Zombie Theorem (Book 1): The Culling (27 page)
“Brian at first I was going to leave you here but I need someone on over watch, this place is way too big to handle without everyone on the team down there.” He reaches out and takes Senshi’s M14 and hands it to Brian. “You are also going to take Angel with you so make sure you pick a defendable position. Dan will be coming with us, I need an extra person to even out the Team. But you will be there as a mule only. Apache, show him how to use his sidearm, just in case all hell breaks loose while we are down there.”
Apache breaks off from the group, takes my arm and walks me down the road a little. She pulls my handgun from my leg holster, “Guns are easy to use but dangerous as hell if you are not paying attention to them. What you need to know first, is where the safety is.” She turns it over in her hand and shows me a little thumb switch near the trigger. “When you are ready to use it thumb off the safety, then just point and pull the trigger, it’s that easy, but remember you only have eight shots. One in the barrel and 7 in the magazine. If you run dry, the slide here on top slides back and does not go forward, then hit this button on the side which will eject the magazine, take a new one and slam it home. Then take the slide, pull it back and let go. Then you are ready to fire again. Got it? Any questions?”
“No, I think I got it, but I am pretty sure I won’t need to use it, I’m going to be with you guys.” I say enthusiastically.
Apache shakes her head in disbelief, grabs my lapels and pulls me in closer to her. “If you are coming with us, you better be prepared to pull that thing and get our backs. We need to be able to trust you, and know you won’t let us down. Now be prepared, don’t panic and shoot straight.” She releases me and walks back toward the team.
I stand there, watching her as she inserts herself back into the team conversation. I look at the gun in my hand and really feel unsure. I have never been a gun person, let me explain what I mean. I live in San Francisco, where Cops and bad guys are the only people allowed to have guns. So I never felt like I needed one, or really ever formed an opinion about them. I have never shot one, hell I have never even held one before. So I am uncomfortable with them. I carry that shot gun on my back, but to be honest except for moving it when I sit down, I never even think of it. The gun on my leg holster has also never entered my mind, till Apache took it out and showed me how to use it. Not sure if I explained myself or not, short story I don’t think of guns as I have never wanted one or needed one. Till now that is, I guess I do need it now. I hope I never have to use these things, but if my friends are threatened, I guess I will find out if I can. I holster the gun, then drop my head in resignation.
I slowly make my way back to the team and listen in on the rest of the planning, Kuppers is leading. “Brian go ahead and take Angel and go get settled in on the rocks above the camp.” Brian takes Angel’s hand and they walk away down the street toward a rock formation just above the camp. “Dan you are with me, Vic and Apache, Senshi and Cupcake, and Doc, you will be our back up. If someone runs into a problem, you will foot it over to their position and back them up. Load up and be prepared to move out in five minutes.” Kuppers looks me over as the rest of the team disappears to do what they need to do to prepare.
“You ok? You look a little green?” Kuppers asks.
“I am a middle manager, I have never done anything like this before and I am finding it hard to relax. I feel out of my league.” I remove my helmet and wipe my head, holy shit it’s only been a week or so since I have shaven but I feel really fuzzy now. The most in years.
“Stay by my side, listen to what I say, and you will be fine. Be prepared to move and remember the most important thing, we need to stay as silent as can be.” Kuppers is trying to get me to calm down and does his best to deliver a pep talk of sorts.
The rest of the team forms up, Apache and Vic take point leading the rest of us off the road and down a hill, quiet as ghosts. Each smaller team of two, spread apart, away from the rest, staying in a close formation, but far enough away so as not to be clumped up, in case we come under attack. We come to a crease in the mountain side and each team proceeds slowly waiting for the team in front to make it halfway before the next follows. It comes to our turn, Kuppers turns and shows me how to climb down the crease safely. He crab walks, shoving his feet onto the creases side and using his hands to slow him down by tightening or loosening their grip on the rocks on each side. He moves pretty quickly and is half way down, before I can even start. I slowly make my way over to the crease and mimic his moves. It’s much harder then I realize but I do much better than I thought I’d be able to. Hiking is about the only exercise I ever really do, and I don’t do much off trail stuff like this. I make it to the bottom in one piece, although my hands are cramped beyond belief. Kuppers pats me on the back and then trots off toward the team’s position. I jog after him, while rubbing my hands together, trying to get them to loosen up.
