Forest Park: A Zombie Novel (13 page)

As Charlie glanced upward, he saw Old Glory waving slightly in the morning breeze. It seemed to Charlie as if they’d somehow gone back in time to a more wholesome place where men wore Madmen hats and the women never raised their hem higher than a fraction below the knee.

He could imagine high-tea on the lawn, and the catered affairs, which would have been held for the officer’s wives on spring afternoons.

However, there was something missing, an important element if you considered it --- people. The base was like a museum, a window into the past.

There were no soldiers being drilled, no Sgt Bilko or Gomer Pyle, not even a German shepherd patrolling the fences.

In his mind, Charlie thought the base would be crawling with attack dogs leaping walls, barking loudly and scaring the living shit out of him.

Not that any attack dog could now compete with a face chomping psychopath who staggered around the Main Street with a butcher’s knife tunneling into his back.

Any other day the attack dog would have taken a clear victory! Charlie considered.

However, still, where were the soldiers?

“Where the fuck is everyone?” Susan said suddenly.

She sounded annoyed.

Susan had expected to see the hustle of a busy military base, helicopters roaring over top, tanks rolling by and a column of fit young men just back from a five-mile run.

“Maybe they’re on maneuvers?” Charlie said, wishing he’d kept his mouth shut as soon as he’d opened it.

“What the fuck would you know about the army, Charlie, apart from the fact you’re too much of a fat fuck to join!”

“I don’t know, Susan. I was only just saying, that’s all,” he said as his belly unexpectedly rumbled.

“Jesus, Charlie, does nothing stop that thing?”

“Sorry.”

“You’re fucking disgusting; you know that, don’t you? I just wish you’d consider how I feel having to sit here and listen to that ghastly thing every day.” Susan, hitting her stride was about to continue her daily evaluation of Charlie up until she saw a young officer run from the main administration building to meet Tyler after the Humvee had rolled to a stop.

Before the young officer could say more than a few words, Susan was standing beside them both. Charlie had never seen her move so fast; it was as if she had teleported from point A to point B.

“Hi,” Susan said as she held out her hand, hoping the young officer would take it.

The young officer shook her hand gently and smiled.

He was early twenties and had that Californian guise about him --- he looked hip and young, with a clean-shaven jaw line and bottomless blue eyes.

“This is unsettling,” Charlie said to himself.

He wore a neatly pressed camouflaged uniform, in desert tone and a cloth cap, which was set at an angle. Glancing down to his waist, Susan saw a thick belt that held a low-slung gun.

Oh, God, that’s hot
, she thought.

“Ma’am,” he said, answering her with the slightest of smiles. He looked like Clint Eastwood in
Hang ’em High
.

I could swim in those eyes.

His attention then returned to Tyler.

The young officer handed Tyler a piece of paper, and from the moment Tyler began reading from it, a frown appeared on his face.

“Lieutenant, you’ve read it, any ideas?” Tyler asked.

“I’ve taken the initiative to begin preparations on your behalf and sent two men down to the main gate. I have also ---” Tyler stopped him from continuing.

“Put more men on the gate, and organize a team to patrol the perimeter fences at regular intervals. I would also like you to organize the lumber and wire for the cages in the isolation area. Get what you need from local lumberyards, and leave a receipt --- just try to keep it legal. Lastly, don’t deviate from the specifications sent through to us. We need this done ASAP, get to it.”

“Why patrol the fences?” Susan asked.

Tyler glanced at Susan and said, “Because I don’t want anyone getting in here who shouldn’t already be in this place.”

“Why do you need the cages?”

I may as well tell her, the cat’s practically out of the bag now
, Tyler thought.

“Before I say anything, ma’am, this is, off the record, understood? In fact, all of our conversations are, do you understand?”

Susan said, “Okay.”

“According to my orders, Fort Gillem may become a limited, and I mean very limited, local support centre for displaced persons, if whatever continues to continue. This hasn’t yet been confirmed --- that’s dependent on FEMA --- and my orders may change. We also need that isolation area up and running for when, or if, we receive any infected.”

“Do you think it may get as bad as all that out there, sir?” the lieutenant asked.

