by RR Haywood
‘Move to the back of the van so you can hear Cookey and Reginald,’ Nick says guiding her over, ‘okay, press that and you’ll hear the motor rising…’
The drone starts to whir with all four propellers spinning to life then it shoots up a few inches and drops down with a clatter.
‘It’s okay,’ Charlie says, ‘the legs can absorb the landing,’ she adds with a quick smile at Nick, ‘try again.’
‘Gently now,’ Nick says, ‘ease it straight up. That’s it…keep going…keep going….Reginald? You should have vision now.’
‘Eye in the sky is live,’ Cookey says then adds quickly, ‘that wasn’t pissing about…sorry yes we have visual feed, Nick.’
‘You can hold it in one place now,’ Nick explains, ‘just maintain the height but don’t touch the direction stick.’
‘Wow,’ Marcy says staring up at the drone buzzing like a big angry insect a few metres above our heads, ‘I’m flying it…’
‘Yep, Cookey…have a go at the camera before we move off,’ Nick says, ‘Marcy just try and hold it still.’
I turn round to see Cookey holding the other controller and being watched closely by Reginald.
‘Rotate the camera down,’ Reginald says, ‘the focus is automatic.’
‘Yep got it,’ Cookey says focussing hard.
I watch the feed going from open sky to the brown earth of the ground as Cookey turns the camera down then zooms in too much. He pulls back gently as the drone starts a gentle glide before holding static again as they both learn the deft touches.
‘What’s that?’ Cookey asks peering at the black and brown blurs on the screen.
‘Zoom out,’ Reginald says.
The camera pans back with tiny increments until Marcy’s shoulder comes into view with the black of her top contrasting against her tanned skin, ‘fuck me,’ Cookey says, ‘this camera is awesome…have you seen the detail?’
‘What are you looking at?’ Nick asks.
‘Marcy’s arm…you can see the hairs and everything.’
‘Really?’ Marcy asks turning to watch the screen in the van, ‘is that my arm?’
‘Yeah your er…right arm? Yes your right arm,’ Cookey says.
‘Hang on,’ Marcy says, ‘how do I lower it?’
‘With this stick, gently pull it down…you can hear the motor changing pitch as it drops.’
‘Okay,’ Marcy whispers staring up at the drone and working with gentle touches to drop it down lower towards the earth. With the drone a few feet above her head she eases the direction making it move away a foot or two before bringing it down lower first to head height then lower again until she’s facing it. ‘Try it now,’ she says to Cookey grinning widely, ‘how do I look?’
‘You are so vain,’ I laugh finally realising what she was trying to do.
‘Oh wow,’ she says staring into the van at the screen filled with her own face, ‘zoom in on my eyes…bit more…oh look,’ she says happily, ‘the red is nearly all gone now,’ she blinks at the camera focussing in on her eye. ‘Okay, that’s filled my narcissistic need for now. Up we go.’
The drone shoots into the sky whirring loudly as Cookey works to pan out and show everyone in the group all staring up.
‘Which way?’ Marcy asks.
‘North,’ Reginald says.
‘Doesn’t help.’
‘That way.’
‘Again, Reggie that does not help.’
‘That way,’ Nick says pointing north, ‘and er, you don’t have to watch it all the time…I mean it’s in the air so…’
‘It is my first time and I wish to do it properly.’
‘Yep,’ Nick nods sucking air in while motioning at Charlie to say something.
‘Marcy you will lose sight in a minute,’ Charlie says in that ever so polite way, ‘at which point you will have to use the screen to observe your direction.’
‘Okay,’ Marcy says turning quickly and nodding at Reginald before fixing her eyes on the screen, ‘stop shaking your head, Reggie. I can see you doing it.’
‘Reginald,’ he mutters rolling his eyes instead.
‘Reginald, commentary,’ Clarence says as we start climbing into the van to stand closer to the screen and getting tuts and huffs from Marcy as we block her view.
