Containment_A Zombie Novel

by B. A. Hippsley

  “Why the sudden need for everybody to run screaming to the hills? One side of Highway 104 is darn near 90 clicks of desert to Burnsville. You get a blow-out there and the sun will get you. The other side of the highway is the mountains, you get trouble up there and the grizzlies will get you. We just need to sit tight and let this blow over.”

  “Sarge is right. Anyone thinking about private expeditions can forget it. If the time comes, then we’ll send an organised convoy for help. But that’s not going to happen,” said Eastman.

  “I gotta agree with the boys there,” said Firth. “We got no need to run from the town. What we gotta do is work together on this. Anyone who’s worried by this can talk to me and, of course, Preacher Goodman. Sheriff Eastman has a few words to say then we’ll wrap it up.”

  “Thank you Mayor. We can’t use 911, so I want volunteers to help out. I need about twenty people. They’re gonna patrol the town and any folks needing help can let them know. The teams will have CB’s or police radios. I asked Dan Brockman for as many sets as he can get. “Mayor, you can authorise that from the town fund. Next thing I need is any military reservists and people on leave; turn up at the station house in uniforms with everybody else at seven this evening. Right now, we need to be good neighbours to keep the town safe, just check on each other. Well that’s about it for now.”

  “One last question, Sheriff is there any connection with the blackout and these murders?”

  “I’ll take that Lenny,” Firth said. “There is absolutely no connection and these are separate issues. You can trust me on that.”

  ****

  Marv Glitzman was a geek and he’d be the first to admit it. He collected Smurf toys and wrote poems. But it was his body that caused the problems. He was too skinny and too tall. Mr Donovan, his Phys Ed teacher, called him ‘fragile’. He hated sticking out from the other kids. There was one other thing: he was the new kid. The new kid that just couldn’t do any right. He’d moved from the city about a year ago, but his dad reckoned that in a place like Armstrong, outsiders were always outsiders. He was desperate to fit in. This was why he’d agreed to come on this stupid trip.

  Conrad Firth was a boy that no one liked; in fact most kids avoided him. He was the Mayor’s son with cash to burn, but he was trouble. They’d starting hanging out together as something to do in school. Some other like-minded kids had joined them and now Conrad thought he was the leader of a ‘bad ass’ gang. He got into trouble in town but his family would see that it never amounted to anything.

  He’d planned this trip for weeks; the gang would take some gear and camp out by the old airbase, but with all this excitement today they’d nearly called it off. Conrad had persuaded them to carry on. However, it wasn’t through loyalty to Firth that Marv had agreed to continue. It was Britney Patrick. She was a vision of beauty with long blonde hair and eyes as blue as…

  “Hey keep up Marv, you’re slowing us down,” called Conrad, completely ruining the moment.

  Conrad was well in front of the rest except for Britney who was just in front of him. She was wearing ‘those’ pants that Marv liked. How long he’d waited for this trip, now all he had to do was pick his moment with her. His father had wanted to call the whole thing off, but Conrad had lied about where the gang was going to camp.

  The old base had a serious ‘spook’ factor about it. Everyone in town had been too busy and with Eastman gathering his posse, they’d just slipped out. Tony Arcado had brought some of his old man’s Bourbon. That left Jenha Galway and Ruby Carson. They were invited along because they were the only ones with tents.

  “Hey, how long till we’re there?” Jenha asked.

  She was tired of lugging her tent up the incline and now it was getting dark. She hadn’t wanted to leave town with all the commotion going on, but she couldn’t let the others down. Even so, she wished that someone else would carry the tent.

  “I’ll have a look up ahead,” Conrad called back.

  As Conrad sped up and disappeared over the crest of the hill, Marv quickened his pace, drawing level with Britney. With Conrad out of the way he could see his chance of being with her. But what would he say? Making small talk with girls was not his thing.

  “Hi. A bit cooler now,” he ventured, looking over at her.

