The Zombie Principle II
Page 20
He decided that they could move next door to the Excalibur Hotel. There was a monorail stop elevated high above the ground with plenty of cover and an excellent view of Tropicana Ave and the MGM Grand entrance. The big question was whether or not to bring the Land Rover with them. Having the car nearby could be important if a quick getaway was required. The car, however, would be easier to spot moving between the properties.
Benton spotted a rear entrance that could be accessed by turning right out of the New York, New York and then making a U-turn on Tropicana. There was some chance they could be spotted but he decided it was worth the risk.
Bronson pulled slowly out onto the road, everyone looking to their left to see if they might have been discovered. Luck seemed to be with them as they reached the U-turn and then pulled into the Excalibur. There was some employee parking on the side and rear of the resort. A few cars dotted the lot. Bronson moved up toward the valet parking where even more cars had been abandoned. It was unlikely that the major had anyone take an inventory of all the cars in the parking lots of the casinos. One more, Benton hoped, would hardly be noticed. It was also as close as they could safely get to the monorail station.
They parked the car and everyone exited on the far side of the vehicle, just in case. The station had pathways leading, of course, directly into the casino, as well as the parking lot and the walkway crossing over Tropicana Ave. They moved cautiously between the cars trying not to make any sudden movements, anything that could be noticed from the other side of the street. They reached the stairs leading up to the station and started advancing up. It was a lot higher up than it looked from far away. There was an elevator available had there been any electricity.
The station itself was enclosed and offered little in the way of a view, but a few feet outside the station on the sidewalk heading to the walkway offered an excellent view. They kept low and spread out.
“Keep your eye in that direction,” Benton said to Gunner, pointing to the sidewalk leading into the casino. “We don’t want anything sneaking up on us.”
Gunner nodded and took a position behind the rest of the group. Bronson still had the binoculars and removed them from his pocket, putting them up to his eyes he did a quick scan of the area. Nothing unusual.
They had just settled into what promised to be a long day in the Nevada heat when the sound of an engine pierced the quiet. It sounded like a large truck engine, sputtering and grinding. Bronson focused the binoculars on the sound and spotted a deuce and a half moving south on Las Vegas Boulevard. It came to the intersection right in front of them and then made a U-turn, pulling in front of the MGM Grand.
The others didn’t need binoculars to see what was happening. The driver cut the engine and then emerged a minute later. Even from this distance, Benton could see it wasn’t anyone he was looking for. This time he asked for the binoculars, which Bronson handed over. Better to not poke the bear too often.
Gunner moved closer to get a better view without taking his eyes off the casino entrance. The driver was just standing there. He appeared to be waiting for someone or something.
A few minutes passed when three or four people emerged from the MGM entrance. Benton could easily make out an overweight bald guy who looked like he was sweating already, a black man, a woman with long auburn hair, and a disagreeable looking gentleman carrying a shotgun. Still, no one he recognized.
They conversed amongst themselves for another minute before more people came into view. Benton pulled his eyes away from the binoculars, blinked a few times, and then put them back. He refocused the binoculars and zoomed in on the two new women who were now standing next to the truck. Their backs were turned to him but they felt familiar. He couldn’t get a look at their faces. That is until even more people came out. This group was well dressed given the current circumstances. A young man and an Asian woman. A black woman with two children. Another young man with bushy hair and a shit-eating grin.
They were all laughing and seemed to be having a good time. If Benton didn’t know better, it looked like they were heading to a party of some sort. He remained focused on the two women he thought he recognized, desperately waiting for them to turn around.
His concentration was broken as he thought he noticed movement on the bridge above the street. He refocused the binoculars and studied the bridge. He scanned the area for a few moments and saw nothing of interest, he was more interested in the two women by the truck.
As everyone started piling into the back of the truck, they finally turned around. Benton nearly dropped the binoculars. He now knew for sure the doctor was still here. There was no way he would leave his wife and daughter again.
Benton had to make a quick decision. Sit tight and wait for the Ford to return which may or may not have had Dr. Sanderson in it. Or follow the truck that had his wife and daughter, and maybe it would lead them to him. A third option would have them wait until both vehicles returned and continue their surveillance.
Being the man of action that he was, Benton decided to follow the truck and see where the party was.
This is why Bronson was now pulling slowly onto Las Vegas Boulevard, the truck barely visible in the distance. It was a gutsy move. They were out in the open now and vulnerable but this might be their best opportunity to grab the doctor.
Since most people would never think of looking in the southbound lane when traveling north to see if anyone was behind them, Bronson turned into the southbound lane and used the abandoned cars as cover.
The Deuce and a Half was pretty far down the boulevard but still in view of the Land Rover. They weaved in between the abandoned cars, using them as cover, as they passed the MGM Grand unseen as far as Benton could tell. He flinched slightly at what sounded like gunfire off in the distance. He turned to Gunner in the back seat who nodded affirmatively to the unasked question.
