by Kyle Pratt
“The LEPC meeting is still scheduled for this evening.”
The doctor cupped her chin in a hand. “Whatever we decide to do, it will need to be in place by morning.”
* * *
Hollister Hotel, Hansen, Wednesday, September 23rd
“I want to show you something, Karen.” Kent led his wife into the freight elevator and pulled the handle on the rusty grate. “We just got this one repaired, so I thought I’d show you the penthouse.”
Silently, she sat on a stool in the corner of the lift.
“The structure of this old hotel is sound. The roof is good. It’s the interior that needs work.”
Karen nodded absently.
“The bakery and general store will provide us with cash and many of the things we need.” He pushed the button for the top floor. “People will be looking for inexpensive places to live. Over time we can remodel the hotel rooms into small apartments.”
“I’m tired. When can we go home?”
He shook his head. “I’m hoping you’ll like the penthouse.”
“Why do you care what I think about this dump? I don’t want to see it. Let’s go home.”
Kent sighed. “We talked about this. I didn’t have much choice. The house had a mortgage. Our savings are gone. My retirement plan is devastated. The little money I earned from legal work just wasn’t enough—”
She stared at him with a confused look.
“No one needs a contract or corporate lawyer now.”
“What are you saying, Kent?”
“I sold the house and used the money and our investments to pay cash for the hotel. This is our home now.”
Her eyes widened. “No!” She jumped to her feet. “I said no!”
“We were going to lose our home and end up on the street. At least we have a place to live.”
“You sold my home…for this dump?” She slammed her fists into his chest and face as she shouted, “No…no…no.”
As the elevator door slid open, she slid to the floor in tears.
* * *
Hansen Armory, Wednesday, September 23rd
The moment Caden walked into the office and spotted Brooks, he asked, “Has there been any word from Second Squad?”
“No, sir” The XO shook his head. “They must be out of range….”
“What can we do to stop them before they reach the lodge?”
“Zach and Private Nelson showed up not long after you called. I sent them to find the squad.”
Caden started to object, but Brooks continued. “I told them not to approach the lodge. Just get in radio range, contact them, and report back.”
Three hours later they still had no word from either Second Squad or the pair sent to search for them. Together the two drove to the county administrative building. Caden parked the car and stepped out. Brooks, still talking on the phone, exited from the passenger seat. “Okay. Phone me if you receive any word.”
The XO walked around the car and joined Caden. “I’ll leave my phone on,” Brooks said. “If the armory receives any word about Second Squad, they’ll phone me.”
“Good.” Caden nodded vaguely. It was nearly six in the evening and almost thirty cars were in the lot. As they strode toward the building, someone stepped into the sunlight. Caden squinted and realized it was the doctor. “What are you doing lurking in the shadows?”
“I peeked in a few minutes ago. There’s a storm brewing. They’re arguing and debating.” She smiled. “It seemed a good idea to go in with someone armed.”
“The sheriff isn’t here?” Caden said, looking about.
“Not yet.”
As he reached into his pocket for his phone, Hoover crossed the street.
The sheriff hurried over to the others. “I’ve been getting calls from the media, concerned citizens, and elected officials all afternoon. What happened with your soldiers out on the east end of the county?”
Caden gritted his teeth, realizing he hadn’t told Hoover about the situation at the lodge or the arrival of the survivors in Morton. “I’ve got some bad news.” Hurriedly he briefed the sheriff on both the Morton and Second Squad situations.
“Deputy Philip lives out on the east end of the county.” The sheriff’s countenance slumped. “I just thought he was out of radio range with your people. It never occurred to me that they might be sick and dying.”
“I’m really sorry. I’ll do better about communicating with you in the future.”
“I know you didn’t mean to leave me out of the loop.” Hoover frowned “This flu situation is getting out of hand.”
“Yes it is.” Caden sighed. “We better head in.”
The three formed up behind Caden, and proceeded to the meeting.
All eyes seemed to focus on the four as they entered the room. Conversations died.
A “U” shaped table filled the center of a conference room. All the elected local officials that Caden could recall were present, but there were several seated at the table whom didn’t recognize. Dozens of residents sat, and stood, along the walls, many wearing dust masks. Caden doubted they were effective against viruses. Two deputies and a Hansen police officer mingled among the standing crowd.
Near the bottom of the “U” someone had saved seats for Caden, Hoover, and Dr. Scott. Brooks found a chair and pulled it near his boss.
A man stood. “My name’s Bob Clark. I’m the mayor of Morton. Can one of you tell me about this Kern flu and what’s going to happen?”
Hoover looked at Caden.
Caden looked at Dr. Scott.
The doctor sighed, and then began a brief that Caden had heard several times.
When the doctor paused, someone standing along the wall shouted. “Why haven’t we heard of this before?”
“Yeah, why have you been censoring the news?” another man shouted.
Caden stood. “I only found out about it four days ago. We thought—.”
“Four days!” a woman cried. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“It does no good just to say a deadly pandemic is coming,” Caden shouted over the many voices. “We need a plan for when the flu arrives. That’s why we called this meeting.” From every side of the room all he could see were angry shouting faces. He leaned over to the doctor and whispered, “This meeting may have been a bad idea.”
