by TW Gallier
"We cannot walk all the way to Canada," Sara said. "It'd take us a week."
We checked the map to estimate the distance to the Canadian border. The best we could tell using that commercial map was that we were somewhere between 250 and 270 miles from Detroit.
"Holy crap, I bet we couldn't walk more than ten miles a day with the women and children," Mike said. "So it could take us a month to get there."
I thought we could move faster, but it still would be a long, grueling trek. Add the stress of avoiding combat troops on the ground and in the air, and it might be more than some of our group could tolerate.
"What about taking I-275 west?" Brett asked. "It loops around the city. Once on the west side, we can decided to head north or keep going west to maybe Greensburg before turning north. Maybe we could avoid the soldiers that way."
"I agree," Sean said. "I think it's too dangerous to swing around to the east of the city. If I was them, I'd expect us to take the shortest route."
We spent the next hour arguing the merits and disadvantages of every possible route. In the end, we decided to leave right away and to take Brett's advice. I argued successfully that we had to stay off the main highways. We'd be too easy to spot on a modern super highway. So it was back roads all the way.
I argued for keeping all of the Humvees, and dividing up the last 5-ton's cargo, with most going in the bus. The Humvees all had .50 cals that we could engage troops and helicopters with, while the 5-ton was just another target. Unfortunately, that meant every single man, including fifteen year old Jake, was assigned to a Humvee. We only had ten men left in our group, so all of the women and children would be on the bus.
"This doesn't sound like a good idea," Jenny said, looking sick.
No one could think of a better plan. Our only other option was to cram everyone into the five Humvees and make a run for the border. We'd have to abandon most of our food and other gear. I was willing, but others thought it too stressful for the children. And too dangerous for everyone.
"Okay, I think we're all agreed," I said to the assembled group. "Kate will drive the bus with all of the women and children. I'll take Vince with me. Sean is paired with Jake, Mike with Larry, Terrel with Brett, and Charlie with Fred. The civilians will drive and the vets will be gunners."
They looked grim, but all nodded.
"I'll take the lead," I continued. "Followed by Mike and Larry, and then Terrel and Brett. The bus will be in the middle, with Sean and Jake next. Charlie and Fred will bring up the rear."
We quickly redistributed the 5-ton's cargo, leaving the camp stoves, other nonessentials, and almost all of the spare weapons behind. Most of the ammo was divided between the Humvees, but we made sure the bus had plenty, too. While the women and children got on the bus and sorted themselves out, I met with all of the men. Kate and Jenny also joined us.
Everyone had a map. I pointed out rally points to go to if anything happened and we became separated. There were a dozen rally points identified between our starting point and the Carol Cropper Bridge over the Ohio River on I-275. Our maps didn't show any other bridge outside of Cincinnati.
I hugged my boys and Spooky, and then hugged and kissed Jenny.
"You're in charge of that bus," I whispered to her. "It's going to be tough. I can't guarantee we'll make it, but by God we're going to give it our best try. Be safe, and I love you."
"I love you, too," she said, hugging me tight. "Be careful."
"Oh, I forgot to tell Kate," I said. "No lights. Headlights will be a beacon to helicopters."
"We know," she said. "Jesus, Roger, this isn't our first apocalypse."
I froze. Did she just make a joke? "Wow, baby, you never cease to surprise me."
I swatted her butt and waited for her to get into the bus. Once everyone was mounted, and they started their engines, I opened the bay door and climbed up behind the lead Humvee's .50 cal. The men in the Humvees had CVC helmets with internal communications with our drivers, as well as every driver and gunner being connected to the radio. Only the bus didn't have that setup.
I keyed my mike for intercom, "Okay, Vince, move out."
Sean's voice came over the radio, "Remember and keep radio chatter to a minimum. Out."
"We're moving out now," I said over the radio. "Good luck, everyone. Out."
