CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
David was kicking a ball in the hanger with his young son when Dane returned in the F750. He tapped the ball back to Thomas and told him he would return after he spoke with Uncle Dane. He heard the growls and commotion coming from the bed of the truck as he approached. Dane and Jimmy jumped from its cab and walked around the front bumper to meet David.
“I think I got all I could. It wasn’t easy, but we did it.”
“Good,” David commended as he looked at the box bed. “How many did you get?”
“Forty four,” Jimmy answered.
“How did you get ‘em?”
Dane and Jimmy exchanged looks and smiled. Jimmy held up his left forearm, showing a gash in the skin with a stream of dried blood running down it.
“How did you get that?”
Jimmy chuckled.
“Were you bit?”
“No”
“How did you guys do it?” David asked again feeling irritable for asking a second time.
“Dane pulled the truck into the alley between Second Street and Third street. The alley was slightly wider than the truck, so no infected could walk around the truck,” Jimmy laughed. “We cussed you for a while when it got hairy, but we managed.”
“Jimmy here was our bait,” Dane smiled patting Jimmy on the shoulder. “He jumped from the truck and ran around Main Street like a madman. When he found a group of creatures he led them up the ramp, then he climbed through the window back into the cab. They followed right up the ramp, like you said.”
“Then, I ran around the building, back to Main Street, and pulled the door closed,” Jimmy added.
“Good men. This is excellent work. How did you get out of the cab being so close to the building walls?” David smiled.
“There was a ladder right outside the truck’s window that gave me a way up to the roof,” Jimmy explained.
“What do you want us to do with them? We can’t just leave the truck here,” Dane said.
“Nah, they’re fine. We’ll need them in a few hours. Just park it down the way some, so they don’t hurt my ears,” David instructed, then returned to play ball with this son.
Fifty minutes after Dane and Jimmy returned with the load of infected, Montgomery and Patricia drove into the hanger. David met Montgomery at the driver’s side door, waiting to hear about their scouting run.
“Anything?” David asked as Montgomery exited the truck.
Montgomery smiled. “It’s them.”
“I knew it!,” David grinned. “What do they have?”
“There’s five of them there. We saw one woman and four men. They drove a truck to the back of the house and were loading things into the back of it,” Montgomery answered.
“Any kids? David asked.
“I think so. I saw a few toys out in the yard, but I didn’t see any running around outside.”
“Tell me about the terrain and layout.”
Montgomery walked over to the line of tables in the middle of the hanger. He found a blank piece of notebook paper and began drawing. “The house faces north; this road in front of the house runs to the east, but dead-ends at the farmhouse. There’s a pond back here,” Montgomery pointed. “A barn is between the house and pond, and that’s it.”
“But what about between the road and this farmhouse?”
“There’s a line of trees on the east side of the road. On the top of the hill and halfway down, between the top of the hill and the turn, the tree line stops, and it’s nothing but open pasture land.”
David rubbed his forehead while studying the hand drawn map laid before him. “We must be resourceful here. We have the contour of the landscape and the natural flow of the small valley here to take into consideration,” David pointed.
“Hey, Montgomery! How’s the arm?” Dane blurted when he entered the hanger.
Montgomery smiled and asked, “You two get much sleep?”
“Not really, but we’re functioning,” Jimmy replied.
“What have you guys been up to?” Montgomery asked.
“David asked us to play round-up artist in town, so we did. We have about forty-four infected in the new box truck we picked up last night,” Dane answered.
“You did what?” Patricia exclaimed.
“Sure did! They’re down by the third hanger,” Jimmy pointed.
Montgomery clenched his jaw. “Geez! You brought infected to the airport? Inside the fence?”
Dane nodded and pointed at David, who was still staring at the hand drawn map.
“What the hell, David?” Montgomery questioned in an angry tone.
David held his index finger up without removing his eyes from the map. “It’s ok. They’re inside the truck, and the truck is down a few hangers. They’re not getting out.”
“But, still!”
“It will be okay,” David assured, without looking up.
Montgomery shook his head. “My family sleeps inside this hanger. Right inside that RV,” he pointed. “And I don’t feel safe with them being a few hundred yards away.”
David turned to Montgomery and gave him a death stare. “I told you, it will be all right. I have a plan. They won’t stay here much longer. Understood?” David glared at Montgomery until Montgomery looked away. “Good. Now, you guys, and you, Patricia, go get some rest. We saddle up tonight. Have your guns and ammo ready. We’re going to take care of this threat once and for all.”
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Cliff saw Jennifer approached as he and Jake were loading the SUV. He had kept his distance from her most of the evening, believing she was upset about something and he didn’t want to intrude. When Jennifer helped, she was quiet. He took a mental note of it. He knew she had doubts about leaving the farm.
“About finished?” she asked.
“I think so,” Cliff answered hesitantly, noticing she was wearing make-up for the first time since the outbreak.
“We have half the ammunition loaded. We’ll pack the rest after dinner tonight,” Jake added when he climbed from the rear cargo area. “That reminds me: when is dinner?”
Jennifer looked at her watch. “Two hours from now.”
