With one click, he saved a picture of the map into his photos, for quick reference.
“He will be out for a few hours, bless ‘im,” Betty stated. “All this excitement has worn him out.”
Excitement, Noah thought. The predicament they were all in was many things, but exciting is not one of them.
“Red is going to stay here with you and Lennie, while I go and get some help,” Noah stated.
“That’s nice dear.” Betty started collecting tins out of a cupboard. She groaned as she lifted a large pot off a shelf.
Noah stood up and slid his phone into his pocket. He also checked the knife was secure on his thigh.
“I will quickly check upstairs to make sure everything’s clear.” It dawned on him that he should have checked right away, but he was a little preoccupied when they first entered the house.
“I will also see if there’s a baseball bat or cricket bat or something I can use for a weapon.” He knew his rifle was useless.
Betty was trying to get a tin into the electric tin opener, with not much luck.
“Bugger it.” Betty muttered to herself.
Red sat around the table with her chin resting on her hands. She tossed her hair back while looking up.
“I will check upstairs with you,” she said.
“I can manage, but if you want to drag some furniture across in front of the front door, that would be helpful. Oh, and close all the curtains downstairs, I will do upstairs.
“Okay.” She climbed to her feet and headed down the hallway. Noah could hear her trying to wedge a sideboard against the door.
A light snoring sound drifted from the front room.
Noah passed Red and headed up the stairs.
It was only a two-bedroom house. A kitchen and front room downstairs with a small toilet, with a master and single bedroom upstairs along with the family bathroom.
The first room he checked at the top of the stairs was the bathroom. It was empty, and the window closed. The single room was a child’s room, decorated in many tones of blue. It had airfix model airplanes hanging from fishing wire from the ceiling, with a thick airplane boarder running around the room.
Noah checked the wardrobe and cupboard. There was only a plastic baseball bat, which was next to useless as a weapon. He shut the curtains before leaving the room.
He moved toward the door to the master bedroom. It was wedged closed. As he slowly opened the door, a strong, putrid smell swept over him. He could also hear a low growling sound coming from the darkness.
27
Doctor Lazaro and the Squad
Dentist Clinic
Courtney Park, Newton Abbot
11:32 AM GMT
Melanie was not allowed to sleep, but she could rest her eyes.
Jimmy had asked if she required any tablets for the pain from the wound on her head. She had declined, stating she had enough medication swimming around in her veins already.
Jimmy then left her to rest, with strict instructions – once again – not to fall asleep. He said he would return within the hour to check on her.
Melanie could hear mumbled conversation through the old floorboards, but she could not discern the words. She heard one of the doors being unbarricaded so Coco, Franco, and Trev could go and find some form of transportation.
The door to her room slowly creaked open.
When Melanie opened her eyes, she noticed a woman decked in military garb stood in the doorway.
“Hi honey. Sorry to disturb you. I’m Echo.” Her voice was soothing. She had striking cheekbones and piercing green eyes, and her mouse coloured hair was pulled up into a ponytail.
Melanie did not remember seeing any females on the helicopter. Then again, some of them were in full military body armour, along with helmets, so she could have easily missed her.
Melanie gave a weak smile.
“It’s nothing fancy I’m afraid, just the standard military slops.” Echo gave a wide smile, which highlighted the smear of dirt on her cheek. She walked into the room, carrying the food on a small metal dental apparatus tray.
She’s tall, Melanie thought. She must be well over six feet.
Echo moved a stool over and placed it next to the dentist’s chair. She gracefully slid on.
“How do you wanna do this? Do you want me to feed you, or can you manage it on your own?” Another smile.
“I got it, thanks.” Melanie slowly raised herself up. Her body responded with stabbing pains through her muscles. She winced.
“The ride over sure did a number on you, huh?” Echo slid a stray strand of hair over her ear.
Melanie gave a grunt. “That’s for sure,” Melanie stated. She peered sideways at Echo, who was sat relaxed.
“You don’t have a scratch on you.”
“I have a few bruises, and my ears are still ringing, but I’m okay, all considered. Besides, it’s not my first crash, I’m becoming a pro.”
Melanie sat right up. She reached for the tray. The drugs were slowly wearing off. She was feeling less dopey with every minute that passed. The problem was, with the drugs washing away the pain from the head wound and bruises was amplified. However, she did not mind a little pain, so long as she was coherent.
“Two years ago a military cargo plane I was on had to ditch in the ocean just off the coast of Tunisia,” Echo said while Melanie spooned some mysterious goo out of a silver packet into her mouth.
“Have you ever seen the film Cast Away?” She paused for a second to allow Melanie to respond.
Melanie simply nodded due to having a mouthful of food.
“Then you will have some idea of what a water crash is like.” Echo shifted her thigh. “Some think it’s easier than crashing on land. It’s not. Water is just as hard when you hit it fast, and land doesn’t pour in, filling the craft up.” Echo smiled.
“The foods terrible, isn’t it?”
