"Thank you. I must find my kids. Take care and good luck." Then she was gone, running through the door into the main living quarters.
Jean heard shots fired above her again and almost fell to her knees in fear. My children are up there! She ran to the end of the hall and peeking around the corner saw several zombies just disappearing up the staircase. More firing came from the living quarters where the older stocky woman had disappeared too. Then a lot more from above her.
Her heart felt like it was getting ready to explode within her chest as she took off running towards the stairs. Her babies needed her. Jay’s babies needed her. She only hoped Cara and Corey, with the soldiers were keeping them safe. She started climbing and almost collided with the undead creatures as she turned the corner to the first landing. The way ahead was packed with the undead quickly ascending the steps before her. She started firing as fast as she could pulling the trigger aiming for their heads. They turned to meet her.
*****
Major Weston ignored the pain in his shoulder and thigh as he led the men with him against the zombies. He had picked up an M16A2 off the ground earlier by prying it from the hands of a dead, partially eaten soldier along with the ammo belt and was using it effectively. Well-placed shots from the rifle were taking the zombies down as was the firing of those around him. They were currently proceeding around the backside of the Colony's buildings towards the river where screams and flashes of light lit the sky. He threw a grenade watching as half a dozen of the things disintegrate into globs of smoking flesh and kept limping forward accompanied by the mix of troops from all units. They had gotten the gate closed and locked just in time but there were still hundreds of the damn things already inside converging on them.
He'd sent the Lieutenant and dozens of arriving soldiers to take care of the creatures who had already entered the main building. By his estimate there may have been close to a thousand within their perimeter already. He knew that many hadn't come through the main gate and briefly wondered where they were coming from before raising the M16 again to take out several more. His small group was headed towards the screams of children around back and he could only pray they would make it in time. He threw another grenade watching briefly as more of the undead blew apart. Where were they all coming from? They were everywhere. Too many! He wiped the grime and gore splatters from his face as he took down two more then rounded the corner of the southernmost grain depository. Jesus no’ He thought as the scene unfolded before him. Several hundred of the bastards had surrounded a group of children being protected by a few soldiers along with some civilians and he recognized the longhaired form of Bridget in their midst, rifle blazing.
Immediately, he started firing into the backs of the zombies, just trying to take them down while limping into them with more better placed shots. The soldiers beside him were not retreating either, but instead holding steady as they waded into this undead bunch. Zombies were falling left and right but had finally noticed them, many turning and attacking as the Major and his men closed with them. They succeeded in reaching the children, losing another brave soldier to the undead, pulled down as he fought by the Major’s side, but they were too late to save Bridget.
Damn it to fucking hell! Just before they cleared their way to the huddled mass of children and few brave adults left protecting them, he saw her taken down. Her legs straddling at least three children, her M4 blazing away at the surging horde. His hearing was numb from the automatic fire but he could still hear her screaming in rage as she threw herself into the undead, propelling them away from the children, just as too many to shoot at once reached her position. Many of the children were down also. They had no defenses against these creatures.
Why, God? Why? Why was this happening? No time to relax and mourn, as the Major saw a great many more of the creatures approached them from the river. He fell forward over three or four of the children, as many as his body could cover while firing steadily. All the children were huddled together in a tight little group clutching each other in terror, some with shut eyes expecting and dreading the worst. Those children already dead were being dragged out by the monsters who were trying to feed on their tiny forms even amidst this carnage. And then he was firing at the new wave of creatures that had risen from the water. The Major's group of defenders had grown, as more and more soldiers were throwing themselves over the surviving children firing steadily towards the river. Together they screamed their hate and fury.
He saw that all the civilians’ adults were down as he loaded his second to last magazine, along with many of the soldiers that had originally stood with him. With quick bursts he took out the last few immediately in front seeing the soldiers grouped to either side doing the same. He climbed to his feet knowing the little ones were suffering a bit from his weight and it looked likely that soon it wouldn't matter anyways.
"Conserve your Ammunition. Single fire only!" He shouted as his thumb flicked the selector switch to semi-automatic firing single shots directly into their heads and slowly the space cleared before them. But it wasn't enough. With a sinking feeling he saw hundreds; possibly thousands more rise out of the river only a few dozen meters away in yet another wave of undead. His rifle clicked on empty and he loaded his last magazine. He glanced to either side to gauge their strength and saw less than a dozen protectors of the innocent left.
"I'm on my last mag!" one PFC announced. "Me too." Another replied. They had a very brief respite and he took advantage of it to drag in huge lung full's of smoke tainted air. They were surrounded and he was down to eight troops with no grenades and not a lot of hope at this point. Most of those around him were from his brigade and he knew them all well, but a few were from the new units that had come in just this morning. The Cpl., Williams next to him turned as he thumbed the slide release seating the first round of the last magazine.
"We're not going to make it are we, Sir?" His smudged, tear tracked face looked at the Major with resignation. Behind them about thirty-five of the children who were still alive had all pressed themselves against the concrete walls surrounding the central grain storage building. It was too tall to lift the children to safety. A couple soldiers had vainly tried during their brief respite.