Vince eased out through the bay door and out into a moonlit night. It wasn't a full moon, but I was grateful for what little light it provided. My heart raced as I scanned the sky for enemy helicopters. I couldn't get Jenny's, "This doesn't sound like a good idea," comment out of my head. I could only pray she was wrong.
Chapter 40
I kept an M-4, with grenade launcher, on my one-point strap. There was a SAW inside the vehicle within easy reach. And I was behind a .50 cal, yet I felt vulnerable and defenseless as we drove down those dark back roads.
Our first objective was to reach Independence, Kentucky. It was just a few miles to our west through scattered agriculture and small residential subdivisions. Really, it looked to be mostly farms converted to upper middleclass residential housing. It was farm, farm, mini-mansion subdivision, farm. I'd passed through similar terrain on foot the previous day, so could fill in the blanks the darkness hid.
We had to stay on two-lane paved roads. The terrain was too rough and fenced to take the bus cross-country. It might even strain the Humvees in places. I constantly scanned the horizon for helicopters. In a way, it was worse than Afghanistan. I just didn't have to worry about roadside bombs. Though, the thought of leaving a few IEDs for the soldiers pursuing us seemed a good idea.
I'll see what we can do if we have to stop before reaching Canada.
Everything went well until we hit the one-horse town of White Tower. Really, it had a town name but all I saw was an animal hospital and some houses. And the zombie horde passing through from north to south.
"Son of a bitch," Vince cried, seconds before we plowed into a wall of zombies.
I think we surprised them more than they did us. Vince drove around a bend at about 40 MPH, and there they were. It was hard to see them in the dark. He hit the brake, which probably saved us from totaling the Humvee, but we still drove over a dozen zombies as he continued moving through them.
"Good job, Vince," I said over the intercom. "Never stop."
Someone behind us opened up with a M-4. Sean was on the radio demanding a ceasefire before I could key my mike. No one responded, so I didn't know who was firing. At least they didn't use a .50 cal. I suspected it was someone on the bus.
Vince slowed down to a crawl through the horde, but picked up a little after we broke through. We proceeded at around 20 MPH until we reached Independence. On the map the suburb of Cincinnati looked big. Not so much on the ground. Of course, we were really skirting its southern border.
"Helicopters straight ahead," Vince said over the intercom.
"Halt," I said over the radio.
I spotted them then. Three Blackhawks to the west, just above the horizon, flying southward. They weren't using their navigational lights so were just black shapes against a dark sky, but I knew a Blackhawk when I saw it. Were they looking for us? If I were them, I'd be searching north of the city. I would've thought the zombie attack was a diversion so the enemy could slip past. But that meant they understood our objective. Maybe they didn't think we were heading for Canada. Where else would we be heading?
The helicopters veered more to the west and vanished over the horizon.
"I see helicopters east of us, heading south, over," Charlie said over the radio.
"Copy that," Sean said.
I wished Vince was ex-military so I could crack a joke about Sean's use of civilian terminology over the radio. Of course, mine wasn't the best, either. I only remembered to use over and out half the time. But if Sean said "come back" instead of "over" I was going to be all over him. I kind of hoped he did.
"Now we know the airport has recovered enough to send out air patrols to look for us," Sean
said. "We have to be extra careful and quiet. Out."
"Easier said than done," Terrel said.
"Move out," I said. "Be alert."
The vets knew the helicopters, and probably ground forces, had amazing night vision and infrared capabilities. The first time they looked in our area they'd see us. I wasn't sure how much the civilians knew, and I didn't want to worry them, but our chances of get past them was scary. I tried to keep those grim thoughts suppressed, but the helicopters reminded me.
My heart began racing. All I could think of was my beautiful wife and children, and that Sean said the soldiers were killing the men and taking the women. It made my blood run cold. I knew why, but refused to let my mind go there.
It wasn't long before I realized we'd taken a wrong turn somewhere. Okay, I took a wrong turn since I was point. Very embarrassing.