Ten minutes later they left the large resorts behind them and entered into the more commercial area that separates the older downtown casinos from their glitzier counterparts on the strip. Bronson moved cautiously, keeping a proper distance and doing his best to remain undetected.
Suddenly, just before the south lane forked to the left leaving a median separating the two lanes, the truck came to a sudden stop just past an exit that cut over, crossing in front of the southbound lane. Bronson slowed, bringing the vehicle to a stop just before the stoplight.
Benton wondered if they had been spotted. They weren’t exactly ready for a fight but would have no choice if discovered. They sunk down a little lower in their seats as they watched the truck closely.
The back flap flung open and the surly looking man with the beard and shotgun jumped out of the back and moved slowly around to the far side of the truck. Benton tried to see the cause of the truck’s sudden stop but his vision was obstructed by street signs and the truck itself. A few seconds later the young man in the suit emerged, pulling a handgun from a holster clipped to his belt. He followed the other man around the side of the truck.
Benton waited anxiously for a minute when he finally spotted some movement in the front of the truck. One of the soldiers appeared to be moving something off to the side of the road. Then the young man came around to the driver’s side and said something to the driver. He then moved around to the back and hopped back in the truck. The truck lurched forward and pulled off to the right heading to a white building. Benton looked at the sign and saw it was a chapel. A chapel … it was a wedding, a God damned wedding! Benton had trouble stifling a chuckle.
The truck, now removed, allowed Benton to see what had happened. They had apparently run into some infected and had taken care of them. Probably the gunfire they heard earlier. He could now see the Major standing in the middle of the street along with two soldiers and the man with the beard. After a brief meeting they broke up into pairs, the Major and the man with the beard headed to the far side of the road and the two soldiers moved to their side. Both groups then started moving south towards their car. It took only a
second for Benton to realize what was going on.
“Turn the engine off,” he ordered.
Bronson did as instructed.
“Get down, as low as you can get,” he said. Everyone in the car sank into their seats, trying to make themselves as small as possible.
Benton was always ready for a fight but now would be the wrong time. He still didn’t know where the doctor was and until he knew that, he had to play it cool.
The soldiers moved slowly but alertly down the road eventually coming to the median that separated the north and south bound lanes. Their weapons at the ready, they were now no more than twenty feet from the Land Rover. Benton wasn’t worried about being seen unless they passed directly by the car and could look in. Then, well, all bets were off. He was more concerned about the heat a recently cut engine gives off or the ticking sounds that emanate from a cooling engine as the metal exhaust parts contract.
If the soldiers moved into the southbound lane it might get interesting. Benton could see their reflections in the windshield as they walked down the median scanning both sides of the street and obviously looking for infected. They continued on past the Land Rover for another twenty yards or so before doubling back and rejoining the Major.
Benton eased forward in his seat to get a better view. Everyone began exiting the truck, voices raised in joyful unison, and moving toward the chapel. The Major and his soldiers remained behind for a final check of the premises.
As the Bride and Groom prepared for their big day, a plan began to hatch in Benton’s head but he had to act quickly.
“Grab your gear and exit the car. Meet behind the Cherokee over there,” Benton said pointing to a metallic silver Jeep Grand Cherokee in the northbound lane.
Ninety seconds later they were all crouched behind the Jeep, armed with as much weaponry as they could carry, awaiting further instructions. Benton popped his head up and looked through the windows of the Jeep and saw there were a few people still milling about but were right next to what was likely the main entrance to the chapel.
“We’re going to move across the street using these cars as cover,” Benton said. “Then move up behind the buildings and approach the chapel from behind. They will be trapped inside. Nowhere to go. They will likely have at least one person outside keeping an eye out for infected. They won’t be expecting us,’ Benton said with a devilish grin.
“Use your suppressors and take out anyone outside. We’ll surprise them inside and take hostages while the Major brings me to the doctor,” Benton concluded.
He looked around waiting for a reaction to his plan from the assembled group. Not that it mattered because he had decided what they were going to do but these were experienced mercenaries and he did value their input. Although Benton had ruled his empire with an iron fist, he knew the importance of surrounding himself with capable people.
They all looked at each other and nodded. It was a solid plan. They moved quickly across the street and then north on Las Vegas Boulevard.
As far as Benton could tell their luck had held and they made it to the rear of the chapel undetected. Benton motioned for Gunner to take the lead.
He moved between the buildings as he saw a woman under an awning, more like a carport, looking in the windows of an old, very pink, Cadillac. One of the men in military fatigues stood watch in front of the car keeping an eye on the street. She was oblivious to Gunner even as he moved to within a few yards of her. Benton pointed to the main entrance and using hand signals instructed Gunner and Mikial to take out the guard up front.
