by Ricky Fleet
“It looks like they have discovered the benefits of concealment,” Gloria whispered.
“How do we know they’re still alive, though?” Peter asked.
“They’re using candles,” Gloria explained, “And even the largest candle the church possesses wouldn’t burn for more than a day or two.”
“They have to be alive to keep lighting them,” Peter gasped.
Gloria exchanged an amused look with Jodi at his slow uptake. A scuffing of shoe on stone interrupted the moment and Stephanie rose into view from the staircase.
“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“Not at all,” Jodi said, “Please, join us.”
Taking a few deep breaths following the climb up the steep staircase, she then joined them at the wall.
“I never got a chance to thank you personally for your bravery yesterday,” Gloria said.
“I have to admit I was dubious, but my students insisted. We were terrified the entire time and we weren’t even in harm’s way. That you made it safely from Emsworth is nothing short of a miracle.”
Jodi looked at Gloria and raised her eyebrows as if to say, you see?
“It’s a shame we lost friends along the way,” Peter said quietly.
“I’m terribly sorry for your loss,” Stephanie replied with genuine sorrow.
“Thank you. Our losses may very well have been total without you,” Gloria said. “What brings you out of the warmth of the great hall?”
“Well, I’ve been trying to keep the children occupied with a regimented program of learning. I thought it would be pointless at first, but they have been keen to keep their minds active on topics that don’t involve cannibalism and horror.”
Gloria nodded and wiped at her eyes, “It must be tearing the poor dears apart knowing they are almost certainly orphans. They’re lucky to have such an amazing guardian.”
“In a way, I’ve been selfish,” she replied, “I’ve managed to keep my own mind active in the process. We’ve helped each other through these dark days. My skills don’t stretch to mathematics, though, and I’ve heard that is your speciality?”
“Numbers are a personal fascination of mine, that’s true. Please feel free to use me whenever you wish,” Gloria offered, “I could use a distraction too.”
“Excellent. The children of the Duke and Duchess have obviously been home schooled at some point so I’ll collect as many relevant textbooks as I can find. The children will be so excited!”
With a spring in her step, the teacher excused herself and descended the steps.
“With everything the kids have been through you’re going to inflict maths on them?” Peter teased.
“Look at it this way. If they can survive my algebra class, then a few million zombies should prove to be a minor annoyance.”
With a snort of laughter, Peter excused himself. Jodi followed and turned back to Gloria, “Would you like a cup of tea?”
“That would be delightful, sweetheart.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Left alone with her thoughts, Gloria traced the roads from the cathedral right up to the castle gates. Her hopes of discovering sparsely populated streets were in vain. After counting over a hundred in the cathedral grounds alone, she lowered the glasses.
“God help us.”
CHAPTER 24
Eldridge and the engineers made their way around the Warthogs. When the maintenance checklist was completed and everything was in order she stood back in admiration. The obsolete vehicles had been recommissioned for the task at hand and would serve them well across the water and marshland of the south coast.
“Time to load up?”
Eldridge turned to Harkiss and nodded, “I want to move out within the hour. I’m just going to a mission brief with Captain Hayward and then I’ll be back to help.”
“We’ll make a start in the meantime.”
Rounding the vehicle hangars, she saw her superior directing the efforts of the clearance teams across the bridge. A crack came from a tower on her right and in the distance a zombie fell dead to the ground. The sharpshooters were maintaining a close eye on the approaches to the base, covering those outside the safety of the island barracks. Huge pits had been excavated in double quick time and army bulldozers grumbled in the distance, pushing tumbling mounds of dead flesh into the holes. A small victory in light of the worldwide struggle; it had still buoyed the morale of those on the base. Previously glum faces now had looks of determination and resolve. Far greater danger was on the horizon, that was certain, but the overwhelming destruction of those at the gates proved they had the capability to fight back. And win.
“How much longer until the area is cleared?”
“Six hours to clear the ground with a further four hours to seal the graves with soil, sir,” replied Sergeant Appelo. He was one of Hayward’s retinue and an accomplished soldier with a fierce reputation. Eldridge had been disappointed when his application for the mission had been denied.
“Good,” Hayward said. Noticing Eldridge approaching, the men returned her salute. “Is it that time, private?”
“Yes, sir, I hope to be underway soon. The more hours of daylight we have, the greater chance of reaching the farms in Ham before nightfall.”
“Of course,” Hayward replied. “Sergeant, continue the clearance.”
They left the drone of heavy machinery and entered the office which had once belonged to Major Albright. A cardboard box sat just inside the door filled with the previous commander’s personal effects.
Seeing the scowl on Eldridge’s face, he chuckled, “I see there’s no forgiveness in you.”
“None, sir. From a military standpoint, I almost understand the requirements to protect assets. From a humanitarian standpoint…” she paused.
“Speak freely, private.”
“From a humanitarian standpoint, it was bullshit, sir. We should’ve been ordered to push out and secure any survivors from day one,” Eldridge spat furiously.
“Then you may all be dead,” replied Hayward.
