Zombie Theorem (Book 1): The Culling (25 page)
“I think we need to have a talk ladies and gentlemen. A talk which could change the fate of our team here. We need to decide where we all want to go and what we think is our main destination. And once there what to do.” I announce to the whole team. “I have someone who means a lot to me, living up in Fort Bragg, just north of here. My focus is getting to her. I want to make sure I am very clear of my intentions. I am not being an ingrate or anything like that, I appreciate each and every one of you. I would not be alive right now without your support, and kindness, and in Little Jonny’s case his ultimate sacrifice.” I wipe a small tear before it can release down from my eye.
Brian lifts his hand. “I have been fighting by Dan’s side since the beginning, I have nothing else out there. So I will be staying by his side for the duration. Good or bad I’ve got his back. Like he said though, thank you for all of you guys and what you’ve done for us.” He makes sure to look into everyone eyes while delivering his little speech.
“As you all know my ex-wife lives in Portland. I spoke to her yesterday, and told her I was coming. So I will be traveling with Brian and Dan.” Vic walks over and stands by us.
The team gets quiet, as one, they turn to Kuppers. He stares back at them, puts his hands on his hips and then sighs. “Guys as of right now, you no longer work for me. I cannot and will not make this decision for you. I, as of right now owe Vic for a lot in our time together. So I will be following him to Portland. From there I have no idea. But before any of you make your decisions, I need to ask Dan and Brian some questions.” He turns toward me and fixes me with a gaze that could either be a death glare or something close to it. “What are your future plans? After you pick up your friend in Fort Bragg? What’s your ultimate goal? Give me a reason to follow you.”
I look to Brian for advice or I guess comfort. But it’s Angel who reaches out and touches my face then smiles. “Guys I cannot ask you to follow me. My father lives near Spokane Washington on 200 acres of land with forests and a small lake. I received an email from him before we left the SFPD that said he was going to fortify it and stock up for anyone I can bring with me. He was in the Navy most of his life but is one of those back country guys that will be able to weather anything that is thrown at him. So my full plan is to go for Julie, that’s my friend’s name, then accompany Vic to rescue his wife. Then from there to my dad’s place. Any or all of you are welcome to follow for all or part of the trip.” As I am speaking Angel had taken my hand and gave me the strength to speak.
Kuppers stares at me for a while, then nods his head as if coming to a difficult decision. He then walks over to our side. “Alright, I never got married or have kids, so this plan is good enough for me, I’m in. The rest of you need to make your own decisions based on your families and responsibilities.”
Apache is the first to pipe up. “I was born on a reservation and lived with my people till I was old enough to find my place in this world. The Army, I thought could be my new tribe, but I was wrong. I found my tribe when I joined with you guys. You are my family, my tribe of warriors. But I believe that my path is clear. I will stay by Dan’s side.” She walks over to our side and pats my head and stands behind Brian.
“My family is in Texas, living on one of the biggest privately owned cattle ranches. I think they can do without me for a while, anyway what good is an Indian without a Cowboy? I’m in till this shit calms down, then I am going home to check on ma and pa.” Doc spit out his gum, stroked his mustache and walked over to stand next to Apache.
All that is left is Senshi and Cupcake standing next to the Beast. “I am not married, and have been between girlfriends for a while so I have nothing here to live for. My parents are old, and they are far away. I must come to grips that I would never be able to get to them in time to do anything. When Doc leaves I will follow him south. Till then I will continue to fight next to my fellow warriors.” Senshi walks over and stands behind me. As he walks by he mutters quietly enough for only me to hear. “If you are lying, I will kill you myself.”
Cupcake throws his hands into the air and shakes his head theatrically, staring up into the sky. “Well I’m not letting anyone drive my girl so I guess I will continue to be your taxi driver. That and something has come clear to me just now. Kuppers here made sure to build his team with warriors who are unattached and have no kids. But I have a secret, I have children, three boys. But they live in Poland with their mom. I have no way to reach them, so until I can get home, I will stay with the team.” He slaps the Beast’s side. “Mount up, we go north.”
