The fires at the charred remains of the training center had burned down except for a couple that still smoldered and flamed from time to time. The smell of cooked meat was strong, and several charred bodies were visible in the blackened debris.
Our next task was clearing the cabins. Before starting, we devised a plan. We split into groups of five and then headed for the lake. At each cabin, two people stayed behind the cover of the outer log walls. They jammed their rifles through windows and fired into the rooms as the front door was breached, and the cabin was entered. The fifth person covered the back entrance of those units having a back door. After we'd cleared the twelfth cabin, a total of four more enemies had been terminated. Two had attempted to surrender. The lump in my throat refused to go away. I'm sure others felt the same way.
We scoured the cabins and two sheds behind the training building. To the victors go the spoils personified our attitude as we scrounged for anything of value to us as a group. As far as I knew, no one took personal items like jewelry or keepsakes. We took what could help our group survive in the future. As anticipated, there was an adequate supply of food stuffs, a large amount of ammunition and some fuel we could use. We'd picked up firearms where dead enemies were found and kept the ones we wanted. The others were tossed in the lake to keep other scoundrels from using them.
We loaded the pickup's beds with all they would hold and used two of Ridder's trailers to carry the rest.
Near dark that evening, we pulled up the drive to Willie's place. The first question Mable asked was, "Did anyone get hurt." She and Barlow's wife, Shandrea cried upon hearing we'd lost two people, and three had been wounded. They both gasped and ran to Richard as he slid from a truck with a bandage on his leg. He smiled like the conquering hero at their attention.
Before supper, I took time to wash up and change clothes. The smoke and smell of death had permeated my clothing and hair and I wanted to be free of those reminders of our hard won battle.
After supper, we sat around a bonfire and heard details of how the attack had gone from individual points of view. We learned how Paige and Carmen had been captured down near the lake when they got separated from Shane's group.
Ed and Richard received special praise for the heroism they'd shown in attacking a much larger force and creating a turning point in the battle by attacking on a new front.
Finally a group prayer was said for James Butler and Irene Margehio. We all turned in for a fitful night of sleep. Early the next morning, we packed what the Jones family chose to take with them before heading for Deliverance.
~*~*~*~
That night, the temperature was cool, but the air was calm. My family sat outside as the sun hovered slightly above the tree tops giving up its last warmth of the day. We'd talked at length covering details of the battle with Ridder's forces. Dominique was wrapped snuggly and held by Kira while I cradled Tom Jr. We sat on a wood bench and leaned against the metal building that was our communal home. Paige sat on the ground in front of us. Kira smiled proudly when Paige and I recounted the personal conflict Paige had been through. Satisfaction beamed through her expression. She'd been rewarded with a daughter who was already capable of meeting unexpected challenges and would do well for herself.
We were soon joined by Mitch. He sat next to Paige. Much too close to Paige for my liking. Kira nudged my ribs with her elbow and gave me a DON'T SAY IT smirky look.
As the sun sank behind the naked tree limbs, we snuggled closer, and I thanked whatever power had brought these marvelous people into my life.
-THE END- of vol. 4
I hope you've enjoyed the fourth story in the OUTNUMBERED zombie apocalypse series published at Amazon.com. Two more are planned
To access additional works in the Outnumbered series follow the link to my book page at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Robert+Schobernd
There, you will also find my other horror stories and crime novels.
Thank you,
Robert Schobernd
OUTNUMBERED volume 4: A Zombie Apocalypse Series Page 7