“It may; it’s not for me to say,” answered Tyler. “And, Lieutenant, get someone to hose down my truck too, it’s got shit all over it,” he added as he left the lieutenant and Susan alone.

The lieutenant looked over and saw the blood on the Humvee for the first time.

“It’s been a pleasure, ma’am,” the lieutenant said.

“Lieutenant,” she replied, “I don’t even know your name.”

“But I know yours,” he said as he dipped his cap to her and then left with a swagger.

Susan enjoyed watching him leave, almost as much as she enjoyed watching him arriving.

The gun bouncing on his hip with each step was intoxicating, she thought.

Screw Paul, Tanya can have him. As she observed the lieutenant leaving, Susan had a feeling that someone was observing her.

“Ma’am.”

Susan jumped, he gave her a little scare.

It was Tyler.

“Hello again, Captain, what can I do for you? I must say I like your lieutenant. I might have to get one of my own,” she said, sounding playful. “You’ll have to introduce us properly next time.”

I’m not a big fan of yours, though,
the thought flashed through her mind.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not running a country club, ma’am,” Tyler answered her in a monotone voice.

“How many men do you have here, Captain Tyler, and why the cages in the isolation area?” Susan asked, ignoring the captain’s tone.

“Thirteen including myself,” Tyler said, ignoring the second question, “and we’re a little shorthanded at the moment, Mrs...”

“It’s Miss Susan Shaw, there’s no ring on my finger yet, Captain.”

Susan held out her hand for him to shake. He shook it firmly.

“Let me introduce myself properly. I am Atlanta’s number one reporter, so if you need anything ‘techno’, Captain Tyler, just ask for it; satellite links, exclusives. I’m sure Fox Atlanta wouldn’t mind helping out in any way you desire,” she said smiling.

Tyler thought for a moment.

“Okay, that would be great, Miss Shaw.”

“What can we do for you first? Is there anywhere, in particular where you’d like us to set up?” she asked. “Charlie, bring your ass out here.”

Charlie tumbled out of the Wolfpac and yawned like a buffalo.

“You can start over there,” Tyler said, pointing to the old barracks, “And help by setting up some bunks for any refugees who may need our assistance,” he said as he watched her face grimace.

“I’m a reporter not a Manhattan-maid, Captain. Why the cages?”

Tyler overlooked her question and continued. “Can you use a mop, Miss Shaw?”

“No, not really and I have no intention in learning how!”

“You’ll get the hang of it. Start from barrack one and work your way up. You should find what you need inside.”

“How many barracks are there?”

“Enough to keep you very busy for a while, Miss Shaw.” He had begun to walk away but then turned and said, “I will endeavor to send Fox Atlanta an email before all of this is over and thank them for all of your help.”

“What was that about?” Charlie asked after Tyler left.

“Don’t start with me, Charlie. Don’t even fucking start!”

* * *

Tyler strode directly to his office and shut the door.

“Well, this isn’t exactly cleaning up used ordinance,” he said to himself.

He sat down on an old wood swivel chair, which could have been carbon dated to the time of the Ark, and went through his options.

It’s already here in Forest Park. I have limited manpower, and I drove a Humvee over a man who was clinically dead, but didn’t appear to know it. Cages --- the reporter was right to ask about them, should I question the idea too?

How big was this going to get if the boys upstairs think we needed cages? Do we even have the time to build the damn things? Whatever these people or things are, I really don’t want the job of babysitting them.

Tyler shut his eyes for a moment; he had a lot to think about, and plenty to do.

They all had a lot to do.

Susan Shaw --- she might be trouble.

“Christ!” Tyler’s eyes sprang open. Car horns
.

TURMOIL AT THE GATES

Two vehicles were waiting outside the base gates. One was a Forest Park police cruiser with its red and blue lights slowly rotating and the other an old weathered Dodge sedan.

From a distance, it looked to Tyler as if there was blood splatter on the Dodge’s windows.

“I wouldn’t have brought them here if I had any other choice! I don’t know about any of you, but I’m not leaving an injured child and her father to fend for themselves. Fuck infection!” Officer Cook said as he gesticulated wildly.

The soldiers who manned the gates stood firm.

“Goddamn it --- what’s wrong with you people. When did any of us stop trying to help children?”

