by Brett, Cal
“Doesn’t sound much like Brahms,” Clark observed, as they all looked out into the dark for the source of the rhythmic pounding.
“It’s Motorhead I think,” the Major suggested.
“Who?” Robbie asked, but was cut off.
“Marines!” The Color Sergeant shouted with such volume that Robbie and Kelly jumped again. The big Sergeant began giving hand signals and commands to the men scattered around the rooftop. “One section cover our 6! Two Section on me! O’Reilly and MacGregor take the flanks!”
Men scrambled into position behind the low walls lining the roof. The Sergeant watched them as if to ensure that they all ended up in the right places. When he seemed satisfied, he turned back to his small group. “We should get down, Sir,” he suggested to the Major.
“Quite right,” the Major agreed as he took a knee while keeping his focus on the lights and music in the distance.
Kelly felt the Leftenant’s hand on her shoulder while the Sergeant did the same with Robbie. They pressed down gently but insistently until they were all kneeling behind the wall. Clark shuffled over for a better view from their lower vantage point.
“Why are we hiding?” Robbie protested, “They can’t see us up here.”
“High points and ridge lines can been seen from long distances.” The Sergeant explained. “Your profile can be silhouetted against the sky. Makes you an easy target and reveals your position. That is, if they don’t already know we are here.”
“It’s probably just some crazies who’ve had too much hooch,” Robbie argued.
“Perhaps,” the Sergeant nodded, “or it’s a distraction to get our attention while they sneak up on us from a different direction.”
“Oh,” Robbie furrowed his eyebrows, “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“Whatever their intent,” Clark said. “The undies are definitely interested in what they are selling.”
“Yes, the dead are streaming towards the noise,” the Major agreed. “If they keep it up, it could clear out the streets down there.”
“If that happens, we could collect our supplies and make off. It would certainly solve our problem for us,” the Leftenant observed.
“Or, create more problems, Sir,” the Sergeant warned. “The question is why play ‘pied piper’ with the dead, unless there is something around here that they want? Clear them out and that’s one less problem.”
“99 problems but the dead ain’t one,” Kelly sing songed.
“Precisely,” the Sergeant said with a wink at Kelly, “but what is it they want? What is down here that they might be coming for? There are no boats in the harbor, the buildings are mostly banks and insurance companies, so hardly worth the risk. What could they be coming for?”
“Like you said, the area hasn’t got much to offer if you think about it,” Kelly agreed. “I mean, we are the only thing down here, so why…?”
The Sergeant raised his eyebrows and nodded, encouraging her train of thought.
“Why would they come after us?” Kelly said frustrated.
“If they have been watching you,” the Sergeant explained, “they may have decided you might have supplies they want. Or they may have seen the solar panels up here and decided they want them. Lots of reasons for desperate people to do desperate things.”
“Or they could just be crazies out on a zombie hunt,” Robbie suggested.
“Let’s hope that’s the case,” the Sergeant agreed. “If that is the scenario, then the Leftenant’s correct and we may be able to waltz out of here tomorrow. But, rather be safe than sorry, eh?”
A growl of engines and gunfire in the distance got their attention. They all squinted over the wall but the source of whatever was causing the racket was too far away and behind the rows of tall buildings.
“Sounds like the music is getting further away now,” Clark reported. “The engines too.”
“Definitely leading them away,” the Major said. “Look down there, the street is almost clear.”
Robbie and Kelly looked over the edge, and even in the moonlight, they could tell that the crowded mass had begun to shrink. Like a tide being pulled back out to sea, the undead were spilling out of downtown. They lurched through the large four lane avenue just a few blocks away, along the same route Kelly had taken on her recent zombie run.
“Major,” the Sergeant said, “I would expect them to hit when the numbers get low enough to get a team through. I don’t see anyone on the nearby rooftops but we should keep our heads down until we are sure. There could be snipers.”
