Once we returned to the outpost. Jon, Mike, Rus, and Bruce took patrol duty on the catwalk while Don and I went to start packing the truck up. Don and I grabbed ammo, arrows, sleeping bags, pillows, the suits, sunglasses, cases of water, and some can goods and put them in the storage area under the lift. Don then drove the truck over to fill it with gas and then parked it in the garage. Meanwhile Chris was hard at work digging the trench around the entire outpost twenty feet away from the wall while everyone in the outpost worked on the spears using the remaining two by fours we had and branches from the tree line on the west side of the property. Chris was making very good head way so once Don and I finished with the truck we headed outside the wall to start putting the spears in the ground. We went out with the cement mixer and lowered it down in the trench. We also grabbed some long boards because the idea we had was to space the spears eight inches apart and hold them in place with one foot of cement. Since it was quick drying cement we decided to work in small sections and leave the boards in place so the cement could hold while we started the next section. We had eight foot long boards so we nailed one into the center of another to form two small sections to work on at a time. It worked a lot quicker that way cause Don and I start building a ton of T’s and laying them out. Then some of the ladies came out with the spears so Don and I starting mixing the cement and pouring one section at a time and the ladies laid out the spears in the wet cement. Chris finished the trench around the west and north part of the outpost and decided he would complete the south and east the next day so he came and helped Don and I with the cement. We worked hard the rest of the day and had to turn the spot lights on for a little bit to finish the outside part of the trench with cement and spears. We got up around seven the next morning and started getting to work on the other half of the cement and spears while Chris took the excavator across the street and started working on the trench. Most of the cement from the night before was set so it was easier to space the spears. We started in the same spot as the day before to give the rest of the cement time to finish setting before we got to the other side of the outpost. It went even faster since we just had to repeat the work we did the day before and it took us about seven hours and a lunch break to complete the cement and spears. Don and I headed across the street and started building more T’s and laying them out the same way we did before. We got all the T’s in place while the ladies started setting up the remaining spears. Don and I got the cement mixer and started laying the concrete the same way we did before. We went around one side which took about three hours so when we went back the quick drying cement had already firmed up. So one team started spacing the spears in the cement using the T as a standing point and inserted the spears in the concrete to set. It took another three hours to finish laying the concrete in the west/north trench and around that time the guys finished their shift on the cat walk. We all headed to the mess hall for supper and discussed the finishing touches that needed to be done before we left in two days. Well Rus and I have night watch tomorrow night so I was thinking we would leave when our shift was over and we could sleep first and do things in shifts I said. Bruce and Don can start driving, Jon and Mike can take watch on the lift, and Rus and I will sleep. Then we can rotate positions every six hours with us getting up and driving, Bruce and Don rotating to watch, and Mike and Jon could sleep and rest. So we will be up for twelve hours and rest for six? Jon asked. Yes, the trip will take a little longer because we will need to scout our route as we go and since we can’t drive over fifty five in that army truck I said. Tomorrow we will double check everything and make the final preparations.
