“You’ll look after them, won’t you, Michelle?”
“With my life, ma’am.”
“So will I,” Ruby added.
“We all will,” Erica said, and Tumi nodded.
Julianne felt tears well up but swallowed them with a bright smile. “Thank you. See you all later, I promise.”
She left the schoolroom with a feeling of regret, but while some of them couldn’t fight, the rest of them had no choice. Every available gun was needed on the wall, including her own. “Please, God. Don’t let my children come to harm tonight. I’ll do anything.”
At the armory, she met Max who handed her extra ammunition for her pistol and a shotgun with shells. “Here, Mom. Take this.”
She hefted the gun with a smile. Never the best shot in the world, the weapon was perfect for someone with limited range like her. “Thanks, Max.”
He paused and reached out a hand. She took it, and he pulled her into a hug. “Be careful out there. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you.”
“Same here, Max. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Don’t forget about the lot in the infirmary. They need weapons too, just in case.”
“I won’t.” He waved as she left. “See you soon.”
After leaving Max behind, there was very little else to do but wait. All the buildings were shut down except the schoolroom, infirmary and one cottage with a bathroom and beds for those that needed it. All spare power was routed to the floodlights positioned along the inner wall, and food and water was stationed at intervals. People walked around with nervous energy, while others dozed in the sun, catching up on lost sleep.
Julianne did a quick circuit of the inner walls to familiarize herself with the overall strategy Max had implemented with the help of Michael. The small gate leading outside to the reserve had been sealed and barricaded by an earthen embankment. But only after the goats were herded into the sanctuary, and it was cordoned off as well by a wall of dirt.
“Do you think the animals will be safe?” she asked Joseph who was just about to go to the infirmary.
“They should be. The primary fight will be here by us. As long as their fence holds and Ke Tau concentrates his attack here, the reserve should pass unnoticed by both the living and the dead.
“Unless they try to break in through there again as they did with the tree.”
“Not likely. Too much trouble. They could just come straight here through the outer gates. It’s the biggest weak point in our defenses.”
“You’re right as ever, Joseph.”
“I wish to God I weren’t,” he replied before hurrying off to fortify the infirmary.
An argument at the main gates drew Julianne’s attention, and she walked over. “What’s going on?”
Elise turned to her, her face beetroot red with anger. “They want to leave. Can you believe that? They’re running away.”
“Who?” Julianne asked though it was pretty obvious.
“Nick and Sharyn,” Elise exclaimed.
Julianne looked the couple over with shrewd eyes, noting the backpacks and guns they carried. Their faces were set, eyes hooded, though Nick had the decency to blush beneath her gaze.
“You want to leave? As in permanently?” she asked.
Nick nodded. “Yes, we want to go.”
“Why?” Julianne gestured around her. “You’d abandon us at a time like this?”
Nick averted his eyes, but Sharyn answered for him. “We never signed up for this fight, and you can’t keep us here. Let us go.”
Her voice was shrill, and Julianne recognized the rising signs of panic. She lowered her voice to a soothing pitch and reached out. “Sharyn, please. Can’t we talk about this? I know you’re scared, but we can figure something out.”
“No!” Sharyn backed away like a spooked horse. “I want to leave.”
Nick sighed and shot Julianne a pleading look. “Please, just let us go. She can’t fight. Neither can I. We don’t want to stay here.”
Julianne mulled it over before waving them away. “Go then. I hope you find what you’re looking for out there.”
“”Thanks.” They turned to go, ducking through the gap in the gates which still stood open.
Elise rounded on her. “What the hell? Why did you let them leave?”
“Because what good would it do to force them to stay?”
“But…”
“I get it, Elise, I do. But I’d rather fight alongside my friends, than some coward who runs at the first signs of trouble.” She laid a warm hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “A friend like you.”
“Elise sniffed. “Same here, Julianne. I just wish…”
Elise left her wish unsaid, but Julianne thought she knew what it was because she had the same one. Dear Lord, please let us live through tonight. Unharmed and protected.
