“Ben!” Jack shouted.
Ben took a few steps and pivoted on his left foot, raised his leg and, with a roundhouse kick, smashed the knife deeper into the Variant’s brain, killing it.
A multitude of howls and screeches echoed around the trees.
Ben reached down and yanked Tony to his feet. “On your feet, soldier. We have to go.” He glanced at Eric. “Help your mate. C’mon. Go!”
Eric pulled the buff from around his neck and wrapped it around Tony’s torn arm. Together, they climbed up the tower and pulled the cradles back across.
Dozens of Variants charged out of the bush and tore up the track from both directions. Jack glanced up. Eric and Tony were halfway across. He felt a strange calm wash over him as he realised they were out of time. There were too many Variants, and no way would he and Ben make it up and across to the next platform.
“I don’t think we have time,” Jack said.
Ben met his eyes. He gave him a curt nod and clicked in a fresh magazine.
“Probably not. Let’s kill as many of them as possible though. Give the others a chance to survive.” His eyes were sorrowful.
“Thanks for saving me at the beginning, Ben. You gave me hope when I had given up.”
“I couldn’t resist helping a pretty lady,” Ben murmured, raising his rifle.
Jack lifted his eyes at the advancing horde of death as his radio squawked.
“Jack, what are you doing? Run!”
Tears welled in his eyes. Jack could barely get out what he had to say next. “I’m sorry Dee, I love you. You saved me. I’ll never forget that.”
“Jack! No! There is always a way out. You told me that. Think!” Dee’s voice crackled over the radio.
He sniffed and looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman who had saved his life, showed him how to live. He saw her standing on the tower on the opposite side of the valley. The sun was hovering over the horizon, bathing the valley in light. Her hair shone. Jack smiled. He turned, looking at the bush around him. Photographing the memory of Dee and the native forest. If he was going to die, he wanted to remember his two favourite things in life. The sun coming up over the steep hills reminded him of Gandalf’s return in the Two Towers. He looked over at Ben, his rifle raised up as he fired at the fast-approaching beasts. Jack saw the nikau palms surrounding him, their frond casings scattered around the trunk. Wait a minute! The frond casings!
Jack whacked Ben on the shoulder and sprinted over to the fronds. “Ben! C’mon!”
He grabbed a frond and flung it out in front of him, over the bank. With a thud, he landed on top of it and skidded down the muddy bank, riding it like a sled. Ben grunted to his left, followed with a curse, before he crashed through the undergrowth beside Jack. The pair bounced and slid faster down the banks of the valley. Jack grabbed the sides of his makeshift sled, trying his best to steer it around trees, his shoulders glancing off a few. He flew off a small bank and splashed down into the creek at the bottom.
Ben sailed through the air. Missing the creek, he thudded into the clay bank, spraying mud and coating a nearby tree. The frustrated howls and shrieks of the Variants chasing them frayed Jack’s already-shot nerves. Bloody things never give up. Jack clicked his talk button on the radio.
“Dee, guys, cover us. We’re nearly at the tower.”
Hiss and static belched out over his radio. “There’s too many of them. They’re climbing over the zip-lines,” Dee shouted. “Run for the river.”
“Take Yokoyama and go. Get to the LZ. Eric, set some charges and blow those fucking things to kingdom come. We’ll catch up. Dee, it’s vital you get Yokoyama to safety,” Ben said.
Jack helped the old SAS soldier to his feet and glanced up the ravine. Variants were tumbling down the steep sides towards them.
“Copy that. Affirmative. Hurry, guys.”
Jack grinned as he took off at a run down the creek, jumping over moss-covered rocks and splashing through the brackish water. His movie obsession had saved him again. He loved that.
He led Ben down the valley and out into a small clearing. He recognised the river gorge ahead; Jack had taken Dee through here on many trips, enjoying the history and the way the sun bounced off the iron-rich quartz that lined the cliff faces. He was aiming for the campsite nearby. Thoughts of their cabin flashed through his mind. It was only three kilometres away. He knew there were several weeks’ supplies there. Jack desperately wanted to see if his family had escaped the Variant purge. He glanced to his right, and his heart soared as he watched two cradles zipping across the valley. Two figures crawled out at the final tower. There was no mistaking the petite frame of his rock helping Katherine out.