Cliff looked her in the eyes and bit his bottom lip. He still loved her. He wished he had been a better husband. He had many regrets and wished he could go back in time and talk to himself. Cliff had kicked himself many times since she had delivered the divorce papers.
She stepped closer to him and leaned her head close to his cheek and tipped toed up to his ear. “I want you to spend the night in my bedroom tonight,” she whispered.
Cliff’s eyes widened. Am I dreaming? What the hell happened to her? She had brushed me off. Why now? He swallowed. “I’d love that,” he whispered back.
She reached for his hand and smiled. She walked backward stretching his arm out until she let her hand slip from his.
“What was that about?” Jake asked when Jennifer entered the house.
“I don’t know, but I’m happy about it,” Cliff beamed.
“Well, lover boy, when you return from cloud nine, help me load this last bag.”
Doug and Chris entered from loading Cliff’s truck.
“We’re loaded up here. Anything else?” Doug asked.
“Take the truck to the pump house and see if you can remove the solar panels from the roof. It might be smart of us to bring them with us. You never know when we’ll need to charge batteries,” Cliff offered.
Jake waited until Chris and Doug left, “Do you think Chris can be trusted if it gets hairy out there? He wasn’t much help at the pharmacy. If we get in trouble again, I don’t want him to place any of us in harm’s way if we have to rescue him. Did you see how he froze when those guys were shooting at us?”
Cliff shook his head. “I saw, but doubt he’ll be a liability. Plus, I worry more about infected walkers than running into those guys again. He managed well driving from Lawton with his family. He’s another trigger in the group if we need him. Plus, he can driv
e.”
“True, but I’m worried he’ll freeze again if we drive into a horde or something.”
“I’ve seen it before in Iraq. Guys were freezing under fire; not one of them put us in danger. When the time came, they knew what to do,” Cliff countered. “Plus, Doug didn’t do much either other than eat candy. I’m sure he was scared, too.”
“I guess you’re right, but I don’t know if I can trust him when it comes down to it. Plus, those guys in your platoon had training. He doesn’t,” Jake argued.
Cliff understood Jake’s concern. He realized Chis could be a liability if they got into trouble, but wanted to give the man the benefit of the doubt. Being shot at is different than being chased by the infected, Cliff thought.
“Load the rest of the guns and ammo into the Defender and meet me at the pump house. Those guys might need a hand with the solar panels,” Cliff said, changing the subject then walked into the house. He found Jennifer and Cassandra busy preparing dinner. He smiled and waved at Cassidy standing next to her mother.
He took a seat at the kitchen table. Cassandra brought him a glass of water. He smiled back when she placed the glass in front of him. Jennifer dropped a pan in the sink, breaking the room’s silence.
“You okay?” Cliff asked Jennifer. She had been acting different today. Is it stress? Was it because she didn’t want to leave the farm?
Jennifer sighed, “Yeah.”
“Have we got everything we need?” Cassandra asked.
“I think so,” Cliff sighed.
Jennifer eyed Cassandra as she returned to the kitchen, ”You don’t sound enthusiastic, Cliff.”
“I’m just tired from loading everything.”
“What’s the plan?,” Cassandra asked wiping her hands on her apron.
“We head out tomorrow. Doug and Chris are taking down the solar panels; Jake is loading the last of the ammo in the Defender. We put some ammo in the Ford,” Cliff pointed behind him toward the back door. “I think we have everything: food, water, clothes, medicine, guns, and ammo. Just need to load ourselves. A two-day drive is all we’re looking at. We can drive straight through the night by swapping drivers.”
“This will be our last hot meal until we get there. I sure hope everything is as you described, Cassandra,” Jennifer smiled.
“It is. Trust me. I visited one of the distribution centers near Oklahoma City once, and it had everything the store carried. My only fear is we might not be the first ones there,” Cassandra explained.
“I’m sure we will be,” Cliff smiled.
“Damn fine meal, Jennifer,” Doug smile holding up his glass.
Jennifer chuckled, “Not me. It was Cassandra and Cassidy.”
Doug smiled at Cassidy,” Fine meal, Ms. Cassidy.”
“Thank you.”
“Hey,” Cliff smiled, “If it wasn’t for me and Jake, we wouldn’t have this fine catfish.”
“What this meal is missing, is wine,” Jake added.
Jennifer shook her head, “No alcohol. It was what broke up our marriage.”
Cliff glanced at Jennifer, “She’s right. But, it does sound good, Jake.”
Jennifer kicked Cliff under the table and laughed.
“Hey!” Cliff laughed locking eyes with her.
“It’s a good thing,” Jennifer said reaching for Cliff’s hand.
Everyone’s hush conversations fell silent when a car horn sounded followed by a loud crash. There was a short pause before Cliff bolted from his chair and grabbed his Ruger Mini-14 rifle. “Get the kids to the bedroom and lock the door!”
“Here! Take the pistol,” Cliff said handing out the Colt.
She and Cassandra hustled the children from their seats. Jake grabbed the AR15 rifle leaning against the corner of the room.
“What the hell is that?” Jake asked.