We were heading due south instead of west, so I stopped Vince when we came to an intersection in the middle of nowhere. The street signs said we were on Banklick Road, with Maher Road T-intersecting with it there. After a moment of map study, I had Vince turn west on Maher. It wasn't a direct path to where we needed to go, but I knew where we were again.
I kept a close eye on the scattered groups of zombies as we moved up Maher Road. They all came at us, but the trailing vehicles only had to open fire a few times to clear the way. Every shot fired cranked up my stress. The men in the helicopters won't hear the gunfire, but if they have ground forces out and about, they might hear us since the land was mostly open.
We entered a more built up stretch of road. I wasn't sure if we were in north Richwood, unincorporated country, or in another suburb. It still looked mostly country, but businesses were becoming more common. And then we crossed over the railroad tracks I was waiting for.
"Intersection ahead," Vince said.
"Turn right."
We turned north on Dixie Highway. It might be called a highway, but it was just another two-lane road to me. It was starting to look more and more like a city, though. We made it all the way up Dixie to Mt Zion Road without seeing a zombie, helicopter, or a soldier. At Mt Zion we turned left, heading for I-75. We weren't going to get on the interstate, but pass under it. Beyond that appeared to be more undeveloped land according to the map, but we were going to stay inside city limits as we made our way up to Oakbrook, before turning westward again and making a dash for the bridge over the Ohio.
Mt Zion quickly turned into a retail and fast food district. A few zombies were out, but acting odd. For one, they weren't heading south, but west. Many were running. We weaved through them, all going in the same direction, and were almost to the I-75 overpass.
Soldiers atop the overpass, mostly on the earthen berms to each side, opened fire on us.
I returned fire with the .50 cal, while Vince turned us around and we plowed into incoming zombies.
"We're taking fire!" I radioed, as if they didn't know. "Retreat!"
I saw the bus turn northward on Sam Neace Drive. The two Humvees behind it came up to provide support. All five Humvees scattered, taking positions behind stores and other businesses. The gunners dismounted with SAWs. The overpass was too far away to use the grenade launchers. We opened up with all we had.
"How many?" Sean asked as he ran up beside me.
"At least a platoon," I said. "Maybe more. I didn't see any vehicles"
There were some wooded areas between us and the highway, along the service road. I couldn't image the ten of us going toe-to-toe with a full infantry platoon. The best we could do was give them reason to keep their heads down, before hightailing it out of there.
"Is that helicopters?" Sean asked.
The thump-thump-thump of incoming helicopters filled the air. They were a little to the north of us. Bringing in more troops? They did have air assault forces. And then I remembered the bus turned and went that way.
"Jenny and the bus!"
"Oh shit," Sean said, and we took off running back to our vehicles.
Chapter 41
"Turn right!" I screamed. "Turn right!"
Gunfire erupted in front of us. Roger was our point and in the greatest danger, but my first priority was protecting the children. The sound was terrible, but the bright red tracers coming at us in the dark was even more frightening. The bus filled with screams when two windows shattered.
Kate spun the wheel so fast the bus leaned to the left and I was thrown to the floor. She almost missed the road, and some of the women and kids spilled out of their seats. She adjusted and we lumbered up that new road. The engine was straining, Kate's foot all the way on the floor, but it felt so slow at that moment. I no longer knew what direction we were going in the dark. North, south, east, west, who cared as long as we got away from those killer soldiers?
The radio filled with men shouting out where the ambushers were located. Everyone but Roger. I haven't heard Roger on the radio since Sean announced the helicopters. The firefight was the most intense I'd ever heard.
Spooky whimpered, and suddenly my children were my only thought. I had to save them. I had to save all of the children.
Looking back toward the intersection, I saw all of the Humvees scattering in different directions, the gunners firing all the while. The sound of the .50 cals could be heard above all other gunfire. At least they were taking cover, but I still couldn't tell if Roger's Humvee was one of them.
Why isn't he talking?
"Hurry up!" Kate screamed. "Faster!"