The river he was searching for emerged out of the morning light, mist swirling over its surface. Jack leapt off the small bank and plunged into the water, enjoying the chill. The sweat, mud and frustrations washed off him as he kicked to the surface and pushed himself out onto the rock-strewn sand bank in the middle.
Dozens of Variants poured down the valley towards them. Several had climbed up the zip-lines and were hauling themselves over to the other towers. Jack shook his head. He had never seen them climb before.
He glanced over and watched Dee help Tony off the last tower, Katherine hovering nearby. Eric bounded down the ladder and pushed the Variants away. A few of them were scrambling their way across the last zip-line, eager to taste the fleeing man-flesh. Jack’s radio crackled.
“Fire in the hole,” yelled Eric, and three huge explosions tore through the once-peaceful landscape.
Ben grabbed Jack’s shoulder, shoving him down onto the sandbank as the shockwave thumped into them. It felt like someone had reached into his brain and split it apart. Jack pressed his hands over his ears, desperate to lessen the pain. Heat washed over him. It was like the first time he’d hopped off the plane onto the tarmac of Sydney Airport and was hit with the heat of Australia. A shock after the milder temperatures of New Zealand.
Ben hauled him to his feet and yelled something at him. Jack signalled he couldn’t hear anything above the ringing in his ears. The light from the sun seemed to strobe around him. Ben grabbed him by both shoulders, getting his attention. He pointed towards Dickey Flat and signalled a chopper. Understanding, Jack took a couple of unsteady steps after him.
Nothing like a movie explosion at all.
Acrid smoke blew over the gorge, invading his olfactory nerves, filling his nose with the stench of burning flesh. He had no sympathy for the wretched beings as they lay scattered, screaming and burning.
The ringing in his ears was beginning to fade and a cacophony of noises filtered through. Howls, shrieks, the thumping of the chopper. At last, they reached Dee and the others. Jack threw open his arms and pulled her into a hug. Squeezing her tight, he didn’t want to let go for fear of never being able to hold her again. He nuzzled her neck, kissing it, enjoying her comforting embrace.
“Don’t do that to me again, you bastard!” Dee whispered, whacking his arm. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Sorry. I thought we were finished.”
She kissed him. “Till the end, remember.”
“Until the end.”
The howls of the gathering Variants reminded Jack of the danger they still faced. Reluctantly he pulled away from Dee and raised his rifle. The beasts were beginning to amass on the opposite side of the river, shrieking and spitting.
Ben yelled into his radio as the chopper hovered above the clearing.
“Hurry. Get us out of here.”
“It’s too hot. I can’t land. I’m running on fumes. I’m sorry. I’ll come back for you.”
Jack looked up into the morning sky, horrified to see the chopper banking away.
“Don’t you leave us! You piece of shit!” Ben screamed.
Jack spun towards the Variants. There were dozens, if not hundreds, now, lined up and ready to attack. They jumped up and down howling, but waiting. Waiting, for what?
A deep bariton
e bellow echoed up the gorge, bouncing off the steep cliffs.
Katherine Yokoyama cowered behind Dee. Even from where Jack stood, he could see her trembling.
Another bellow sounded and the horde parted. An Alpha Variant lumbered into view. It stood at least seven feet tall with huge, bulky muscles. Its skull had distorted into an oblong egg shape, giving it an alien-like appearance. But that wasn’t what chilled Jack. The Alpha had a swollen, deformed left forearm ending in a huge pincer-like claw. It reminded him of a cross between Hellboy and a crab. It glared at Jack and the Renegades. It raised its deformed arm and slammed it into the ground, bellowing.
This was the signal the Variants had clearly been waiting for. They split and ran down the banks towards the two foot bridges spanning the river.
Still afraid of the water, then?
Jack pivoted, scanning the grass clearing behind them. Variants streamed out of the thick bush, snarling and hissing as they leapt over each other, eager to taste flesh.
“Renegades! Into the river! Head south into deep water,” Ben yelled.
Jack reacted, pushing Katherine ahead of him. He fired off a burst into the charging beasts. Katherine had stopped in the knee-high water, terror etched on her face. Jack urged her farther into the river. “Keep going!”
