guns or tools or our homes?" His arms spread wide and he half turned indicating everything around us.
"No guns?" Jean asked.
Jedediah turned to her, a sad smile on his face and indicated the Major before responding. "The good Major has told me that all privately owned weapons are being confiscated at the camps. For the good of the people he says."
Jean became furious. "That's insane!" Her voice rose slightly, the Major raised conciliatory hands.
"Please lower your voice, Miss Jean. I agree it doesn't make sense. Many of the orders we've received do not make sense, as do the changes in our chain of command. However, those are the orders we were given. That's what we were told." He looked embarrassed. He held up one hand for silence the other going to the earpiece of the headset he was wearing. He cleared his throat coughing slightly and spoke to the air, his eyes distant.
"Roger that Mike Charlie Six. We are withdrawing and will provide support as we exit. Pull all units from the south side now and be ready for us. Grab all casualties still alive, we'll action a forced retreat when I get there," he blinked wiping his eyes and turned to Jean, "You are a person of interest to command. You will go with us. I'm sorry but that's the way it is. We can't hold them back much longer. Find a place to hang on and pray." He turned once again to Elder Jedediah his hands open in a display of apology. "I'm sorry; sure I thought there would be more time. There isn't. Their coming from everywhere. We'll try to draw as many as possible away from your position as we withdraw." Jedediah nodded his face grave. He started to step back but Jean turned and gave him a fierce hug whispering, "Thank you for everything." as she kissed his cheek before running to the closest Humvee and looking for anything to hold onto. She had filed away, the 'person of interest' comment. She would find out what that meant later.
The soldier riding on top saw her confusion and smiling offered his hand calling her up. "Up here, Miss. There's only wounded inside with the driver." His voice was boyish and she looked up again seeing a very young man who was obviously frightened but glad for this simple task of finding a place for her. Jean grabbed his hand allowing him to pull her upward. There was no place to put her feet and she was being dragged over the top canopy like a bag of rice. His other hand reached down grabbing her around the torso looking for purchase and settled under her left breast yanking her upward. She gasped at the familiarity but was finally high enough to reach a hand out gripping the top of the low shield surrounding his mounted gun. He let go of her as she crawled in beside him moving sideways to give her a bit more room. There wasn't much. She decided not to mention where his hand had been. After all, what else did she have that he could hold onto to pull her up? She shrugged and squeezed in beside him onto the narrow seat. He had been skinny but strong enough to pull her up so there was barely room. She could see down into the front of the vehicle where the driver sat and Major as he climbed into the vehicle, which instantly took off at a very fast pace. She gasped as her back hit the cowling behind her and the soldier next to her shrugged in apology as they raced up Jedediah's driveway.
"We have no time, Miss Jean. We have to get out now. There are too many." The voice came from below above the sound of the racing engine and she looked down seeing the Major looking up at her. She nodded. He grabbed something off the seat next to him and handed it up. A set of earmuffs. "Here, you'll need these. Put them on now." She grabbed the offered hearing protection noticing for the first time that the soldier beside her was already wearing a set. His hands were also gripping the double handgrips of the machine gun in front of them. She agreed, deciding now was indeed a good time to put them on. They careened through the gate which four Amish men were ready to close behind them. Originally, a metal cattle gate it had been reinforced with boards of all shapes and sizes. She waved as they flew past. They didn't.
The soldier turned to her and getting her attention patted the top of his gun shouting to be heard over the muffled roar of the Humvee and their ear protection. "This is an M134 Mini-gun with a maximum four-thousand round per minute rate of fire. Air cooled and electrically driven with this battery pack." He patted an outsized box underneath."It has six barrels and can sustain maximum rates of fire for several minutes between barrel changes. It shoots a 7.62 by 51mm standard NATO round and the linked ammunition is fed from this box here." He patted another larger box attached to the side of the big gun. She saw bright rounds linked together with black clips disappearing into the top and several more of the boxes in a cubby under him to his right. "It is fired by depressing these two switches at the top," he wiggled his thumbs before proceeding, "The safety is here and it's mounted by a three point quick hitch release there." He released the left hand grip and gestured to a switch on the side then three points on the top where pins with rings protruded. "Up is fire on this selector switch here. All you need to know." He smiled pleased at her nods while indicating a small lever on the left side of the enormous gun.
