Bobbie just slowly gave the rifle to Cowan as Cowan eyed him watching his movements from his peripheral vision. Cowan grabbed the rifle and tried to give it to Thomas who was still quivering in fear from the storm. “Take it!” Thomas sheepishly obeyed the command grabbing the rifle and laying the butt stock on the floor. “Now get out of the vehicle,” growled Cowan. Bobbie just stared at him as if his eyes would be able to pierce Cowan’s heart. “Don’t make me tell you twice old man!” Bobbie pulled on the latch opening the door keeping his eyes on Cowan. He commanded his legs to move as they begged him not to. One foot after the other Bobbie slowly got out of the vehicle. So this is my fate.
To his surprise Cowan got out as well leaving his rifle on the floor board. Thomas still laid in a fetal position whimpering at each lightning strike. The rain came down hard on the two as they stood watching each other. Cowan slowly took off his vest and let it fall to the wet ground. “We will settle this now,” he told Bobbie. The men circled around the imaginary ring waiting for the other to make the first move. Bobbie threw a fist and Cowan swiped it away. “Come on old man you can do better than that!” Bobbie threw another jab towards Bobbie. Cowan just swatted away the fist once more. Bobbie rushed towards Cowan with speed that surprised both of them. He picked up Cowan and dropped him onto the ground. Cowan quickly wrapped his legs around Bobbie’s waist. Bobbie brought his fist down but Cowan quickly covered up his head and pushed outwards arching his back to keep Bobbie at a distance. Bobbie came down with an elbow as Cowan reached up and pulled Bobbie closer to him. Cowan twisted his body around putting his right arm around Bobbies neck. Putting the crook of his elbow around Bobbie’s trachea. Then Cowan took his left hand and grasped his upper right arm at the bicep. Cowan’s right hand was at the back of Bobbie’s head applying force cutting off the circulation to Bobbie’s head. Bobbie struggled for just a few seconds before he ended up passing out.
Cowan pushed the limb body off of him as he got to his feet and put on the vest. Bobbie retained consciousness almost as quickly as he lost it. He laid out a hand towards Bobbie in a friendly gesture for him to take it. Bobbie accepted and Cowan pulled back until Bobbie was on his feet against his better judgement. “Look old man. Right now I need you and you need me… for now. When we are done here you can go on your way and I will go on mine.” Bobbie just muttered, “sure.”
The two men got into the vehicle. They headed north once more. The road became less cluttered as they moved away from town. Cowan had wondered where the horde of zombies went. The last thing he wanted was to drive right up to them. It would be like ringing the dinner bell and they would be on the menu. The road was completely void and empty. They had not seen a zombie on their travels which Cowan was not sure if that was a good thing or a bad omen like life pausing for dramatic effect.
The storm let up as they drove further towards the next town. Cowan noticed the green sign on the right side of the road it read Moakley 10 miles. “Bobbie is there any back road we could use instead of this main road to get into the city?” “No not really. This highway is the only way into the town. It is rather a small city but a lot bigger than our town.” “Great.” Not only was there a possibility they would run into the horde of zombies but they were going into a town that neither of them really knew. This gave Cowan an uneasy feeling in his stomach as it churned slightly.
“Look there,” said Thomas. “It seems like there is some sort of barricade maybe cars? I can’t really tell.” Cowan strained his eyes trying to confirm what Thomas had seen. As they got closer he realized it was not necessarily a barricade but was some sort of funnel. The cars were far apart at first and then as the cars got closer to the town they got closer together. Cowan could only assume the reason was to funnel the enemies into one area to make it easier to kill them. It reminded him of the battle of Thermopylae. The Greeks protected a small narrow passage way against the Persians. The Greeks were able to hold off the Persian army long enough for the Greeks to be able to band together and give their fellow Greeks time to push out the Persians. However, there was something in the middle of the funnel. He slowed the vehicle as he had approached. “Bobbie check the left. Thomas check the right,” Cowan barked out the orders. “What are we looking for,” asked Thomas. “For any signs of movement or any ambush. This might be a trap. If so they might attack us from the side.” Cowan was pleased that it seemed like the massive horde did not make their way here but on the other hand now they had to worry about humans. They could be just as dangerous if not more as their undead brethren. Cowan let out the breath that he did not know he was holding in. It appeared to be some stakes pointing outwards and there appeared to be some zombies that pierced themselves trying to get closer. He was glad it was not a cage of zombies like he had read in so many books and seen on TV. The city however did not have any form of a gate.