“Indeed,” the Major concurred. “Everyone stay down, if you please. Color Sergeant, stand ready to repel any boarders.”
“We’re ready, Sir,” the Sergeant replied, “I’ll just check on the men.”
The Sergeant scuttled away in a crab crawl towards the Marines posted along the sides of the building. Robbie watched him drop down beside the closest man and leaned in to speak. After a few seconds, the man nodded his understanding. The Sergeant rose up and continued his low run, hurriedly moving to the next position.
Robbie looked up at the sky and strained to determine the direction the music was moving. All he could tell was that it was getting further away. The volume gradually faded until it abruptly stopped, as if someone turned it off. The night grew slowly quiet again, except for the scuffling echoes of the undead lurching out of the city, like hung-over concertgoers departing a week-long pop festival.
The group waited and the minutes ticked by. The Color Sergeant kept in touch with the sentries through hand signals. Each time they responded it was in the negative. Shrugged shoulders indicated nothing out of the ordinary, no threats sighted.
“Curiouser and curiouser,” the Major said quietly as he watched the men report to the Sergeant.
“How long do we wait?” Asked Robbie.
“If they are going to make a move,” the Major said, “it should be soon. Otherwise, they lose any advantage from the distraction.”
“Perhaps they bit off more than they could chew, “the Leftenant offered. “There were a lot of those things down there. They might have run into trouble or just been dissuaded when they saw the numbers.”
“Possibly,” the Major considered it.
The awkward silence stretched out as they hunkered down and waited in the cooling evening. The moon was bright, but the sky was filled with dark swirling clouds running across its glowing face. Streets were cloaked on one side, while bluish light lit up the other, and then it would shift. The clouds filtered the light like a giant kaleidoscope. The sentries watched the ground and surrounding buildings closely, while the night played tricks on them with shadows down in the streets.
They all looked up when they heard the sound of engines in the distance. It was coming from a different direction than the music had been. At first they couldn’t tell where, from the echo bouncing off the canyon of downtown buildings. But as it grew closer they all began to stare north, down the main road that ran in front of the condo.
“Only a few miles out,” the Sergeant reported as he listened. “Several vehicles. Seems like they may have given up on the element of surprise.”
“They may be trying to frighten us,” the Major suggested. “Hoping we will give up without a fight.”
“They may not know you are here,” Kelly said. “If they were watching before you arrived, they may think it’s still just Robbie and I in here.”
“Yea,” Robbie agreed. “Who would want to take on a group of armed Marines? They’d have to really be crazy.”
“Crazy, yes,” the Sergeant replied, “or maybe they have the numbers and don’t mind losing a few. We’ve had a few run in’s with marauders who thought they could take our kit.”
“Oh?” Robbie said.
“Didn’t turn out well for them,” the Sergeant smiled.
“Well, whatever they are up to,” the Major added, “with any luck, they won’t figure out that most of our ammunition is down there in the street.”
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nbsp; “At the speed they are moving, we should know their intent very soon,” the Sergeant replied.
They all stared down the wide road below them waiting for the cars to come flashing through the spots of moonlight. The sound of engines roared nearer and nearer but then abruptly stopped with squealing tires, still out of sight. They began to hear the echoes of shouts and voices in the distance. The sounds bounced around, and found the group more puzzled than before.
“What are they playing at?” Clark asked out loud.
A barrage of distant gunshots, and more shouting followed.
“Watch your lanes!” Bradley shouted loudly the sentries. Then turned back to the officers and said more softly. “If it’s a distraction, it’s a bad one.”
The gunshots in the distance were not suppressed like the Marine’s weapons, they were loud. The bang and pop of each round could be heard, often followed by the crack and zing of a bullet striking something solid and ricocheting away.
“Not military,” the Sergeant observed. “Hunting rifles and handguns.”
“I think they may have the wrong address,” the Major said.
A loud boom echoed through the night.
“Shotgun,” the Sergeant noted.