Chapter 19 - Max
Max stood on the wall like a sentinel, his keen gaze taking in every detail around him. A quick glance at his watch told him it was half past four in the afternoon. The sun had begun its descent toward the earth, its light washing the veldt in hues of yellow and gold. “Not long now.”
As if in answer to his words, a smudge of dust appeared on the horizon. With each second that passed, it grew in size and deepened in color. The horde was approaching.
“Is it them?” he asked Michael who stood next to him.
“It’s them.”
Earlier that day, Michael had gone on a solo reconnaissance of the area and the roads leading up to it. The news he brought back was sobering. Ke Tau had gathered a massive swarm of infected, and two of his men on dirt bikes were leading them straight to the main gates.
“Just like last time,” Max said.
“This time, though, they’ll follow up the attack themselves, and they'll be armed with guns,” Michael said.
“We’re ready for them.” Max lifted his hand and waved at the people assembled on the wall around him. The signal was taken up and passed around until everybody stood to arms at their posts. A tense silence fell.
The cloud of dust moved closer by the minute, drawing inexorably nearer. It was rust red and reminded Max of dried blood. A nervous tremor shivered through his right hand, and he clenched it into a fist. Not for the first time did he wish Breytenbach was there to advise him. But he's not, and it's up to us to defend ourselves.
The radio at his side crackled, and he started. “Max, come in. Max.”
He raised the mic to his lips and pressed the button. “Liezel? What is it?”
“Four vehicles are approaching the gates ahead of the horde.”
“Four?” He exchanged a perplexed look with Michael.
“That’s right.”
“Can you make out who they are?”
“Hold on.”
Max lowered the radio. “It can’t be Ke Tau. He wouldn’t be ahead of the infected, would he? I mean, he’d be trapped between them and the fence.”
“It doesn’t make sense,” Michael agreed.
“Unless…” A bright spark of hope flared in Max’s breast.
“Unless what?”
Liezel’s voice came on again, pitched high with excitement. “It’s one of ours in the front. It’s Breytenbach!”
“Really?” Max craned his head toward the far outer gates. As yet, he could see nothing but prayed Liezel was right.
“She said four vehicles, right? Breytenbach only had two,” Michael pointed out.
“I know.” Max considered this. “We’d better be on our guard. This could be a trap.”
“Right.” Michael turned and whispered instructions to Peter and Thembiso. They each shot in a different direction as they spread the latest news and orders to everyone assembled.
Together they watched and waited. At last, Max spotted movement. “There.”
“I see,” Michael replied.
A convoy of vehicles emerged from the tree line and sped toward the barriers blocking the gates. They brake
d in a flurry of dust as their wheels kicked up sand, and figures emerged from the opening doors. “Can you see anyone? Breytenbach? Kirstin?”
“No,” Michael replied.
“Shit,” Max swore while he suppressed his irritation with the man. One minute he can see in the dark, now he can’t make out one lousy person’s face.
Max longed for a pair of binoculars as he watched the figures drag the spiked contraption out of the way before unlatching the gates. Behind them, the first straggling line of undead appeared from the brush. “They’re not going to make it.”
Nervous tension coiled in Max’s breast as he watched the growing spectacle playing out in front of him. Two of the figures dragged apart the barred gates, while two more shot at the approaching infected. Hurry, hurry, hurry!
The last vehicle in line was swallowed up by the horde. Like ants over a pile of sugar, the infected covered it with their squirming bodies. The third truck suffered a likewise fate, and Max chewed on the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood. Meanwhile, the people outside the cars ran back to their doors and jumped inside with seconds to spare.
They raced through the entrance of the camp. To Max’s relief, the two swamped cars made it out as well, shedding their layer of decomposed bodies like an old skin. It was too late to close the gates or the barrier, however, and he considered the outside area lost. Not that he'd expected the fence or moat to hold them off for long anyway.