Cowan turned around the Humvee. “What the hell are you doing?” asked Bobbie. “Making a quick getaway just in case.” Cowan started to back up the vehicle until it was almost right up on the stakes. He grabbed his rifle and flipped the switch from safe to semi. He turned off the Humvee and slowly opened the door. Thomas and Bobbie did so as well. He stayed behind the armored door scanning the area for any hostiles. “Alright let’s move in.” They approached the city with caution. When Cowan was close enough he dispatched the few zombies that were moaning and struggling on the stakes and their bodies went limp. Then Cowan suddenly stopped and ordered the other two to do the same. “What is it,” questioned Bobbie. “I don’t like standing here in the open.” Cowan thought he saw disturbed earth on the path. “Thomas go and get my pack and bring it here. Bobbie don’t move I think this area might be booby trapped.” “How can you tell that?” “The ground there seems like it has been moved like someone dug it up and then put dirt over it again. I think this is a mine field.” “Oh, well that would make sense why there is no one here standing watch.” “Yeah my thoughts exactly.” Thomas hurried back with the pack in his hand as he handed it over to Cowan. “Why do you need the pack?” “I think this is a mine field.” Cowan reached into the front pocket and pulled out what seemed to be poker chips. “We are not going in there are we?” asked Thomas. “Yeah we are just follow me and don’t stray from the path that I create.” “Are you fucking mad? Why the hell would we do that?” asked Thomas. “Trust me I’m an engineer,” replied Cowan with a huge smile.
Cowan squatted down. He did not want to put a hand or anything forward as he was not sure how close the mines were. He took the chips and put some in his hand and the rest in his cargo pocket. He put the knife in his hand palm open just his thumb keeping it in place. He gently stabbed at a low angle at the dirt. He started on the left and scanned to the right. Then clunk he hit metal. He placed his first chip down. Then he tried to follow the shape of the mine placing chips as he went along outlining the mine. Then he inched forward looking for the next mine and placing the chips when he found one as he went along. Bobbie and Thomas just looked at him in amazement. They could not decide if he was brave or crazy and stupid. After about what seemed like an eternity Cowan finally stood up and waved them on. The two men looked at each as if telling the other to go first. As if admitting defeat Thomas went first. His whole body was shaking in fear not believing what he was about to attempt. This was just something he saw in the movie Rambo. Seeing it in real life was surreal.
The two men finally made it through the mine field as Cowan was just grinning. Once the two made it through the zig zag maze of the mine field they both let out a long breathe of relief. “How the hell did you learn to do that? Were you Special Forces or something?” asked Thomas. Cowan let out a big laugh. “No Thomas I was never Special Forces it was just something I learned from my training. I am a combat engineer. We know about mines, explosives and booby traps. Although infantry likes to shun us until they need us. Let’s stick towards the buildings that way we are not out in the open.” Cowan jogged towards the closet building on the left but stoppe
d ten yards short. He stalked about slowly checking for anymore booby traps. Someone knew what they were doing he thought to himself.
At each building, trash can, tree, trash and each opening between the buildings he stopped looked around before he slowly proceeded forward. He scanned the region three meters out, then five, and finally ten. The city was devoid of life and there was no sign of the living dead either. This city was a contrast to the last city they just came from. There was no stench which worried him the more. If this city was attacked there were no signs of it. It was as if the whole city got up and left abandoning it.
