He had decided to attempt a silent landing. He had seen how the noise of his plane’s engines had attracted the infected before and that was not a mistake he wanted to make again. Once he had lined up his approach he would cut the engines and glide in for a landing. He had done it before but not by choice. However, this time there would be no ground crew if something went wrong. Clearing his mind of the recent events in the air, the Captain adjusted his heading and buckled into his seat.
Back in the cabin, Gunner and his men talked quietly in the rear of the plane. Dr. Sanderson buckled his belt and stared out of the window.
“According to the GPS our next signal is coming from Fort Campbell,” Gunner said, startling the Doctor.
“I do not expect this to be easy, but we will find what we need,” he continued as he took his seat near the Doctor.
“I hope this is Number 5,” said Dr. Sanderson. “I really don’t know how many more times I can do this. This … this whole thing has gotten out of hand.”
Gunner sat expressionless, as if he was not even listening.
“I should really thank you for your help and protection Gunner,” said Dr. Sanderson after a minute of silence.
“Just doing my job Doctor,” replied Gunner.
“Of course you are Gunner.”
Giving up on trying to converse with him, Dr. Sanderson resumed staring out of the window to the miniature world moving past below them. From the air everything looked so normal. No one from this vantage point could imagine the hell that was unfolding below them. The plane began to descend and as it circled the area Dr. Sanderson could make out the army base along with the small airfield just north of it. As the plane banked, to line up its final approach, he sat up right in his seat as he stared out of the window. There, below them, he thought he could make out a small convoy of what appeared to be military vehicles.
As the plane leveled, Dr. Sanderson was about to say something to Gunner when suddenly the noise from the engines stopped. With a shudder the plane began to glide and all the Doctor could hear was the sound of the wind keeping the plane aloft.
“What … what just happened?” Dr. Sanderson asked in a state of near panic.
“Relax Doctor. I believe the good Captain is attempting a silent landing,” replied Gunner calmly.
“A silent landing? Like gliding?”
“Exactly. This should make things considerably easier for us once we are on the ground.”
“I hope so,” said Dr. Sanderson as he tightly gripped his seat.
As the convoy reached the northern outskirts of Fort Campbell Major Bradley called for a halt. Climbing up into the gunner’s cupola he surveyed the area. The base, at least from this vantage point, appeared to be deserted. As he was about to order Private Sinclair to start the convoy up again, Major Bradley paused; in the distance he thought he could hear the sound of an engine. Scanning the horizon he could not see any vehicles. As he looked around a glint of something in the late afternoon sky caught his attention. Looking again he realized it was a plane making the noise he heard.
The plane slowly grew larger as it began to descend and circle the base. It looked to be some type of corporate jet. Through his binoculars Major Bradley could see an emblem on the side of the plane but could not quite make out what it said.
As the plane pulled out of its bank and straightened, it suddenly went quiet. It seemed as if the plane’s engines had stopped working. Incredulously Major Bradley watched as the plane silently descended and then disappeared out of view towards what he could only assume was the base’s airfield. With a renewed sense of hope that they may not be alone after all Major Bradley clamored back down inside the Humvee.
“Was that a plane sir?” asked Private Sinclair.
“Yes, yes it was,” replied Major Bradley. “Now let’s get this convoy moving. Let’s hope whoever is in the plane is here for the same reason we are.”
“What’s that sir?” asked Private Sinclair quizzically.
“Maybe they’ve found a cure.”
Chapter 27
Blanchfield
Fort Campbell is a sprawling army base covering over 100,000 acres. It has been in operation since the end of World War II and the home of the 101st Airborne Division since 1956. It has the capacity to house and train nearly 50,000 soldiers and their families. Complete with lodging, a dog park, tennis courts, movie theater, elementary school, sportsman lodge, restaurants, and a full service hospital. In other words, it is its own city; completely self-sufficient. It is also, typically, one of the most secure locations in the country.
Captain Bannon applied the brakes as the Gulfstream came to a stop. While the others were gone he would have to find a tug to get the plane across the tarmac and onto the other runway and into a takeoff position. If there was one thing he has learned over the last two days it was that he needed be prepared for takeoff at a moment’s notice. There was no telling who or what Gunner was likely to come back with.
Gunner and his men were already out of their seats scanning the windows for trouble as the Doctor unbuckled his seatbelt. He grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. He did not need to be told to wait in the plane until Gunner and his men had cleared the immediate area. Unfortunately, he had been through this drill before.
While he waited, the Doctor looked out the windows and saw no activity. It appeared to be clear. Gunner and his men had opened the hatch and lowered the stairs and were now on the tarmac surveying the area. He slowly made his way to the front of the plane anticipating the signal from Gunner.
“All clear Doctor!” Gunner’s voice shouted from below.
As the Doctor made his way down the stairs he thought it odd that Captain Bannon was still in the cockpit and had not come out to see them off as he had every other time. Perhaps he was trying something different this time. Change things up and maybe get a different result. The Doctor sure as hell hoped so.