Kuppers stares daggers at Cupcake. “You are right Anthony, I made sure all of you were unattached. If I had known about your boys, I would’ve kicked you to Tufo’s team. I do not like making phone calls to loved ones about how someone on my team died and won’t be coming home to their family. Wrote too many of those letters while serving in the military. Now get your ass in there and get us to Fort Bragg. I’ll kick your ass later.”
“Hey everyone we have one more person who needs to make their decision.” I look toward Angel and she stiffens and stares back at me. The team halts and all heads turn toward the little girl. Her dress is smudged; her hair’s once pretty curls have gone flat. Her eyes though, have not lost their shine and hope.
She looks to everyone and then turns toward me. “I have nothing left, I lost my mommy and daddy, and have nowhere to go. But I feel like I have a new family, I have all of you. I feel protected and loved. There is nowhere else I would rather be then with all of you.” She turns and looks me in the eyes when she says that last word. She then hugs me tight, and then walks to everyone in turn and gives them a hug.
I climb back into the Beast and take my spot, buckling up and securing my weapons. Brian reaches out and pats my knee and bangs his helmet against mine. “Good speech boss. Good job keeping us altogether.”
“That was pure luck buddy. I feel like we are all meant to stay together though.” I answer back. I rest my head against the wall and pass out.
Waking a short time later I look over at Vic who has a worried look on his face. He taps Cupcake on the shoulder and points outside the windshield. Cupcake nods and pulls the Beast onto the shoulder. Vic raises his voice to be heard by everyone. “Everyone up and out. We need to talk.”
Kuppers opens his eyes instantly coming awake. He hits the button by his head and pops the doors open. He steps out raising his gun and flicking on the light mounted on a rail on the top of his weapon, illuminating the immediate area. He sweeps an arch around our position and then waves everyone out. I take Angel and pop her onto Kuppers vacated seat. “Stay here sweetie, you can see us from here ok?”
The team gathers around the back of the Beast and look toward Vic. “We’ve only gone four and a half miles since we landed at two this afternoon. We are at a spot on the map called Webb Creek just outside of the community of Stinson Beach. The highway has been a mess with broken cars and we have been stopped twice by CHP. I explained we were on our way to a call in Point Reyes Station, about 17 miles from our current position. They have warned me that they have had break outs on this highway and that they think they have dealt with it. They were also in a hurry to go south. I have a feeling they are being called back toward San Fran to handle those traffic issues on the bridges. I really feel like we should hold up right here tonight instead of chancing it by entering Stinson Beach when we can’t see much. I suggest we pull further off the road and set up guard shifts to protect the area. We need to let Cupcake sleep and refuel the Beast.”
“What did I tell you about calling my baby a beast?” Cupcake says with mock irritation.
“To call it a Sexy Beast?” Apache says with humor.
“Yes, well as long as you say the Sexy part in your head I can handle you calling her a Beast.” He says flipping Apache off.
“Doc, Senshi, and Apache walk down that road, according to the map it’s called Rocky Point Road. Recon and radio back when you find a place for us to hide this thing, and make camp for tonight.” Vic orders.
All three grab new radios from the back of the Beast and head out down the road. I reach out and grab a new radio and attach it to my vest connecting the earpiece. I put both guns in the Beast and turn to Vic. “I need to walk so I am going with them. I would refuel now if you can, just in case we need to go quickly.” He gives me a mock salute and dismisses me with a wave. I pull out my batons and flick them out to their full length. I then jog to catch up with Apache and her team.
“Decided to come along? Tired of being cooped up in that thing?” Apache asks as she walks next to me.
“It’s starting to smell bad, plus I need to feel like I am helping. Hopefully I won’t be a nuisance.”
Apache punches my shoulder and points at my batons. “We really need to teach you how to use your guns. I kind of wish we had silencers, it would make life so much easier. That or we are all going to need to learn to fight like you. Quiet is sometimes better than our loud ruckus.”