Then Cowan laid up his hand signaling for the small group to stop. He knelt down and saw a small wire that ran from a trash can that was up against a wall to another trash can. There was little tension on the wire that helped to keep it out of view but Cowan knew what he was looking for which gave him the edge or so he thought. Then he remembered the Humvee. No one was there standing guard. It was a slap to his big ego that he had to make such a small mistake and the others didn’t think of it as well. “Shit, shit, shit!” “What is is?” Bobbie asked. “The damn Humvee we left it unguarded. I can’t believe I was so stupid.” What was he going to do? Would it be better to go back all three of them to the vehicle? That could be a waste of time and they could be running into a trap. Would it just be better to leave it there and take their chances? He just didn’t know what to do at that moment. It was a lot easier when he had Hobbs who would take charge and make the difficult decisions but he was not here. He had to make the decision. Right or wrong make a decision he told himself. Then he came to terms with it. If the vehicle was already taken then there would be no need to risk their lives to head back there now.
“Are we going to head back? We just can’t leave the vehicle can we?” asked Thomas rather worried. “No we are not it is too dangerous. Besides if someone already has seen the Humvee they might stay there waiting for us to get back setting up an ambush or they might have just taken it. All we can do is pray that it is still there when we get back.” Cowan moved his leg forward to take another step then he remembered the wire and stepped over it. He straddled the wire so the two men would not set it off. When they passed it safely he took the front again. They went block by block Cowan being vigilant as he had found several more traps.
Cowan stopped immediately. “What is it?” asked Bobbie. “Is it another trap?” Cowan just shook his head. “No we are being watched.” “Watched, where, who?” “The building across the street on the roof. Don’t look. I don’t want to tip them off that we know. They have been following us for the past two blocks.” “Well how the hell could they keep up on the roofs and following us.” “Do you not pay any attention at all? They have made some sort of walk way up on the roofs. The buildings are not that far apart. Really it would be easy to do.” Cowan stooped down as if he saw something. He thought about the next move he should make. Would it be best to keep on as if they did not notice anything at all or duck out behind one of the buildings? Bad thought the narrow corridors would definitely be set up with booby traps and if he made the wrong turn it would be the end of them for certain. Think, think he told himself in his mind. Then he decided he would turn and confront the being that was watching them.
“When I tell you guys turn and find some sort of cover if possible. Now!” he shouted. Thomas dove towards a trash can that was on the side of the street and Bobbie moved behind a small tree. Cowan just turned and pointed his weapon at the person. “Who are you and why are you following us?” You can’t come up with something better he thought to himself. There was a pause and no answer. The person just stood there crouched down behind the ledge of the building. They did not even raise their rifle. It was as if they were waiting for something to happen. “Get down!” came the command from Cowan. Not more than a few seconds later there were explosions all around them. Their ears rang and confusion had set in. Dust filled the air as the explosion sent up pieces of concrete. The explosion was not meant to maim or kill them but to give their attacker a chance to flee away.
“What the fuck?” said Cowan. “I am tired of this shit! Is everyone alright?” Cowan looked over and Thomas was still on the ground not moving and Bobbie was slowly getting to his feet. Cowan walked over to Thomas still looking at the building for any sign of the attacker. He shook Thomas’s shoulder. Thomas just mumbled something inaudible. “Well get up.” Thomas slowly raised to his feet still in shock from the blast. He looked himself over to see if everything was still there. He was shaking in fear. Cowan noticed a dark spot on the front of his pants. The man had pissed himself in fear. Cowan looked over to Bobbie. “You alright old man?” “Yeah I think so my ears are still ringing a bit but I think I am ok.” “We will move over towards the building and see where our attacker has gone off too,” stated Bobbie. Cowan put out a hand in order to stop Bobbie from doing anything foolish. “That is not a good idea. You think for one minute if we go into that building it won’t have explosives rigged all over the place. Come on old man you should know better than that!” “So what the hell do you think that we should do then?” growled Bobbie staring at Cowan with disgust.