“I agree, but perhaps for a different reason. We have people from Morton and other nearby towns all crammed together. This is an ideal way to spread the virus.”
“What’s the government going to do?” a woman asked.
“The sickness is already in Morton!” someone shouted.
Chapter Eleven
Hansen, Wednesday, September 23rd
A county commissioner pounded his gavel.
“Tonight, panic is our problem,” Caden muttered.
As the bangs of the gavel fought for attention with angry shouts, Caden leaned over to Brooks. “Head back to the armory and use the radio to advise all the squads about the Kern flu. Just a short message saying it is highly contagious and deadly. Oh, have them use MOPP level four around civilians or units that have been exposed.”
“That may cause panic.”
“Look around. Panic is already here.”
Brooks nodded and left.
When order had been restored, Dr. Scott suggested a quarantine of Hansen.
Morton’s mayor stood, eyes wide, face red. “What about my people?” he shouted.
A man with a scruffy beard stepped to the table. “When we blockaded Hansen after the Seattle blast it only stopped cars and refugees along the road. The people of Morton are more familiar with the area. They’ll find ways into the community across the smaller streams and through the forest.”
“If someone is sick we’ve got to keep them out,” another shouted.
The pastor from Caden’s church waved his arm in frustration. As he spoke, Caden struggled to recall his name, Pastor Hugh, Humphrey, or maybe Higgins.
“The citizens of Morton
are our neighbors. How can we deny them refuge?”
“The pandemic is coming,” Scruffy Beard shouted. “We need to keep Hansen safe.”
“The people of this entire county elected me as their sheriff.” Hoover shook his head. “Even when we blockaded the town after the Seattle attack, we allowed locals in. I can’t keep them out now at gunpoint.”
One of the Hansen city councilors coughed, then turned and leaned toward Caden. “If we don’t blockade the city, Kern flu will sweep across this town like wildfire.”
* * *
On the highway toward Morton, Wednesday, September 23rd
Zach dropped the school book on his lap. “Slow down.”
“There’s no traffic, and besides, Lieutenant Brooks said to hurry.” Nelson steered the Humvee through a curve, barely staying on the road. “Why did you come to the armory this afternoon? No one expected you.”
“The trailer where I live is falling apart. I thought maybe my sister and I could move into the armory.”
Nelson took the next curve down the middle of the road. “Do you hate your sister?”
Zach tightened his seat belt. “No. Why?”
“What is she, sixteen now?”
“In a few months. Where is this going?”
“You’d move your sister in with a hundred guys our age?”
With a skeptical glance Zach stated, “There are women at the armory.”
“Yeah, but they’re either married, six years old, or combat trained.”
Zach laughed. “Well it is either closer to you, or wet and cold in the trailer.”
“Tough choice.” Nelson slowed to ten miles above the speed limit. “Try and contact Second Squad on the radio.”
The two continued east along the highway for over an hour. Zach made repeated attempts to contact the unit, but heard only static.
Zach opened the textbook.
Taking his eyes off the road, Nelson looked at the book. “Are you doing homework?”
“Eyes on the road. Yes, I want to graduate in December—if your driving doesn’t get me killed first.”
As they approached Morton, Zach reached for the radio to try again.
A horn blared.
Tires screeched.
Zach slammed into his shoulder harness. A sedan loaded with people passed inches from the Humvee. He turned to Nelson in exasperation and declared, “Slow down and stay on your side of the road.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
Just outside of Morton they encountered dozens of cars packed with people and belongings headed west toward Hansen.
Zach stared at the last of a line of cars as it hurried by. “This is weird.”
“Brooks said there was a really contagious illness at this lodge.”
“So?”
“Well what if it is like those movies.”
“What? You mean the people of Morton are fleeing ahead of brain-eating zombies?”
“You have any better ideas?”
“Yeah, just about anything else.” Zach grabbed the microphone. “Second Squad this is Search One, approaching Morton. Come in, please.”
Static crackled.
“All stations on this net, this is Armory Command.” The voice of Lieutenant Brooks came from the radio with urgency. “A highly contagious and deadly virus is spreading in this area. All units are ordered to use MOPP level four when around civilians or exposed units.”
Zach looked to his comrade. “They want us covered from head-to-foot and use a gas mask? What kind of virus is this?”
“Search One, this is First Sergeant Fletcher. Do you read me?”
“First Sergeant this is Search One. Read you five-by-five.”
“Search One, Morton has been exposed to the virus. Do not enter the town.”
Nelson’s eyes were wide.
Zach shook his head. “Maybe brain-eating zombies isn’t so crazy.”
“I was kidding about the zombie apocalypse.”
Into the radio Zach asked. “We’re looking for Second Squad. They were sent to find you. Have you had any contact with them? Over.”
“Negative. First and Fifth Squads are in Morton and have been exposed to the virus. Repeat, do not enter Morton. The position of Second Squad is unknown. Over.”
“Roger, out.”