  She shot him a sideways glance but said nothing. Britney Patrick was from the other side of town. Her parents owned several properties and regarded themselves as ‘people of substance’ but she’d never been good at making friends. She found most people in the town plain dumb and did her best to stay clear of them. Conrad was different, he was like her, he didn’t care what people thought of him and he was exciting. She looked at Marv. He was a geek but he was good at schoolwork. She knew that if she got him to help her, then her grades would improve and she could move out of Armstrong.

  “So, Marv, what do you make of all this today?”

  “I…well better than watching the grass grow,” was the best he could manage.

  Both of them laughed. Suddenly, a figure erupted from the foliage on the trackside, brandishing a large knife. It was dressed in a black robe and under the hood was a disfigured skull. Shrieking insanely, the figure rushed at the terrified group. Marv barely had time to react; he shot a kick at the figure’s hand and sent the knife soaring into the air. The other kids were riveted to the spot screaming, too shocked to move. Then the hooded figure started yelling back.

  “Ow, you God damn fool; you could’ve broken my wrist!”

  Everyone stopped screaming and looked at the figure in bewilderment. Marv reached out and pulled the rubber mask off, revealing the assailant. The kids erupted into angry outbursts.

  “Real clever there Firth. I done just about messed my shorts!” Tony Arcado shouted.

  “That was a dumb thing to do up here, you creep,” called Britney.

  “Aw, come on guys! Can’t you take a joke? Nobody got hurt - except for me, that is. Who the hell do you think you are Marv? Chuck freaking Norris?” said Conrad defending himself.

  Jenha was comforting Ruby who was close to tears.

  “Yeah, well good for Marv. He should’ve kicked your stupid head off!” she yelled at him.

  “That was cool. Where the hell did to learn to do that dude?” asked Tony.

  Suddenly Marv was the unexpected centre of attention; his face felt like it was on fire as he turned bright red. His eyes darted about, as he frantically struggled to think of a reply.

  “My Grandpa fought in ’Nam and he taught me a few tricks, that’s all.”

  Marv watched as Conrad went around each of the gang almost pleading with them to carry on. He’d been brought crashing down and Marv was surprised at just how good that felt. He wasn’t the only one; Britney was enjoying it also. Then she looked directly at him. It was a strange look with a faint smile. It was the type of look that made him glad he was wearing loose pants. Eventually Conrad successfully persuaded the gang to continue and they moved off. Marv began to think this expedition might not be so bad after all.

  ****

  Taylor lay on his bed keeping a watchful eye on his captor. This new guy had replaced the gorilla. His gold nameplate read ‘Deputy Bodien’ and man, was he a real hillbilly. He’d spent the last half hour or so drooling over a copy of Guns and Ammo. Taylor had managed to piece together that Eastman had organised extra patrols to cover the night hours. Taylor had taken more information from them than they’d got from him. Eastman was not from the same breed as the other cops, that much was clear. He was no ordinary flatfoot, he was smart and that made him a threat.

  “Hey, hillbilly boy. When’s chow time?”

  “Call me that again and you don’t get no chow, boy.”

  “What’s going on out there in any case?”

  “Ain’t no concern of yours. Hush up now, I’m reading.”

  “If you’re not feeding me, then how about one of them lights off?”

  “Clara’s gonna bring some food at eight – it ain’t half seven yet
. I don’t want no wise cracks outta you when she turns up, either. You hear me?”

  Bodien switched the strip light off in the nearest cell, affording some shade.

  Taylor lay back on his bed, placed his hands behind his head and linked his fingers, sighing heavily. How the hell had he got mixed up in all this crap in the first place?

  Chapter - Six

  Jimmy Red Cloud looked up at the full moon, thankful of its guiding light. Although nothing but a rough mountain track, he treated it like most folk would treat the sidewalk. He’d walked the five miles from his home and almost reached the Parks Department observation tower, a trek he’d made many times before. Tonight though, something wasn’t quite right.

  There was a certain something in the air. Everything was still and silent and it shouldn’t be. Where were the nocturnal animals, the hunters and the prey? There was something else too; he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. He looked about the heavily-wooded area, the tall pine trees reaching into the clear night sky, his keen senses alert, but all he could smell was that same stench of death. First he’d thought it was coming from a large animal, but the odour had followed him for miles and then vanished. Now it was back and worse than before.