They entered the carport, Gunner and Mikial moved along the wall of the chapel, making sure to avoid being detected through any windows as Benton moved in behind the auburn-haired beauty. In one swift motion, he came up from behind her and put his hand over her mouth and grabbed her waist.
The woman attempted to scream but Benton’s hand had muffled the sound. She kicked her legs violently as Benton struggled to keep control. Bronson moved in front of her and leveled his handgun, pressing it firmly against her forehead. He didn’t have to say a word; his look conveyed his intentions and the fear in the woman’s eyes made it clear she understood.
At the same moment, Gunner came up from behind and using his knife slit the throat of the soldier standing guard. Blood began to spurt everywhere as he collapsed to the ground. Small gurgling sounds emanated from the man as he bled out.
Mikial noticed a second soldier standing in front of the entrance. He drew his silenced weapon and put a well-placed bullet in the soldier’s head. He stumbled backward landing on his rear and simultaneously propped up by a group of shrubs lining the walkway leading to the entrance. He appeared to be sitting up, his semi-automatic resting comfortably in his lap.
Benton moved toward the main entrance, the woman no longer putting up a fight but not exactly cooperating. Bronson and his gun kept pace alongside them, reminding the woman of her situation.
When they reached the corner, Benton peaked around the cheap vinyl siding to see that Gunner and Mikial had moved the soldiers, the lifeless bodies of the two men now lying face down on the pavement, blood oozing from the wounds each had just recently suffered. He saw his men had taken up position just in front of the front door.
Benton moved around the one soldier, positioning himself in front of the door. The woman seeing the carnage for the first time became limp in Benton’s arms, muffled sobs emanating through Benton’s fingers. He struggled to get her fully upright. Finally getting her under control, he removed his handgun from its holster and positioned near the woman’s head. He looked at Bronson and gave him a short but authoritative nod.
Chapter 21
Quite the Burden
Malcolm Sharp rolled his wheelchair out of the lab and into the hallway. There was enough light coming in through the window at the end of the hall to see a good distance in front of him. He looked left, then right, and with some effort pushed hard on his left wheel turning the chair to the right.
He would often take these short strolls when the Doctor was deep into his work. His only real purpose here was to provide the blood samples needed to continue Dr. Sanderson’s experiments. He did, of course, provide some companionship and someone to talk to.
He never traveled too far from the lab, just down to the storage area and back, peeking into the offices from time to time, looking for what he didn’t know. It was just a way to pass the time and get a little exercise. Not that exercise would do him any good now, he had accepted his fate.
What harm could a little excursion do anyway?
A bite from an infected wouldn’t kill him, that had already been proven. It was, according to the doc, because of this God-awful disease that had engulfed his body and was slowly killing him.
Malcolm came to a stop in front of the x-ray lab where the huge machine hung from the ceiling, attached to sturdy tracts allowing it to be moved to any number of positions. He often wondered if he hadn’t been so stubborn and went to see a doctor once in a while, like Katie had often begged him to do, he might have been able to beat this thing. Dr. Sanderson had assured him that early detection didn’t help and that ALS was not like cancer or a host of other diseases.
He and the Doctor had actually talked about a great many things. It had, as most relationships do, started with small talk; where are you from, kids, jobs, things like that. It then turned more personal.
Malcolm shared his story of a failed roofing business in Arizona and the stress that put on his marriage. How Katie’s mom left them and they were forced to move to Colorado with some of Malcolm’s family before getting back on his feet.
The Doctor shared the group’s travels and how they ended up at the base where they met. Each time filling in a few more details about his work and his wife and daughter. Until the time before last when he dropped the final bombshell; that he, and he alone, was responsible for this terrible outbreak. That it was his research and his decisions that led to the horrific events that evening in Florida.
It showed in Dr. Sanderson’s face. It also explained his obsession with finding a cure or an antidote.
Malcolm had not been given, as had everyone else who agreed to take it, a pill that was supposed to help in case you in case you were bitten by an infected. The Doctor confided in him his reservations about its effectiveness. He used a lot of medical jargon that Malcolm didn’t understand but the bottom line was it was better than nothing but highly imperfect.
It was the reason they were here again today. The Doctor’s pursuit of the perfect antidote.
Malcolm reached the storage area where they had kept the prescription drugs, among other things, that needed to be kept out of reach of the public. Unfortunately, the outbreak made most anything free game and drugs were one the first things to go when the looting began.
He turned around and headed back down the hall, figuring the Doctor had scarcely noticed his absence. He was getting tired despite the short trip. They had been here all morning and it was probably afternoon by now, but with no clocks, it was hard to say. He figured being here was the least he could do. For Katie, for the group, for humanity.
Using the last of his current store of energy he turned the corner and back into the lab where Dr. Sanderson toiled. At first, he didn’t see, or for that matter hear anything. He eased himself further into the room and looked to his right down a long workbench and spotted the Doctor.