Chapter 8
We all woke up at around two in the morning and started up the vehicles. We headed for the hospital next, which was an hour drive from where we were. It is one of the largest hospitals in the state with all the top of the line equipment. Make sure we keep a closer eye on anyone who is not infected so we don’t have a repeat performance of the hardware store Rus said. First thing we need to do is address yours and Bryan’s wounds Christi said to Rus. We arrived at the main driveway to the hospital around three thirty and decided we should all eat something first. After we eat I will take Rus and Bryan into that doctor’s office and address their wounds Christi said. Bruce you can stay and watch while the others sleep. We all ate two power bars and headed for the office. It was a small office building about six hundred yards from the hospital down a side street leading off the main driveway to the hospital. There were several side streets leading to specialist doctor’s offices the whole length of the main driveway. We entered the office and searched the whole thing it only consisted of six small rooms. Christi and I brought the medicines and bandages to the waiting room where Rus was watching the front door. Christi gave both of us a shot to help the wounds from becoming infected and then she dressed both with bandages. You’re both lucky that the bullets came straight out the other side Christi said. Once the wounds were taken care off we headed back to the trucks and waited until seven in the morning so the girls could get some sleep. They woke up just before seven so we made our way to the hospital and searched the loading dock for a free spot to dock the trailer. Once we docked we entered the ER first. Take two sets of doors that swing open for the surgery rooms we are working on Samantha said. We need to make it as sterile as we can Samantha added. We need to stick together as we search the hospital and leave everything near the elevators so we can grab it as we head floor to floor Rus said. Let’s start on the seventh floor that is where all the surgeries take place Samantha said. How do you know so much about this hospital Abby asked. This is where I did my clinical work while I was going to school Samantha said. We hit the elevators and pressed the up button but the elevator seemed turned off. Rus found a electrical room where he rebooted the power and fired the elevators back up. Once he returned to the elevator and pushed the up button. Now hearing the gears working we waited for the chime and for the doors to open. When the doors opened two zombies came bursting out but I was ready with my desert eagles in hand pointing at the door and unloading one shot from each gun hitting them both in the head. Rus and Bruce dragged the bodies out of the way and we loaded the elevator and pushed the button for the seventh floor. We arrived on the seventh floor to find several dead bodies all of which had their heads decapitated. We slowly made our way room to room and gathered supplies we needed. We found an operating table, tools, and monitors just what we are looking for Samantha said. I think we need to take each load to the trucks Christi suggested. I agree Rus said. Christi, Bryan, and I will take this load down and you three wait by the elevator for us to return just in case more zombies appear and then we will head down to the fifth floor Rus said. Bruce asked what about the sixth floor? That is the baby ward so we shouldn’t need anything on that floor. Abby suggested we should take some supplies just in case we find any survivors on the floor or if someone is pregnant we may find. Ok Christi said we will load the truck when you see the elevator back on the way up head down to the sixth floor in the other elevator. We loaded the truck and headed back up to the sixth floor where we met the others. They had already been on the floor and grabbed everything needed for a newborn baby to be born as well as a bed with stirrups for giving child birth on. We also got an ultrasound machine with a heartbeat monitor and warming tray. Bruce, Abby, and Samantha you take that load to the truck and we will meet you on the fifth floor Rus said. What is on the fifth floor I asked? Samantha looked at us and said it is the recovery area so we should be able to find a lot of medicines, IV’s, and tables. If we get a full load after inspecting the floor we will bring it down and load the truck too and meet you back here. We arrived on the floor did a sweep and started packing the supplies. When the group returned we had a hospital bed waiting filled with enough IV bags it would last one patient ten years. We asked them to grab another bed and load all the medicine out and put it on the bed. When we returned they had the other bed ready to go so Rus and I loaded it up and took it down while Christi and Samantha looked for more monitors. Once we returned everyone was ready with all the supplies and we headed for the dock. We loaded up and got back in the elevator. The fourth floor was a bust for fining anything since it was only offices and used as the administration floor. So we started for the third floor and while in the elevator Samantha hit the emergency stop and said we need to be extra cautious on this floor. What is this floor Bruce