Emperor of a Dead World (12 page)

“They might have thought he was one of those things,” one of the men reasoned.

“Those things don’t shoot back,” Brad returned.

“No they don’t,” Tyrone agreed. “So if these guys didn’t know it was us and they knew we weren’t creatures then that means they are just a bunch of assholes that don’t deserve to live.”

Brad shook his head.

“Look man,” Tyrone insisted, “we already tried it your way. These guys now know we are here and they will come back, maybe with others. The only chance we have is to get them before they get us.”

“Ty is right,” Rudy agreed. “We need to strike tonight.”

“No,” Brad persisted.

“Yes,” Tyrone demanded. “It has to be tonight. Either we get them tonight or we leave this place and never return.”

“Then we get them tonight,” the Horseman agreed. He did not want to abandon his animals.

“Who is with me?” Tyrone asked as he took three steps back, inspired that two men had already sided with him.

Rudy and the Horseman joined Tyrone as Brad shook his head.

First one man then another walked over and soon all six where standing by Tyrone.

“Alright,” Brad relented. “But at least two men need to stay behind and guard this place.”

“Three,” Tyrone replied. “The truck can hold five with enough room to get in and out quickly. Any more than that could be a problem.”

“Who stays?” Rudy asked.

“You for one,” Brad said.

“Why me?” he demanded.

“Because you have already been shot,” Tyrone agreed.

Rudy was not happy but he would not argue with Tyrone. “Okay. So me, Brad and who else,” he asked.

“Not me,” Brad said. “I am going.”

“You just don’t want me to drive that truck,” Tyrone laughed.

“You’re damn right,” Brad smiled.

“Who else stays?” someone asked.

“I can’t dictate but how about you,” Brad replied to the man. After the man acquiesced, Brad faced the Horseman. “I would like you to stay as well.”

“Why do you want me to stay?” he asked with a startled look.

“I need you to watch the place while we are gone.”

“When you guys aren’t around I am in charge,” Rudy said with authority.

“You are wounded,” laughed Brad. “So I sentence you to the infirmary.”

Rudy folded his arms and pouted.

“Take it easy Rudy,” Tyrone taunted as if speaking to a child. “You can be in charge. Just listen to your vet’s advice.”

Rudy scowled and glared at the Horseman, “My what?”

“You kids play nice,” Brad said with a hint of firmness. He then added to Tyrone “We need to get ready.”

“I already have bottles, gas and rags,” he smirked. “I’ve been preparing for this.” As he headed off to get his supplies, he walked past the other man that was staying behind and patted him on the shoulder. “Keep an eye on these two.”

The man smiled. “I am staying out of this.”

The Horseman turned to Rudy and held up his hands. “You are in charge.”

“Damn straight I am.”

The others prepared the Molotov-cocktails then waited until long after dark before they set out. The moon was approaching third quarter so there would be little light until after midnight. This time they went the back way in case anyone was watching. Before turning the corner onto the street of the fort, Brad killed the lights then slowed to a stop a few houses from the wall. Not many creatures were around because the people in the fort had done a good job keeping the place clear. Of course, once the fire started they would draw the crowd they needed.

“All right,” Tyrone said as he faced the others. “When you get out, close the doors quietly. I don’t want to make any noise, not yet anyway. Does everyone have their lighters ready?”

Everyone answered to the affirmative.

“Once out of the truck, hold your bottles upside-down until the rags are good and wet. Just make sure not to get any gas on your hands. It will burn like hell if they catch fire.” After saying this, Tyrone got out and the others followed. “We are going to get really close so be ready to run.” He crouched down low and led the way holding his two bottles. Fifty feet from the wall, he stopped, turned and motioned for everyone to keep quiet and alert. After listening for a moment, he lit his two rages and the others did the same. “Throw them underhanded, like this,” he said as he stood and threw his bottles. After his hit, the others all chucked their Molotov-cocktails at the wall and every one of them hit and exploded into flames.

Right away heads popped over the walls looking for the perpetrators. Tyrone could not resist. He already had his rifle ready and he shot a man in the temple. As soon as he fired, the others did as well. Now there were even more men on the wall, many more than they had anticipated.

“Get back to the truck,” Tyrone shouted.

Everyone headed back but continued to shoot at their enemies as they ran. The men in the fort returned fire and one of the men with Tyrone went down with a bullet in the back of his head. By the time they got to the truck, another had received a flesh wound. The other three took cover behind the plow and kept shooting as the wounded man got into the truck.

“We need to get that man,” Tyrone told Brad. He was only about ten feet away but the bullets were flying everywhere.

“We have to get out of here,” Brad insisted. “The creatures will overrun this place in a matter of minutes.”

Suddenly they heard gunfire from the other end of the street.

“Who the hell is that,” Tyrone exclaimed.

All three stopped shooting as they tried to understand what was happening. While they watched, they realized some of the men in the fort were now shooting the other way.

“It must be that damn fool Rudy,” Tyrone said.

“We have to go,” Brad returned when he noticed a large number of creatures approaching. His comment, however, went unanswered. Tyrone was already rushing off to recover the dead man. Brad immediately stood and fired over Tyrone’s head to cover him.

Tyrone threw the body into the bed of the truck then said, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

They all jumped in and Brad hit the accelerator as Tyrone stuck his gun out the window and rattled off a few rounds toward the fort. Propelling backwards with only the reversing lights Brad mowed down everything in his path. It was not until he got safety around the corner that he turned on the headlights.

