by Mark Tufo
“I did a quick search of the boat to make sure it didn’t have any of those things on it, then jumped back onto the ramp to untie the rope that secured it in place. Just as I got the rope off the post they broke through! I heard what sounded like a loud metal crash and looked toward the gate. They had broken the entire gate down and were pouring through the opening like a swarm of bees! I use that comparison because the sound of so many together was almost like a buzzing.” Wanda stopped and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “The ramp was fairly narrow and although many of those people, those things, were falling off as they clamored to get at us, enough of them were quickly making their way down the ramp!
“I pushed at the front of the boat to try to get it away from the dock and out into the open water. I’ve seen that done in movies, too. I really think I’ve watched way too many of those action movies!” Wanda laughed for a moment, with Derrick and Harry joining in.
“I suppose there won’t be many of those movies being made now,” Wanda said quickly sobering to that reality. “Anyway, the boat moved a little but not as much as I’d thought it would. I jumped back on the front part of the boat, the deck I guess you call it, and headed up to where the steering wheel was located.”
“By the time Gram was back on the boat I’d found the key near the steering wheel,” Nevaeh interjected. “I even put it in the slot where it’s supposed to go!”
“That’s right honey, you sure did,” Wanda said, smiling proudly at her granddaughter’s quick thinking. “That saved us a bunch of time, too.” At the praise from her grandmother, Nevaeh returned a smile with an obvious look of satisfaction on her young face.
“I take it you were able to get the boat started and out of the slip?” Harry asked Wanda.
“Yes we did,” Wanda replied with a smile. “Thank God there was a small diagram next to the ignition that showed how to start the boat. Flip a switch, put a lever in neutral, and turn the key. Worked like a charm, too! The engine started right up except we were still facing the ramp.
“At about the time I was wondering how to put the boat in reverse, a couple of those things jumped on the front of it! I had been so focused on getting the boat started I wasn’t paying attention. Hadn’t realized the front portion of that group had made it to the boat so quickly. We felt the weight of them hit the boat causing it to dip a bit in the front! I figured we were done for. But something happened that I still don’t understand. Somehow the few that had managed to get onto the front slipped off and fell into the water! It’s kind of hard to describe, but the front of the boat was enclosed. And there was nothing for them to hang onto or get caught up in.
“When they fell off, somehow it actually pushed the boat back enough away from the ramp that I was able to get the boat moving forward. As I said, we were at the end of the ramp with nothing blocking us in and were able to head out toward the opening of the marina. I thought for sure those things would jump in the water after us! A bunch were pushed because of the sheer amount of them crowding the ramp, but the reaction I saw was amazing. They knew we were still there and it was very clear they wanted to come after us. But they only stood on the ramp with their arms outstretched, uttering that god-awful moaning. They did not jump in the water after us! The ones that had fallen in the water were going crazy! Thrashing around like they had fallen into acid, then slowly sinking beneath the surface. That’s when I figured out they were afraid of water.” Wanda paused with a distant look on her face as she recounted those events.
“I nearly ran us into the rocks that surrounded the boat dock area while I was watching those things, too!” She took up the story again. “But I was able to somehow get us out into the open water and away from that marina. Not really knowing which way to go, I decided to head south, staying along the coast as closely as possible since I really had no idea how to navigate a boat in the ocean. Talk about a white-knuckle ride! I don’t know how long we were out there but it was at least a day and a night. There were no gauges of any kind by the steering wheel, so I really had no idea how much gas we had, but I figured we’d just keep going as far as we could.
“I was beginning to panic just a bit when we finally saw the Golden Gate Bridge. Just rounded a point and there it was! I figured we could find help around here so I steered us toward it. Let me tell you, that bridge is something when you’re driving over it, but to see it from beneath is incredible!” Wanda looked at Harry with a slight smile. “That thing is huge!”
Harry chuckled and said, “That it is.”
“Anyway”, Wanda resumed, “once we were past the bridge a good distance I decided it was time we got off that boat and onto dry land again. I saw what looked like a beach area to my right so I headed directly for it. I told Nevaeh to hang on and I let the boat run right up on the sand. We were going fast enough that we hit pretty hard, but at least the boat was stuck in the sand afterward and I didn’t have to worry about it slipping back out from under us.”
“That must have been the Crissy Field Beach,” Frank said absently as he continued to scan the area outside for any threats.
“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Wanda replied, glancing toward Frank.
“I cracked my head on the side of the boat when we hit the sand, too!” Nevaeh said, looking up toward Harry and rubbing lightly at the spot. “Hurt just a little but I didn’t tell Gran.”
“You are very brave, Nevaeh,” Harry said smiling.
Wanda again stroked the girl’s hair and continued with the story. “I knew we had to move right away. I’d left the tire iron back at the boat ramp, so I took a minute to look for something else. Apparently the owners of that boat didn’t prep well for these sorts of situations. Couldn’t find a thing. Not really certain what I would have done with a weapon, but would have felt a lot better if I’d had something.