"Only God can answer that Corporal but is there a better way to go than protecting our innocents?" the Major cleared his throat, "Those that have them, fix bayonets. Hold your fire for my command." A scattering of activity greeted his words as about two thirds of the men fixed their K-Bar's to the ends of their rifles and prepared for the advancing horde to reach them.
"We'll hold them as long as we can and try to create more space. Fire when I fire. Headshots only." The Major continued. Even more were coming out of the river. An endless wave of them it seemed. There were thousands arrayed against them now but not one soldier faltered, instead they stood silently next to him in their last line of defiance against the zombies combined masses.
"Fire!" The Major shouted as he advanced, and fired his first shot of thirty in the magazine, hitting a zombie dead center in the forehead. In ragged chorus the others fired also and nine zombies fell while dozens took their place. He raised his foot taking another step forward as he started to recite.
"Our Father, which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name." he said as he fired again with the others while stepping forward.
"Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done," Voices rose as the others joined him. Firing! Advancing!
"In earth as it is in heaven!" Another step forward as they fired and in one voice shouted the Lord's Prayer while advancing and killing.
"Give us this day our daily bread." Another step and they fired. Their small group having reached the advancing wave front of undead, to his right Major Weston saw Cpl. Williams dragged down under a multitude of grasping hands and teeth. But nobody faltered as the children behind them screamed almost continuously in terror.
"And forgive us our trespasses," Step forward and fire. More zombies falling. Brecker and Jenks gone now as the unde
ad mass surged over them, the living few closing ranks.
"As we forgive those that trespass against us." A soldier whose name he didn't know was dragged screaming into the mass of zombies as the rest of the Major’s group continued to tighten, creating a solid barrier between the children and the creatures.
"And lead us not into temptation." They were into the undead now, pushing back against them. Desperately keeping them at bay as they fired off their last rounds of ammunition, then holding their rifles sideways creating a barrier. More soldiers fell.
"But deliver us from evil." It was impossible to continue. Those few of them left were being pushed backwards on sliding feet. It was the end, the Major's only thought was sadness for being unable to save these children. His life meant nothing if their innocent and loved ones died. Angrily he and those remaining few screamed in a last show of defiance. His tactical ear bud that had been silent for the last hour suddenly crackled to life.
"Status report all units." Corporal Rider's voice came over loud and clear and the Major spoke quickly before others overrode him.
"Corporal we need help ASAP. East side of middle granary." he glanced quickly. "Five effectives and at least thirty-five children... In seconds it will be too late. Tell Judy I wanted better for us please and tell the parents we truly tried." He shut up as tears sprung from his eyes at the hopelessness of the situation. Then her sharp words cut through his misery.
"Confirmed Major. We are apprised of your situation and help is on the way. Hold out for a few more seconds and back up against the side of the granary! Repeat! Help is arriving. Back up Major! Back up NOW!" The last words were shouted and he took instant action.
"Retreat against the granary! Fall back, damn it!" He screamed at the men to either side of him. A great roar of engines could be heard and the Major blinked his eyes as the heavens lit behind them with a brilliance unimaginable. He grabbed the soldiers to either side taking the few steps backward to put them against the huddled children while looking up and behind him.
*****
Jean was almost to the top. She had to step on their bodies to get there. She was screaming at them to leave to no effect but the bullets her rifle fired had an impact. She cleared the top landing, greeted by a pile of zombies almost two feet deep and the mass in the doorway was larger. She heard her children screaming along with the deeper barks and growls of the Rottweilers and her finger convulsed on the trigger of her weapon firing her bursts so fast it sounded fully automatic. Her rifle jammed. No, it was just out of bullets and she slapped in a new clip, firing at the few remaining creatures as they ignored her trying to get through the doorway. She clicked on empty again but there were none standing or moving in the piles before her. On hands and knees she crawled over their rotting corpses to the doorway. As she was sobbing for her children she looked in and saw them alive. Oh my God, alive! And all huddled together in the far corner with Cara and Corey in front weapons ready, savage expressions on their faces. The Rottweiler's Saul and Shine standing facing her before the beds, their coats slick with the blood and gore they had ripped from the bodies of the undead as they defended. Her babies were safe. All their babies were safe. A dozen bodies littered the floor but she gingerly stepped over them to her sisters. They hugged, each sobbing. Their babies were safe.
*****
TJ and Eugene Newton whistled in unison as they gazed at the monster truck hidden inside the massive garage they were assigned to scavenge. As they walked around its circumference their fingers covetously trailed over its candy apple red surface and they wondered out loud what lucky rascal had enough money to afford a thing of this beauty. For they had also looked under the hood and seen the twin turbocharged big block V8 riding there. Forty thousand if it was a nickel for the engine alone.
"It's Big Foot!" TJ said definitively. He had stood next to the tire and measured his own five-foot six-inch height against them and they were a match.
"Hell no it aint, TJ. Big Foot had ten foot tires, not five foot ones!" Eugene was just as adamant it was a hybrid and not a true Big Foot replica.
"Fool of a Brother! Big Foot had sixty-six inch tires. Them are sixty-six inches. Big Foot Four is what you're thinking of. Four had the one twenties."