‘Indeed,’ Reginald says spinning round on his chair to look down at the map then back up at the screen. ‘Ah yes, yes indeed. Marcy can you see that main road?’
‘On the left?’
‘Yes. That is the main road into Stenbury. Follow that road but…’
‘Don’t go right above it,’ Roy says interrupting.
‘I was about to say that,’ Reginald says.
‘And don’t drop down too much either.’
‘Cheers, Roy,’ Marcy mutters gliding the drone through the air.
‘A roundabout should come into view any second. This will be large with three main roads feeding into it. Our road comes from the south and the others lead east and west. The exit road runs north and directly into Stenbury High Street which is a one way system designed to allow vehicular traffic through the main…’
‘Too fast, Reggie,’ Marcy says staring at the screen, ‘roundabout?’
‘Yes, indeed that is the aforesaid roundabout. See the main road you are following runs south to north and there we can see the roads…’
‘Yes I can see the bloody roads.’
‘These are important,’ Reginald says bristling at the sharp tone, ‘they both connect to side roads leading into the main town centre and effectively form a dual ring road of sorts. This is something we need to know.’
‘Okay. Sorry.’
‘Over the roundabout and we go into Stenbury High Street. Note the first building on the left, this square edifice here,’ Reginald taps the screen with the end of his pen at a squat looking grey building with long white antennas on the roof. ‘This is Stenbury police station, hold the drone still please, Marcy. Thank you. I should imagine it holds an armoury as my research tends to suggest Stenbury is the main town for this county therefore it might be feasible for the police armed response units to deploy from this central location.’
‘Fuck me, Reginald,’ I say in awe, ‘where did all this come from?’
‘Excuse me, Mr Howie,’ Reginald says in apology for not answering, ‘opposite the police station is the fire station and again one could surmise that in addition to the general pump appliances they may also have possession of an extendable ladder in case you are in need of height.’
‘Reginald,’ Clarence says widening his eyes, ‘this is fantastic.’
‘Well done, Reginald,’ Blowers says respectfully.
‘Fucking brilliant,’ Nick adds quickly.
‘Indeed,’ Reginald says shifting uncomfortably at the praise, ‘the High Street is a straight road through with various retail and commercial outlets bordering the road and as you can see the main road is very wide with ample parking spaces either side. This may create issues if you were considering a pinch point tactic or narrowing of the enemy forces if we were to draw them back down this main road towards the roundabout.’
‘Saying that,’ Paula says, ‘where are they?’
‘There is a large public square in the centre which we shall come to in a moment. Move on please, Marcy. This building here is the post office,’ he says tapping the screen at the bird’s eye view of the deserted High Street as the drone glides on. ‘Post offices and banks have secure areas which may be something to keep in mind should one be in need of a secure area.’
I listen intently as he reels off shops and stores, highlighting a café that should hold stocks of water or at least running water. The man is in his element and transformed from the nervous bag of bones twitching and wailing at every bump and bang. Clarence flicks his eyebrows up when I glance over and I catch sight of Blowers gently shaking his head in disbelief at the way Reginald shows just how much thought he’s put into this.
‘Now,’ Reginald says bringing my atte
ntion back to him, ‘the main road we’re following runs north going through to the end of town and into the industrial and business districts. However, please note the crossroads just coming into view. The road running east to west is also part of the town centre and I would suggest this crossroads is the centre point of the town’s shopping and retail zone. To the left is the public square complete with a fountain, war memorial and various benches. To the right are more stores and that road to the right runs, through a circuitous route to join with the main road connecting with the roundabout. Do you understand?’
‘So let me get this right,’ I say, ‘the road north is the main road through and the crossroads connect to both of the main east and west roads that join the roundabout? Right?’
‘Yes. You are correct. You can see how this is important because it allows the other player to flank you should you get drawn into the town too deeply.’
‘Still can’t see any infected,’ Paula says.