The punch kind of hurt but I was not going to complain. I didn’t want to give them any more reasons to think less of me. We move in silence. With the sun going down it was getting harder to see into the bush. Suddenly Apache grabs me and throws me to the ground covering me with her body. I also see that Doc and Senshi have also thrown themselves to the ground. All the air out of me explodes in a rush and I am having problems getting more into my starving lungs. Panic starts to well up into my chest.
“Relax Dan, I can tell you had the air knocked out of you. I am going to move off of you. I want you to try and breath slowly trying not to make much noise. Up ahead there are some guards, they haven’t seen us yet. So when you can breathe I want you to crawl over to the rocks and stay hidden. Keep your ass down and use your arms and feet to move forward.” Apache whispers into my ear so softly I barely hear every word.
She shifts her body’s weight off of me and I pull in a small amount of air. I can feel myself wanting to cough but I bite it back, covering my mouth with my sleeve. My lungs finally inflate and I look toward the rocks Apache indicated. I pull my hands forward and shift my hips pushing my ass down as I pull myself forward. I keep repeating this maneuver till I make it to the rocks. I hear over the radio. “Four incoming, MP5s on slings. They haven’t seen us. Dan stay where you are. Doc come up on their right, I got left, Senshi make contact.” I hear what sounds like clicks and static come across the radios.
I watch from behind a small boulder as the men have their flashlights out sweeping the ground in front of them. I watch as their light shine on something in the dirt that gets their attention. One of the guys in the middle steps out and kneels down to pick up whatever he has seen, so quick I almost miss it. I watch as the other three men are knocked down and disarmed. The man kneeling stands and starts to turn when his feet fly over his head and lands on his back. I can hear the thwack as his head bounces on the dirt road. In seconds all four guards are down, disarmed and secured by Apache and her unflinching M4. I hear over the radio Doc reporting back to the team and calling up Kuppers.
A minute goes by and Kuppers comes walking out of the dark and into the midst of Apache and the men on the ground. “You know you can probably hear more Dan if you get up and go over there.” I flinch from the voice and roll onto my back. Senshi is standing there, relaxed with his weapon hanging down in front of him and resting his hands on the buttstock. He offers a hand and I take it.
“Holy crap I almost pissed myself. What are you a ghost or something?” I ask Senshi.
He shakes his head and steps back melting back into the dark. He has to show me that trick someday. I walk over to Kuppers and Apache slowly, taking my time. I had no idea if there were others out there. I came within ten yards, stopped and listened to the conversation.
“Who the hell are you guys and what are you doing patrolling this road?” Kuppers asked in a conversational tone.
“Fuck you, we’re just out taking a walk, when your thugs hit us, and knocked us down. I want someone to come look over our friend. I think you hurt him.” The man speaking was wearing black BDUs similar to ours but his vest was festooned with what I took as magazines, and all that was sitting over some pretty cool armor. The man seemed defiant and had longer hair instead of military cut and to me looking like anything but military.
“Sir, if you are just out for a walk where did you find the H&K MP5s and that nifty armor you are wearing? Your friend will be fine, he will have a headache when he wakes up, but that should be it. Now want to tell me another story?” Kuppers seemed totally at ease like he was used to doing this very thing. I realized he probably had done things like this, he was a SWAT commander for the SFPD and had been in the military.
“I’m not answering any more of your questions old man. You don’t scare us.” The guy spat out.
Kuppers walked over to me and takes one of my batons and Kabar, then walks back. He makes sure the men could see his hands and the weapons he held. “Son you may not say anything but once your friends here see what I do to you, I’m sure that will get them talking. Anyone want to take me up on this?” He said everything calmly and with no anger in his voice. Just a matter of fact, like he was talking about something in a manual. That man scared me. “No one wants to speak up? No problem, I mean, I haven’t done this in a while but I am sure I can remember after a couple of minutes.”
