Z14 (Zombie Rules) (32 page)

             
“What are you going to do now?” Sarah asked, after a moment.

             
Fred stared out at the sky a few seconds before answering. “I’m going home. I’ve got friends there. I never should have left them. They’re my family now.”

             
“Are there any lady friends waiting for you, Fred?” Sarah asked with a small grin.

             
“Julie, Macie, and Zach. They’re teenage kids, although this current situation has made them grow up quick. And, there is the Allen family. Howard and Lashonda are married and they have two preteen boys, Howard Junior and Derry. They’re good kids.” Fred worked a kink out of his neck before continuing.

“Zach, now Zach is a special kid. He’s very intelligent and tough as nails. He got shot upside the head one day and he’s no worse for the wear.” Fred recalled the event and shook his head in wonder. “He and Julie are head over heels in love with each other. Macie is Zach’s ex-girlfriend, but the three of them seem to get along okay. But, the answer to your question is no. There are no ladies waiting for me.” Fred cast a brief glance at her.

“Are there any ladies waiting for you?” He deadpanned.

Sarah arched an eyebrow at Fred. “I’ve dated a few women in my time, and I’ve dated a few men. Hell, I was even engaged once. What do you think of that, cowboy?”

“Do you really want my opinion?” Fred asked. Sarah looked over at him.

“Fire away cowboy, this ought to be interesting.” She said.

“I think you’re a very driven woman, an overachiever. When it came to a significant other, you always had high expectations. But, when you would become involved in a relationship and then see all of their flaws, they always came up short.” Then, Fred gave her a deadpanned look.

“Of course, if you had ever gotten together with a cowboy from Tenn
essee, all of your prayers might’ve been answered.” Fred looked back out of the window without waiting for a reply. He missed the glare from Sarah, which was slowly replaced with a small grin.

             
There was no saving it. No need to even try. I floored it and headed toward the house. I knew it was no accidental fire, I’d been too careful. No, it was deliberately set, and I had a pretty damn good idea who did it. Stopping at the turn to our driveway, I motioned to Julie. She grabbed her M4, a walkie-talkie, and jumped out of the truck.

             
“Where the heck is she going?” Rowdy asked. She was heading toward her sniper hole but I didn’t bother explaining.

             
“She knows what to do. You two lock and load.” Andie reacted without hesitation and grabbed the other M4. Rowdy was having vapor lock until Andie leaned forward and punched him in the arm.

             
“Get your ass moving!” She shouted at him. Rowdy looked at her and began fumbling with his revolver. I stopped the truck right at the curve, slammed it into park, and shouted over my shoulder to Andie.

             
“Cover me! Rowdy, you stay here with the truck and kill anyone you don’t recognize.” I said. Without waiting for a response, I grabbed my Winchester and exited the truck. Hugging the tree line, I made my way to the bridge in much the same manner Jason’s boys did not so long ago. I was much more careful than them though, utilizing stealth and cover as I approached. Andie followed me closely, and much to my relief she was as quiet as a mouse.

             
One of them was sitting on his ass near the gate and holding his arm. I could plainly see the third degree chemical burns on his face and hands. Good, my booby trap actually worked. I used my rifle scope and scanned around the house. Andie’s jeep was there, parked beside my truck. There was a man whom I did not recognize admiring it. I couldn’t blame him. It was probably the most beautiful motor vehicle on the planet. Another one emerged from the front door, carrying a gas can. My blood ran cold.

             
I was just about to shoot him when a little voice in my head started screaming. I swiveled my rifle around and scanned the rest of the area. I stopped suddenly and looked closely at Rick’s hill. The casual observer would never have seen it, but I knew every bump, every curve, and every nuance of that mound. There was a slight, very slight, bulge in one spot. He was well camouflaged, possibly wearing a Ghillie suit.

             
“Well hello, George.” I whispered. Anyone hidden so well and set up to provide cover for his buddies had to have been a Marine. I would have liked to have gotten to know him. Perhaps we could have been friends. It was a good thing we were well back in the trees. Otherwise, he would have immediately spotted us. I had to act quickly, for all I knew he was sighting in on one of us at this very moment.

             
I knew what the range my rifle was sighted in at, and I also knew the exact range to the top of the mound. I was concentrating on the crosshairs when I saw a small puff of smoke and the tree I was kneeling beside spat out a chunk of bark. He had spotted me, but his aim was slightly off.

             
I had to act quickly or I was a dead man. I forced myself to relax and gently squeezed the trigger. The cloth material made a slight inward indention before returning to normal, but otherwise did not move. I put another round in the same spot before swiveling the scope back toward our other two adversaries. The one with the gas can was hurriedly digging into his pocket, perhaps reaching for a lighter. I shot him before he succeeded. The other one ducked behind my truck. I should have started laying down fire, but hell, I loved that truck and didn’t want to damage it.

             
While I was concentrating, there was a three-round burst of gunfire over my head. I looked up in fright. Andie was standing over me with the M4 pointed toward the bridge. I looked at what she was aiming at. The man with the chemical burns had a sawn-off shotgun grasped in his hands. I had not seen it. I looked back up at Andie and gave her a grateful nod. It was obvious she was scared shitless, but she smiled at me nonetheless. I turned my attention back to the house. I saw nobody else, but that one asshole was still hiding somewhere. I turned my walkie on.