“The Baldwins!” Kelly and Robbie said in alarm almost in unison.
Chapter 30
“They are hitting the Baldwin sisters!” Kelly said frantically. “In the warehouse district. We have to help them!”
“The Baldwin sisters?” Sergeant Bradley asked confused. “Who the hell is that?!”
“The two old ladies with the greenhouse?” The Leftenant asked.
“Yes, it’s only about a mile from here,” Kelly continued. “They have several warehouses full of fresh food.”
The shotgun fired again, and again. Each time a cacophony of small arms fire and shouting responded.
“We can’t let them do this!” Kelly insisted.
“I’m not sure there is anything we can do,” the Major apologized.
“Look, the dead have cleared out and it’s a straight shot to their place,” Kelly pleaded. “With your help we could save them. I know it.”
“Look Kelly,” the Major responded, “I’m sorry, but we have no idea how many there are, how well armed they are or even where they are. We can’t just go running into a firefight like that. We aren’t superheroes.”
“It’s two little old ladies doing the best they can to survive,” Kelly argued, “and they are probably the only good people left in this town. Maybe the whole ‘fricken state. I don’t know how many of those guys there are but they won’t be able to fight them off on their own. We have to save them!”
“I’m sorry, Kelly,” Garrett said earnestly, “it’s too dangerous. If they hold out tonight, we might be able to get to them in the morning.”
“It will be too late by then,” Kelly blurted, “you know that! You wouldn’t make your grandmother fight bad guys until morning, would you?”
“Kelly…” the Major began.
“Fuck this!” Kelly stood up angrily. She felt a hot rush of anger course through her. “C’mon Robbie we are going to help them.”
She began stomping towards the stairwell. Robbie scrambled up and followed close behind with a pleading backwards glance at the Marines. As she was about to enter the doorway the Leftenant stopped her.
“Wait!” the red bearded officer shouted to her. “We’re coming with you!”
“Sir!?” Clark protested. “That really is unwise. We have no idea…”
“I don’t care, Phillip,” the Leftenant retorted. “If we can’t do some good now and again, then what’s the point, really.”
“We can’t save everyone, Sir.” Clark argued.
“No,” Windsor replied firmly. “But we might be able to save those two old ladies.”
“Leftenant, you know what’s at risk,” the Major argued. “We need to get back to England. What’s left of us… and especially you!”
“I know that, John,” the Leftenant replied sternly as he stood, “and so we shall. But tonight, we will fend off some raiders, stop the murder of some pensioners and save their bloody garden.”
The Major looked surprised that the junior officer was standing up to him and had used his first name. In the old world, both would be considered severe breaches of protocol, but the old world was gone. No Prime Minister in London made any laws, no Generals at the Ministry of Defense issued any orders, and no pay clerks in Argyle issued any checks to the men. Holding onto their ranks and the military structure this long had been done by sheer force of will. He was well aware that once they ended their quest, back in England, the remaining Marines would likely abandon their posts and strike out on their own to find family and friends. He had hoped things would hold together longer, at least until they got back.
“Very well,” the Major finally conceded with a sigh.
“Major!?” Clark protested. “Do you think that wise?”
“Yes, Mr. Clark,” the Major said. “The Leftenant is right. We need to do some good now and again, or our souls will rot. And that will be a fate worse than death, I should think.”
“But…” Clark argued. “You know what’s at stake.”
“Indeed, I do,” the Major answered then turned to the red-haired officer. “Leftenant, I should have been mentoring you more on leadership. Giving you more on the job training as it were. Now is your chance. You take charge on this one. Yes?”
“Aye, Sir!” Windsor saluted the Major, then turned. “Sergeant! Rally the men and follow me.”
Bradley looked, wide eyed with surprise, at Garrett.
The Major nodded his approval.
“Very good, Sir!” The Sergeant turned to the men huddled around the rooftop and shouted, “Marines! Get kitted up and muster in the lobby in 5!”