"And you are telling me this why?" she shouted back perplexed.
"Because I can't fire to my right. You'll have to." He shouted back then demonstrated. He swiveled the gun to the right and the handgrips rotated to a position directly in front of her and even slightly to her left. There was no way he could grip the gun and fire with it pointed in that direction. He was right. She would have to. She gulped and nodded in understanding. "Beauty and brains," he hollered back obviously pleased at her response. She restrained the instant impulse to roll her eyes. He was obviously trying, and so eager. She leaned towards him and lifted his left earmuff.
"I'm old enough to be your mother." She said smiling. His eyes widened then his gaze traveled over her upper body from hair to waist, obviously hesitating at her well-endowed chest, which was fully visible since she hadn't had time to zip her coat up yet.
"Right." he muttered not believing her. Only then, she rolled her eyes, but she also smiled.
"What's your name? Mine’s Jean," she asked while fighting her smile.
"Dean. Pleased to meet you," he answered smiling back.
They were approaching another group of soldiers. Dozens of vehicles were arrayed in a loose circle. In the distance, she could hear bursts of automatic fire and flashes of light as other obvious groups of soldiers were still fighting. Most of those here were firing to the east.
She turned her head and gasped. There must have been thousands of the turned arrayed against them. The soldiers were mowing them down in waves with their automatic weapons but it was obvious the turned were gaining ground. There were just simply too many of them and they carried the bullet riddled bodies of their fallen in front of them like shields. Her Humvee slid to a halt by the others. Individual soldiers here and there were firing their rifles into the approaching mob, mostly headshots she saw. There were many soldiers on the ground around the vehicles. Most of them appeared to be like the one she was riding with in the Humvees, but there were others like covered wagons and a couple others that looked like boxes and she was positive they held missiles. Each pulled a covered trailer. Must be more missiles, she thought.
Her Humvee was third from the lead when they finally pulled out started off at a measured pace. As the Major had said, they were trying to draw them off. More turned creatures appeared out of the wood line to their right. A great many more and Dean swiveled the gun so the grips were before her. "Fire." He commanded.
She thumbed the right hand switch and nothing happened. She started thumbing it again. Dean saw her dilemma. "Both" he commanded again, fear in his voice. They were getting closer. Too, close. They could move fast. She gripped both handles depressing the switches. With a ROAR, the gun started firing. It sounded like a chainsaw only several magnitudes louder and jumped in her hands. She lost her grip almost instantly. She also saw that most of her rounds had been above the heads of the undead. Dean was making frantic motions beside her and she grabbed the grips again very tight this time and fired again. Empty shells casings in a solid amber stream f
lew out the side of the weapon cascading over Dean and the top of the Humvee. She redirected her aim holding on for dear life and cut a swath through the creatures that were almost upon them. They were so close she had to stand up on the grating below her feet to angle the gun low enough to hit them. The rounds were so many they cut the creatures in half as the Humvee raced along. It would be close. Dean was supporting her standing form with a hand tightly gripping her ass and waist, which again she would ignore. It was too intense right now although if they made it through this she would chew his ass out about that. She was positive it was intentional even in their current situation. She swiveled the rotating barrels back and forth, as they spun faster than she could see. An incinerating blur that scythed through the monsters with precision. The gun stopped firing; she started hitting the thumb toggles in panic.
"It's empty. Sec!" Dean shouted. Her ears rang but the sound of his voice coming though faint indicated she hadn't lost her hearing yet. He was lifting the ammunition canister off the side, tossing it overboard and grabbing another below him, which he snapped into place feeding the protruding belt into the top of the gun. "Keep firing! But go easy. Were almost out of ammo," he commanded. He slapped the top of the weapon. She assumed that meant it was good to go. She depressed both triggers again and the buzz saw she was becoming accustomed to sounded off again. Remembering his last words, she let go of the triggers watching the barrels rotate into silence.
Blood, Brains and Bullets Page 19