The next morning Don got Bruce to help him install a mini satellite dish he was able to set up with a CB radio so we could directly communicate with the outpost and they installed a larger dish to the roof near the command center. Jon and Mike spent most of the morning with Jennifer before heading to the armory to pack additional ammo, knives, sniper rifles, and a few other guns. The rest of the compound finished the east and south trenches while starting to lay the cement the same way Don and I had done the day before. Rus and I went to pack extra supplies for the trip, mostly consisting of power bars, beef jerky, cigarettes, and juice. Then we spent a little time with our ladies then lying down to rest before our shift on the catwalk. Everything was all set to go I grabbed a couple travel mugs of coffee and met Rus on the catwalk. We stood at the south east corner of the cat walk where after months I finally asked Rus what had happen to his wife. “It was the morning after the bar I awoke out in the garage. I was out there tinkering around like I do most nights after I got back home from the bar when I heard a loud boom and saw a white flash. I assumed a storm was rolling in but I think I passed out shortly after I saw that white flash. I went into the house once I got up and that’s when I saw the most horrifying thing every! As Rus starting choking up a little he said I found my three kids hovering over their mother. Her body ripped open from pelvis to her throat and they were eating her internal organs. Whatever happened between leaving the bar and waking up had turned the kids into these horrible zombies and they feasted on their mother while she was sleeping on the couch I believe, since I didn’t see any signs that there was a struggle or that she had but up any type of fight.” Rus sipped on his coffee staring out into the night filled field. I am so sorry Rus I had no idea I said. Changing the subject I said funny we are going to Washington to try and stop this outbreak tomorrow being October 30th isn’t it? I said. Rus put a half smile on his face. Yeah Devil’s night that is pretty ironic. We had a little laugh and started patrolling the walls we were assigned to and the night passed quickly. The sun rose over the horizon and we were relieved of duty at seven in the morning. We headed to the mess hall and made breakfast for the whole outpost then headed for the garage. It was reassuring having so much done in the past two months before we made the decision to head for Washington D.C. and look for answers. Rus and I pulled Chris aside since we had a couple of extra projects we needed done before we left then we kissed our love ones and said goodbye as we jumped in the truck and drove off in the distance on our way to Ohio first.
Chapter 14
We headed for the highway and made our way south toward Detroit. As we drove south we could see other much smaller communities built around different towns. Most of the communities looked destroyed as if there was a territory war or had grass and trees grown wild like they had been abandoned. It took an hour and a half to reach Detroit instead of the normal hour since we had to drive the heavy army truck slower. The town was in shambles. There were buildings with blackened windows so there were obvious fires, walls riddled with bullets, windows shattered, and cars flipped everywhere. We drove through seeing a few zombies roaming the streets but no one that wasn’t affected. When we got to the outskirts of Detroit we found another garbage truck with Ontario plates so Bruce pulled over to check it out. Don and Bruce got out and looked over the truck. They opened the back cautiously since last time toxic waste spilled out and melted Brent’s skin off his body. Don stood on the side operating the control panel and started to raise the bed of the garbage truck. The back end of the truck rose up and the contents started to dump all over the street. Suddenly in the middle of all the garbage that poured out the back two large barrels came rolling out. Bruce walked over to one of the barrels and hit the top of the barrel with the butt of his M16 rifle and knocked the lid off and out poured that bright green toxic waste again. I wanted to make sure it had the same contents Bruce said. Look on the barrel Don said as he pointed to the writing on the side. You better go wake up Rus and Bryan they are going to want to see this Bruce said. Don ran to the back of the truck and started waking Rus and me up. What’s going on I asked. We found something you both need to see. Rus and I got up, threw our boots back on, and jumped out of the truck to a huge pile of garbage. So what is going on? Rus asked. We spotted this garbage truck so I wanted to stop and investigate it Bruce said. We opened the back and found more toxic waste Don said. Look at this barrel Don pointed. “DuKoppus nuclear power plant” was written on the side of the barrel. Well I guess if we can get access to a working computer with internet maybe we can find out who this DuKoppus is Rus said. Well now we have a name to go with the toxic waste company but let’s get going so we can be in Ohio by mid day I said. Rus and I went to lay back down and Bruce and Don got back in the cab and we started down the road again. It took almost two hours to reach the Ohio state border with the slow driving truck and all the cars left abandoned or flipped over in the road that made the highway an obstacle course.