asked? This is the mental ward for the people who are not mentally with it or have caused harm to themselves and others. Samantha pushed the emergency switch back in and the elevator continued on to the third floor. The doors opened and again we walked into more decapitated bodies. Do you hear that Abby asked? It sounds like machine equipment Rus said. Guns out and be on the ready I said. We started down the left hallway searching the rooms as we followed the noise as it got louder. When we turned down the next hallway we could see someone round the corner and all of a sudden a head came rolling around the corner. We rushed cautiously up to the next corner to see zombies rushing down the hallway toward the short man wearing a paintball mask and wielding a chainsaw that looked attached to his hand. He cut thru every zombie that came close enough to him. Once the area was clear Rus shouted out a Bigfoot call oooooo wooooo. To our surprise he turned around raised his mask and shouted out just as loud ooooooo wooooo. Rus and I started closing in to see the short man closer. We both started smirking while lowering our weapons. Don you little shit Rus laughed. What are you doing here I asked. My son got bit while we were cutting up some wood from a falling tree off my parent’s property. I loaded him and the chainsaw up and tried to get him to the hospital but before I knew it he became one of those things so I locked him in the car and headed to the hospital. When I arrived the hospital was being attacked so I started hacking away at the zombies or anyone bitten while anyone not infected ran away. Once I cleared the main floor I shut off the elevators and built this device to keep the chainsaw running and this easy grip for handling my chainsaw. Come with us back to the compound we have a great community started Christi offered. I will defiantly come with you but I can’t leave my son here Don said. Well help us finish gathering supplies here and we will load your car and son up and head for the compound we have built. We took one of the thick steel reinforced doors of one of the rooms in the mental ward. This will work perfectly Rus said. Afterward we scouted the rest of the floors and then loaded Don’s car and son up and locked the trailer. Christi, Samantha, and Abby can you take the truck with the medical and hardware supplies back to the comp
ound and finish helping the others Rus asked. Don you come with us while we gather food and hit up one more store before we return. We said our goodbyes and headed for the refrigerator truck and semi. We will need lots of containers for one of the stops and we need to get everything to complete the outpost until the first snow fall which could start in three months maybe sooner I said. We will fill you in Don on the drive to one of those bulk food stores Rus said.
On day two at the compound everyone awoke early after a restless night of events that only happened a few hours ago. Let’s get to work on the catwalk and see how much we can get done before Mike and Blake return. They started working at six in the morning. Mike and Blake arrived around ten thirty in the morning. They saw a large black smoke cloud just east of the compound. With everyone helping out by the time Mike and Blake returned they completed three quarters down the east wall and had another staircase completed. They pulled in using the new turnaround. Mike asked if there was a fire breaking out. Chris informed them of the previous night’s activities and the losses that endured. We took all the bodies to the neighbor’s yard and burned them Chris said. Blake introduced everyone to the pastor and his wife, made them something to eat, gave them a tour of the compound, and explained what the community was trying to accomplish. After that Mike took the excavator and headed near where the bath/shower rooms were going to be built, while Chris asked the pastor and Irene to help him sand the drywall and everyone else went over to finish building the catwalk. It took another five hours and was now four in the afternoon. The east catwalk and all staircases were now completed, Painting was started in the cabins and Mike dug the hole large enough for the septic tank. Everyone got together for an early dinner and Mike asked where all the progress stood at. Chris said the east catwalk is complete with the north being started and painting was started in the cabins. Mrs. Babcock have you heard anything on the radio? Mike asked. Just some small broadcast but nothing that explains what is going on or any national broadcast warnings Mrs. Babcock said. Mike explained what they left for and found at the casino construction site. I finished digging the hole for the septic tank for the shower/bathrooms I was asked to make. After supper Chris, Pastor Scott, and Irene will finish painting, I will install the septic tank in the ground with Blake and the rest of you will finish the North catwalk. I am going to go call the group out searching on the CB and see when they are returning Mike added. As he went to go call the group he saw a semi parked out front of the compound. Everyone ran out to the catwalks and scaffolds to see the girls asking for the doors to be opened. They opened the doors and the girls pulled the truck over near the unloading