“Possibly. Or we may have saved hundreds of lives and Major Albright wouldn’t have had to lie to leave the base. Baxter would’ve never been left in charge to kill all my friends.”
Hayward sat down and held a hand out for Eldridge to do the same. Anger had her pacing, but a frown from her superior quelled the raging fire enough to allow her to be seated.
“Private, I understand your outrage, believe me. I’ve lost men in the field and there isn’t a day goes by that I don’t analyse every order I gave. You must learn to move on and accept what is.”
“I’ll try, sir.”
“I know you will, and that’s what’s going to make you a great leader in the coming war. Do you want to know the only thing that I know for certain about the future?”
“Sir?”
“Many more of us will die. Accepting that fact will allow you to do what’s necessary to win against the impossible odds we face.”
“Is the emotional burden worth it, sir?”
“Sometimes I wonder,” Hayward admitted, “But then I rationalize that every man or woman I’ve lost has ensured the survival of ten times that number of innocents or more. We are trained soldiers, killers one and all, and every time I see a warrior like yourself I’m certain we have a future. Now enough blowing smoke up your ass, what’s the plan?”
Eldridge laid out the clearly marked map and detailed grid references of their planned positions hour by hour. Depending on factors outside of their control, they should reach the holiday park at approximately seven am the following day.
“As soon as we have returned with them, we follow the second route I’ve marked on the map,” she explained, pointing at a red marker pen line running parallel to the first for the first ten miles before turning in a north-eastern direction.
“Avoiding the population centres, good,” he affirmed, “You’ll have eyes in the sky tracking any undead movement which could hinder you, though wit
h the firepower you have loaded I doubt it would be an issue.”
“Anything we can do to safely thin the numbers is part of the plan, sir. We hope to bait the horde away from the entertainment complex and exfil without casualties.”
“And if you can’t?”
“Then we go biblical on their asses.”
Hayward burst out laughing, “I like the sound of that. I want hourly sit-reps and I hate to say this after our frank discussion, but don’t put yourself at risk unnecessarily.”
“We’re taking a risk the second we make land after leaving the island,” Eldridge replied flatly, evading the point.
“I knew you’d say that.” Hayward slapped his thigh in mirth, before rising to salute her. “Happy hunting, private. Teach the zombies why the British Army is feared across the world.”
With that, she left the office and marched back to the armoured personnel carriers.
****
The eight soldiers stood looking across the short expanse of water which would take them to the mainland. Each was lost in their own thoughts now that reality was starting to hit home. Once clear of the island base, they would be vulnerable for the first time in months. The slaughter at the gates had been exhilarating, but it was against a static, unresisting force. The hordes waiting for them between Thorney and the Castle were mobile and highly dangerous.
“Can anyone think of anything important before we leave?” Eldridge broke the silence.
Sergeant Holbeck looked at her and shook his head, “We’re prepared for a war. Each Hog has a box of fifty frag grenades, two thousand rounds for the HMGs and four thousand rounds for our rifles.”
“With enough food and water for seven days,” Harkiss added, “Any more than that and we wouldn’t have room for the survivors.”
“What if we get into a protracted firefight? Will that be enough?” Eldridge asked.
“We’ll just have to fall back and resupply,” Holbeck replied.
“Ok. What’s the order, Sarge?”
“I’m not in charge of the mission, Eldridge, you are. The captain made that clear and I’m happy to follow your lead,” he said proudly.
The other seven nodded in agreement, waiting for her guidance.
More accustomed to following orders than giving them, she thought. “Harkiss and myself ride the HMG’s. Holbeck and Carpenter, you’re both trained in driving these beasts?”
They nodded again.
“Good. The rest of you will rotate with us as needed. Mount up!”
Eldridge climbed through the turret hatch and looked across to Harkiss in his own. As their eyes met, huge grins turned their lips upward, “Ready?”
“I was born ready,” he hollered, slapping the roof of the vehicle. “Let’s save some lives!”
She laughed and did the same, “I was expecting more along the lines of let’s fuck shit up, but saving lives sounds better.”
“I’m hoping to save some grateful lingerie models. Now that I’m one of the last men on Earth, they’ll be all over me!”
“I wouldn’t count on it. They’ll probably feed themselves willingly to the zombies to get away from you!”
Twin rumbles vibrated through their bodies as the engines were started, masking the first expletives of the reply. The hand gestures were an ample substitute.
“… yourself. Here I am risking my ass to protect you and all you do is mock my godly sex appeal.”
“The only time you got any before this was when you paid for it,” came the mocking voice of Corporal Angela Carpenter from below.
“Shut the fuck up, Carpenter!” Harkiss shouted down, “That was only once.”
“Once?” Eldridge called out.
“Ok, twice, maybe three times, but no more than ten. And anyway, it was when I was on leave in Amsterdam so it doesn’t count.”
“Here’s what I’ll do. If we meet any nice ladies on the road, I’ll put in a good word for you,” Eldridge offered.
“You mean lie for me?”
“Yeah, pretty much,” she chuckled. “Hold on tight!”
