We reentered the warehouse and I parked the fork truck up against the doors while Don and Christi took apart some empty racking to stack on the hi-lo. We also found some door stoppers to wedge under tires. Alright let’s get to work I said. We laid pallets down at every aisle, than we started stacking boxes of dry and can goods on each pallet. Once we stacked all the non damaged cases we could find we used shrink wrap to wrap the pallets and then manually pull and put them on the trailer. It was quite an exhausting task cause once the pallets were full they were anywhere from 500-1000 pounds and we had twenty pallets from just the boxed section. Next we headed to the produce section. Again we laid down about ten pallets this time and started loading all the fruit and vegetables that were still fresh or could be frozen when we returned to the compound. What’s going to be the best way to transport the meat, we can’t just stack it on pallets like everything else? Christi asked. Well let’s use all the meat hooks and hang anything that has rotted or spoiled yet I said. Christi started cutting down all the rotted meat from the hooks while Don and I lifted the meat onto the free hooks. Man some of these have to weight over 400 pounds each Don said with a disgruntled voice as we lifted the half cow carcass onto the meat hook. We were able to find five cow halves, six whole pigs, two lambs, and fifteen turkeys still intact. We put the hook post for the meat in some wheeled bins so when we could load some frozen items under the meat to keep it fresh until we got back to the compound. After four hours we were finally headed for the freezer section with a whole truck still empty. It took another hour to empty the entire freezer section into our freezer truck. We closed the trailer doors and headed for the truckers entrance next to the docking area. With our guns drawn we slowly opened the door and headed outside. We seem to be in the clear Don said as we approached the trucks. Get in and get them started I told Christi and Don as I continued to keep a look out. Christi got in the freezer truck and Don got in the big semi and fired the engines with no problems. They started to pull the trucks from the docks when I spotted a small group of zombies coming toward us. I jumped into the sliding passenger door of the freezer truck and opened fire dropping two of the five zombies that were heading for us. Don led the way down the driveway and toward the main gate. Don seemed to be speeding up to my surprise since I needed to unlock the front gate. As we approached the front gate Don only seemed to be going faster and as we bore down on the gate Don went smashing through the gate. With a sharp turn we were on the main road headed back for the highway. We spent all day in the warehouse and now we’re going to drive the five hours back across the state to our compound. We arrived back at the compound around 2:45am with Bruce running to the garage as we parked the trucks. Bryan, Don, Christi, please come quick to the command center Bruce said. We arrived in the command center where Abby was holding the CB radio and feeding the baby. I grabbed the radio. Come in this is the Michigan Outpost, Commander Reid speaking. Static came over the air waves for a moment; Ooooo Woooo you bitches Rus shouted. A smile came across my face. Rus where are you? I asked. We just settled in Boulder City, Nevada about an hour outside Las Vegas and we will be headed there at first light Rus said. Glad to hear you old friend, we just returned from a shopping trip that should hold us over until your return or our fight with the FBI I said. Hard to think you have already been gone for five days. Don’t take too long just in case the FBI change their plans and come earlier. Be safe and keep us posted, Outpost out I said. Alright hopefully Rus finds something in Las Vegas, let’s unload the meat and the rest can wait till morning.
Chapter 24
The city of Boulder was mostly abandoned, looted, with housed small gangs just surviving each day. Rus and Bev had no issues taking refuge in a two story apartment complex. Finding a room on the first floor, Rus disconnected the side car and trailer once Bev found a room on the first floor. Rus rolled everything into the apartment to avoid any looters throughout the night. Rus and Bev locked up and barricaded the door; the windows didn’t need to be blocked since they were already bar covered. They sat down to dinner which consisted of canned meat and a bottle of whiskey they shared. Let’s get some sleep Bev said as they slumped into a ratty looking fold out sofa bed. Waking up to the sun rising over the horizon and shining through the windows as Rus sat up at the edge of the sofa bed. The smell of whiskey still filled the room as a stray cat tried to lick what was left of the meat out of the can. Rus sat at the small dining room table with a cup of coffee. Rus pulled a small stone out and started sharpening the three small to medium sized knives he strapped to his legs while Bev continued to sleep. Rus sat there over an hour drinking a pot of coffee before he decided he should start waking Bev up. Rus sat next to Bev on the bed and rubbed her back to wake her up. Bev you’re going to have to start waking up so we can get moving Rus said. Bev started to stir as Rus made another pot of coffee and started getting geared up. Bev drank her coffee as she got ready and Rus started reassembling the sidecar and trailer to the motorcycle outside. Everything was loaded as Rus and Bev made their way for the strip in Las Vegas not knowing what they would find.