‘They will be within nearly every building we have viewed so far,’ Reginald says, ‘hidden and out of sight and I will estimate we will see a sizeable force within the public square intended to lure you in before those secreted within the buildings can enclose you.’
‘That’s the trap then,’ Clarence says, ‘we’d get into the town and think it empty before finding them in the square…at which point we’d get flanked and circled.’
‘Clever fuckers,’ I say quietly.
‘Not yet, Mr Howie but given time they certainly will be,’ Reginald says seriously.
‘Marcy, please go left so we can gain a view of the public square.’
The town looks gorgeous and serene with a blend of old style Victorian architecture mingled with modern facades of High Street retails stores. With the sun shining it looks picturesque, like something you’d see on a television advert. We watch chimney stacks glide beneath the camera and the dizzying multiple roof patterns of slopes and diagonals from the buildings being enlarged and developed over the years.
‘Movement,’ Nick snaps the word out bringing our attention back to the intersection below the drone and two children running hell for leather from the direction of the square. An older boy maybe twelve or thirteen and a younger girl that can’t be older than six and she clutches his hand as he drags her sprinting down the road. The way they run, the movement and panicked manner of legs pumping and arms flailing and we instantly recognise them as people. A man runs into view several metres behind them and even from the distance of the drone above them we can see him yelling to the children and motioning with his arm for them to run. Panic etched on his face then movement behind me as several undead surge into the shot after the man. He tries running, pumping his arms and legs while glancing behind him to the four or five infected chasing. He shouts again to the children and as one we hold our breaths in the van. Not a word is spoken but we lean closer, edging towards the screen. The little girl cries out trying to break away from the boy and fighting to turn back to the adult male. The boy jerks her on shouting at her with soundless words that we cannot hear. The man shouts again, waving for them with desperation in his face but he knows they’re too fast. At the last second he stops and turns running back into the infected.
‘Oh fuck,’ I gasp watching as he barrels into the first two sending them sprawling with what must be the bravest thing I ever seen. He takes them down hard but the other three react quickly and dive onto his body. Legs thrashing and arms hitting out while he fights to keep them busy. Mouths sink into his flesh, biting his legs, arms, hands and face. That he screams is obvious.
‘Run…’ Clarence whispers watching the children, ‘run…RUN…’
‘Oh no no no,’ Paula covers her own mouth with her hand as several more undead sprint past the murder being wrought on the ground. Four, then five, six and more that surge into view until a dozen are sprinting flat out towards the children still running down the centre of the road.
My heart ramps with increasing beats per minute. My fists clenching so hard my nails dig into the wounds across my palms where Dave cut them.
‘Please…’ Clarence begs, ‘just run…’
It’s too late. The boy might have stood a better chance but trying to drag the girl and they don’t stand a chance against the pumped up infected adults that close the distance no doubt screaming in primeval blood lust.
‘Fuck,’ Clarence, despite the fights we’ve been in, the blood we’ve spilled and the death we’ve given, snaps his head round away from the screen with pain etched into face as the infected swarm the children tearing them apart with a frenzy I have never seen before. They don’t even try and infect them and preserve the body but act like wild animals fighting over a fresh kill to be eaten.
Tears fill my eyes and my breath comes faster and harder. My jaw clenched and I cannot speak, cannot talk, cannot react.
The drone moves on. Gliding silently over the square swarming with infected raging in motion. I expected them to be still and waiting but they’re not. They’re pumped and running with snarls and absolute lust warping their features.
The square is bordered on the sides by buildings. The base of which are all retail or food places. On the fourth side is the road and more buildings on the other side.
‘There,’ Paula shouts pointing at the screen. I scan the view trying to make sense before seeing a determined movement as several undead turn on the spot catching sight of an adult woman sprinting from a doorway. Red hair flying wild as she runs as fast as she can but she’s panicked and wild, paying no heed to her direction. They close in from all sides forcing her to try and veer and weave and it’s like watching a sport. Like an American football player running with the ball trying to dodge the opposing team members who lunge and dive. She’s taken from the front while looking to the side. A heavy built male slamming into her with such force she bounces back sagging with the wind driven from her lungs. Again they swarm descending like hyenas for the kill and the light grey paving beneath her runs red from the blood coursing from her flesh bitten away.