He caught up to Ben. “Sir, our cabin is three kilometres upstream.”
Ben nodded, his eyebrows rising. “All right. Let’s hope we make it.”
The Renegades waded into deeper water, rifles raised, watching as the Variant hordes streamed across the bridges. The deformed Alpha led a squad of beasts up the far side, tracking their movements.
Jack kept glancing upstream, looking for the deep swimming hole he knew was coming up. The swarm of Variants had reached their side of the river, joining the other beasts. They were now surrounded, with only the river remaining clear.
Some Variants had stayed on the bridges, howling and shrieking at the group of humans. Several jumped up onto the suspension cables, clinging to it with their claws.
Ben let out a curse. “Clever bastards.”
Jack turned and caught a glimpse of Tony. He stood in the river, barely managing to hold his rifle out of the water. He could see sweat pouring off him as he leant into Eric. Whatever was wrong with the soldier it didn’t look good.
Jack turned in a slow circle, keeping his rifle at the ready. He patted his vest, checking to see how much ammo he had left; a couple hundred rounds, he estimated. Dee reached out and squeezed his hand, her eyes finding his. They didn’t need to say anything. The Variants had them surrounded like the Russians had surrounded the Sixth German Army during the battle of Stalingrad.
What movie is going to save you now, Jack?
Ben turned, looking first at Jack and Dee. His lips were drawn tight over his teeth.
“Renegades, I want you to concentrate all your fire on the south bridge. We need to move upstream. Take them out. We need to break through their ranks.”
Jack checked his rifle and peered through the scope.
“Fire!” Ben yelled.
The Renegades let loose with a barrage of leaded death. Jack aimed, fired, aimed and repeated, looking for head shots. They eased their way upstream, careful to keep in the middle as they fired. Dozens of Variants started jumping into the river at the Alpha’s bellow. Jack adjusted his aim, taking out as many as he could, but more poured in from the sides. So many noises assaulted Jack that he was having trouble picking out individual sounds. Screeches, howls, gunfire. Screams. Suddenly a deeper, foreign sound broke through. A sound he had heard only at Pacifica festivals. A conch shell being blown. He paused to reload, pulling out a magazine and slamming it home. Booooorrnt. Jack saw Dee’s head turn towards the sound, her brow furrowed. She’d gone with him to the same festivals.
A commotion was breaking out on the campsite side of the river. The Variants gathered there were turning, howling and shrieking. War cries were screaming out and Jack stared, mouth agape. Dozens of men charged out of the bush and into the Variants. Jack shot another beast on the bridge and pivoted towards the charging men. His heart soared. He could see them more clearly now. He shook his head at the crazy sight. The men looked to be Maori. Most had traditional tattoos, ta moko, adorning their bare chests and arms. Some had the full-face tattoo. They raised their taiaha high, bringing them down hard on the skulls of the stunned creatures. Some of the Maori had mere and quickly brought them up, smashing them into the heads of the Variants, caving in their skulls.
“Renegades! Retreat to the campsite! Jack and Dee, take the north, Eric take the west!” Ben shouted.
Jack had thought that was it. He shook his head at their luck. He wasn’t a religious man, but after the events of the past few weeks, and now today, someone somewhere was definitely looking out for him. For Dee, too. He gritted his teeth and, with new determination, raised his rifle.
— 16 —
Maggie forced her breathing to calm as she jogged through the pines. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Ian was following her deeper into the woods. As she ran, she kept a check on her location and peered up into the trees, looking for the knotted branch. On her frequent walks around the camp, she had looked for access roads. Maggie had seen the white van sitting out here numerous times. By chance, she had spotted the weird-shaped branch and decided to use it as a landmark to aid her escape.
Spying it, she slowed and turned, waiting for Ian to catch up. She strained to hear above the noise of the fire and the shouting coming from the camp. Her plan depended on the noise she waited for. Without it, she would have to fight Ian. She trusted her army training and thought she had a chance, but Ian deserved more than just a beating. Screeches rang out between the trees. Maggie smiled and put her hands on her hips.