  Covering the ground the way he had, he figured it would be another hour before he’d reach the tower. He was meeting with Bill Merka. For a white man, Merka had a real feel for the land and Red Cloud liked him. They’d started working together some two years ago and Red Cloud had volunteered as often as he could. Tonight Merka had invited him to help record a meteorite shower. It was due in over the highest peak and he’d have the best view in the county on top of the tower.

  Red Cloud had tried to call Merka on his cell phone and landline but both were out. The kids he’d seen a while back seemed to have been using their cell phones, so perhaps it was just Bill’s? They’d been heading up towards the old Air Force base with camping gear. He’d kept out of sight. He knew that some whites got freaked when they came across Indians and things were odd enough as it was.

  He’d spent countless hours hunting these hills though he’d never felt like this before. Animals could sense things that people couldn’t. Maybe it was the comet that had spooked them. He tried to rein his imagination in; he was sounding like one of the old men. Spooks and spirits, all that bull was long gone.

  The only spirits he’d seen on the reservation came courtesy of Mr Jack Daniels or worse, Moonshine that could turn a man blind or mad. Too many on the reservation drank and drank too damn much. He never touched the stuff and he wanted no part in that old hokum either. That was for tourists, like the couple he’d seen in the SUV some days ago. He’d stopped by to warn them of the park’s fire regulations. They’d seemed okay but it was obvious that the nearest either had been to a real Red Indian was a re-run of The High Chaparral on TV. Most whites were shocked to find that Indians didn’t use ‘um’ every other word and that annoyed him.

  Red Cloud stepped up onto a small rocky outcrop and in the distance he could clearly see the lights of the tower. He tried his phone again, still nothing. Stepping back onto the track he was suddenly seized by a sense of overwhelming anxiety. There was that stench again. Sickly, sweet – a rancid stink. He was sure he was being watched. He could feel the eyes on him. It was such a strong feeling that he spun around, his eyes darting all about him. There was nothing. He still couldn’t explain it. Now the hairs on his neck were standing up. He was desperately fighting the urge to run, but he still didn’t know from what?

  ****

  Marv couldn’t stop thinking about the look Britney had given him a while ago. It was the look that girls gave boys when they’re hot. That’s what Mike Travis had said and he knew about such things. Damn, was she hot! Which was more than he could say about the chill night air; he guessed it made up for the day’s heat. He glanced around at the others. Jenha and Ruby were sticking like glue to Tony, who was just behind him, while Britney walked ahead. Conrad had been way out in front but now he’d dropped back, walking along with them. Marv was surprised at how bright the moon was. He could easily make out the tree line and even the track wasn’t that difficult to see. There was a steep rocky drop either side of the narrow track.

  “Hey Conrad, where’s this place at?” Tony called.

  He was about done with all this walking and he wanted to show the rest he could drink strong Bourbon, none of that watered down crap. He’d been sipping it neat since second grade although if his Pa ever caught him, he’d be for it. This walk just seemed to take forever.

  “Yeah, do you even, like, know where this place is?” Britney was mocking him.

  She thought it good to keep people in their place. Conrad had had about enough of the lot of them. He’d gone to the trouble of organising this whole trip and now they were crapping on about whatever. Worst of all, his wrist hurt. Marv had been oh-so-lucky back then. All that kung fu bull didn’t worry him none, he could’ve done that if he’d really wanted to. Damn. He knew this place was up here somewhere, he just couldn’t recollect exactly where.

  Conrad looked back at the others, their faces lit up from their cell phones. Who the hell did they think they were gonna call he thought? A sudden movement from the trees made the group stop. Everyone looked towards the place the sound had come from. Conrad shone his torch, but its dim beam barely reached the trees. Then they heard it again; somebody or something was crashing about in the undergrowth.

  “What was that?” Ruby murmured nervously.

  “Oh, that’s just the maniac airman,” Conrad joked, mimicking a spooky voice.

  “Yeah, then who’s that?” Britney pointed up the track.