Melanie swallowed a mouthful. “I can’t work out what it’s supposed to be.”
“Best not to ask,” Echo said with a smile. “It has all the nurturance needed to sustain a body. It’s just they forgot to add flavour and a pleasant texture.”
I wonder what her nickname means. And she’s stunning, why would she join the army?
“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” Melanie said.
“Shoot, honey.”
“Why did you join the army? Why a cook?”
“Everyone has to do something, right? I followed my father’s example. And I do the cooking for the squad because the others can’t warm a ration bag if their life depended on it, but I’m not the official cook; he’s still on the chopper out there.” She smiled again. “I’m the explosive’s expert,” she stated.
“Echo,” said a voice from the doorway. A large black man stood filling the doorframe.
“Yes Bull.”
“Firstly, the Captain wants to know how much longer it will take you to position your packages. And secondly, your fathers on the radio, he wants a word.”
“Your father?” Melanie asked.
“Yes. General Philips is my father,” Echo stated. She turned to Bull. “And tell the Captain I’m all finished, the packages are all in position and ready to go.”
That’s why the General told the soldier to tell General Philips ‘she was fine’. He was referring to Echo, not me.
Gunfire reverberated throughout the building.
Rogers appeared next to Bull. “Bull, Echo, downstairs now. We have more incoming.”
28
Noah, Red, Betty, and Lennie
Newton Abbot, In a House on King Street
11:37 AM GMT
The growling was low, unlike the sounds of the naked charging creatures. It did not sound like a threat, more like a warning. Noah was not sure why, but he did not feel threatened by what was in the room. He slowly pushed the door open a little more.
The smell was almost overpowering.
The room had its curtains drawn, which made the bedroom dark and shado
wy. He could just make out the large double bed. It looked like something was resting on it. Then, there was a movement on the floor.
Noah reached in and fumbled along the wall until he found the light switch. With a flick, the room’s occupants were laid bare.
On the bed, under blankets with just their head’s showing, were two adult-sized bodies and one child. On the bedside cabinet was a collection of prescription and over the counter medication bottles; all were empty. They rested next to a tipped over bottle of red wine and a small orange juice carton with a straw. The parents chose their own death rather than waiting to be rescued. They took their son with them.
Noah’s attention drifted to what had made the growling sound. On the floor, protecting the bodies was a dog. It was a small scruffy terrier type mongrel, and considering the door was wedged shut, for God knows how long, since they committed suicide, it did not look in too bad a condition.
Noah knelt down.
“Come on. There’s a good fella. No need to be scared,” he said in a soothing voice.
The little dog’s tail started to wag. It inched along the carpet then dropped back down onto its belly.
“Come on. No need to be afraid buddy.”
The little dog looked up with frightened eyes. Its tail wagged across the carpet. It inched forward another couple feet, before dropping back down just out of Noah’s reach.
“Come on, no one’s gonna hurt you.”
Its little tail wagged faster as it inched the last few feet to Noah’s side. It rushed straight in, wedging itself against Noah’s knee. It twisted to press as much of its body up against him, while burying its head. Its tail was a blur.
“There you go. You’re safe now buddy.” He rubbed the little scruffy dog. The dog relaxed against him.
Noah scooped the little dog up. The dog looked up with large watery eyes. It started to lick his chin and face.
“Good boy. Stop that. Good boy.”
With the dog in his arms, Noah checked the rest of the room. There was a large walk-in closet. Inside he found a set of golf clubs.
Perfect.
Noah pulled out four clubs of different sizes. Some with metal ends, others with large wooden ends. He had never played golf, and he did not have time to check what type of clubs they were. Now it did not matter. Now they were weapons.
He noticed a large plastic container on the floor half full of water, and one quarter full of dried dog food.
In one corner was where the little dog had gone to the toilet. The carpet was soaked in urine and lumps of excrement were scattered everywhere.
The little dog rested unmoving in his arms, simply happy to have physical contact once again. It stared around the room and gave a whine when it spotted its dead owners.
The room contained nothing else of use. With a strong tug, Noah wedged the door shut; once again, sealing their tomb.
Red moved a telephone cabinet and some chairs from the kitchen to wedge them against the door. It did not look like it would stop anything from getting through, but it kept her busy.
A low snoring drifted from the front room, and Betty muttered to herself in the kitchen.
“Here,” Noah said as he passed the dog to Red.
“What the... Where the hell did he come from?” Red said as she took the terrier in her arms.
“He was locked away in the bedroom.” Noah rested the four golf clubs against the wall. He leaned in a little closer. “Just make sure no one goes in the master bedroom, there are some bodies in there.”
Red gasped. “Are they safe?”
“Don’t worry, they’re dead.”
Red relaxed.
The dog wiggled in her arms. She twisted the collar and checked the nametag. “Charlie,” she muttered. She then put the dog down. It ran straight into the front room.
Noah picked up the club with a medium-sized metal end. He gave it an experimental swing. It would do just fine. He carried it into the kitchen.