docks. They ate the still warm supper and they filled each other in on the previous two days. After explaining the losses and what was collected and who was found so far they came up with a better plan on what needed to get done. Ok we have a new plan Mike announced. I will take Bart, Steve, and Brent to install the septic tank and finish the siding on the garage, Chris, Pastor Scott, Irene, and Blake will still go finish the painting and a second coat, Dr Li, Anne, Samantha, and Christi will unload and finish the hospital, and everyone else head to the catwalk and get it finished before we go to bed tonight. It’s time to push hard everyone Mike said. Chris’s team split into two groups started at each end of the cabins and meeting in the middle applying a second coat to each room. The ladies had the hospital completely set by the time nightfall hit. Christi moved the empty trailer over to the garage which had extra concrete to park the vehicles. Mike and his team got the septic tank install and had to start the plumbing pipes coming up before they could bury the septic tank. They added the pipes coming up from the septic tank and connected them to where the bath/shower room drains were installed. Mike’s team also dug a trench and drilled a hole in the wall to lay a drain system of pvc pipe for the shower water to flow out leaving the septic tank for just toilet waste. The rest of the team worked hard also and completed the staircases in the four corners of the property and the catwalk across the south wall. Everyone headed for the mess hall for a late meal that Mrs. Babcock had prepared. Are you feeling ok Mrs. Babcock? Anne asked. You look pale and fatigued Anne said. I’m fine dear. I have just been on my feet to long Mrs. Babcock said. Tomorrow we will start cover the septic tank and start installing the showers and toilets plus I will need Chris to install those spotlights on the catwalk with one shining in and the other out of the compound. Come in a voice said over the CB radio. Yes we read you Abby returned the call. We are approaching the bulk food store and we have at least a hundred zombies we can see inside the building Bruce said. We need to know what supplies we still may need and how many vehicles can we store in the garage? Rus asked. The garage can hold two semis that are attached to the unloading dock we completed, and inside can hold the refrigerator truck and six vehicles parked end to end Bev said. I need you to park the one semi in the dock park all other vehicles in the neighbor’s driveway Rus asked. Mike got on the CB and gave Rus a list of what was still needed. Mike I need you to do something for me Rus said. I need you to make a pit twelve feet deep and fifteen by fifteen. Build it with cinder block walls that come five blocks above the ground, a concrete floor, and a door with steps leading down to it. The steel door that was on the hospital truck is the door I need you to use and the steel bars on the semi are for the top and build a small hut that surrounds it for weather protection. We also need a recreational room built near the cabins. Please and Thank You Rus said. Bev got back on the CB and asked Rus to be safe and please return. Rus and Bev had started a relationship over the past four months since they had lost their spouses. Christi got on and talked to me. I love you she said and you better return to me. I know I said and I’ll be back before you know it. Abby got on last and talked to Bruce. You need to get back to me I need you more than ever Abby said. Her voice was cracking a little as if she was starting to cry. Don’t cry babe Bruce said. I’ll be back in less than two days Bruce added. You don’t understand Bruce I need you more than ever. I’m pregnant, over and out Abby said.
Chapter 9
Bruce couldn’t speak after the terrific news he just heard. All he could do was smile from ear to ear. Congratulations we all said. Let’s get focused at the job still left to complete or none of us will make it home I said. It looks like the entrance and exit will not be accessible unless we want to notify every zombie in the building Rus said while scanning the area from binoculars. Maybe there is a way in the back of the building we can get in Bruce suggested. We slowly drove around to the back side of the store and saw one of the dock doors opened. Maybe we can enter thru there Don said. Rus backed the truck into the dock and said we need to stay quiet for right now. We entered the trailer from the compartment in the cab of the truck. I gave Don my bow Don while I pulled out my battle axes, Bruce had his AK-47 ready to go, and Rus readied his crossbow. We made our way up to the door and peeked in cautiously. Its all clear Rus whispered. We entered the building one by one and looked around. The backroom was all clear and also stored the larger and more dangerous items that employees have to bring out to the customers. We peeked thru the window to see what the situation was on the main floor. There has to be at least a hundred zombies out there Rus said. Hey look at that guys Don said. Don went over to one of the storage racks and pulled out two brand new Jonsered chainsaws with thirty inch blades. What did you have in mind Rus asked? Well I can rig this like I did mine with the tools from that bike