“Let’s go help Rudy,” Tyrone yelled.

Brad raced down the street but Rudy was already on his way back.

“Home we go,” Brad shouted as he followed Rudy.

When they got to the racetrack, the Horseman opened the gate and Rudy rushed through as the others followed.

As soon Rudy got out of the truck, Tyrone was on him. “What the hell were you thinking? You could have got someone killed.”

Rudy fell to his knees and put his hands over his face.

“What happened,” Brad asked.

“There was nothing I could do,” Rudy wept. “We went to draw their fire but before I knew what was happening, the creatures got him.”

“Got who?” Brad asked.

“The guy that went with me,” Rudy replied.

“We lost a man too,” Brad said. “Shot in the head. Tyrone put him in the truck.”

“I couldn’t bring this one back. I shouldn’t have gone.”

“Rudy, if you had not come we may not have gotten out of there,” Tyrone said with compassion. He almost believed his own words.

“Were you successful?” the Horseman asked.

“I’m not sure,” Brad replied.

“How many were there?”

“A lot,” Tyrone said.

“We should go back,” the Horseman suggested. “If they come we need to ambush them. Get as many as we can.”

“He is right,” agreed Tyrone. “We need to go now.”

“Are you alright?” Brad asked the wounded man. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone.”

“I’m okay,” he replied. “I will let you in when you return.”

Tyrone nodded. “That is the best plan. The three of us in the truck like always and you two in the Expedition,” he instructed.

“Let’s do this,” Brad acknowledged.

They set out without another word. About two miles down, they parked on both sides of the dark street. Abandoned vehicles were all around so they would not be noticeable to anyone coming along. Of course, they would see their enemies from a good distance away.

Here they remained for two hours but when no one came, they decided to go check on the fort. When they arrived, there was a lot of activity from the creatures so they did not dare to get any closer. Brad turned on the high beams and they could see a large section of the wall had burned and most of the front was scorched black. For a few moments, they sat and watched with a victorious smile. The creatures were walking freely in and out of the place.

“I hated to do it,” Brad said almost with remorse.

“They got what they deserved,” Tyrone replied.

“Amen to that brother,” Rudy agreed.

“We will come back tomorrow to assess the damage and look for any survivors,” Brad said after a few moments of silence.

“Where were you parked?” Tyrone asked Rudy.

“Right there,” he pointed.

Tyrone got out and recovered the dead man then they returned to the track.

Chapter 12

The following morning after they buried their dead they returned to the fort and were happy to see that most of the creatures had departed. As they headed down the street with caution, the Horseman was in the back with his AK-47 trained on the wall and Tyrone had his rifle laying across Brad with the barrel sticking out the window.

“Do you see anyone?” Rudy asked as he crowded over to see.

The Horseman shook his head.

The fire had burned a large hole in the wall at the corner where they had hit it with the cocktails. When they got to the opening, Brad held his Glock ready. Though the blaze had not done any damage to the houses, the creatures had ravaged them.

“My God,” Brad said as he stopped and stared. “I hope there were no women and children here.”

“These guys should have behaved better if there were,” Tyrone replied.

“You got that right,” Rudy echoed.

“It does not look like anyone is here,” the Horseman said.

“Over there,” Rudy pointed.

Tyrone aimed but did not shoot. It was one of the men from the fort or at least it had once been. The thing wore fatigues and had a belt with his side arm still in the holster. “I told you they would do the job for us,” Tyrone grinned.

Brad glanced at him but did not reply.

Tyrone whistled and the thing came over. When it got close, he shot it in the head. He was not worried about the noise because he was using a silencer the Boeing machinist had made for him in Doug’s machine shop. After it dropped, he walked over and took the gun and holster. “Strip the dead of their arms,” he chuckled.

Brad drove through the opening as Tyrone threw the spoils into the bed and walked along beside the truck keeping his firearm ready.

“Do you think anyone is still here?” Rudy asked.

“I don’t know,” Brad replied. “Just keep a sharp eye out.” He parked on the lawn and got out of the truck.

“This may not be a good idea.” Rudy persisted.

“Probably not,” Brad agreed as he walked up the driveway.

Tyrone walked beside him. In one of his belt loops, he had the railroad spike Brad’s father had left. He used this to kill any creatures that came his way. He liked using it because it was a quick and easy way to take care of these things without using up his ammo. He simply drove the spike into their heads and pulled it out as they dropped.

“I don’t think you guys should go any further,” the Horseman called from the truck.

“He is right,” Rudy agreed. “If anyone is here they will see you long before you see them.”

Brad and Tyrone exchanged glances then walked back to the truck.

“We will drive by every couple of days and inspect the place,” Brad said as he got behind the wheel. He then stared at the destruction without saying another word. After a couple of minutes, he headed back to the racetrack hoping they had killed anyone that wished them harm.

When they pulled up the drive, they noticed the gates were wide open and something was hanging above the entrance. As they got closer, they realized the things hanging were the bodies of the two men they had left behind.

“Bastards,” Tyrone shouted as he pounded his fist on the dash.

Suddenly a van and two trucks flew out the gate toward them. Brad spun the truck around and floored it. When he got to the end of the drive, he turned left with the three hostile vehicles close behind. The Horseman leaned out the rear driver’s side window and opened fire on the van spraying bullets into the windshield and causing it to crash into a parked car. Once the van was out of the way, he focused on the truck behind. It was difficult to get off a clean shot because Brad was swerving in and out of abandoned cars and trying to avoid creatures walking in the street.