Max looked around him, mentally ticking off each person he came to. Because of their lack of numbers, he’d been forced to abandon the outer fences and concentrate on the inner walls, a decision he hoped wasn’t a mistake. Still, he knew he could count on each and everyone assembled. They were family, and family stood together.
He motioned to Abraham and Phillip. “Get ready to open.”
They nodded.
He looked at Michael. “If it’s not them, shoot.”
“Will do.”
He looked around. “Everybody ready?”
Yells of assent rose.
We’re ready.
The four vehicles raced up, and he held his breath as he waited. His eyes searched for Kirstin’s. Then he spotted her familiar blonde head, and his knees threatened to buckle. “It’s them, open up!”
The bars were flung aside, and the weighted metal sheets pushed open. Breytenbach and the mystery trucks pulled inside with a flourish. The dead followed them in a straight line up the road, their faces decayed and contorted. A low hum of groans rose from their unified throats.
“Close it now, hurry!” Max shouted at the ground unit even as he bounded down the ladder. He flung himself onto the left half of the gate and helped Abraham push the monstrosity shut with a clang. Together, they lifted the bars and slid it across.
With their defenses intact once more, Max allowed himself a brief second to relax. Behind him, the first zombies reached the walls and began clamoring to get inside. He ignored them and searched for his beloved. There.
“Kirstin!” He bounded forward and swooped her up in a crushing hold. His arms circled her waist as he lifted her slender body off the ground and spun her around in a circle.
“Max.” Her lips found his, and they kissed until their surroundings faded away to nothing. Nothing existed but them and their embrace.
“Where have you been? I’ve been so worried,” he murmured. “I’m never letting you go again, ever.”
“And I you.”
He kissed her once more, but she chuckled and pulled away. “You might want to put me down, Max. Old friends have come to see you.”
“I don’t care.” He nuzzled her neck with his nose and breathed in her familiar scent.
“You will once you see who it is.” She pushed him away with a firm nudge and turned toward the convoy of vehicles.
Max’s gaze slid over them and came to rest on a familiar Land Rover, old and rusty but trustworthy. His brows lifted in amazement. “Logan?”
Long legs clad in muddy boots and jeans slid from the driver’s side followed by a lean torso topped by broad shoulders and messy dark hair. Piercing grey eyes found him and lightened with instant joy. “Max!”
“Logan, you son of a...where’ve you been? I’ve been worried sick.” Max leaped forward and grabbed his friend, enfolding him in a big bear hug.
Logan laughed. “Come on. You always knew I’d be back, didn’t you?”
“I’m surprised some zombie didn’t eat your skinny ass,” was Max’s acerbic comeback.
“Nah, I’m too tough and gamey.” Logan clapped him on the back. “Anyway, I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Another one?” Max frowned as he looked in the direction Logan pointed.
When he spotted Martin’s face, his jaw hit the floor. “Martin? It can’t be.”
Martin grinned. “The one and only.”
They clasped hands and hugged with much guffawing and exclamation until Breytenbach interrupted. “Hate to break up this happy reunion, but we’ve got an undead problem outside our gates.”
Max sobered immediately. “You’re right. We’ve got a fight on our hands. Ke Tau is attacking tonight.”
From the walls, battle cries sounded as the defenders stabbed at the encroaching undead with long spears. Max spotted both Abraham and Philip up there, along with Lisa, Mpho, Elise, and a few others under the leadership of Michael. Joseph and a couple of helpers were running down the sides, picking off those dead that seemed intent on encircling the camp.
“Seems we arrived just in time, little brother,” Martin said, using Max’s old nickname with easy familiarity. “Do you need guns?”
“We do.”
“I’ve got a small cache stashed in the back of my truck.” Martin led the way and opened up a metal trunk containing several shotguns, R4’s, 9mm’s, AK47’s, and even a few grenades.