She beat on the steering wheel in frustration as we slowly gained speed. And then I heard the helicopters. My heart sank as I thought of Roger and the other men. His biggest fear was that helicopter gunships would zero in on us with their infrared sights.
I reached for the radio's handset. I needed to hear Roger's voice.
"Mommy?" Harlan asked in a tiny voice. "Are we going to die?"
My heart broke. No child should feel he's in mortal danger. I never contemplated my own death as a child, but I could see it in his eyes.
"No, baby, I'll protect you," I said, hugging him tight. What could I say? I just wanted to take his fear and dread away. I just wanted to see happiness and contentment in those beautiful eyes again. "Don't worry. We'll be okay."
Timmy and Spooky were holding each other, eyes huge. The others were sorting themselves out, mothers trying to comfort frightened children instead of manning weapons.
"Jenny!" Kate cried. "Soldiers!"
I released Harlan to rush up beside her. The street was blocked by two Humvees. It was too dark to see any soldiers, but they were either in the Humvees or behind them. They could open fire on us at any second. Were we about to die?
The windshield exploded just as muzzle flashes registered in my mind. Kate ducked and I dropped to the floor. Screams filled the bus again. I expected Kate to hit the brakes, but she didn't let up on the gas, and a few seconds she lifted her head, turned the wheel, and went over the curb and around the blockade.
"Wow," was all I could say. "I didn't think of that."
"I didn't really think about it," she said. "Just did it."
Bullets pounded into the back of the bus. I ordered everyone to the floor. I stood next to the driver, facing to the rear, and opened fire on the two Humvees now following us. One veered off the road.
"Hold on," Kate said, and made another impossibly sharp turn.
I don't think she slowed down at all. We went around that corner so fast I swear the wheels came off the ground on one side.
"Find a place to hide," I said.
"They're following too close."
A helicopter was suddenly in front of us, but high enough for us to drive under. We were past it in a flash, and Kate turned right again. Within seconds I realized our mistake.
"We're back on Mt Zion," I cried. I could see the firefight up ahead. "Stop and turn around."
Kate turned left instead. The road was a loop that quickly brought us back to Mt Zion Road. She turned right, heading east and away from the battle.
<
br /> "Apache!" Sean's voice came over the radio. "Abandon vehicles!"
We were speeding up the road, with retail to our left and houses to our right. And then it opened up on fields to either side. Numerous helicopters were landing on both sides of the road. Soldiers knelt to either side of the road, weapons aimed at us.
"Stop!"
Kate hit the brakes and we came to a skidding stop. My heart sank. My stomach turned sour, and I thought I'd be sick as the shakes claimed my hands, and then my entire body. They would kill us all if we continued. I didn't want to surrender, but I had to do whatever it took to protect the children.
"What are we going to do?" Kate asked.
"S-Surrender," I whispered, tears flooding my face. "We don't have a choice."
"People in the bus!" a deep male voice called from the dark. "Throw your weapons out the windows!"
I closed my eyes and tried to think of a way out of situation. I prayed Roger came charging in with the others, but I knew that wasn't going to happen. I hadn't heard his voice over the radio since the initial attack. He was probably dead. No one was going to save us.
"Do it," I said, though it was hard to speak through my tight throat.
I opened the door and threw my rifle out. It clattered on the road. A profound feeling of helplessness and vulnerability consumed me. We were completely at the mercy of men I didn't believe felt mercy any longer. I struggled to keep dark thoughts at bay. I had a bad feeling our fates would not be pleasant.
A man in uniform suddenly appeared in the door, weapon aimed at my heart. I lifted my hands in the classic surrender gesture. He stepped inside cautiously, pressed the muzzle of his rifle over my heart, and then looked down the length of the bus. Everyone else lifted their hands in surrender. He gave the briefest of nods, grabbed my shirt, and pulled me off the bus.
For a second I thought he was going to rip my shirt off, but I quickly followed. It was obey or be dragged off kicking and screaming. The more I fought them, the more upset my children would become, so I obeyed and did what I was told.