I think the fastest route will be this highway we are on Bev said to Rus as they got just outside Boulder City limits. Ok we will see if we need to adjust routes as we approach Vegas Rus answered. There was a small area of desert before Rus and Bev started hitting the housing communities. Rus stopped about a quarter of a mile from the first community and pulled out his binoculars. What do you see? Bev asked. I don’t see any movement at all Rus said. No people, no zombies, no cars, nothing Rus added. Have your gun ready Rus said as he revved the motorcycle back up. Rus and Bev drove through Henderson the first of the two small communities before reaching Las Vegas. A faint whistle sound caught Rus’s attention. Do you hear that whistle sound? Rus shouted to Bev while continuing down the highway. Bev started looking around and then suddenly grabbed the handlebars of the motorcycle sending the bike swerving out of control down a side street. Rus gained control of the bike as it skidded across someone’s front yard. When Rus looked back he saw a mortar exploding in the road. Fuck that was close Bev shouted. Rus took off through the front yards of several of the community homes. Don’t look now but we’ve got company Rus said. Bev turned around to see two ATV’s and a pickup truck hot on their tails. Rus continued cutting through the lawns trying to outrun the bullets that starting coming from his chasers. Rus cut thru the backyard of one of the houses with one of the ATV’s chasing after while the other ATV and pickup truck continued on the streets. As Rus cut thru the backyard he drove under a clothes line. He pulled his machete out and cut one of the poles down as he drove under it. The ATV driver didn’t see the dropped down clothes line. He hit the line at thirty miles per hour taking him off his ATV sending it crashing into one of the houses and igniting in a fiery explosion. Getting back on the street on the other side of the house just as the pickup truck and other ATV turned the corner continuing the chase. The pickup truck turned down another street as the ATV followed Rus and Bev continuing to fire submachine guns at them. Rus cut into another backyard being met by both the ATV and pickup which followed closely continuing to fire. Rus busted through a fence in the backyard and found they were now driving thru a golf course. Now in the open it was harder to dodge the gun fire. Bev returned fire striking the front driver side tire of the pickup truck. The driver of the truck lost control and rolled the truck several times down the middle of the fairway and came to rest on the roof in a sand trap. Rus now headed for a small wooded area on the golf course and when he got just out of site of the ATV he cut down one of the golf cart paths. The ATV went flying around the corner and Rus pulled out from the path now in pursuit. Bev opened a full auto attack with two sub-machine guns on the ATV. The driver got struck several times in the back, falling off the ATV and rolling into the brush of the wooded area.
Being out of harm’s way Rus parked by the clubhouse of the golf course and looked at a map he got from the apartment Bev and him crashed at the night before. All right the back roads leading to Las Vegas seem to not be the best route Rus said. We need to find another way Rus added. Look here Bev said as she pointed on the map. This road will take us on the freeway and connects to the major highway Bev said. I can use the binoculars and scout ahead while we are driving so we can avoid anymore confrontations Bev added. Well let’s get back at it after I update the outpost Rus said. Rus to the Michigan Militia Outpost do you read me? Rus asked. Go ahead Rus. Don replied. Taking shelter for the night soon then headed for the Las Vegas strip tomorrow. We will update after our searches in Las Vegas in two days Rus said. Good hunting Don said as the air waves cleared. They head back to the motorcycle and headed for the ramp to the freeway. Bev scouted the road ahead through the binoculars as Rus continued down the highway. Most of the communities were abandoned the closer they got to Las Vegas. Windows and doors were broke out and stores were raided not that it wasn’t expected since these horrific events started over fourteen months ago. Bev and Rus stopped on the highway hundreds of yards from the Las Vegas strip so to observe the area for activity before starting their search. So any idea where in Las Vegas or which casino we need to search? Bev asked. No details from the reports, just said just a casino was the base of operations in Las Vegas Rus said. So I guess we start with the famous strip hitting the major casinos that would hold the best technology and then we will head for the main city, but first I think we take refuge to rest today and start searching at first light tomorrow Rus added. Rus and Bev took refuge in one of the abandoned homes just outside the strip. Rus and Bev spend the remainder of the day preparing their weapons, filling their stomachs, and getting some much needed rest to be ready for an all day hunt on the strips major casinos.
Meanwhile, the outpost continued to prepare for battle to come. Don and I made a trip to our old work where we knew we could find lots wood pallets and metals to make stabilizers for the sniper rifles on the walls. To our surprise while we were taking anything useful from work we found a small group of co-workers that had taken refuge in the office area. We explained to them that a fight was coming and we could use everybody’s help and we could offer them food, shelter, and a little hope, but if we lost they could be next anyway if they stayed here. They all agreed and we lucky got ten more bodies to help in our fight. We returned with our supplies and fed our newest members. While they ate we explained what we had learned over the past year. After they ate and cleaned up we showed them around the compound. Don and I gave directions to everyone and they started preparing the stabilizers, planting landmines, and loading clips with ammo. Don, Bruce and I headed to the command center to discuss what was on the USB we downloaded additional info on. Don loaded the USB while Bruce helped me hang a map of the United States and the state of Michigan on the wall. I drew a dot which represented our outpost. Alright so what else do we know about what’s going on so far? I asked. Don started reading over the information and said well each capital has a wall build around it twenty-five miles in diameter. I circled all the capitals and then marked the roads we had already traveled, plus Rus’s trip to Las Vegas to the best of our knowledge. What else did you find? I asked. Most of the information is what we learned while in Washington D.C. Don said. Well let’s look through the DuKoppus file and see if that’s who we need to go after next I said. We spent the rest of the night going over files of Washington, Militias, and Las Vegas. Tomorrow we continue preparing and waiting I said as I light a cigarette and poured a glass of rum.