Eugene didn't respond for a minute as they continued circling the awesome truck then grinned as he reached up pulling the stepladder down and started climbing. "Let's see if she starts!"
TJ quickly ran to the other side gleefully and almost beat his younger brother inside. Fortunately, TJ was on the driver's side and slid behind the welded chain steering wheel. He leaned sideways dreading seeing no keys and his face lit up again as low and behold there they were in the ignition. Just turned off. With a quick prayer, he turned the key and instantly the deep roar of the engines sounded deafening within the enclosed garage. He saw the gas gauge read over half full.
"Whoooop!" TJ shouted to Eugene's "Yeeeee Hawwww!"
"We should take it for a test spin bro!" Eugene shouted in TJ's ear.
"Oh hell no stupid. This thing will wake the dead. It's already dark and we should have been back at camp already." With reluctance TJ turned the key again and the deep roar cut off. Both sighed and climbed down making their way to the side door. With one last look at their newfound treasure they opened the door and started to step out only to instantly jump back inside slamming it closed tightly.
"Holy Crap TJ, we brought them down on us by starting that truck. Must be a million zombies out there all wanting to eat us!" His words were punctuated by a huge boom as the undead creatures slammed against both the door they had their backs against and the much larger semi rollup door in front of the monster truck! "Boom." Again the big door shook as who knew how many slammed into it in an effort to break it down to gain access to their prey. While it didn't break, it did start to buckle, a few more of those and they wouldn't be able to roll it up anymore. TJ looked thoughtful for a split second then glanced at the big truck again and a slow grin split is face. He looked over at the door chains and their counterweight and nodded again. He had a plan.
"Hop in Eugene and started it up. Slide over then because I'm driving it first! I'll hit the door release and start the chain rolling in between their pounding and it should roll all the way up lickety split and we're outta here!" As Eugene climbed up into the Monster Truck pulling the steps up behind him, TJ ran to the big door. With a ball peen hammer he found on the bench next to it, he sharply struck one of the upper fiberglass panels at eye level leaving a nickel-sized hole in its surface. As he put his eye to it he saw hundreds and hundreds of the zombies milling around, some pushing against the door lightly and some surging backward. They were getting ready to slam it again within the minute he saw. Perfect timing! He heard the truck come to life behind him and at that same moment, hit the door release and yanked down hard on the chain making sure it was continuing its downward journey. It was. It was spinning down and the door rising faster then he thought it would, the chain a complete blur. Quickly he sprinted the few steps to the driver’s side and scrambled up the steps while yanking them up behind him.
"Here we go little brother!" He grinned tightly as he threw the manual transmission into first and waited as the huge garage door rose the last few feet. Already zombies were crowding into the garage, a wave of them just pawing at the tires and everything on the benches like they were looking for something. Well they sure were but that something was about six feet or more above them. The door finished rising, clanging at it hit the stops at the top and TJ howled.
"Whoooop!" He screamed as he stomped the gas pedal while dropped the clutch and felt himself thrown back into the upholstery as the huge truck launched itself like a rocket out of the garage crushing dozens of zombies under its humungous tires.
"Yeeee Hawwww! Careful TJ. Them assholes are gonna be slippery as a bobsled on butter when we start driving over them. Don't wreck it!" Eugene's words sounded in TJ's right ear and he nodded while slowing down slightly. He was a little peeved though.
He really wished Eugene could get the Northern Redneck mannerisms down instead of insisting on using all them southern ones. TJ felt there was a distinct difference between rednecks of the North and those cousins in the South and of course, the Northern Rednecks were the better of the breed. Hell! Didn't the North win the war after all? Point made, he felt.
TJ was already starting to feel the tires slip as it trampled, mashed and purified countless of the undead under its treads. There was no slowing down though as he slid sideways into the street heading towards the Compound.
By now they had trampled hundreds of the creatures and there was no hope of them rising again. Those that weren't turned to paste by the huge weight of the vehicle were missing most of their limbs or even most of their bodies and the knobbed tires chewed them into confetti quicker than a meat grinder making sausage. Both men howled in glee as TJ turned right before reaching Main, running down side streets crushing more of the assholes leaving an endless wave of destruction amongst their ranks in his wake. It was simply too much fun! The zombies couldn't touch them, nor jam up under their tires. They just rode over them. Hitting the end of the their new residential section they turned around and headed back to the Compound taking the scenic route, which meant driving down roads they hadn't drove down yet. Looking in his rear view mirror TJ saw that the undead that had been bunched against the homes trying to break in were turning around as he and Eugene left a path of destruction behind them and were following. Good! They'd run them over too and that gave him a great idea.
So their scenic route suddenly became more scenic as they zigzagged to the Colony making sure they drove up and down every road where they saw zombies bunched. This was too much fun thought both brothers as they whooped, hollered, and gleefully watched the huge fantail of red and yellow puss slime erupting from their tires. It really wasn't a big deal and TJ barely felt them as he drove road over them but too soon they neared the front gate of their complex and again he let out a howl in delight as he saw the hundreds if not thousands of the zombies trying to push forward as hundreds of soldiers and civilians fought back.
Blood, Brains and Bullets Page 39