Officer Cook slammed his fist down on the bonnet of his cruiser, while behind him the driver of the weathered Dodge escalated the growing chaos by leaning on his horn.

“Sergeant Williams, what in hell is going on here?” Tyler said.

“I think there may be someone infected in the second vehicle, Captain.”

“You know or you think, Sergeant?”

“I believe someone’s infected, sir,” the sergeant said.

“Are you in command?” Officer Cook asked Tyler from the other side of the gates, “Because if you are, open the fucking gates.”

“Have you confirmed that someone’s infected, Sergeant? I don’t care for beliefs,” Tyler said ignoring the police officer.

“Am I invisible here? Because I’m really starting to fucking think I am. I’ve already told this idiot that she’s infected, she was bitten,” Officer Cook added.

“No, I haven’t sighted anyone who’s infected,” the sergeant said. “I only know what he has told me.”

“The reason why you haven’t seen her, is because she is lying in the back of her father’s Dodge, you moron,” Officer Cook said speaking to Sergeant Williams. “She needs urgent medical help, and I don’t know of any other place nearby that can help her.”

“Open the gates,” Tyler said.

“Do you think that’s wise?” Lieutenant Anderson said to Tyler, keeping his voice low.

“That doesn’t matter,” Tyler said.

“But nothing’s ready yet, Captain, we haven’t got anywhere to house anyone who’s infected, and she needs a doctor, not an army medic.”

“I’m not running a debating society, Lieutenant.”

“I understand that, Captain, but...”

“There are no buts, not yesterday and not today,” Tyler said.

“Shouldn’t we confirm whether the girl is actually infected and not only injured, before we compromise our health, and the base’s integrity?” Lieutenant Anderson continued.

“I’ve already told your sergeant that she’s infected, she’s been bitten. What difference does it make whether she’s infected or injured, she’s only a child. I’ve driven past enough people already today, and I’m not planning on adding children to the list,” Officer Cook said to a now uncomfortable-looking Lieutenant Anderson.

“Let them in, Sergeant Williams, we’ll quarantine the girl in-house,” Tyler said.

“Well, thank you,” Officer Cook said to Tyler.

Cook then turned to the driver of the Dodge. “Follow me in, and relax, everything will be fine. Okay?” Cook said in his most reassuring voice.

“Just hurry up!” The girl’s father said as he leaned on the Dodge’s horn once more.

“We’re opening the gates, but do us all a
favor and shut that damn horn up!” said Sergeant Williams, his voice already becoming hoarse.

Officer Cook had just had time to sit behind the wheel of the cruiser, when from the rear-view mirror, he saw the weathered Dodge lurch forward and slam into the rear of his car, jolting it toward the gates and causing him to smash his head on the steering wheel, knocking him unconscious.

While Cook’s consciousness faded to black, the driver of the Dodge hurled open the door of his car and fell to the ground holding his neck.

A river of blood was flowing through his fingers and down the rear of his shirt. The driver struggled to stand, but fell awkwardly to one knee.

“Help me,” he pleaded.

A small girl, about ten years old, stumbled from the rear door of the Dodge, her face was pale and veined, while her mouth was dripping with her father’s blood. Tyler saw Sergeant Williams raise his gun in the girl’s direction. “Don’t discharge that weapon, Williams,” he said. “Everybody remain calm.”

“Shit! Did you get that, Charlie?” Susan said as she stood behind the soldiers.

Tyler turned about. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I’m doing my job, how about you do yours!” Susan said as Charlie stepped around her to get a better shot of the man’s daughter, as she staggered toward her bleeding father.

I have got to get closer, man. Charlie’s mind was racing.
I just hope no fucker shoots me!
He thought, as he tried to slip through the now opened gates.

“Hey, get back!”

Charlie ignored whoever yelled to him.

BANG!

A puff of dust arose near the girl’s feet.

“Williams, stop shooting,” Tyler said as he spun around.

“She’s infected, Captain, and so is he,” Williams said referring to the girl’s father.

“Williams lower your weapon now.”

“But the girl’s infected ---”

Susan took full advantage of the moment’s confusion and rushed past Tyler. She needed to get herself in front of the camera, in-between the lens and the distraught father.