Zombie Battle 5: Survive

by Jacqueline Druga

  “We need to get a hold of them stat. Who’s been in charge?”

  “Stilton out of Cleveland, but he’s not responded and seems focused on that state. We have spoken to the Governor of California and he said things are under control there, but they are urging people to move to the coast and inhabit the west coast islands as a precaution. That’s why we initiated this.”

  Lance nodded. “Depending on what we have remaining as resources, it can be a slow process.”

  “We’re trying right now to get a grip on equipment, transport, man power, volunteers.” The colonel said. “Major storm front just hit the coast off of North Carolina, so that’s hampering. But we are trying. Search and rescue, alerting by air and tapping into a FEMA radio station to send out a recorded message urging people to get to the coast for help.”

  “Good. Let’s put together a food and resource team to start stock piling and gathering. We need to move the healthy off the mainland until we get a grip on this thing. Move them to cruise ships, air craft carriers, hell, there are hundreds of islands off the coasts and in our lakes, we’ll fill them.”

  “A lot of those islands are occupied by very well to do people who aren’t going to take lightly to seizing their property.”

  “I don’t give a shit,” Lance said. “They can share. The governor of California had a hell of an idea. We get the healthy off the mainland, leave only the infected, we can clean up easier. Last I knew I sent a man for Dr. Dodds, hopefully he arrived in Cleveland. We need to get him.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “But we need help. This is bigger and more than you and I and what is left we can’t handle. You said there was an operational phone?”

  “Yes, this way.” The colonel led the way into a school house office. “Right there.”

  “Thank you. And Colonel. Job well done.”

  The colonel nodded an acceptance of the compliment as he left Lance alone in the office and closed the door.

  Lance picked up the phone and heard the dial tone. He was grateful for that and for knowing how to remember a phone number. Many had lost that ability in the age of names on cell phone dialing.

  He knew it would be late for her, but he had to call. It was urgent. He dialed, waited and it rang.

  She answered with a sigh of relief.

  “Prime Minister Walker?”

  “Oh, Secretary, it is … I can’t stress how glad I am to hear from you.”

  “Same here. I can only imagine that the rest of the world may have given up hope.”

  “To say the least. Things have been put into motion as a precaution.”

  “We need to stop them,” Lance said.

  “Absolutely, As soon as we end this call, I will summons an emergency meeting right away.”

  “Thank you. We desperately need your help. We need help on a large scale and need it now to implement a survival plan for our country. Ships, aircraft, soldiers, supplies.”

  “I’ll meet with my Minister of Defense straight away and get that going. Now what is the plan?”

  Lance was glad to hear her eagerness to help. He wasn’t surprised at all. Lance was hopeful. He was a facing desperate situation, but finally, he felt if they could work the infant stage plan into effect, then there was a light at the end of the tunnel for his countryman.

  Chapter Eight

  Avery County, North Carolina

  Jack didn’t to waste the bullet, so he used the tire iron to deliver the single fatal blow to the head of the recently risen state trooper.

  He was placing supplies in the patrol car, keeping an eye out as Garrick changed the tire. In fact, Garrick acted as if he didn’t see him. How that was, Jack didn’t know. The trooper groaned loudly, his insides, dangling from the huge gaping hole in his torso.

  Garrick finally looked up when the trooper’s body landed a foot from him. “Yeah, well, I was giving you another three seconds, before I got tired of you wasting time on him. Thought he was gonna bite you before you got him.”

  “If you saw him, why didn’t you say so,” Jack dropped the rod.

  “Busy.” Garrick stood up. “Done. She’s road ready. Got about three quarters a tank.”

  “You didn’t see him.”

  “Jack, please, I’m the zombie God. Trust me, I saw, heard and smelled him.” Garrick brushed off his hands, then crinkled his nose. He reached up and rubbed the bridge. He produced a look of ‘odd’ on his face.

  “What’s wrong?” Jack asked.

  “Rain drop.” Garrick looked up to the darkening sky. “Storm. Now there’s something you don’t ever see.”

  “Now I know you’ve lost it.” Jack threw a bag in the back seat of the cruiser. “When haven’t you seen rain before?”