‘Look,’ someone in the van shouts. I don’t know who for my mind races with the sight I’m seeing. A man running from a doorway turning hard right and going down the building line with several hundred infected instantly snapping about and starting after him. He sprints hard then a sharp left and he slams into a red doorway to the side of a shoe shop hammering his fists on the wood. The door opens and he falls in before it’s slammed shut as the infected reach the spot and start throwing themselves against the door.
‘Marcy, give me the controller,’ Nick reaches past me taking the controller from her hands, ‘Cookey, ‘I’m lowering…get the camera on the building line where the bloke went in.’
‘Got it,’ Cookey breathes the words out as Nick glides the drone lower towards the mayhem unfolding below the drone.
The camera tilts, swivelling to gain a view of the red door then working up towards the windows on the first floor.
‘People,’ Blowers says at the sight of a man edging closer to the window from inside the room. He peers out, tentative and grimacing at what he can see below. He backs away saying something into the room behind him. Figures moving, more men coming into view. A woman holding a baby walks in and gets waved to go back. Cookey zooms in giving us a fleeting but clear view of the terror on her face as she clutches the baby closer to her breast and the large kitchen knife held in her hand.
‘Go along,’ Nick says pushing the drone deeper into the square. Cookey pans out showing the large stone blocks of the building until we see the first bay window of the next building and more people inside the room. Men women and children. The adults showing signs of intense stress with some holding their hands to their heads while others sob clearly. Children are held tight or stand-alone crying with fear.
‘We gotta go in,’ Clarence gasps turning his great head to glare at me.
‘Get ready, we’re moving in thirty seconds. Reginald, stay here with the drone…Paula, Marcy and Charlie…’
‘I can fire a gun I’m coming,’ Paula snaps.
‘Me too,’ Marcy says swallowing.
‘Everyone move now,’ I say as they start dropping down from the back of the van. ‘Bags loaded with ammunition. Hand weapons ready…Nick, take Clarence’s axe, Blinky take Nick’s axe….Charlie…’
‘I’ve got my stick,’ she says rushing towards the Saxon.
‘Stick?’
‘Hockey stick…’
‘That’s no good. Lads, get into that farmhouse find weapons.’
‘On it,’ Blowers sets off sprinting with Nick, Cookey and Mo on his heels.
‘Clarence?’
‘I’ll find something,’ he shouts racing off towards the sheds and outbuildings.
‘Mr Howie,’ Reginald calls me from inside the van.
‘What?’ I get the back and peer in to see him still glued to the screen.
‘There are too many,’ he says, rushing the words out, ‘far too many.’
‘No choice. Dave, I want you on the GPMG as we go in.’
‘There are simply too many,’ Reginald blurts, ‘the town could hold thousands.’
‘Reginald,’ I snap facing back into the van, ‘we’re going in and that’s it. You will stay here and keep that drone up. Find us somewhere to take the survivors.’
‘It cannot be done. There are too many, Mr Howie. Please, I implore you to listen to sense. Those survivors are already dead…’
‘Not yet they ain’t. Paula, can you fire the GPMG?’
‘Never done it but I will.’
‘Soon as we get in take over from Dave…Dave, show Paula and Charlie how to reload it now. Be quick. Lads, Clarence…find a sledgehammer we can use to beat the walls down between the buildings…’
‘Oh gosh, Mr Howie…please…’
‘Reginald! You will stay here and find us a defensible position to take the survivors. Am I clear? EVERYONE HURRY UP WE ARE MOVING OUT NOW. Charlie, you will protect Paula on the GPMG. Can you drive?’
‘I can, Mr Howie.’
‘Charlie is a better shot than me, I’ll drive she can shoot,’ Paula shouts back.