The noses of the amphibious vehicles dropped away towards the water’s edge and with a splash they hit the surface. How anything so heavy could float, let alone navigate across open water, was a mystery to Eldridge. Pulling parallel to avoid the wake of the lead vehicle, the second Warthog churned at the water with its tracks.
Harkiss gave her a grinning thumbs up. “Not feeling seasick, are we?” he mocked.
Unable to reply, she stared intently at the turret shield and concentrated on calming her stomach. It was churning in the same way as the lapping ocean and that thought brought a new bout of nausea. Her decision to forgo the medication due to the short journey now seemed idiotic. Keeping her vision focused on the desert camouflage paint was helping and second by second her equilibrium returned.
“We have some obstacles that might want to come aboard, get ready for some evasive steering!” Holbeck yelled.
Bloated carcasses bobbed like corks on the surface. Weeks of partial submersion had eroded their skin and muscles until it had peeled away from bone. Any tattered flesh still attached floated around the corpses like a slimy grey blanket. Many of those who had been destroyed the previous day bobbed among the zombie detritus but Holbeck didn’t have time to gauge which were dead or alive and slalomed expertly between them all.
“Nearly there!” Harkiss called out, the mocking tone absent.
Taking slow, deep breaths she braced her hands for the coming impact. As the caterpillar tracks transitioned from water to wet mud and finally hard ground again, she dared to look up. Coming to a stop, Carpenter and the others jumped from the vehicles. Two of the undead clung to the troop carriages and were dispatched before they could stand up.
“Clear that filth so we can get underway.”
Taking out their knives they hacked at the hands until the lifeless, clawed fingers dropped to the ground. Dragging the corpses away, they stared up as Eldridge surveyed the area. A picture postcard beach this was not. In place of dunes of golden sand were stony shores, covered in seaweed and vile brown foam. A solitary shack had been boarded up many years in the past; the offer of sweet, icy treats unable to lure unwary tourists to the area.
“I used to holiday near here when I was younger,” said Corporal Carpenter, looking around with a sense of familiarity. The paintwork on the isolated vendor had been a lot brighter in those days too.
“Christ, you must have been dirt poor,” Harkiss teased.
“Not as poor as your father,” she fired back. “Shame he couldn’t afford a condom on the night you were conceived.”
“He did, but it split. Even as a sperm they couldn’t hold me back!” Harkiss preened.
“Well fuck our luck. Instead of being binned or flushed, you end up making our lives a misery.” Carpenter threw hers hands up in frustration.
“Bloody hell, you couldn’t even afford books,” Harkiss commiserated, “The word you were looking for is ‘making our lives marvellous’.”
“Knock it off you two,” Eldridge interrupted. “Carpenter, we all know Harkiss’s dad should have had a wank that night, but God moves in mysterious ways. Putting up with him may be our way into Heaven.”
Harkiss faked crying and Carpenter chuckled before giving him a playful punch. Holbeck stepped out of the driver’s seat and joined them.
“Private Harkiss, would you like to make an official bullying complaint against Corporal Carpenter and Private Eldridge?”
“Yes, sir,” he proclaimed.
“Duly noted. Now stop being such a pussy and get back on the radio and report we have landed one mile north of West Witterings.”
“Yes, sir!”
In the distance was the town Holbeck had mentioned. In the height of summer, it was a popular destination for budget holidays with a thriving surfing scene. Now it thrived with something else entirely.
“Morrow’s certain that nobody’s alive in any of the other villages?”
&n
bsp; “He’s checked three times, Sarge. No heat signatures at all until Ham farm,” Eldridge replied.
“Shit.”
Eldridge could understand the sentiment. “Let’s get moving and find the civilians. I can see a welcoming party in the distance.”
Taking out the binoculars, Holbeck scanned toward the town and could see a procession of dozens of zombies. It must have been the sound of the engines against the usual silence which reigned.
“I think we can assume we’re ringing the dinner bell loud and clear. Mount up!”
“How can they hear us with rotten ears?” Private David Dougal asked.
“How can the dead be alive in the first place?” Eldridge replied. “I try not to think about it too much.”
“Good advice.” Dougal nodded and climbed aboard.
The Warthogs rumbled to life and forged on. Eldridge stared back at the approaching zombies who grew smaller until they were finally lost from sight. Glancing around, she was suddenly struck by the resilience of nature. Rabbits raced for the safety of their burrows and birds took flight from the trees as they drove past. The world hadn’t suffered in the least from the fall of mankind and she wondered what the planet would look like in a few centuries time.
“Trailer park ahead, get ready!” Holbeck yelled, breaking into her musings.
Eldridge pulled the charging handle on the HMG and Harkiss did likewise. They could have skirted around, but it would have added nearly half an hour to their journey so the decision had been made to go straight through. Wood cracked, disintegrating as the massive machines trundled over the shiplap fence of the park. Within the grounds were rows upon rows of cheap, mobile homes. This particular area was popular with retirees who had sold their brick and mortar properties to release the equity. Walking sticks and frames lay where their aged owners had fallen. Rain had washed the aluminium clean of blood, but the indeterminate chunks of rotting flesh were a reminder of what had happened in this tranquil haven.