  “Not talking about rain. I’m talking about rain and a storm in the zombie apocalypse.”

  Jack tried not to laugh. “What?”

  “Yeah, think about it. You just don’t see a rain storm in any zombie apocalypse movie. Certainly didn’t see one in that television show,” Garrick said. “This should be interesting.”

  “You are so out there. Oh my God.”

  “Sarge come in,” Jack’s radio crackled with the call of the pilot.

  Jack lifted it. “Yeah,”

  “Can’t keep circling. Weather’s getting bad. Negative on anything. Have to fuel up, head to Pittsburgh then to Cleveland. Am I picking you … wait.”

  Jack looked at Garrick.

  The pilot came back on. “Would they be driving an off red SUV?”

  Garrick’s eyes widened. “Yes. Tell him yes.”

  “That’s affirmative. Do you spot them?”

  “Moving at a good pace east on forty. Not north like we thought. Not far from you.”

  “Anything around them?”

  “Few roamers on the road. Nothing else.”

  Jack looked at Garrick. “Get in the car. We’re on forty now. You can catch them.”

  “Wait. What about you? Lil is gonna have a fit.”

  “She’ll understand. I can’t leave Saul. I can’t. I promised his wife I’d get him home to her. Plus, you know, I have that baby. Lil always wanted a baby.”

  “The zombie apocalypse is not the time to be giving the gift of life.”

  “It’s the perfect time.”

  The pilot radioed again. “Sarge come in.”

  Jack lifted his radio. “Circle around and grab me. I’m heading to Cleveland with you.”

  “Roger that.”

  Jack returned to Garrick. “Watch them. Head to the coast. You heard Saul. Stay away from Cleveland. The radio said islands are going to be sealed and barricaded. That’s probably where their headed.”

  “What about you? How we going to find you Jack?”

  “I’ll find you, if not. I’ll be with the men who have the cure and the man with the weapon. I’ll be easy to find. Now go. Take this phone. The pilot has one.” Jack handed him the phone and reached for the car door. “It’s off now to save power. Call Saul, it’s the last number. Call him once you get to Irma. Haul ass and protect my wife.”

  “You don’t need to be the hero, Jack. You need to stay alive and be with your wife.”

  “I will be. Go.”

  Garrick slid in the cruiser.

  “Wait. Almost forgot.” Jack lifted a small sack from around his shoulder and neck. He handed it to Garrick. “Saul would kick my ass if I didn’t send that with you. He made them break rules to give that to us at the airbase.”

  Garrick pursed his lips and looped the sack round his neck and shoulder. “Hopefully we will never need it.”

  “Hopefully. But it’s a beauty to have just in case.” Jack prepared the close the door. “Thank you.”

  “You better join us.” Garrick closed the door.

  Jack didn’t get to say anything further. Garrick had started the police cruiser and sped off. As Garrick quickly disappeared down the road, the wind of the chopper whipped behind him.

  He knew he was taking a chance, but it wa
s what he had to do.

  Jack was confident that Lil, Irma, and Jerry would be safe with Garrick and Steve. He also knew they all had to end up together and the only way Jack was sure Saul would make it to his wife, was if Jack kept his promise.

  <><><><>

  “Is that good, Bub-bay,” Irma watched Jerry nibble on a cracker as he sat on her lap in the car. “As soon as we can, Yaya will get you more food. Okay?”

  “Okay Yaya.”

  “Such a sweet boy.” Irma kissed him. “Oh, you remind me so much of your mother. So sweet. Your papa was amazing with her.” Irma closed her eyes and planted her lips to the boys head. She lifted them and looked at Lil as she drove. “That poor man, it breaks my heart to know he had to watch her leave this earth. What he must have felt.”

  “I’m very envious of you,” Lil said. “You love him so much. Your marriage is wonderful.”

  “Oh, you love Jack and Jack is crazy about you.”

  “We had our problems. Big ones. We were pretty much broken up when this all went down.”

  “You aren’t now. You’ll get through the problems. I promise,” Irma said. “Saul. He is my soul. I have never loved another man. We had our ups and downs, but we survived. God willing … we’ll survive this.”