He whips around as silent as if he was a ghost. I on the other hand sound like a herd of elephants compared to him. He puts his finger to his lips and motions for me to hunch down. I bend my knees, hunch my body over, and follow him around to the far end of the camp and we hug the cliff, making our way to the last cabins in the group. I can tell Kuppers is going slow for me because the rest of the team is nowhere to be seen. We make it around the last cabin and everyone can be seen down on one knee in a group; waiting for us.
Kuppers takes lead, he clicks on his radio. “Brian, you and Angel in position? Do you have a visual on us over?”
“Roger we are in position, I have a visual on you and the team. Can’t see anyone else out there. You are clear.” Brian reports in on the radio.
“Let’s do this quickly and quietly. Have you already checked these last four? Are any of them occupied?” Kuppers inquires.
Senshi answers back. “The first one here and the last one in the line are. Two in the next line. We left the first line alone so we could keep our presence hidden.”
“Good job, Senshi, you and Cupcake take Doc with you and hit the last one in line. Remember no killing unless they draw on you. I want them trussed up and tied to their bunks. Meet us back here.” They take off on their way to the cabin. “Vic and Apache take lead on the door take down, I will be back up. Dan you watch our backs, get your gun out, turn off the safety, finger off the trigger.” He shows me how he wants my finger along the trigger guard so I can move it in quickly to fire. I feel uncomfortable, but I do as I’m told, remembering Apache’s words earlier.
Vic and Apache take each side of the door. Vic reaches in and turns the door knob slowly, then slides the door open quietly allowing Apache to enter. She steps to her left allowing Vic to enter to the right. Kuppers steps in and stays at the door. I put my back against the door jamb, with my gun resting in my hand at my side and watch the walkways around us. I don’t hear much from inside the cabin. I keep all my senses concentrated on my surroundings, but soon Kuppers’ gloved hand rests on my shoulder. He whispers in my ear. “We have three down, gagged, and secured. You take lead walk our same steps back to our meeting place. We will follow, you got this.”
I take a deep breath, pay attention to my surroundings again, and then slowly walk back the way we had come to our previous meeting spot. The rest follow me in single file. We arrive and the other team is waiting for us. Doc winks at me, and throws me a thumbs up. “Everything went well I figure?” Kuppers asks. Senshi, Cupcake, and Doc nod positively. “Great, so there are three cabins on your side clumped together and same on our side. When you complete your objectives head to between the cafeteria and showers. Radio if you need help. Any questions, concerns, or gripes?”
No one speaks up, Doc and his team rise and move on to their next objectives. “Brian all covered above? Anything we need to worry about?” Kuppers radios out.
“All clear Kuppers, not a soul except you guys are down there. Angel is using glasses and is acting spotter.” He announces with pride in his voice.
We rise and Vic takes lead, Apache follows, I come up next with Kuppers covering our rear. I notice everyone is walking heel to toe, so I try and mimic their steps. I still sound like an elephant compared to these guys. My eyes continue to scan all around us and I listen as closely as possible to my surroundings. We come to the next cabin in our line and Vic comes around the corner to the door and we repeat our same entry steps as the cabin before. We catch three sleeping and within minutes Vic and Apache have zip tied them to their beds and gagged them. They were so quick, that the people inside had not had a chance to wake up before they were gagged. We rolled out of the cabin and shut the door.
I took lead and moved us to the cabin to our left. When I reached the door I fell out of line and took a knee on the path in front. As Kuppers went past he rested his hand on my shoulder. I stood up and stepped back waiting for the door to be breached. I then heard a scream that was cut off as fast as it was raised. Kuppers came up to my side and we both took our knees watching and listening for any alarms. “Brian report, we had someone let off an alarm, but we were able to stop it quick. Anything moving or making noise out there?” Kuppers asked on the radio.
