Read Online 03 Deluge of the Dead by David Forsyth - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David Forsyth
Ads: Link
taken around the loop. A quick glance in the rearview mirror revealed the leaders of the pack approaching at a jog from the other end of the loop.
“Why are you stopping?” asked Gus. “Let’s jam out of here!”
“Not so fast,” replied Carl, but he did release the brake and let the Suburban start moving slowly forward again. “I think we need to play this the same way we did at Big 5 and yesterday at the bridge. If we move just fast enough to stay in front of the leaders, I think that most of the horde from the hospital will follow us.”
“And you think that’s a good thing?” asked Gus skeptically.
“It is if we want to keep those zombies off the freeway and clear them out enough to use those access ramps as an escape route for refugees,” Carl said with conviction. “We should lead as many of them as far away as possible and then lose them before returning to link up with the rest of our group.” Carl was slowly accelerating to about 15 miles per hour now to keep his distance from the zombies chasing them.
“What if we run into a traffic jam? Or another dead end?” asked Karen, playing Devil’s advocate.
“The helicopter can scout for us and even help to herd the zombies where we want them to go,” replied Carl simply. It made enough sense that Gus and Karen nodded in agreement and the plan was set. “And I’m glad you insisted on coming along, Blade,” he added with a smile. “How are your vocal cords feeling? I think we can put your zombie lure to good use now.”
*****
Scott approached Carla’s stateroom with only a hint of apprehension. Clint had looked fine to him and Scott found it difficult to believe that his friend could be spreading the Super Rabies virus aboard the ship. In fact, he was more concerned about venereal diseases based on Clint’s promiscuous behavior in ports of call over the past year. He was also more than a little embarrassed to have to tell Carla that she needed to join Clint’s quarantine in the sickbay. He had only met Carla briefly on several occasions since she transferred from the Expiscator to the Sovereign Spirit , but he had gotten the distinct impression that she was a willful and prideful woman who was determined to make the best of her situation during the zombie apocalypse. Quarantine would not be part of her plan.
Scott paused outside Carla’s door and glanced up and down the companionway. He was happy to see Craig Felling, an engineering mate, hurrying to join him. Craig was a big man with a steady temperament and was a good choice to escort Carla down to sickbay. However, it was Scott’s responsibility to break the news and do his best to convince her to go willingly. With that in mind he gently knocked on the door.
There was no immediate response, so Scott rapped a little harder and called out, “Carla? It’s Scott Allen, can you come to the door please?” He waited a few moments, but didn’t hear any response, except for what sounded like a dull thump. “Are you okay in there?” he asked. Still no answer, but Scott thought he heard some sounds of movement within the room. He reached into his pocket, withdrew his master keycard and motioned Craig to stand aside as he swiped the card in the lock slot. “Carla?” Scott asked again as he slowly opened the door.
The bed was unmade and there was a terrible stench in the confined space of the cabin. It was bad enough that Craig took an unconscious step back into the hallway as Scott raised his hand to cover his nose and mouth. He was trying to make sense of the scene and smell when Carla launched herself out of the bathroom, the entrance to which had been hidden by the open door. She clawed at Scott as he backpedaled into the hall. Then he tripped over Craig’s foot and fell back on his ass, throwing Carla off and inadvertently into Craig who yelled in fear and pushed her back towards Scott. It was a major cluster fuck. Scott rolled over and tried to crawl
“Why are you stopping?” asked Gus. “Let’s jam out of here!”
“Not so fast,” replied Carl, but he did release the brake and let the Suburban start moving slowly forward again. “I think we need to play this the same way we did at Big 5 and yesterday at the bridge. If we move just fast enough to stay in front of the leaders, I think that most of the horde from the hospital will follow us.”
“And you think that’s a good thing?” asked Gus skeptically.
“It is if we want to keep those zombies off the freeway and clear them out enough to use those access ramps as an escape route for refugees,” Carl said with conviction. “We should lead as many of them as far away as possible and then lose them before returning to link up with the rest of our group.” Carl was slowly accelerating to about 15 miles per hour now to keep his distance from the zombies chasing them.
“What if we run into a traffic jam? Or another dead end?” asked Karen, playing Devil’s advocate.
“The helicopter can scout for us and even help to herd the zombies where we want them to go,” replied Carl simply. It made enough sense that Gus and Karen nodded in agreement and the plan was set. “And I’m glad you insisted on coming along, Blade,” he added with a smile. “How are your vocal cords feeling? I think we can put your zombie lure to good use now.”
*****
Scott approached Carla’s stateroom with only a hint of apprehension. Clint had looked fine to him and Scott found it difficult to believe that his friend could be spreading the Super Rabies virus aboard the ship. In fact, he was more concerned about venereal diseases based on Clint’s promiscuous behavior in ports of call over the past year. He was also more than a little embarrassed to have to tell Carla that she needed to join Clint’s quarantine in the sickbay. He had only met Carla briefly on several occasions since she transferred from the Expiscator to the Sovereign Spirit , but he had gotten the distinct impression that she was a willful and prideful woman who was determined to make the best of her situation during the zombie apocalypse. Quarantine would not be part of her plan.
Scott paused outside Carla’s door and glanced up and down the companionway. He was happy to see Craig Felling, an engineering mate, hurrying to join him. Craig was a big man with a steady temperament and was a good choice to escort Carla down to sickbay. However, it was Scott’s responsibility to break the news and do his best to convince her to go willingly. With that in mind he gently knocked on the door.
There was no immediate response, so Scott rapped a little harder and called out, “Carla? It’s Scott Allen, can you come to the door please?” He waited a few moments, but didn’t hear any response, except for what sounded like a dull thump. “Are you okay in there?” he asked. Still no answer, but Scott thought he heard some sounds of movement within the room. He reached into his pocket, withdrew his master keycard and motioned Craig to stand aside as he swiped the card in the lock slot. “Carla?” Scott asked again as he slowly opened the door.
The bed was unmade and there was a terrible stench in the confined space of the cabin. It was bad enough that Craig took an unconscious step back into the hallway as Scott raised his hand to cover his nose and mouth. He was trying to make sense of the scene and smell when Carla launched herself out of the bathroom, the entrance to which had been hidden by the open door. She clawed at Scott as he backpedaled into the hall. Then he tripped over Craig’s foot and fell back on his ass, throwing Carla off and inadvertently into Craig who yelled in fear and pushed her back towards Scott. It was a major cluster fuck. Scott rolled over and tried to crawl
Similar Books