“It was beginning to get dark and really cold. Fog was coming in, too, but thought it might be better if we waited on the boat until full dark. I’d found a flashlight, so at least we could see. By the time it had gotten dark there was a heavy fog in the area. It almost felt like it was drizzling rain. We climbed off the boat and headed toward what I thought at the time was the main part of San Francisco. That was some scary shi…” Wanda began but caught herself, glancing to her granddaughter. “That was some scary stuff. We saw a lot of shapes in the fog but it seemed as if they weren’t paying much attention to anything. That’s because of the fog, isn’t it?” she asked, looking to Harry.
Harry nodded. “It appears that the Zs want nothing to do with water on any level. The fog seems to disorient them.”
“Good thing for us. I’m not sure what we would have done if those things had decided to come after us!” Wanda replied with a visible shudder. “We got as far as the street where you found us, and were able to get into a house. Found some warmer clothes and something to eat. There was also a battery-powered radio that we listened to. I couldn’t believe what was happening! The world seemed to be going mad. Like something straight out of a horror movie.
“We’ve been there for almost a week. Lots of those zombies, things, infected, whatever you call them roaming around. Saw some pretty bad things happen to some folks, too. But there was nothing I could do to help them.” Tears had once again formed in Wanda’s eyes. “I just stopped looking out of the windows when I heard the screams. That is, until I heard your truck. When I saw you were the police I figured that if we didn’t run out we wouldn’t make it much longer. That’s our story in a nutshell.”
Wanda took a deep breath and leaned back, closing her eyes. Harry could only wonder what she had left out of the story for her granddaughter’s sake. Regardless, he knew she was an extremely strong woman who had faced nearly impossible odds, and all for the sake of this child. Harry could understand that bond quite well. Thoughts of his own nephew, Eric, popped into his mind with clarity so strong that tears of his own formed. “No time for this right now,” he muttered to himself.
27
“Harry, we
need to move soon,” Frank said.
“Right,” Harry replied, shaking the unbidden emotions off as he reached for the radio mic. “Phil, this is Harry. Do you copy?”
“We’re here, Harry, go ahead.” Phil’s voice came through the speaker almost immediately.
“Are you guys ready to roll?” Harry asked.
“Good to go,” Phil replied. “Jimi said it would only take a few minutes to get the boat started and in position. He said the water is deep enough around the docks that he can bring the boat almost to the shoreline if necessary. We are still not real clear on what you have in mind, though.”
Harry thought about that for a moment, then said, “Copy, Phil. Ask him to get the boat to the breakwater side nearest the harbor entrance. I need you close enough that when the monitors are turned on the water stream will reach at least twenty-five to thirty feet onto land and maintain a width of about fifty feet. We are going to be coming from the west side of the marina on Yacht Road. As soon as we clear the parking lot we are going to head directly for the gate that leads to the boat slips. I need you to make certain you are flooding the area around that gate. Once we have the truck in position, I need you to maintain a steady flow on and around us. We are going to walk right through the gate. Do you copy all that, Phil? It is extremely important that you do not allow that water stream to stop until I give you the word!”
Harry released the transmit button on the mic and waited for Phil’s acknowledgment. Several seconds passed, and Harry began to wonder if something was wrong on the other end.
“We understand, Harry. Jimi just said that would be no problem, but are you sure this is going to work?” Phil finally asked. “I mean, there are dozens of those things around the fence and gate. Jimi said we will be too far away if you are thinking that we can use water pressure to knock them down long enough for you to get through!”
“That’s not exactly what I had in mind,” Harry said with a slight chuckle. “I think if the fog is heavy enough and we can get enough water flowing in a concentrated area, the Zs are going to part like the Red Sea. They really don’t like water.” With that said, Harry quickly outlined what both he and Wanda had observed. He followed off by telling Phil what he had in mind to get those people on the other boats out of the marina.
Phil responded much more quickly this time once Harry had completed outlining his plan. “That sounds kind of dicey for you guys. Although now that you mention it, I’ve seen how those things react to water … but this still seems damn risky.”
“We don’t have much choice,” Harry replied. “We have to do something, not only for those folks on the boats, but ourselves.”
“Here’s to luck, then,” Phil said. “We’re maneuvering the boat into position now. Give us the word when you want us to start the waterworks.”
Although not in line of sight, Harry heard the big diesel engines of the fireboat start in the distance – a distinct rumbling sound followed by a brief plume of black smoke rising from the exhaust, which was quickly carried away in the brisk wind that had picked up. He then heard the boat’s engines as they revved, indicating it was moving.
Harry’s anxiety was beginning to mount. He knew they would soon be past the point of no return but he did not, in fact, see any other options. With that thought he took a deep breath and said, “10-4, Phil. The party starts in a few minutes. We are heading toward your location now. Be ready with the monitors.”
Harry turned around and faced the occupants in the back of the truck. “Okay folks, you heard the plan. Everyone get ready to move when I give the word. We are going to drive the truck right up to the entrance and into the water being sprayed by the fireboat. It might be hard to see and hear with that much water pouring down on us, but I want you to remain calm.