building work bench and we can mount them to the top of that golf cart parked right over there. Don and I will get to work on that Bruce and Bryan watch the door Rus said. Bruce and I watched the door as Don and Rus found some brackets and use screwdrivers to put the design together so not to create any noise. Hurry up you two they are starting to make their way toward the back of the store. After twenty minutes of mounting the chainsaws to the golf cart it was ready. Well since we will be making noise the big guns can come out now Bruce said. Rus got behind the wheel with his glock in his left hand, Don sat next to him in the passenger seat and had Rus’s shotgun ready, Bruce with his AK-47 and I with my dual desert eagles sat in the rear facing seats. Start them up and get ready Rus said. Don pulled both cords on the chainsaws and they started roaring. Rus floored the gas pedal down and we slammed through the double doors leading to the sales floor. We drove up and down each aisle the chainsaws decapitating every zombie that came within the thirty inch long blades that hung off the roof of the golf cart. We made our way down sixteen of the stores twenty aisles killing every zombie in sight by either cutting their heads off with the chainsaws or shooting them as we drove by. As we were about to round the corner the golf cart came to a screeching halt. What the hell is going on Don asked? I think the engine just seized up Rus said. Get moving you two we have company coming I said. We jumped off the golf cart to see all the zombies left in the store coming for us. Rus pulled his machetes out, I reached for my axes, and Don and Bruce disconnected the chainsaws we all turned and rushed the zombies. Don and Bruce took the left and right sides of the aisles while Rus and I went straight up the middle. We hacked and sliced our way through the zombies. Then we scouted the rest of the store to make sure it was secured. Once we knew it was safe we barricaded the front of the store and started loading the refrigerator truck with food. First we grabbed all the meat, poultry, and seafood from the butcher sections freezer since everything on the floor was raided or spoiled, than hit up all the canned and frozen fruits and vegetables we could find. After that we took anything available to drink; water, soda, coffee, tea, and juices. We also grabbed lots of beer and liquor too. Then we loaded all canned and boxed goods that we could fit into the truck. We had the truck packed with enough food to last another three or four months. Also grab all the tobacco products you can fine I said. Some of us have dirty little habits I smirked. Bruce you take the refrigerator truck back to camp and get the meats in the freezers Rus said. We are going to take the semi trailer in the dock Rus added. We will head for a furniture store and get the rest of the supplies needed for the cabin area plus apparel for everyone I said. Drive safe and get to the Outpost and enjoy a day with Abby I said. Bruce smiled, thanked us and jumped in the truck and drove off. It was five thirty in the afternoon on the second day when Bruce left for the compound. So what’s the plan Don asked? We need to get beds, frames, dressers, and clothes we have furnish twenty rooms they are working on at the compound. I also thought we would hit that army base we passed on the way down here to see if they have an armory to add to our weapons. Also stop at that dealership too for smaller vehicles to make quicker trips to close stores to raid for food. Well let’s hurry up if we are going to make it to all these places I said. Rus fired up the truck and we made our way toward the furniture store. We arrived at Crazy Harvey’s Furniture and Games in about twenty minutes once we left the bulk food store. The store was completely deserted so we started loading mattresses into the nose of the trailer. All king and full size mattresses for either couples in one room or roommates with two full size beds in other rooms, then we loaded frames, headboards, and footboards. We did find a couple bunk beds we figured we could store if no one wanted to use them. Hey grab one of those cribs it will be a nice surprise for Bruce and Abby, Don said. We loaded the middle section of the trailer with twenty oversized dressers for each room. It was easy to fit everything since it was all disassembled and in boxes, so we were able to load more than normal. I also think we should grab one of those large tables and chairs sets for the command center. I think that was everything on the list Rus said while he double checked it over. Well let’s head over to that game room area and get some supplies so we can build that rec room we talked about for everyone to go and relax. Grab one of the billiard tables, a ping pong table, two of those card tables, and let’s grab that bar over there Rus said. Oh we defiantly need two of those. I pointed to the corner where Rus and Don turned to look. They both grinned and said oh yeah hot tubs! This will be great for the rec room and there is still plenty of room on the trailer Don said. We will still have eight feet left to load when we get to the army base. Well let’s head toward the army base it’s an hour drive and then we will head to the dealership before heading home Rus said.
