The Beginning of the End (Book 2): Toward the Brink II (17 page)

“Is Elliot driving that truck?

“He made his own…”

“Why didn’t you stop him, Chuck? Fucking why?”

James Goodwin’s distraught behavior came to the attention of Mulhaven and Tom Transky.

“Oh my G—” Cindy’s knees buckled and she fainted. That was okay with the Tall Man—one less problem to deal with.

“There was nothing I could do, James. Nothing.”

“Out of my way.” James pushed past him in the dark.

He wanted to open the door, to go after his son. No one blamed him for feeling that way, but no one was going to let it happen. The Tall Man, Mulhaven, the president, and two Secret Service agents grabbed James and dragged him back to first class. He put up quite a struggle, but eventually he gave in. The fight had gone out of him, and like the Tall Man, he knew sacrificing one to save many was the correct thing to do.

The disruption took the Tall Man and the president from the windows, away from watching the foamers chase Elliot’s baited hook. Better not to watch in case they caught him. The Tall Man was confident Elliot wouldn’t allow that to happen. He’d keep one bullet aside should such a scenario arise.

If anyone aboard the plane had happened to look out the window, they’d have seen the headlights of the army truck in the distant field headed away from the airport. A great swarm of undead followed some one hundred yards or so behind, desperately wanting to get hold of the warm-blooded mortal ahead. The survivors aboard the Global Express knew Elliot had probably saved their lives, but gratitude was the last thought on their minds. Could Elliot hold out until daylight? Did he have enough gas? Would he be able to make his way back to them? If he could last until daylight, then maybe he had a chance—maybe all of them would have a chance.

Like the pied piper of folklore, Elliot led the foamers away from the airport, removing the threat to his friends. Their concerns for his safe return was interrupted by the whine of four Pratt & Whitney F117 jet engines belonging to a C-17 transport plane on its approach to the runway. Huddled in the dark cabin of the Global Express, they weren’t the only ones alerted by the sound.