Gunner was replacing his walkie onto his belt when the Doctor reached the bottom of the stairs.
“I was just talking to the Captain and he informed me he observed a convoy of, what appeared to be, military vehicles on the other side of the base,” Gunner said.
“I thought I had seen them too. Maybe the base hasn’t been overrun yet,” Dr. Sanderson offered.
“Maybe not, Doctor,” Gunner conceded, “but my instructions are clear. We are to find and return with your patient. Nothing else matters.”
Dr. Sanderson did not exactly know how to take that but it was certainly said with a definite … tone. Unsure how to respond, he just nodded.
Gunner’s men had finished their ritual of applying armor and arming themselves. It seemed to the Doctor they had a more determined look on their faces. It may have had something to do with Gunner’s conversation with Mr. Worthington.
“We don’t have a lot of light left and the signal is about two and a half miles southeast of here, so we should get moving,” Gunner said.
Major Bradley halted the convoy in front of Gate Four. He had been here a few times previous and had a vague recollection of Fort Campbell’s layout. Entering here would serve a couple of purposes. First, once inside, it had a wide dual lane with room to turn the convoy around and prepare for a quick retreat if necessary. Second, it is the closest entrance to the army hospital inside the base. At least as far as the Major remembered.
It made sense that if the National Guard or 101st brought infected here; they would have ended up at the medical center. Blanchfield Army Hospital was a large facility with modern equipment capable of handling nearly any situation.
His first concern, as he pulled up in front of the entrance, was the fact that no one was manning the toll booth style checkpoint just inside the base. He scanned the area with his binoculars and saw no movement; infected or otherwise. He was not sure if that was good news or not. It was possible that the remaining personnel would have moved inside the base to shrink the perimeter they had to defend.
“Captain Morris,
we will be entering at Gate Four,” the Major said into his comm.
“Yes sir,” Captain Morris replied.
His second concern was the plane he saw landing. It was not military, he was sure of that. It looked to be a private jet such as a Dassault or a Gulfstream. He was not sure why a plane like that would be landing at a military base. It was possible whoever they were, they might be helping with the evacuations or helping transport a vaccine to various safe zones. Either way he would investigate that after he checked out the hospital.
Private Sinclair led the convoy down Screaming Eagle Boulevard driving in the exit lane as the large vehicles in the convoy would have had trouble getting through the checkpoint. The exit lane had no such impediment.
After they had passed the gate, the convoy moved into the proper lane and continued down the boulevard for about a hundred yards coming to the first intersection. The Major had the convoy turn around and move back into the exit lane. Once they were all in line he opened his comm link.
“Captain Morris and Sergeant Sanchez report to the lead Humvee,” Major Bradley said.
A moment later he was standing under a large oak tree just off to the side of the convoy with Captain Morris and Sgt. Sanchez. The late afternoon sun was setting behind him as an eerie calm had taken over the base.
“What’s the plan Major?” Captain Morris asked.
“Have either of you seen any infected on the base?” the Major asked.
“I haven’t seen anyone, Major,” Sanchez replied.
“Nothing except for that plane,” Captain Morris added.
The Major thought for a second and then said, “There is no way we would be able to maneuver the convoy effectively inside the base. We need to leave the vehicles here, prepared to evacuate quickly. I will take a few men and scout out the hospital. Captain Morris, you stay here and guard the civilians and secure the convoy. We’ll keep comm lines open and update each other as needed. Captain you remain on channel two, me and my group will be on four.”
“What is your ETA to the hospital?” Captain Morris asked.
“It’s probably about half a mile, maybe a little more,” the Major replied. “I would say ten minutes.”
“Any questions?” he added.
“Why don’t you take my Humvee Major?” Captain Morris asked. “You can get there faster plus you’ll have the 50.”
“We may need to move in and out of buildings or around obstacles. If the place is filled with infected, there may be abandoned cars or telephone lines down. Plus, from what I’ve seen, they move pretty slowly. We should be able to avoid them if necessary,” Major Bradley said.
“Anything else?”
Neither Sgt. Sanchez nor Captain Morris had anything else to add. The Major had made his decision and that was usually that.
“Okay, Sergeant I need you to grab McCutchen, Stevens, Sinclair, and Diaz. Meet me back here in five. Make sure you pack extra ammo, we may need it.”
“Yes sir,” Sanchez replied and headed back to the convoy.
“Captain, I need you to have Simmons try contacting anyone inside the base. Maybe we can get a fix on their location and perhaps a status on the base itself. Let them know we’re here and inquire about any progress on a cure,” the Major said.
“Yes sir,” Captain Morris said as he turned to find Simmons and relay the Major’s orders.
Major Bradley took a minute to look around. It was quiet; too quiet. If this was Korea, he would think they were being set up for an ambush. Across the street, back from where they came, was the visitor’s center. At the intersection just ahead was the Turner Building; essentially lodging for anyone visiting the base. On the other side of the street was an army training center. Each building appeared to be empty. It was unnerving.