  Marv looked up ahead. There was a figure moving toward them, but it was too far away and dark to get a fix on. He knew if this was another trick, then Conrad was likely to get thrown over the side, rocks or no rocks.

  “If this is another one of your lame jokes, I’m sure not laughing,” accused Britney.

  “It ain’t none of my doing. Maybe it is the maniac airman?”

  Conrad was enjoying every second of it. The figure kept on walking towards them. As it drew closer, it made directly for them and Conrad started to back away. The guy sure looked loaded, the way he was lurching about. Things were starting to get heavy. Although Marv was still unable to see the guy, the odour from him was sickening, like something rotting. He heard Conrad call out to the guy but all he heard back was a strange growling sound. The figure let out a fearful screech and then without warning, lunged at Conrad, grabbing and clawing at him. It knocked the torch from Conrad’s hand as he desperately tried to push him away. Conrad lost his footing and fell backwards, the assailant clawing at his face. Jenha ran to help and started to pull at the attacker, who then turned on her. Conrad pushed the hapless girl directly at the attacker. She screamed as the creep took a large bite out of her arm and then greedily began chewing on the flesh.

  As the others went forward to help, three other figures emerged from the darkness with hideous shrieks. One pulled Ruby’s head back and bit into her neck, sending an arterial spurt into the night air, falling as crimson rain on the others. She rasped for air and clutched at the assailant as he continued to gnaw at her throat. Ruby lost her footing and together with her attacker, fell down the embankment, crashing through the foliage onto the rocks below. It was too much for Conrad who broke away from the first attacker and ran, terrified into the woods.

  Britney grabbed Jenha and called to the others. “Come on, let’s get out of here!”

  “Wait, what about Ruby? We gotta get Ruby!” wailed Tony.

  “She’s had it dude!” Marv screamed, pulling at him.

  “What if she’s just out cold? What…?” Tony pleaded, pushing Marv’s arms away.

  “There’s too many, they’re gonna get us too, if we don’t go now!” yelled Britney.

  The situation was helpless; there were just too many to fight. They had to run. Fortunately the attackers were slow and the kids manage
d to out-distance them easily. As they ran away into the night, they couldn’t help but think of Ruby’s fate.

  ****

  Benteen was sitting in his squad car. He glanced at his watch; it was after one AM. He’d never seen Armstrong so quiet. So far so good, he thought to himself, though it was more than a bit odd to see the streets completely deserted. Brad had done a good job. He’d split up the volunteers into small groups, each with a police squawk-box and given them areas of town to patrol. The service people had turned up in uniform like they’d been told, which as Brad said ‘put more uniforms in view.’

  Sarge, of course, was in his element. He loved it, barking out orders here and there, but so far it seemed as if he was doing a good job. Benteen just hoped Sarge wasn’t going to get all crazy or pull some dumb ass crap. Benteen agreed it had been a good idea for the volunteers to be unarmed, not good to have too many nervous guns about. It wouldn’t take much for lead to start flying.

  Benteen had driven right around the town and despite Brad not having ordered a curfew; nobody was out, apart from the patrols. Folks had just decided to lock the doors and batten down the hatches. All the bars had shut, except Barney’s Bar, but then they already knew that was going to happen. However, without customers, Peter Firth had to shut anyway.

  On the whole, the town looked as if it was pulling together, which was just as well. Benteen had lived through some tough times in the town, but generally speaking, people just got on with it. This, however, was the strangest thing he’d ever seen.

  There had to be some real good explanation for all this crap and, hopefully, this situation would sort itself out soon. Then they could nail that creep in the cell. Benteen really wanted to get even with that bum. He knew Brad always did everything ‘by the book’ although, every now and then, you had to skip a page or two. He’d get all they wanted from this guy, given the chance.

  Why always let the Feds get the credit? He shook his head in frustration, reached forward and started the car, then drove off. It was the end of his shift; he needed to get some rest before the morning. He was going to slowly drive around the town for one last check before handing over to Jedree. Everything was as it should be, with the good folk of Armstrong all safely tucked up in bed.