We crossed into Ohio a little after one in the afternoon so we were behind schedule so Bruce drove through cars that were in the way to try and make up some time. About an hour drive into Ohio we were about ten miles south of Sandusky when Mike yelled down to Bruce to stop the truck and he had spotted something through the binoculars. Bruce pulled over on the side of the expressway. Mike woke Rus and I up and had us get up on the lift. Bruce and Don got out of the cab of the truck lit up a cigarette and asked what we saw. Rus looked through the binocular and I looked through my sniper rifle scope. Well it looks like a blockade was made on the interstate up a head Rus said. Is it zombies, looters, or a community? Bruce asked. None, it’s the army Rus answered. We could see two small army jeeps and about six soldiers patrolling a blockade that was made up of a metal and concrete barricade with a toll bar. What do you think is going to happen when we approach that blockade? Don asked. Well that blockade is about two miles away, so Rus and I will get off the expressway and walk pass the blockade and come up on the back side I said. Wait an hour before you drive up to the toll and that will give Rus and I time to get behind them and come up with a plan or a surprise attack if needed I said. So Rus and I left most of our weapons and took just our handguns and small knives as we walked down the exit ramp and followed under the interstate the two mile walk. It took us about forty minutes to get about one thousand feet behind the blockade. We found a few tents set off the expressway that we ran over to investigate. There was one guard patrolling the door of one of the tents. Rus pulled his knife out and when the guard turned back around to walk toward where we were he was met with a knife that went through the center of his neck. It filled his mouth and lungs with blood quickly so he was unable to scream before collapsing. Rus and I approached the tent and peeked inside. We saw a man sleeping on a cot so I approached and grabbed a belt I saw hanging from a hanger and I noticed a general suit hanging with it. I snuck up to the cot and wrapped the belt around the man’s neck and pulled it tight while Rus pointed his glock at the man who looked very similar to Rus. Why was a blockade set up and what is going on? Rus asked the general. I pulled the belt off the general’s neck so he could answer. My name is General Jacob Marrows and I have served the United States Army for twenty five years. That’s fucking special sleeping beauty but now what I asked Rus said as he back handed the general. This blockade has been ordered by the FBI to stop a group of mercenaries believed to have killed several agents in Michigan and possibly on their way to Washington D.C. to attack our commander in chief. I have done everything in my power to stop these men and or women at any cost. Just as the general finished his sentence his jaw opened up like those other zombie we had seen and Rus put a bullet in his head. Rus put that general suit on and throw your clothes in that duffle bag and hurry up. I went outside and striped off the patrolling soldiers uniform and put it on too. I pulled Rus’s knife out of his neck and smashed it through his skull just in case he walked away like the last person we shot in the neck. I ran in to the other tent and found it to be a small command center where I found some documents from the other blockades that gave the small patrol clearance to pass thru unquestioned by order of the FBI. Rus emerged from the tent dressed in the general’s uniform and I was in the private’s uniform. So what is next? Rus asked. I pulled the keys to a jeep that was parked next to the tents. Let’s go give the boys clearance to pass thru that blockade. Rus and I got in the jeep and jumped on the expressway where the boys just pulled up to the blockade as we arrived. I got out and ran to the other side to open the door for Rus. I shouted attention for a superior officer. The soldiers around the barricade came to attention and Rus approached the officer near the driver door and said what these soldier’s orders are? The soldier stuttered under the general’s question and ordered the soldier to return to his post. Rus went up to the door and said to Bruce stick your hand out like you are handing me papers. Rus pulled the papers I found out of his coat pocket and handed them back to Bruce after looking them over. Rus walked back to the patrol and said clearance has been authorized. The soldiers saluted the general who returned the salute and walked back to the jeep. They opened the toll bar and the truck passed through with no incident with Rus and me following them in the jeep. We drove for about thirty miles and abandoned the jeep off the nearest exit but Rus and I keep the new duds we had just acquired. We continued driving for another hour and pulled off the expressway to rotate locations. After stopping and grabbing a bite to eat we jumped back on the expressway and headed for the Pennsylvania border. We drove for four hours and entered the state of Pennsylvania near Enon Valley.