Ian stopped a good body-length away, his ratty eyes glaring at her. He started swinging the police baton, its leather strap wrapped around his wrist. He twirled it around and up, catching it as it fell back down. It slapped into his hand with a thwack. He grinned at her, showing his crooked teeth.
“Nowhere to run, is there, Maggie?”
She gave him her best flirting smile and half closed her eyes. “No.”
Maggie started to slowly unbutton her shirt, all the time keeping an eye on Ian. His thin lips broke to a grin as he watched her hand movements. Maggie stopped about three quarters of the way down. She took a step towards him and reached out, stroking his arm.
“What would it take to let me come back into the camp?”
“I always knew you would come around eventually.” Ian licked his lips. “Let’s put that pretty mouth to a better use.”
He ran his hands roughly over her butt and pushed his mouth against her neck, licking her like a dog. A cold feeling enveloped her and she shuddered. His tongue reminded her of a slimy eel. Maggie could feel her muscles tensing as she did her best to remain calm and compliant.
Several howls echoed around the forest, louder. They sounded really close. Maggie couldn’t help the smile that spread across her lips. She had been waiting for the beasts to arrive.
“You forgot something, you disgusting piece of shit!” Maggie said, putting as much venom into her tone as she could muster. Every time she had held her tongue, came out in that one sentence.
She pulled back and brought her knee up into his groin with everything she had, slamming her kneecap against one of his testicles, crushing it into his thigh.
Ian dropped to the ground, groaning, clutching his balls.
“Bitch!” he seethed through clenched teeth. “I’m going to let the monsters tear you apart.”
Maggie smiled at him as she pulled off her pants, wriggling them over her boots. She quickly pulled off her shirt, revealing the red coveralls underneath. Ian stared up at Maggie, pure hatred boring into her. He squinted at her through thin slits before looking down at his open dressing gown. Maggie grinned at him. Ian had taunted her many times about how the Variants he worked for had instructed him and his guards to w
ear the coveralls. Do so and the Variants would leave them alone.
Maggie lashed out with her boot, kicking him in the face. She reached down and grabbed his baton, giving him a few whacks on the legs. Ian screamed obscenities at her.
A Variant shriek rang out behind her. Maggie turned. Half a dozen of the dark beasts bounded through the trees. Letting out a breath, she stepped to one side and pointed with the baton at Ian.
“Not me! Her!” he screamed as the creatures tore into him, ripping away muscle and tissue, blood and bone.
Maggie forced herself to calmly walk away. She had bet everything on these red coveralls.
So far, so good.
Maggie had formed her plan within a few days of arriving in the camp. She had noticed how the guards walked through the trees, their strides confident. Even when she heard the tell-tale screeches and caught whiffs of the rotting-fruit smell carried on the wind, the Variants had stayed out of sight of the camp. But she had seen their shadows. Maggie had deduced that the red coveralls told the Variants that the wearers worked for them, and so were protected. Ian’s tormenting of her, and his boasting, had confirmed it. She had convinced Alice to get friendly with one of the guards, even selecting the quietest one, the thinker, the one who still had a conscience.
Ian had been right about one thing, Women talked. And Maggie had used this to her advantage, spreading false rumours about herself, knowing Ian and some of the guards would become curious. With their minds fixated on her, they didn’t keep an eye on Alice, Jill or even little Becs. Becs had hidden the lighter and rag in the shed. After that, it had been a waiting game. When she’d first arrived, the LPG tanks had been half full. She’d had to wait another ten days for the scavengers to bring more.
Maggie just prayed that they could carry out the next step and, not for the first time, wished she had her rifle with her.
She caught a glimpse of the white van she was looking for and grinned. Alice stood by the passenger door waving an arm, motioning for her to hurry. She didn’t need to be reminded of the excited howls of the Variants leaping through the forest, attracted by the noise, smoke and raging fire. She reached Alice and gave her a quick hug before hopping into the van. She reached for the steering wheel but grasped only air. She let out a laugh. Of course. They drive on the left in New Zealand. The steering wheel’s on the right. Maggie crawled over and sat in the driver’s seat. She glanced in the rearview mirror and smiled at the sight of the children in the back before pulling out onto the gravel forest road.
Extinction New Zealand Box Set | Books 1-3 Page 27