“I think we should press on. Bobbie you keep an eye on the roof.” “Yeah like that did us any good. We are lucky we didn’t die following you. I say we head back and take our trip to the bunker.” “I agree with Bobbie,” Thomas said sheepishly. “I can’t handle any more of this! I am not army or anything like that. I am just a person that is wanting to survive out here and I say we head back where we know it’s safe.” “So we tuck our tails and head back licking our wounds? Is that it? Grow a pair of balls!” “Fuck you man. I didn’t sign up for this shit. Zombies, mines, explosions, I just want to get the hell out of here!” “Well go then! Damn civilians,” Cowan said under his breath rather disgusted with Thomas’s attitude. “Do you think it will be different anywhere else? There are zombies all over the place that will not change no matter where you go. Do you think the bunker will keep you safe? That is if the bunker is still there. Hell it could have been over run or worse destroyed. Then what? Then you will be out of luck and back to square one. Someone has gone through the trouble of setting up all of this and I want to know why! They have got to be keeping something important here.”
The men sat there in silence for a moment. Each of them staring at each other. The tension in the air growing. “We move on that is the plan. We are not going to let someone deter us from making our goal. So man up or go somewhere to die like the coward you are.” “It is better to be a coward than dead,” retorted Thomas. “Yeah and then you will have to live with yourself. I have seen people who coward down and do nothing and you know what ended up happening to them? They committed suicide because they could not handle the guilt of what they had done. So go off and be a coward see if I care.” Cowan raised his rifle pointing it at Thomas. “Maybe I should shoot you now and be done with it. I can just end your miserable existence on this earth. You know what will be the best point? No one would even care or blink an eye and you want to know why? It’s because you are a coward. I am surprised you were able to make it this long. You should have stayed in that little hole of yours.” Cowan’s finger slide towards the trigger. He was about to shoot when Bobbie spoke up. “Thomas listen to me. We have to do this. We need to keep going. We have to at least make an effort. If we don’t then we might as well lay down and die. I for one have seen too many people in my life die in this world. We need you. If we can manage to find some place where we will be protected and do not have to make that long trip to the bunker then that’s worth it. If all else fails then we can always fall back and go to the bunker. Right now you need to get that out of your head. It will be a long dangerous road to make it there.”
Thomas just stared at the two. “I just don’t thi…” Cowan squeezed the trigger and Thomas fell to the ground right where he was. “Why did you do that?” “Because he was a coward and if he had the chance he would turn and run. Do you think for a mi
nute if we were really in some sort of bind he would come to our aid? Hell he probably would throw us to the wolves to save his own hide. I don’t want anyone like that watching my back. Plus if we let him go he might have run off with the Humvee if it’s still there.” “You don’t know that!” “Yeah as a matter of fact I do. I have seen his kind before and they are worthless. It’s better that I ended his life now than for him to get mauled by the zombies later on. Think of it as I was saving his life from something far worse. I gave him mercy where his enemies would not have.”
Bobbie just stood there in bewilderment. His chance of killing Cowan had diminished with Thomas. He knew he could make it with Thomas and come up with a story of how Cowan died. Now he needed Cowan in order to make it back. There were safety in numbers and he was no lone wolf. He could possibly make it back but his chances were greater keeping Cowan by his side. There will be an opportunity when he could kill him. The last thing that he wanted was for someone to accuse him of killing someone and question his motives.
“So what is the plan then Cowan?” “Well… I think we should continue moving on through the city. It will take us some time but I hope it will be worth it. If we come to the end and don’t know where the bird went then I say we head back. There would be no point in continuing on past that.” “Well what about the person? I mean we just can’t let them go maybe they might have some information about where the helicopter went to.” Cowan stopped. “All I know is if we go after them that could mean our own death. Who knows what they would have in store for us and I am not wanting to find out what that exactly is. However, if we do come across him and we are able to get to them in a safe manner then I say we do that. Otherwise we stick to the main mission. I will continue looking around for booby traps and you just keep your eyes on the roof and the aisles as we pass them.” “Duly noted. I still…” Cowan cut him off before he could continue. “I said we will stick to the initial plan. Do you have a death wish?” There was a pause between the two men. “Yeah that is what I thought. So keep moving.”
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