Nelson shook his head. “The first sergeant goes out with two squads and gets exposed to some virus. Second Squad is sent out to find them and disappears and now we’re sent to find them.” Nelson slowed to less than the speed limit.
As the Humvee came around a curve, the sun barely peeked over the nearby hills. The town of Morton stood in the shadowed valley below.
Nelson continued at a cautious pace.
Zach leaned back, glad the highway passed just south of the town. People hurried about the streets both in cars and on foot. “Why are you going so slow?”
The private sped up as the two left Morton behind.
Zach took a deep breath.
For over an hour Nelson drove higher into the hills in a southwest direction. The sun dropped below the horizon, stars appeared, and soon the Humvee headlights provided the only effective illumination.
Using the radio, Zach tried again and again to contact Second Squad. All that came back was random static. He reached down to adjust the squelch.
“…this is Second….”
Zach grabbed the mic. “Second Squad, this is Search One. Do not approach the lodge. The occupants are dead. They were exposed to a deadly virus. Do not approach the lodge. Do you read me? Over.”
Static was the only response. Zach turned to Nelson. “I don’t think they heard any of my warning. We should hurry.”
In their Humvee, the two climbed up narrow twisting roads higher into the Cascade Mountains.
As the Humvee lumbered up a large hill, Zach turned to Nelson. “Pull over when we get to the top. I think that might be a good spot to contact Second Squad.”
Nelson soon stopped.
“This isn’t the crest,” Zach said with a shake of the head.
“How do you know?” Nelson cast him an incredulous gaze.
“I’ve been here before. This area is great for hunting elk.” He stepped from the vehicle and jogged forward several yards. Waving to Nelson in the driver’s seat, he shouted, “Follow me.” Zach directed the vehicle across a gravel wide spot in the road. When he returned to the Humvee and opened the door he said, “When we leave, make sure you back up.”
“I could see the ledge in the headlights.”
“Ledge? We’re near the cliff.”
“What?”
“I remember it from a hunting trip. This spot overlooks the whole river valley. If we can’t reach them from here they must not be listening.” Grasping the mic, Zach called out, “Second Squad this is Search One. Come in please.”
“Search One this is Second Squad. I have you fivers. Over.”
“Second Squad, what is your current location?”
“We’re parked just off the main road below the lodge.”
“You are ordered not to proceed to the lodge. Do you copy? Over.”
“Roger. We copy.”
“They’re two miles from the lodge.” Zach smiled. “That’s about four miles from us.”
“Tell them to standby and we’ll brief them when we arrive.”
“No.” Zach shook his head. “We were told not to approach. Contact them, and report back, that was all.”
Nelson started the Humvee. “We were told not to approach the lodge, but you said they were miles from it. It’ll be easier to brief them in person.”
“What about reporting back?”
“I think we’re out of range, but sure, go ahead and try.” Nelson backed the Humvee away from the cliff.
Zach called the armory several times without success as the Humvee dipped into the valley. Minutes later the two pulled their Humvee next to three others.
Zach spotted only four soldiers as he stepped from the vehicle.
“Where is
everyone?” Nelson asked the question on Zach’s mind.
“Some are searching the woods. Others are at the lodge.”
“I told you guys not to go there.”
“They were already up there. We stayed, as you asked, and waited for you. What’s up?”
Zach leaned against the Humvee and groaned as images of the coming zombie apocalypse flashed through his mind.
The crunch of gravel caught his ear. More soldiers came down the road.
Chapter Twelve
Rural Lewis County, Wednesday, September 23rd
Zach cringed, stepped to the rear of the Humvee, opened the back and looked for MOPP gear. The night was warm, the gear made him sweat, and look weird, but the lieutenant said the virus was deadly and the first sergeant’s warning, not to enter Morton, now echoed in his head. Zach had no interest in dying, so he would take no chances with the virus. Ridiculous as it was, images from several zombie movies flashed through his mind.
As Zach pulled gear from a bag, Nelson started the vehicle. “I’m moving this Humvee back away from…whatever is going on here.”
“Wait for me!” Zach jumped into the vehicle as the three soldiers from Second Squad looked on in confusion. “Go!”
Nelson slammed the Humvee into reverse. “Where do we go?”
“A hundred yards back.”
When he stopped, Zach hurried out and continued putting on his MOPP gear while keeping an eye on the other soldiers.
Nelson came to the back and did the same.
“We shouldn’t have come here,” Zach said. “We were ordered to contact them and report back.”
One Second Squad soldier edged several steps closer and asked in an irate voice, “What…why are you doing that?”
“Stop!” Zach held up his palm. “Stay back! I’ll tell you in a minute.” When he finished putting the gear on, Zach moved cautiously forward.
Nelson followed, two paces behind.
Eight soldiers jogged down the gravel road to where the vehicles were parked. One headed toward Zach and Nelson. “Why are you guys in protective gear?”
Zach stepped back. “The bodies at the lodge have been infected with a deadly virus.”
After gasps and shouted questions, Zach continued his brief. He concluded by stating, “The order is to use MOPP level four around anyone returning from the lodge.”