Read Online Revelations - 02 by T. W. Brown - Free Book Online Page B

Melissa was quick to bring the hatchet she’d been keeping on a loop hanging from her belt into play.
    “It’s working,” Dr. Zahn said.
    I’d been so busy watching Melissa that I hadn’t thought to see if the decoy was having the desired effect. Sure enough, the horde was moving as one giant, cancerous organism. A solid wall of outstretched arms and gaping mouths were now intent on the juicy tidbit in the back of the truck. For just a moment I heard the voice of Yosemite Sam in my head exclaim, “Zombies is so-o stupid!”
    In a twisted version of a dead-tide they were coming. Melissa was smart enough to be looking in every direction instead of simply focusing on one. She saw a trio of zombies, all child-sized, moving for her at an angle that would put them directly in the truck’s path. For whatever reason, they were out distancing the main horde. Bringing up the shotgun, she fired directly at their chests, effectively knocking them back. She then switched to the pistol and started dropping the closest threats.
    “It’s gonna be close,” Dr. Zahn said.
    I took a look at the big picture. I’d been going into some serious tunnel vision. Until now, I had not really tried to see the whole scene. The truck was at the halfway point. The zombie-mob was a huge bulge, thickest in the center. However, it would be dicey on whether or not the truck would make it to the other end. As I watched, my spirits buoyed just a bit. The zombies had no concept of angle-of-pursuit.
    “Here comes Randi!” Dr. Zahn pointed. The Hummer came fast, a trail of dust in its wake.
    More shots came from the general direction Jamie and Barry had gone. For some stupid reason, I’d decided to risk the people I know to save complete strangers. Perhaps Barry had been the voice of reason the whole time—except when it came to Thalia, then he was out of line.
    “Steve!” Dr. Zahn’s voice cut through the chaos in my mind. Was this what it had been like for Randall Smith and Sergeant Wimmer each and every day?
    “Huh?”
    “One of those things is making it into the truck!” Dr. Zahn pointed.
    Sure enough, Melissa was busy reloading the shotgun while still taking time to smash a zombie in the face with the pistol grip. She was frantic, I could tell. I saw her drop a few shells she had been holding while trying to keep the undead from piling over the side into her truck-bed bastion. Bringing up my rifle, I sighted in on the one pulling itself up onto the rear bumper where it would simply tumble forward over the tailgate. The shot was on target, the zombie, a mostly naked woman wearing either a very dark or blood-stained bra, slumped and fell back onto the track. Melissa never even glanced that direction. Considering how loud the moans of the dead were even from this far away, I doubt she heard it.
    “She’s there! Randi’s in position!” Dr. Zahn actually applauded.
    I saw movement as the survivors from the roof came down a ladder bolted to the outside of the warehouse. They were moving so fast that one of their members lost his or her grip and plummeted at least twenty feet. I didn’t see anybody stop to help, and had to assume that person to be dead. I switched my attention back to Melissa as she opened up with the shotgun again. I had to admit, I was just a touch surprised at how quickly she pumped rounds into the chamber and blasted one or more depending on how tightly bunched the zombies were to one another. The truck was clear of the main body. In about a hundred yards or so, it would make a slight bend to the right. I couldn’t help but smile as she jumped up and down in a cute little victory dance.
    As the truck disappeared behind a stretch of linked railcars, Melissa searched and found us. She waved, I could see the smile on her face, and imagine I still would’ve even if I wasn’t watching her through my scope.
    An explosion well off to the left of where Barry and Jamie had disappeared snapped my attention back to the here and