Read Online Voyage of the Dead - Book One Sovereign Spirit Saga by David Forsyth - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: David Forsyth
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It could take weeks before we are confident of that, but the Expiscator is fast enough to keep up with us and can comfortably accommodate at least a dozen people. In fact, if everything works out well, you will actually be doing the rest us a favor by bringing my fishing boat along. So, how does that sound to you, Mr. Hammer?” Scott concluded.
“That sounds great, sir! And please call me George,” he replied with a newly hopeful attitude. “It’s a much better offer than I could have hoped for. And I’d like to apologize for being rude earlier. I’m just so worried about my family. Thanks for giving us a chance.”
“No problem, George,” said Scott. “It’s been a shock for all of us and we all have our own priorities. But I think we can take this case as a good example of why it’s important to keep our cool and think things through before running off half-cocked. If we approach every problem by using our brains, keeping in mind that they just became the preferred lunch special for all of those damned zombies, we should be able to come up with some good plans that will keep us all alive.”
*****
Interludes in Hell
El Segundo Water Tower: 6:26 PM, April 1, 2012
Carl was sitting atop a hundred foot water tower watching the world disintegrate around him. There was a cool breeze coming off the ocean, but he was pretty sure that the chills he felt were more related to the horrific events he was witnessing than any wind chill factor on this mild spring evening in Southern California. In fact, Carl was numb to most external stimuli at that point. He had spent most of the day watching a city die.
He had watched helplessly as throngs of zombies pursued men, women and children up and down the nearby streets. Then he listened in silently as the screams of victims were overwhelmed by the ravenous moans of their killers, only to be joined by the moans of the victims when they rose again to become killers themselves. He had watched in shock as cars crashed and buildings burned. He had even seen airplanes fall from the sky. But the worst memories of that day were of watching a family – husband, wife, and three children – get attacked and devoured by at least a dozen zombies who surrounded them between the water tower and the abandoned ambulance. No, on second thought, the worst memory was when the partially eaten kids had come back as zombies a few minutes later and staggered back down the street, probably in search of more family or friends to convert to their new condition.
Now, as dusk faded into night he could see the glow of hundreds of buildings burning out of control across the city. He knew that there would not be any firemen coming to fight those fires. A few hours in the ambulance listening to their radio traffic had made that point abundantly clear. By mid morning the dispatcher had ordered all surviving fire department assets to return to their fire stations. Those that could were encouraged to make their way to County Fire Headquarters, which was located next to the Sheriff’s HQ in East LA. Although Carl was sure that 911 calls kept coming in, it became clear that nobody would be sent to help them. That fact, more than everything else he had seen that day, convinced Carl that he was witnessing the end of civilization.
He had heard sirens for most of the morning and into the afternoon, indicating that some emergency service personnel were at least still on the move. But even that had died out now. Nevertheless, in the growing darkness Carl could see the flashing red and blue strobe lights of numerous police and fire vehicles scattered across the city. Unfortunately they all appeared to be stationary. Carl had to assume that they were abandoned or overrun by now. The lights would probably keep flashing until all
“That sounds great, sir! And please call me George,” he replied with a newly hopeful attitude. “It’s a much better offer than I could have hoped for. And I’d like to apologize for being rude earlier. I’m just so worried about my family. Thanks for giving us a chance.”
“No problem, George,” said Scott. “It’s been a shock for all of us and we all have our own priorities. But I think we can take this case as a good example of why it’s important to keep our cool and think things through before running off half-cocked. If we approach every problem by using our brains, keeping in mind that they just became the preferred lunch special for all of those damned zombies, we should be able to come up with some good plans that will keep us all alive.”
*****
Interludes in Hell
El Segundo Water Tower: 6:26 PM, April 1, 2012
Carl was sitting atop a hundred foot water tower watching the world disintegrate around him. There was a cool breeze coming off the ocean, but he was pretty sure that the chills he felt were more related to the horrific events he was witnessing than any wind chill factor on this mild spring evening in Southern California. In fact, Carl was numb to most external stimuli at that point. He had spent most of the day watching a city die.
He had watched helplessly as throngs of zombies pursued men, women and children up and down the nearby streets. Then he listened in silently as the screams of victims were overwhelmed by the ravenous moans of their killers, only to be joined by the moans of the victims when they rose again to become killers themselves. He had watched in shock as cars crashed and buildings burned. He had even seen airplanes fall from the sky. But the worst memories of that day were of watching a family – husband, wife, and three children – get attacked and devoured by at least a dozen zombies who surrounded them between the water tower and the abandoned ambulance. No, on second thought, the worst memory was when the partially eaten kids had come back as zombies a few minutes later and staggered back down the street, probably in search of more family or friends to convert to their new condition.
Now, as dusk faded into night he could see the glow of hundreds of buildings burning out of control across the city. He knew that there would not be any firemen coming to fight those fires. A few hours in the ambulance listening to their radio traffic had made that point abundantly clear. By mid morning the dispatcher had ordered all surviving fire department assets to return to their fire stations. Those that could were encouraged to make their way to County Fire Headquarters, which was located next to the Sheriff’s HQ in East LA. Although Carl was sure that 911 calls kept coming in, it became clear that nobody would be sent to help them. That fact, more than everything else he had seen that day, convinced Carl that he was witnessing the end of civilization.
He had heard sirens for most of the morning and into the afternoon, indicating that some emergency service personnel were at least still on the move. But even that had died out now. Nevertheless, in the growing darkness Carl could see the flashing red and blue strobe lights of numerous police and fire vehicles scattered across the city. Unfortunately they all appeared to be stationary. Carl had to assume that they were abandoned or overrun by now. The lights would probably keep flashing until all
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