             
“Come in, Saigon.” I whispered. Julie clicked her radio. “Two tangos down, one still active, anything on your end?” I asked.

             
“Nothing.” Julie whispered. “Is the Captain there?” I told her I did not see him, but I felt he was around here somewhere. Andie crouched down beside me.

             
“Good job, girl.” I said.

             
“Julie doesn’t like me very much.” She replied. I took my eye off of the scope and looked at her. It astounded me that she was thinking of Julie’s antipathy toward her rather than the problem at hand. Typical female.

             
“I’ll have a word with her.” Andie looked at me gratefully. I pointed toward the dead dude by the bridge.

             
“Who’s the asshole?” I asked.

             
“Tony.” She said. “He was okay, I guess. I mean, he never did anything fucked up toward me.” I nodded in mock understanding.

             
“There is one other man hiding behind my truck. There may be someone still inside the house, or maybe in the barn, I don’t know. But I have an idea if you’re up for it.”

             
I explained what I had in mind. Andie listened without comment, and agreed. She walked out from the tree line and moved toward the gate. Squinting up at the house, she waved. After a minute, I saw a face peeking out from beside the truck. She dragged Tony out of the way, opened the gate, and walked up. At my instruction, she stopped several yards away. I got on the radio and told Julie what we were doing. She clicked in acknowledgement. I waited for him to show more of his head. It was going to be a tricky shot. He slowly stood and looked down toward the gate.

             
I took aim and was about to shoot. There was no need.              I saw him stagger a split second before I heard a gunshot. I put my scope on Andie. She had her revolver in her hand, tucked it in her waistband, and then used her assault rifle for a three-shot coup de grace. She carefully entered the house, came out a minute later, and began jogging back down the hill.

             
“You killed Randy and I killed Herb. They were assholes.” She said.

             
I stared at her with curiosity as we walked back to her jeep. She felt me staring and looked at me.

             
“I told him I’d just killed you and I wanted to go back to the Captain. He fell for it. You have to carry your own water, right?” She said. I gave her a wry smile.

             
As we rounded the curve, Rowdy raised his revolver and pointed it at us. Andie slowed and we waved at him. Recognition dawned on his face and he lowered his weapon as we drove up.

             
“What the hell happened?” He asked. I quickly filled him in. He looked at us wide-eyed. I got on the radio.

             
“We have four tangos down. Can you maintain your status while we clear the house?”

             
“Ten-four.” She whispered. The three of us drove up to the house and carefully cleared it and the barn of anyone who Andie might have missed. There was nobody.

             
Both structures reeked of gasoline. We’d saved the buildings from fire, but the gas ruined any chance of habitation for the foreseeable future. I was pissed.

             
No, wrong descriptive. I was saddened. The Captain was right. I was naïve to believe in a utopian society where our fellow man would peacefully join together in order to survive and rebuild.

             
“This isn’t going to stop.” I said to myself. The Captain is going to keep doing shit like this until we were all wiped out. History was filled with people of his ilk.

             
Andie must have heard me. She walked over and touched me on the shoulder. I instinctively put my arm around her.

             
“What are you thinking?” She asked.

             
“What I have planned will most likely get me killed. I want you to stick with Julie and Rowdy. You’re a lot stronger than you believe. The three of you can protect each other.”

             
She shook her head. “I know what you’re about to do. You’re going to the compound, aren’t you?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I’ll come with you. I know the layout. I can help.”

             
“I’m afraid it’s going to be a suicide mission, Andie.” I said quietly.

             
“I’m still going with you. You’ll need my help.” She said. She was looking at me seriously, deeply. I thought about it. She had already killed two of them, she just might do.

             
“What are you two talking about?” Rowdy asked. I stared at Andie a moment longer before focusing on Rowdy.

             
“He’s not going to stop. He’s decided we’re enemies now and he’s going to kill us all if we don’t do something about it.” I said. “Andie and I are going to pay him a visit. If we don’t make it back, it’ll be up to you to take care of Julie and the Allen family.” Actually, I was thinking Julie would be the one to look after them, but did not say as much.

             
Without waiting for him to respond, I went to the house and filled two knap sacks. One of them I filled with water, ammo, and a small amount of food. The other one I filled with some special items.

             
Our Ghillie suits were hanging up in the barn. I grabbed both, although Julie’s was going to be a little large for Andie. I explained it to Julie when we picked her up from her sniper position. Actually, I prevaricated somewhat.

             
“So, Andie and I will sneak in, I’ll wait for the right moment, and put a bullet in him. We’ll be home by dinner.” In truth, I feared it would not be so easy.

             
“Zach, there must be another way.” Julie said.

             
I shook my head. Unfortunately, there wasn’t.

             
“Then I’m going with you.” She said. I immediately shook my head.

             
“Julie, I love you and our unborn child more than anything else on this earth. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to either of you.” I said. I also left out the part where I didn’t want her killing anyone else. She was too sweet, and warm, and loving. I never wanted her to change.

             
“Then why is she going?” Julie asked while pointing at Andie.

             
“She saved my ass back there. She’s volunteered to go with me and she knows the layout of the compound.” Julie looked long and hard at me.

             
“You’re a terrible liar.” She said. Without waiting for a response, she hugged me tightly, and then punched me in the chest.