There seemed to be tension growing with some of the survivors. There had been a lot of arguing during the night hours, but no one ever said anything because they were trying to complete the outpost. Everyone got to work early again in the compound. Mike, Pastor Scott, Bart, and Brent started working on the covering the septic tank and building walls for the bath/shower rooms. Each bathroom was going to consist of five showers, five toilets, and four sinks. There’s going to be a men’s and women’s rooms like at the campgrounds. Chris and Blake began running electrical boxes to the catwalk for the spotlights and switches to control both the inside and outside facing lights. Everyone else worked on moving the vehicles and organizing all the supplies in the camp. They had been at it for seven hours before they stopped for lunch around one in the afternoon. Mike’s crew had the walls up and was ready to install the plywood for the roof. Chris and Blake had fed the pvc pipes under the catwalk and ran the wires up to the light switches and spotlights by drilling small holes in the catwalk where the lights were going to be located. Bev started moving the trailer into the dock and moved the rest of the trucks over to the neighbors since there was lots of parking over there and with the daylight it was easier to see zombies coming. Mike knew about the rec room he had Abby, Christi, Bev, Chad, and Kathy start building walls around the foundation he had set the night before after talking to Rus. By the time lunch hit they had three walls up and the fourth with the door framed in was ready to go up. Everyone headed in for lunch. When they arrived at the mess hall lunch was not prepared. Odd Mike said. Mrs. Babcock always has lunch ready around one Mike added. I don’t see anything cooking either Bev pointed out. We’ll go check upstairs and see if she’s in the command center Anne said as she and Jessica headed upstairs. When they got to the command center they found Mrs. Babcock sitting in the chair listening for a news broadcast. Mrs. Babcock? Anne said. Anne tapped Mrs. Babcock on the shoulder and she collapsed out of the chair. Jessica screamed down the stairs. Dr. Chen, Dr. Li come quick! Anne checked her pulse. She’s not breathing Anne said. Jessica and Anne started CPR when the doctors arrived. They continued for thirty more minutes with no success. What happened? Everyone asked. Dr. Li came out and said looks like she had a heart attack but we will perform an autopsy to find out for sure. Janelle can you go get the gurney please? Dr. Li asked. They moved Mrs. Babcock’s body to the hospital and the doctors went to work on an autopsy. Bev and Abby went in to make lunch. We still need to eat Janelle said. It’s the circle of life we get old and leave this world Mike said. Christi said I am going to listen on the radio for now in case a broadcast gets through. While Christi was in the command center listening to the radio Bev came in put a plate in front of her and also laid several file folders down on the table in front of Christi. What are these? Christi asked. I found these when we rescued everyone and I think you need to read them Bev said. Ok I’ll look them over while I listen to the radio and for the CB in case the guys try to contact us. After everyone ate what they could stomach. Once they cleaned up the mess hall and kitchen they all headed back to work. Once Chris and Blake went back to work it was fast paced since it was the same wiring job at each station. After about one hour both Dr. Wong’s informed everyone that Mrs. Babcock did have a heart attack. They believed it was a complication from her hip surgery. Chris and Blake finished up and headed to help Mike and his crew. When they got over there Mike put Chris in charge since he was going to start Rus’s project. Mike had helped get all get all the plumbing pipes aligned and now they were on to installing the prebuilt showers which just had to be lined up and tightened down. While working on the showers Steve and Chad got into a heated argument. They had to be separated and put on different projects. What’s going on? Mike asked. Steve informed Mike that he caught Janet and Chad in bed together the other day and it has caused a lot of tension between the four of them. Especially Chad’s wife Kathy, who couldn’t even be near Janet or Chad without throw punches. Well we will sit down later and sort that out but for now we need to get finished Mike said. Christi ran out to find Bev. Did you look at these files? Christi asked. I glanced at them and saw it mentioned something about white eyes so I grabbed them of the ER doctor’s desk. I am going to talk to Abby about these and when the guys get back we will discuss this with them. By night time the shower were installed but didn’t have running water yet, Mike had the hole dug Rus wanted but that was all he had time to finish, and the rec room had four completed walls and a roof on and shingled, it just needed installation, drywall and electrical ran. Mike asked Kathy, Chad, Steve, and Janet to meet him in the mess hall at ten thirty. Mike went to the mess hall around ten for some coffee. Around ten twenty two gunshots echoed throughout the outpost. Everyone went to look for the source of the shots. As they ran toward the tents another shot went off followed by a fourth shot. When everyone got to the tents they saw the four bodies. Chad and Janet’s bodies were in the bed on top of each other in one of the large tents. Chad had two gunshot wounds thru his back. The bullets went all the way thru him and into Janet’s chest killing them in the middle of having their newly started affair. Steve who they found still breathing had a gunshot wound to the stomach. Dr. Chen ran over and applied pressure to the wound. Anne came over and put pressure on the wound so Dr. Chen could get supplies. Dr. Chen walked by Mike and said Steve won’t make it that much longer. You see that dark blood coming out of the wound Dr. Chen asked. Mike nodded. His liver has been hit and we don’t have the proper equipment to save him here Dr. Chen said. I will give him morphine that will help dull the pain until he passes. Kathy laid at the end of the bed with a gunshot wound to the temple. Steve was telling the story and how Kathy just couldn’t handle it. Before Dr. Chen returned, Steve started to turn blue and passed his last breathe out. Anne closed his eye lids. We have lost so many in the past few days Anne said. Christi put her arm around Anne and said we all need to stick together. We are a family now we need to stick together more than ever now. If anyone needs to speak I will have a private moment with you Pastor Scott offered. Everyone else go to sleep and tomorrow we will all sit down and establish rules for the community and what’s expected of everyone Christi announced.