“Wait one.” A full minute passed and Brian came back on the radio. “someone just stepped out of the cafeteria, he looks like he wants to start walking in your direction. Finish up your cabin and I will continue to watch him. If he starts in your direction I’ll pop him, out.”
“Roger, only if you have to.” Kuppers looks at me and points to his eyes and then points at the corner of the next cabin.
I read that as he was saying for me to watch that corner closely. I moved my eyes in that direction and pay close attention. I sense the door behind us closing and the others come up on us. Apaches breath flows across my neck as she whispers. “Move to the corner and stay very low. I am going to move around the other side of the cabin and deal with that interloper.” I nod my head yes and raise myself to my feet and slowly make my way to the point she stated for me to go to.
I looked to my left and see that Apache has already disappeared, Vic and Kuppers made their way over to the other corner taking up position. I drop back to my knees and slowly move my head around the corner. I can now make out the guy, he is slowly sneaking his way in my direction, I keep my head low, thinking he can’t see me. He raises his rifle and I can see a smile spread across his face as he looks through his scope at me. I start pulling my head back when I lose my balance and fall onto the ground. The guy starts to redirect his aim when he stops short, drops his gun onto its sling and tries to turn. I see Apache appear behind him she had hit his knees with the baton she took from me and shoved her knife into the man’s throat. I can hear him gurgling as his throat fills with blood, choking him and drowning him. Apache catches my eye and winks at me, as she lowers the man’s body to the ground.
I get back onto my knees and make my way crouching over to Apache. We together drag the body to the rear of the cabin and dump him onto the ground. Kuppers comes up and checks on the guy and then looks at us. He gives us a thumbs up and then points, indicating the front of the cabin. We join back up into our line and I take lead. We creep to the front door and I take a knee again. I keep my 1911 pointed to the cafeteria’s front doors as the team takes down this cabin. I keep my eyes sweeping across the windows and then over to my left, watching Doc and his team working their way over to the showers. Doc gives me a thumbs up and I shoot one back at him. Vic comes up to my side and indicates I should take rear as we move on. Apache passes and Vic takes his place behind her. Kuppers steps in front of me and walks away, I come off my knee and follow, making sure to keep checking behind us.
We make it to the rendezvous site and both teams take knees with their guns pointing out around them. “How did you guys do?” Kuppers enquires.
“Seven down trussed up like turkeys, no issues no roadblocks.” Senshi informs him.
“Great, clear the showers then work your way to the cafeteria and protect our rear as we take down the chow line.” Kuppers orders.
Senshi pounds his fist with Kuppers and his team detaches and makes their way to the showers, bathrooms, and locker room combos. Apache rises, takes the lead again followed by Vic. Kuppers points for me to take the next in line and he will cover the rear. I put my hand on Vic’s shoulder and squeeze it so he knows who is behind him. He nods his head ok without ever looking back at me. We continue to the front doors and Apache enters first but stays low and we continue our way in following her. The hallway is long with four doors to our right and a single entrance off to our left, halfway down the hall. I figure, the doors to the right were at least two bathrooms and maybe two offices. The entrance to the left must lead into the main dining room and access to the kitchens.
When we arrive at the first doors to our right, Apache and Vic disappear into the first. I stop and Kuppers passes me and makes his way to the next door then motions for me to follow. I push open the door and we enter the female’s bathroom. I drop to my knee and drop my head to the floor to look under the stalls. I notice a pair of feet in the last stall and point to Kuppers then point at the last stall and then raise my index finger into the air. Kuppers motions for me to wait as he makes his way down the stall doors to the last. He stops and waits making sure his feet are aligned with one of the posts holding the door. He waits till he hears the toilet flush, he then drops his gun onto its sling and pulls his handgun. The door opens and his hand swings up fast slamming the gun butt into the woman’s head. She starts to fall but he catches her and lays her on the ground. He quickly zip ties her hands and ankles then cuts off pieces of her shirt, balls it up and shoves it into her mouth. Next he removes a roll of duct tape from one of his many vest pockets and rips off a large piece and wraps it around her head, securing her mouth and creating a gag.