Cliff rushed to the front window in the living room
“Holy cow!” He looked out the window to see a car crashed into the tree in the front yard. The horn was blaring; he narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t see anyone behind the car’s steering wheel. He looked to his left toward the road; a large box truck was driving away, its rear ramp dragging to the ground. Between the truck and the house was a group of infected creatures walking toward the car horn.
“My God,” Cliff mumbled.
“What is it? What do we do?” Chris asked, his voice elevated.
“Stay here!” Cliff ran to the bedroom where Jennifer and Cassandra were hiding. The children screamed when Cliff threw open the door.
Jennifer’s brave face evaporated when she saw Cliff. “What is it?”
“I need you guys to get in the attic! There’s a mob of forty or more infected walking this way. If they break in, you’ll be safer up there than in here.”
“Oh dear,” Cassandra said.
“What’s happening?” Jonathan cried.
Jennifer embraced Jonathan.
“Let’s go! Get up there. I’ll feel safer if you guys are up there,” Cliff commanded.
Cliff led the women and children to the hallway and lowered the attic door. He gave Jonathan a flashlight, telling him it would keep him safe. “You stay strong up there, my son. I will be right here. I won’t go anywhere without you. Stay with your momma,” Cliff persuaded.
Jonathan nodded, holding the flashlight across his chest with both hands.
A single gunshot rang out.
“Get up there, quickly!”
Cliff waited for Cassandra to climb to the top before he closed the door. He returned to the living room to see the front door opened.
“Who fired?”
Jake pointed out the door.
Cliff looked out to see Doug running to the car. He looked at the approaching mob. Cliff guessed Doug had thirty seconds before the infected drew near. He watched Doug open the driver’s door and fumble with the steering wheel. After a few long seconds of Cliff holding his breath, Doug ran back to the house. He closed the door the moment Doug entered.
“What was it?”
“I don’t know, but we have company. Someone tied a rope around the steering wheel, keeping the horn button down,” he explained between breaths.
“Geez!”
“Do you think it’s the same guys we ran into at the pharmacy?” Jake suggested.
“It’s possible. We have to be ready. Keep your eyes open and yell out if you see them,” Cliff answered.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
David stood on the county road near the top of the hill, looking through binoculars he held with his good arm. The plan was going well. He was pleased to see his idea come to life. It was a simple plan: send in the infected and shoot anyone who tried to escape. He wanted the infected to do the killing for him. He knew it would be difficult to have anyone kill in cold blood based on a perceived threat. He needed to use the infected as an ally.
“You sure this is the best way to handle this, David?” Patricia asked standing next to him, watching the mob of creatures migrating to the farmhouse.
David lowered the binoculars and turned. He scowled at her question. “They’re a threat to us,” he answered coldly. “What’s preventing them from taking our hanger? If they want it, all they have to do is kill us while we sleep. We can’t have that threat hang over us every day.”
Patricia wiped the tear from the corner of her eye. “There’s children in here, David!”
“It’s unfortunate, isn’t it?” he answered with a cold stare.
“Don’t you feel bad about putting their lives in danger?”
“We have to do what we have to do to keep the family safe, Patricia. I know we’re doing the right thing,” David explained. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Look!” She pointed, watching a man run to the car. Smart and brave, she thought.
“Go,” David instructed. “Go to the edge of the tree line, and I want you to shoot at anyone who tries to escape the back door.”
Patricia didn’t protest. She jogged over the roadside ditch and thr
ough the field to where David instructed her to stand.
David whistled at Montgomery and Bruce, who were waiting by the truck. “Head to the field and shoot at anyone who tries to escape the front. Go now!”
Without question, they took off to the field with rifles in hand.
Dane slowed the F750 to a crawl as he approached David standing in the middle of the road. He jumped from the cab and slid the cargo ramp back into its cradle under the truck bed. He returned to the cab of the truck to retrieve his rifle.
“Where do you want me?” he asked breathing heavily.
“Grab the firebomb from the back of my truck. I want you get close and throw one at the house. We need to put the squeeze on them. ” David grinned. “Go between Mont and Bruce on the left and Patricia on the right.”
“Don’t you have a conscious?” Dane chuckled.
David ignored the question, “Get going.”
“I’m on it,” Dane returned as he jogged to retrieve the firebomb.
David was pleased to see his plan unfold. All of his players were in place, the infected surrounded the front of the house, and if anyone tried to escape his trap, they would be shot. With Dane setting the house on fire, there was no way the people inside could resist from escaping. The one hitch in his plan, he acknowledged, was the far side of the house. He couldn’t watch the far side. David hoped the infected would fulfill that one void.
When gunfire erupted inside the farmhouse. David laughed.
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
The living room window shattered behind him. Cliff looked to see Jake struggling to reload the AR rifle. Three creatures were clawing their way through the broken window seconds from attacking Jake. Cliff rushed next to Jake and pulled the Beretta Nano out and shot two of the infected clawing their way in.
Jake jumped back. He raised his loaded rifle, took aim, and pulled the trigger. As soon as the infected dropped from sight, five more creatures ran to the open window.
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