Back in Nevada as the sun began to raise over the mountains Rus and Bev suited up and headed for the first casino on the strip. Rus parked the motorcycle by a group of bushes that were planted outside the casino lobby. They walked into the lobby of the casinos hotel and looked around. Where do we start? Bev asked. I think we should search the casino floor first then the offices, then search the hotel floors one by one Rus said. The search over the first casino took a little over three hours and turned up no evidence. Rus and Bev moved down the strip and hit the four major casinos left. Well no signs of anyone in this area I guess we head downtown Rus suggested. I think we should find a place just outside of downtown and scout tonight before we make another move Bev said. Ok. Rus answered. They took shelter around seven at night in an eight story one star motel about one mile from downtown. Rus cooked the last little bit of fresh food that was left and suggested they head to the roof and see what is out there. Opening the latch to the roof Rus found some old milk crates they could use to sit on and rest their plates on while they ate their meal. After completing their meal Rus and Bev started scouting the casinos in the downtown area through their binoculars. Well I think we are on the right track finally Rus said. I can see lights on in all three hotels so at least we know we can hopefully find something or someone Rus added. Rus and Bev headed down to the only suite in the hotel which was on the entire eighth floor. Barricading the doors and windows which became a standard when being out of the compound Rus and Bev fell asleep each in their own king size bed.
Bev woke Rus up in a startle. What’s wrong? Rus asked. I woke up early and let you sleep, so I went to the roof to scout. I could see smoke coming from near the casinos Bev said. Rus started getting ready while eating a protein bar and noticed that Bev was ready to go. Rus and Bev collected the gear and loaded up the bike. Rus and Bev approached the first two casinos which were across the street from each other. Rus parked the bike next to a party store down a small alley and hide the bike behind two dumpsters. As Rus and Bev walked down the street they saw two black hooded characters in the middle of the road. Hey stop right there we have questions Rus belted out in a commanding voice. The two hooded characters looked up at Bev and Rus before running in opposite directions and each headed to the casinos. Rus and Bev got to where they were standing and decided to split up and each search a casino. Bev headed to the seven floor Black Diamond casino and hotel, while Rus headed into the Dragon’s Den casino which was the smallest of the three casinos with only four stories of 16 rooms each and upon entering the lobby with his glock drawn headed for the hotel offices first in search of the mystery person. There were three small offices and the check-in counter that Rus searched first. As Rus made it through each room and found himself behind the check-in counter he noticed that one of the elevators had the fourth floor lit up. Rus headed over to the other elevator and made his way to the fourth floor. The ding went off as the elevator doors opened and Rus made his way out in search of the mystery person. Rus slowly crept down the hallway checking each room one by one occasionally finding a body of either a zombie or salvager riddled with bullets in the rooms and hallway. The doors were all open and the rooms tore apart, obviously raided for whatever could be salvaged Rus thought to himself. Rus made his way through all the rooms and approached the stairwell which was opened slightly. This door looks like someone tried to close it quietly without making any noise Rus thought. So Rus headed down the stairwell to the third floor and began searching again. As Rus made his way through half the floor he heard a loud crashing sound that shook the floor and knocked him to the floor. Rus staggered back to his feet. That must have been a tremor Rus said aloud to himself. Rus made his way to the stairwell and headed for the second floor. Rus was checking the second floor out about to enter room ten when he felt a huge gust of wind from behind. Rus turned around and entered room eleven to find a huge hole in the wall as if something had smashed through it. He stood at the edge of the hole with all the concrete walls and windows smashed under his feet facing the other casino examining what could have caused this hole. The debris was in the hotel, so whatever made the hole came from the outside Rus observed. Rus noticed huge claw-like marks with blood near the top of the hole. Rus dipped his finger in the blood. It was still warm and wet so it was fresh. Rus suddenly heard guns shots from the floor below followed by a horrific scream, then silence. Rus ran for the stairwell and sprinted down the stairs to the lobby. When Rus opened the door he noticed bullet holes in the check-in counter and the elevator door. The bullets looked like they have had to come from the casino entrance. Rus headed to the casino entrance and found a freshly detached leg at the entrance. The leg looked like it had been ripped off someone’s body. Rus followed the blood trail into the slot machine area where he found what was left of the hooded figure. Both legs and arms had been ripped from the body. The mystery person laid face down in a pool of blood from whomever or whatever attacked him. Rus rolled the torso over and pulled the hood off to reveal a blood soaked face. Rus removed a cocktail from the edge of a blackjack table close by and poured it over the face of the mystery person to wash the blood off and reveal a woman who got tore apart. Rus stared at the face as if he had seen it before. Wyoming! Lacy! Rus shouted aloud. He looked at the face harder and remembered seeing her as one of the Wyoming militia commanders when him, Don, Bryan were in Yellowstone Park. My God, Rus thought. They made it to Vegas. I have to stop Bev before she hurts the other mystery person since she won’t know who they were Rus thought as he sprinted to the Black Diamond.