He reached for his sidearm and checked his clip. He did an inventory and found he had two spares as well.
Sanchez returned with Privates Sinclair, McCutchen, Stevens, and Diaz.
“All set Major,” Sanchez announced.
“Very well Sergeant,” the Major answered. “We’ll be heading in that direction,” he said pointing southwest. “I’ll take point, Sinclair and Stevens fan out to the left; McCutchen and Diaz to the right. Sanchez, take up position to the rear.”
“Be alert. We’re heading to the base hospital. If we engage any infected, make your shots count. We have limited ammo; understood?”
No one said a word. He could sense their apprehension.
“Move out,” the Major ordered. As they started to move the Major turned to Sergeant Sanchez and asked, “Can I get another clip Sergeant?”
The Doctor and crew moved along a service road from the airstrip that had several maintenance buildings to the left and a dense group of woods to the right. He had seen some strange things come out of the woods in the last couple of days and eyed them with suspicion as they passed.
Gunner halted the group at the first intersection. He preferred to stay on the main roads if possible. Although they would be more in the open it would be easier to spot any infected. The seemingly peaceful surroundings were not lost on him as the hairs on his neck began to stand up. Gunner had been in enough tight situations before that he always trusted the hairs on his neck.
Up ahead was a moderately sized residential area; presumably to house the soldiers and their families. Gunner consulted the GPS tracker and decided the quickest way to the signal was through the development. Locating the source of the signal quickly outweighed the risk of traveling around blind corners and small backyards. The sun was setting and it would be dark soon.
Staying in formation, Gunner led the group in between the first two houses, stopping at the end of each corner. Mikael and Stefan took turns darting into the open spaces between the houses making sure the coast was clear. They crossed Bell Road onto the other side of the development. As they moved through the backyards of two houses, the Doctor noticed movement in the narrow alley between them. He slowed and turned his head to get a better look.
Kneeling down and hunched over were three adults, their backs towards the Doctor. Their attention was fixed on something directly in front of them. Dr. Sanderson’s line of site was obscured and he was unable to see what it was. They had not, however, noticed him yet. Ludvig came up from behind the Doctor and ushered him forward, out of view of the crouching adults. As he turned his attention forward he caught a glimpse of what had kept them occupied. The legs of a fourth person of indeterminable age and gender had been separated from its abdomen. The group appeared to be feeding on the rest of the corpse. It was an image the Doctor would soon not forget.
They reached the other side of the development and it looked as if following Indiana Avenue, which was directly in front of them, would get them to the signal the fastest. The Doctor was relieved to be out in the open. He would prefer to see trouble coming rather than to have it sneak up on him.
They passed a recreation center and an indoor sports complex. Both seemed to be empty. A few minutes later they passed another housing complex that looked more like apartments that were in a V-shaped formation with the point of the V facing the road. Filling the space between the two spurs of apartments was an open courtyard that could easily be seen through a break in the buildings.
Meandering down the stone pathways and grass fields of the courtyard were at least a hundred infected. Dr. Sanderson looked at Gunner and saw that he had seen them as well. Gunner moved the group to the other side of the street and tightened up the formation. There was apparently significantly more infected here than they originally thought.
Gunner stopped and turned to talk to the Doctor, “We need to pick up the pace, Doctor. The GPS has us about a mile and a half from the signal. We haven’t attracted any attention yet but I feel it’s only a matter of time. Are you up to it?”
Looking back at the infected milling about the courtyard and thinking back to the horrific scene in the alley he looked Gunner square in the eye and said, “Let’s move.”
Capt
ain Morris checked in with Specialist Simmons to see if he had made contact with anyone on the base.
“Not yet Captain, but I’ve only been at it for a few minutes. I’ll let you know as soon as I do,” Simmons replied.
“Carry on,” Captain Morris said as he left the Humvee.
Simmons was right; it had only been a few minutes. Time seemed to be dragging since the Major left for the hospital. It had only taken a couple of minutes to secure the area. There did not seem to be any infected on this side of the base. Maybe there was a group of soldiers holed up somewhere inside the base with a cure and a plan to distribute it. It could be what that plane they saw was doing. He was hoping anyway. It would explain why he was pestering poor Simmons.
With the area secured it was time to go get the civilians. Let them stretch their legs and hit the restrooms.
Stephen looked over at young Jason who was standing with his legs crossed and hopping up and down; the classic signal of a distressed bladder.
“But I gotta go …” Jason pleaded with his mom.
“I know honey … it’ll be just a minute,” Kim said trying to calm her son down.
The convoy had stopped nearly fifteen minutes ago and they had been sitting there by themselves for the better part of it. Chester was nowhere to be seen and the soldier that was in the cargo truck with them had jumped out as soon as they had arrived.
Captain Morris suddenly appeared out of nowhere at the back of the truck. Alongside him was another soldier Stephen had yet to meet. He peered in and looked around.
The Zombie Principle Page 24