We continued on our way toward Pittsburgh where we would change freeways and make our way for Hancock, Maryland from there. It would take us about two hours before we arrived in Pittsburgh where we were greeted by another blockade but this one wasn’t the army they looked like civilians and they were being attacked by zombies. Rus yelled down to Bruce and Don to wake them up as Mike sped up toward the zombies. Mike drove up to the blockade fast running over several zombies and when he came to a stop Rus and I jumped off the lift with our melee weapons drawn and tackled a small group of zombies. Bruce and Don jumped off the back of the truck. Don with his kamas and chain in hand and Bruce with two war hammers. Bruce’s war hammers were similar to the battle axes I wielded. They were three feet in length, had a four inch spike on one side, and a five inch by five inch hammer on the other side and looked like a meat tenderizer. Rus and I took out four zombies that we had tackled off the jump from the lift. Don swung his chain and wrapped the kama around a zombies neck that had grabbed one of the patrol guards and with one swift motion pulled and decapitated the zombie. Bruce ran over to help another guard that was pinned down by a zombie. He spread his arms out and swung his war hammers together making the zombies head explode like crushing a watermelon with a sledgehammer and sending off a high pitch sound as the hammers struck together. We helped the guards to their feet where one of the men approached us. My name is Jamal and I am the head of a small community run here in Pittsburgh. Thank you for your assistance Jamal said. What is your business here in Pittsburgh? Jamal asked. We are passing thru on our way to Washington D.C. from Michigan I said. We have made several discoveries and the signs point to answers we may find there Rus added. Please come with us so you can rest, eat, and we can talk at our compound Jamal offered. We accepted and followed them back to their community. It was two miles from the highway to a five story apartment building where turned over cars made a wall around the front entrance. There was also an underground garage where we parked our truck and went to the front entrance. We entered the front entrance where a ladder was lowered from the second floor since the staircase was destroyed and the elevator wires were cut. We climbed up to the second floor and followed Jamal to the fourth floor to which we assumed was a sleeping quarter and mess hall. We sat down to a simple dinner of chicken wings and fries. That was the best meal I have had in months Rus stated. You forget the simple things you miss while you are trying to survive everyday Jamal said. So what discoveries have you come across that is taking you so far away from home? Jamal asked. We told him about everything we had come to know during the past seven months over the next two hours. Everything you have told me makes a lot of sense now. We two have discovered garbage trucks from Ontario but we have never searched them and I wonder if they too have these toxic waste containers inside. Please go and rest now and before you continue your journey I would appreciate if you would help me investigate one of the garbage trucks? Jamal asked. We will go with you once we rest in the morning and then we will head for Washington I said. Jamal shook all of our hands and we turned in for the night. We awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs cooking around six thirty in the morning. We walked out in the mess hall area to find Jamal cooking a meal for the seven of us. Jamal prepared our meal like a local Italian deli in Pittsburgh. Jamal toasted to thick cut pieces of Italian bread stacking the eggs, bacon, two slices of tomato, and home fries. We ate our breakfast and said thanks to the great hospitality the whole community showed us. We packed up got in the truck and followed Jamal and his team to the site of the garbage truck. We arrived at the site where Rus, Don and I started to investigate the garbage truck. Mike and Jon stayed in the truck since they were driving and Bruce stayed as a watch out from the lift. Stand back while I open the back Don said. Don raised the back end of the garbage truck and started to pour the contents on the street. A large wooden crate fell out the back of the truck and slide down the garbage pile onto the street. Open that crate you guys Jamal said to his crew. They started pulling the boards off the top of the crate and lifted the lid off. What do you see inside? Jamal asked. One of his men said I see four containers and a blinking red light. Bomb! I screamed. Rus, Don, and I ducked behind the side of the garbage truck. The bomb went off very quickly once we got around the corner. When we came back around the corner we saw the carnage the bomb had left. Jamal’s crew was completely blown to pieces. Where is Jamal at? Rus asked. There I said pointing behind a car as I saw his arm grab the hood. As we approached the car Jamal stood and turned around his face melting off cause it was covered in toxic waste. He said go get those motherfuckers in Washington as his face completely melted and he collapsed dead from his wounds. Let’s go I said. As we headed to the truck I looked down at one of the pieces from a barrel and saw the name DuKoppus again. That name now burning in my head. We got in the truck and I said let’s get to the Maryland border as fast as we can. We jumped back on the expressway and made our way toward Hancock, Maryland. We encountered minimum issues on the three hour drive across Pennsylvania. We never saw more than five zombies at a time and we just drove either pass or thru them as we approached the Maryland state line. We have about two hours before we are in Washington D.C. Rus said. Once we get close we need to stay on high alert and find a place to set up a base before scout a way into FBI headquarters I said. Here we come Don added.