Max allowed himself a satisfied smile and pocketed several of the explosives along with a few extra cartridges for his R4. “Just what we need to get rid of these fuckers hounding our doorstep.”
Martin turned to a younger man at his side. “Josh, see to it that everybody is armed according to his or her expertise, okay?”
Josh nodded. “I’ll still get to fight, won’t I?”
Max laughed. With Martin and Logan at his side, he felt invincible. “There’s plenty to go around, trust me.”
A few others hovered in a semi-circle, and Martin introduced them as Jed, Donya, and Caleb. “They’re all good fighters.”
“Good to know.” Max spotted another girl hiding behind Logan. She had the most striking blue eyes he’d ever seen, and he paused. “Hello there. Who are you?”
“Nadia,” she replied with a touch of defiance in her voice, almost as if she expected him to distrust her on sight. Weird.
“Nadia’s a friend,” Logan said, one hand going to the girl’s shoulder.
Interesting. I’d like to hear more of this friendship later, Max thought. He clapped his hands together. “Right, let’s go.”
He marched toward the wall but paused when he saw Ronnie and Lenka helping an injured Mike from the truck. The Irishman's face was covered in bandages stained yellow with disinfectant. His right arm was likewise wrapped and held in a sling. One foot hovered in the air, shoeless, while patches of his skin were red and raw.
Max turned to Breytenbach. “What happened? Is Mike okay?”
“He’ll live,” Breytenbach replied in a strained voice. “We had a spot of trouble in town, that’s all.”
Kirstin appeared at Max’s elbow and whispered in his ear. “The Captain is ill. He needs to go to the infirmary with Mike. Make sure he does.”
With those cryptic words, she pecked him on the cheek and ran up the ladder towards the tower with her sniper rifle slung across her back. “What? How come I have to do it?”
He looked at Breytenbach more carefully, and alarm filled him. The Captain stood with his arm around a tearful Julianne, leaning on her. That in itself was unusual. His face was pale, and his lips t
inged with blue. “Captain, why don’t you and Julianne take Mike to the infirmary? We can handle things from here.”
Breytenbach shot him a sharp glance. “Don’t patronize me.”
Julianne tugged at his sleeve. “Christo, please. You’re not well. I just got you back, and I won't lose you again.”
Breytenbach hesitated then drew himself upright even while he swayed like a reed in the wind. “No, I can fight.”
Max decided a more forceful approach was needed. “Captain, you’re of no use to anyone in this condition. You’ll only be a liability. Go.”
Breytenbach blanched, but after a second, he lifted his chin and said, “Ronnie, Lenka, stay here. We’ll take Mike to the clinic.”
“All right, Captain.” Ronnie saluted smartly before hurrying to the wall to join in the pitched battle raging along its length. Lenka followed more slowly, and only after a respectful bow to his leader.
Breytenbach propped the suffering Mike up with one shoulder while Julianne took the other side. “Call me if you need me, Max. I’m not over the hill yet.”
“Of course,” Max replied then watched as the trio walked off. Once they were gone, he sighed with relief. “Thank, God, he listened.”
Logan jabbed him with an elbow. “Breytenbach and your Mom? That’s new.”
“We’ve got lots to talk about,” Max agreed.
“You have no idea.”
“Later, guys. Right now, we have a job to do,” Jed reminded them.
“You heard the man.” Martin grinned. “Let’s go to war, little brother.”
Max and his group threw themselves into the fray with abandon. Eschewing the cumbersome spears, they used their guns to take out the zombies threatening their survival.
Each volley of shots dropped a number of the undead, a testament to the marksmanship of Martin’s group. Not to mention Logan. He’s always been an excellent shot.
Gradually the swarm of undead thinned with more dropping away by the second. Cries of triumph rose along the wall, and Max allowed himself to share a grin with Logan and Martin. “Good times, hey?”
Live Another Day (Dangerous Days - Zombie Apocalypse Book 4) Page 15