Betty had the gas stove on with a large pot resting on top. She continued to add tins to the mix. She hummed to herself as she prepared the food.
“I shouldn’t be any longer than twenty or so minutes.” He checked the knife on his thigh and grabbed the gasmask off the table.
“If I run into any problems, and I think I am going to be longer; I will text you via Whatapp.” He turned to look at Red. “Have you got Whatapp on your phone?”
“Yes.”
“The app doesn’t use mobile networks, rather it uses the internet, and because that’s working at the moment, we can still send messages to each other. Well, so long as I can find another wi-fi area, which shouldn’t be a problem.” He grasped the golf club in his right hand after slipping the gasmask on.
Red stood by the table. “You be careful out there,” she said. She did not know what else to say.
“Once I’m gone, lock the door.” Noah watched Betty pour a tin of sweet corn into the pot. I hope the smell doesn’t attract anything; he thought. He wondered how sensitive the creature’s sense of smell was, but he knew they needed hot food to keep them going.
“Keep the doors and windows locked and the curtains drawn. Try not to make too much noise.”
Red stood motionless.
Noah stood opposite.
“Be careful,” Red said, as she raised a hand and rested it on his arm.
Luckily, due to the mask, she could not see Noah blush. Without another word, he slipped out the back door and across the small back garden.
“Be safe,” Red muttered, as she watched him climb up the back wall using a bench and shed, and then run along the top, out of view.
“Oh, don’t worry about him, he will be back with those army boys before this has even finished cooking,” Betty said, while stirring the large pot.
As Red stood leaning against the counter, watching the top of the wall, in case Noah came back, she let her mind wander. So much had happened in only a couple of short hours, she had not had chance to let her thoughts catch up.
Red closed the curtain that hung on the back door.
Noah had asked her to stay to look after Betty and Lennie. She had not had anyone counting on her for a long time. Not since her little sister looked to her to keep her safe from their stepfather. She had failed then, with devastating consequences. The ultimate price was paid for her mistake.
Red was pulled back to the moment at hand, when she could just make out the sound of gunfire starting up again in the distance. She was just about to mention it to Betty, when the sound of the front room window shattering made her spin around and run down the hall. She could hear the small dog start barking, and the sound of furniture smashing. Red snatched a golf club from against the wall as she entered the front room.
29
Doctor Lazaro and the Squad
Dentist Clinic
Courtney Park, Newton Abbot
11:49 AM GMT
Gunfire filled the building, reverberating off the walls and filling all the space with its deafening tattoo of sound.
The Captain shouted orders while shooting through the broken window that looked out onto the dentist’s small car park.
They were down three men – who had gone off looking for transport. That left six people capable of defending their location, and an injured doctor with concussion.
The Captain knew the three gunshots could draw attention, but he had no other option. After securing the building, and shooting the three in the storeroom, they had stayed away from the windows and kept the sound to a minimum, hoping they had gone unnoticed after the first initial onslaught. But no such luck, it seems karma caught up with them.
The creatures filled the car park, pouring through the large iron gates. Their naked bodies bounded over abandoned cars, and slammed against the building like a tsunami. Frantic hands reached through broken windows; the jagged glass ran red with their tainted blood.
They were now all wearing military-grade gasmasks with built in communication devices. When they fir
st crashed, and were attacked, they did not have time to retrieve them from the containers.
“Fall back,” the Captain shouted over the sound of the gunfire and screaming creatures. Even though they could all hear perfectly well, due to the earpiece they were all wearing, force of habit made him shout.
“Get up the stairs. I want everyone on the third floor as arranged.” The Captain walked backwards as he fired his handgun into the throng of thrashing arms that reached through the window.
Bull stood to the Captains left, with a machinegun resting against his large shoulder. He peppered the mass of bodies. However, just as one body fell below the window line, another took its place. The only reason they were not churning through was that too many were trying to get in at once. Even though they charged together, they were not organized.
There were only two windows in the large Waiting Room. Rogers and Spice covered the other window. Both conserved bullets by double tapping the trigger, and concentrating on headshots.
The animalistic, guttural screams filled the building, almost drowning out the gunfire.
The main entrance was a thick oak door. There was only a small pane of glass, which had an arm thrashing about through it. The door shook as bodies repeatedly slammed against it.
Jimmy piled more furniture up against a door that went into a large office. The creatures had obviously climbed through the window because they started to bang their bodies against the adjoining door.
“Captain they’re in the office,” Jimmy said.
Echo was running up the stairs two at a time to double-check the packages were in position.
“Everybody up the stairs now!” the Captain shouted, as he tapped Bull on the shoulder.
Bull stopped firing, then turned, and ran up the stairs.
Spice and Rogers gave another blast of gunfire into the window for good measure, and then followed behind Bull.
Jimmy tossed one more chair onto the pile of furniture and quickly gave chase.
The Sixth Extinction & The First Three Weeks & The Squads First Three Weeks Omnibus [Books 1-10] Page 10