  Steve moaned out slightly.

  Jerry startled on her lap and turned around. “Sick, Yaya?” he pointed to Steve. “Boo boos.”

  “Yes, baby.” Irma turned slightly. “Steven, how are you?”

  “Hanging in there.” Steve said softly, lying across the back seat. He was pale, but not pasty white. Irma extended a hand back to touch him. He was warm, but she wouldn’t classify it as a high fever. That was the diagnosis from mother in her.

  She felt the vehicle slow down a little and realized why, the rain had increased. “You alright?” she asked Lil.

  “Just taking it easy.” Lil gripped the steering wheel, leaning close to it.

  “This is the first rain we’ve had since it’s started.” Irma said, being vigilant about look about. The undead walking the side of the road, became such a common sight, it wasn’t until that moment she notice. The seemed to have a hard time moving. They weren’t walking upright or steady, they staggered more, and some even fell to the ground. “The rain.”

  “I’ve seen worse,” Lil said.

  “No, the rain. Look.” Irma pointed out the window. “They can’t move in it.”

  Not as if she wanted to, but Lil slowed down to look.

  The undead man on the side of the road, collapsed, then stood. The hard falling rain beat against him and some of his remaining flesh peeled from his skull.

  Steve asked. “What do you see? What do you mean?”

  Lil answered. “It looks like the force of the rain is too much. Some even look like they are losing flesh.”

  “They would.” Steve said. “The flesh is rotting, it has no blood flow to hold it to the body or keep it there.”

  Irma smiled. “This is a good thing, right? It can be a great thing.”

  “Hurricane season could save us.” Lil added.

  “I would never have …” Irma paused. “Do you hear that?”

  Lil’s head cocked. “Sirens.” She looked in the rearview mirror. “Police.”

  “Are you speeding?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Why would we be chased in the middle of all this? The only moving car on the road. Shit.” She hit the gas.

  “Smart thinking,” Irma gushed. “Go. Go. Go.”

  “What are you doing?” Steve asked. “Why are you running from the police? Did you stop to think they’re trying to warn us?”

  Lil answered. “Did you stop to think it could be a someone dangerous?”

  “Or,” Irma added. “One of those things driving.”

  Steve breathed out. “A zombie driving a car?”

  “I am seeing the dead rise. I saw a walking kind little dead boy. I am not putting anything past this,” Irma waved out her hand. “Faster Lil.”

  “He’s catching us.” Lil peered to the side view mirror.

  “Faster.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “Hurry.”

  “Shit.” Lil looked again. “He’s right ….” Suddenly, Lil jerked her head. “Holy shit is that Garrick?”

  Irma leaned over. “It’s Garrick!”

  Garrick was pointing outward.

  “It’s Garrick!” Lil squealed excitedly.

  Irma joined in the enthusiasm, screaming as well. Happily. “It’s Garrick. It’s Garrick.”

  Little Jerry also called, “Gerk. Gerk!”

  “He’s pointing at something.” Lil looked out her window. “I think he wants us to pull …”

  “Watch out!” Irma warned.

  The ‘bang’ was loud as the body slammed against the hood of the SUV. Both women screamed at the same time, along with the baby, loudly and shrill. The body rolled against the windshield then off the car.

  Instinctively Lil hit her brakes, causing not only the SUV to slide but caused another ‘thump’ when Steve rolled from the back seat to the floor.

  “Oh, God. Oh, God.” Lil breathed heavily. “Tell me that was one of them. Please tell me that was one of them.”

  Irma hesitated. “Um, yes.”

  “It wasn’t.” Lil looked at her. “Was it?”

  “I don’t know.” Irma replied. “It happened fast. But I think it was. It had to be. Who the hell else would walk in the middle of a highway during a rainstorm?”

  “Someone avoiding the side of the road where the dead are.”

  “That’s true.” Irma bit her bottom lip. “It’s ok.”

  Lil closed her eyes after she brought the SUV to a stop. “I just killed someone.”

  “Chances are they were dead.”

  From the back, Steve said. “I’m okay if anyone cares.”

  Irma reached back. “Steven, I am so sorry.”

  Slowly, Steve climbed back to the seat. He tried to sit, but plopped backwards.