The men looked at each other confused.
“Right!” Bradley shouted. “Move it you bastards! We’re going to save some damsels in distress! You want to live forever?!”
The Sergeant’s commanding voice sent them scrambling towards the stairwells.
Kelly and Robbie reached the first floor just ahead of the Marines who burst out of the stairwell in full battle rattle. The berets and rolled up sleeves had been replaced with helmets, body armor and bandoliers with pockets of ammunition. The officers emerged to stand with them, followed by Mr. Clark armed with his pistol.
“Right,” the Leftenant said stepping in front of the Marines. “We’re going on a rescue mission to save someone’s ‘nan. We don’t know how well this group are led but given our previous encounters with these sorts we’re working with the theory that they are well armed but have minimal tactical knowledge. Our best estimate is its a few dozen civilians armed with hunting rifles and pistols. Any questions?”
“Just hardly seems fair, dunnit?” O’Reilly said, “Only a few dozen of them against a squad of Royal Marines. Am I right Marines?!”
“Hoorah!” The group chanted back a war cry they had picked up while on joint exercises with US Marines. Their American counterparts had used the term as a response to just about any question, or interaction. It meant everything, and nothing, but conveyed an aggressive intensity of spirit. The Commandos normally only used it among themselves when making fun of the Yanks. This evening it just burst out of them at the thought of getting to do something other than running and hiding.
“Good,” the Leftenant said, “everyone ready?”
“Always ready!” The Color Sergeant led the cheer which was repeated by the men.
“Ok,” the red-haired officer continued, “it’s about three kilometers from here and we are going to have to move quickly. Kelly and Robbie are going to show us the way, so we stay with them until we get to the fight. Then we break off into our teams to aggress the enemy. Any questions?”
“No, Sir!” They all yelled back.
“Off we go then,” the Leftenant turned to Kelly and waived his hand for her to lead the way, “ladies first.”
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bsp; Kelly and Robbie took the group out through a maintenance door leading onto a balcony overlooking the main street. This side of the building was in shadow, but they could see none of the undead milling around below. They all easily slipped over the edge and onto the ground. As each Marine dropped, he turned to assist the next man down.
The group in front knelt in the shadows until everyone was ready. From street level, the sounds of gunfire and shouting were more muted but could still be heard in the distance. The bangs and pops of the marauders’ guns were occasionally broken up by the loud boom of the shot gun.
“Move out,” the Leftenant ordered in a low voice designed not to carry in the street, “at the double.”
A few blocks into their trip, the Leftenant signaled them to a halt near a blue van with the logo of a local dry cleaners printed on the side. The Marines instinctively spread out into defensive positions behind cars and concrete barricades on the sidewalks. Robbie stuck close as the officer approached and inspected what looked like a rickshaw cart with a large blue tarp strapped over it. The Englishman quickly disconnected a tangle of bungee cords and pulled back the tarp. Underneath were stacks of black plastic crates.
“Colors,” the officer rasped, snapping his fingers to get the attention of the big Sergeant kneeling in the middle of the street.
“Sir?” The Sergeant said as he approached.
“Load the men up on ammo,” the Leftenant instructed. “Then strap this tarp back down on the cart. We’ll pick it up on the way back.”
“Aye,” the Sergeant wheeled and using mostly hand signals quickly had an assembly line handing out rectangular black cartridges to the soldiers. When their pockets were full, they tied the tarp back down and he signaled the officers that they were ready.
The Leftenant nodded his acknowledgement and low whispered, “right, let’s move.”
The Marines spread out into their swiftly moving column again. Kelly was surprised at how briskly the troops moved, even under the weight of all their gear. She and Robbie lead the way down the main street along the same route they had taken when coming to the condo just a few weeks before. While it looked like all the undead had left the area, they stayed in the middle of the road and gave derelict cars a wide berth just in case.