“Frank, once we’re in the water I want you to get this big bastard turned around and backed up to the gate. Leave enough room so the rear doors can swing open.
“Wanda, I want you and your granddaughter to stay near Derrick. Do not move unless he does.
I’m going to get out first and go around to the rear. I don’t want anyone to move until I give the word! I would assume that gate is secured somehow, so grab me a pair of bolt cutters, Derry.”
Derrick reached over to a wall-mounted cabinet, opened it and removed a short-handled set of bolt cutters. He handed those up to Harry.
“Thanks,” Harry said, speaking directly to Derrick as he placed the cutters on the floorboard in front of him. “Hopefully that is all I’ll need. Derry, once that gate is opened, get Wanda and her granddaughter to the nearest boat while Frank and I stand guard. We’ll move as much of the equipment and supplies out of the truck as possible once the ladies are secure. If things turn ugly, we leave whatever we can’t carry. I don’t want to lose the supplies, weapons, or ammo, but we won’t worry about that. Our lives are more important. When I say leave, we leave. Everyone clear?”
Although there was great concern in Wanda’s eyes, she gave Harry a single nod, indicating she’d understood. Neveah was obviously frightened but gave Harry the thumbs up sign.
“We’re good to go, Harry,” Derrick said while giving both Wanda and Nevaeh a reassuring smile. “These ladies are going to stick to me like glue and everything will be just fine.”
Harry hoped Derrick was right.
“Okay, Frank, you heard the man. My rear end is numbing up from all this sitting, so let’s go so we can stretch our legs a bit,” Harry said while he snapped his AR onto the tactical harness and once again dropped the clip to make certain it was full.
As Frank started the truck, he simply said, “Copy that.”
Saying a silent prayer to whoever might be listening, Harry said, “Let’s get this done. Phil,” he said into the radio mic, “let me know when the boat’s in position, and as soon as it is, start pumping water.”
“We’re almost there now, Harry. Good luck, man!” Phil replied.
Harry glanced toward the west end of the Bay and saw a large fog bank rapidly making its way toward them. He fervently hoped that he was not leading his people to their deaths. “Don’t start second-guessing yourself now, Harry ole boy,” he murmured to himself while looking at the throng of infected directly across the street.
“Did you say something, Harry?” Frank asked
“Nothing Frank, just talking to myself,” Harry said in a distracted tone, still staring out the windshield.
Derrick, who had squatted down behind the center console between Frank and Harry, said, “Yeah, remember, Rook, the elderly do that sometimes. Let’s just hope he isn’t talking to his imaginary friend again!” Harry glared at Derrick for a moment before all three men broke into laughter, breaking the tension if only for a moment.
“Some of the best conversations I’ve had are with myself, you know!” Harry replied after recovering a bit. “You’ll understand in a year or two, Derry.” With a large grin on his face, Derrick reached forward and patted Harry on the shoulder.
“There’s the fireboat,” Frank interjected.
Harry looked back out of the windshield in time to see the front end of the Phoenix come into view. It was coasting along slowly. Harry could see about a quarter of the bow beyond where he was certain the gate to the harbor was located. The rest of the boat was covered from view by the San Francisco Yacht Club building.
Moments after the boat came to a stop, Phil’s voice came through the radio speaker. “We’re in position, Harry. The pumps are ready to switch on and we have two of the heavy monitors pointed toward the gate area. There sure are a lot of those fucks around. I know I’ve said this several times now, but you guys be careful!”
“Copy that, Phil. We’re ready out here and this should be a cake walk,” Harry replied in a tone he hoped sounded confident. “No sense in keeping the good folks on those boats waiting any longer. Activate the monitors and let’s get this done.”
Harry had just replaced the mic on its dash clip when he watched a huge bloom of water sudden
ly engulf the gate area that led into the harbor proper: a wall of water that blocked out the front portion of the drive, the gate, and the infected.
“Oh my God! That’s awesome!” Frank said, staring raptly at the waterworks display a few hundred yards from the truck’s position. “Look at the Zs though! They sure don’t think much of the show!”
28
Both Harry and Derrick saw very clearly the effect the water was having on the infected. They were scattering in all directions to get away from the flow. It was obvious that those in the rear of the group were not cooperating well with those in the front. Or they didn’t comprehend what was happening. Those in the front of the pack were knocking those in the rear over like bowling pins in their haste to create some distance between themselves and the water that was flooding the area.
The leading edge of the fog bank, which had been working its way inland, finally reached the harbor. It was moving fast and quickly covered the area in a blanket of greyish mist. This further added to the chaos within the ranks of the Zs. The infected that had been lining the outer fringes of the harbor near the shoreline started to scatter, arms flailing about as if to ward off the offensive cloud of the fog that was engulfing them. Their reaction to the fog was not as dramatic as it had been to the stream of water being poured onto shore from the fireboat, but the fog was nevertheless effective in getting the Zs’ attention.
“Go, Frank!” Harry said urgently.