  “Yaya? Lil okay?” Jerry asked.

  Irma looked over at Lil. She was frozen. “Lil, it’s fine.”

  She slowly turned her head to Irma. “What if I just killed …”

  The knock on her window caused her to jump.

  Garrick stood there.

  Seeping out an emotional, ‘Thank God, Lil placed the SUV in park and opened the door.

  “You don’t need to drive so out of control,” Garrick scolded. “You hit a person flagging you …”

  Before he could finish, Lil gushed out an ‘Oh Garrick’ and whipped her arms around his neck.

  “Hey, hey. It’s ok.” Garrick returned the embrace. “But we shouldn’t stand here. It’s raining. There’s a town up ahead. We’ll head there, and merge everything then. Is that …”

  Lil pulled back. “Where’s Jack? Where is he? Tell me he isn’t dead.”

  “He’s not dead. Saul told us about the distress call. We went to the fortress to get you guys, and followed the trail here. He went to get Saul to meet us at the coast.” He looked seriously at her. “You alright?”

  “Tell me. Did I hit a person? Someone who needed help?”

  “Um … no. no. It was a zombie.”

  “But you said …”

  Nervously, Garrick responded. “Bad timing for a joke. Is everyone okay?’ He leaned to look into the open car door. “Hey, Irma. Jerry. Where’s Steve?”

  “Oh, Garrick. We were attacked at the fortress.” Lil said sadly.

  “I know. Was Steve …”

  “Rats.” Lil stated. “Steve saved us but …” She reached back and opened the back door.

  It was apparent by Garrick’s face that his entire being sunk when he saw his brother. “Hey, Steve.”

  Weakly, Steve lifted his head. “Garrick.”

  “What the hell did you go and do?” Garrick asked, leaning close to his brother.

  “I’m in bad shape. I know it.” Steve whispered. “Can you just do me a favor and shoot me in the head bef
ore I turn into one of those things.”

  “Actually, brother, I’m gonna do you one better.” Garrick smiled and lifted the sack that hung around his neck. “I got the cure.”

  Chapter Nine

  Chesapeake Bay, VA

  The second phone call from Lucille placed a peaceful feeling over Lance’s head. He sipped on bourbon and relaxed in the office that would be his headquarters and home.

  He was taking a moment.

  Things were moving into place.

  After a single knock on the door, Lance lifted his head and smiled when Don walked in. “you look better.”

  “I got some rest. A solid hour of sleep did wonders.” Don stepped inside and closed the door. “We got a line to Cleveland, but could not get through to anyone. Any connection was not solid. We’re working on it.”

  “Good. We need to get a hold of them and move them here, ASAP. Actually, I want to move Klein, Powers and Dodds to the USNA Comfort. It’ll be arriving by morning.”

  “From Boston?” Don asked. “That’s where it was last dry docked.”

  “Yes, and since you are the Secretary of Health and that’s a viable hospital ship, I’d like you onboard as well.”

  “I think the ships are a grand idea for survivors. Will relieve some of the pressure off of the islands. The Mercy?”

  “Should be arriving in San Francisco tomorrow night but California is a last exodus. The west seems minimally hit.”

  “For now,” Don said. “Nowhere is safe. This thing has been out a couple weeks. It has to work its course. Like any other pandemic. It will eventually hit everywhere.”

  “I agree. Even though other countries are saying they aren’t infected.”

  “They are.” Don nodded assuredly. ‘I think we should stick to the plan. Not involve ourselves in what other countries are doing or saying. If your house is infested, a good exterminator will remove all occupants and clear the house. That’s what we’re doing.”

  “Good analogy."

  “Thank you.”

  “Drink?” Lance showed Don the bottle.

  “Not right now, thank you.”

  Lance stood. “Well we are moving nicely on the exterminator plan. We have Ferries on standby. Bridges to the island blocked with visual checkpoints for infection. West and East coast. We’ve been able to contact any of our ships that can get to us. I don’t have much air support, but right now what I have; I am using to hit our warehouses for supplies. Stock up the ships as best as we can and the islands. After we move all that we can, then we start cleaning house.”