Outbreak: Long Road Back (22 page)

Lacey grinned at his children as he put them down. “I’m just glad you’re both okay, guys.” he knelt and kissed the tops of their heads. The man saw Rodriguez limp over to the stairs leading up to the front door and sit down heavily. He frowned slightly. “I’ll bet Frannie needs your squeezes.” Lacey whispered conspiratorially.

Rodriguez agreed to watch the kids while the others busied themselves with taking care of the casualties and securing the perimeter. It had been about an hour or more since she had last heard a gunshot so it stood to reason that things were wrapped up. Somehow she could not help but feel a little nervous. If the mercs had won they would be coming for them soon. Even if they did not there was no guarantee that they got all the zombies. The larger question was how did the zombies get inside the perimeter in the first place?

Frays came over to the three of them a few moments later and sat down on the steps. She smiled at the kids and tousled Paulie’s hair. “The last couple mercs surrendered a couple minutes ago, Rodriguez.” Frays declared with a small nervous smile. “That’s over with. We’re…we’re gonna be busy over the next couple of days.”

Chapter Seven

23 July 2011 0943 hours NorthCom Forward Operating Base Freedom Sanford, Maine

Sergeant Amy Frays stood over the small patch of overturned earth staring down at the grave. She looked over both shoulders to see if anyone else was around. There were rows and rows of newer graves all dug to inter the remains of those killed in the fighting or the fire a couple weeks ago. Most of them had markers at the head with the person’s name and, if it was known, their age. The tiny grave Frays was standing near did not have a marker. “Hey kiddo.” she mumbled as an unforeseen wave of emotion crashed down upon her. “I…I’m sorry I didn’t come visit sooner…I just…didn’t…

Her chest heaved and she knelt next to the grave. Frays ran her fingers through the loose soil on top of the makeshift coffin. “I…I…” Her mouth opened and closed a few times. “I miss you so much, little guy.” A few tears leaked out of her eyes and she blinked them away. “I hope you’re happy and safe… God, I wish I could have gotten to hold you just once.”

She sighed heavily and sat down Indian style next to the grave then took off her helmet. It was one of the new skateboard helmet looking things with rails for lights and stuff that she had seen the Special Forces types wearing over in Iraq and a new plate carrier that fit reasonably well. The carrier and the boron carbide plates inside it were obviously designed for a man (relieving herself while wearing it was a chore) and a little uncomfortable at first but over the last few days she had gotten used to the weight.

They had found a sizable cache of supplies when they cleaned out the trailers that the mercenaries had been living in. Amongst the piles of smutty magazines, booze, drugs and trinkets stolen from the civilian population they had found tons of weapons, new Digicam uniforms and lots and lots of ammunition. It seemed like whoever was smuggling the drugs in for the mercs had sent in a load of dirty needles…which explained the small number of Bravo Charlies inside the Blue Diamond Group’s area.

The most important thing as far as she was concerned was that she got to return Carl’s battered M1911A1 to him. He had cried like a baby when she handed it over to him… 

“We finally got things under control here. Major Tennyson says us National Guard and Reservists can get demobilized soon and there’s actually going to be elections this Fall. What do you think of Mommy running for sheriff?” Frays asked the grave. The woman felt more tears and she wiped her face with the sleeve of her uniform. “This is gonna be a good safe place, sweetie. We can build a new life here. There’s plenty to eat and the walls are…” She took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of her nose between her middle finger and thumb.

“God…what was I thinking? I was five months pregnant for God’s sake!” A low strangled sound came out of the woman’s throat, the mewling of a wounded animal. Frays sat there taking deep breaths as she wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “There were plenty of people around. I didn’t have to…” She felt her nose starting to run so she blew it on a handkerchief and sat there staring at the grave. “I’m so sorry, little guy. I love you so much and I…” Frays sat there finally losing herself in giant racking sobs. It took her what felt like ages to get some semblance of control back.

Frays smiled wanly at the grave as she plucked a blade of grass and absently toyed with it. “We’re going out this afternoon.” she said quietly. With a nervous little laugh she flicked the blade of grass away. “I’m taking part of the squad to try an experiment and I won’t be back for about a day or so. Don’t worry though. Adam’s going to be with me.” She chuckled and smiled just a little bit “You should see him, kiddo. He’s so excited.”

She noticed the form of Sergeant Hanes standing a respectful distance away. “Well…looks like I gotta get back to work, buddy.” Frays murmured as she gave the overturned earth a gentle pat. She stood and shouldered her rucksack. “Don’t worry. Mommy’s gonna be back as quick as she can, alright?”

Frays gave the Marine a discomforted little smile as she approached. He frowned and put an arm around her shoulders for the briefest of moments, an attempt at a sort of half hug. “We’re about ready, Frays.” Hanes said as the two of them walked towards the TOC. He glanced at the woman out of the corner of his eye. She looked sad and a little shaken up but ready for whatever was going to happen. He had to respect her for that. “The trucks are gassed up and Lacey’s got the kids loading up those contraptions.”

The ‘contraptions’ as Sergeant Hanes put it was home stereos wired to run off of motorcycle batteries and connected to a half pound of Composition B wired to a timer. The stereo could, in theory, run for a couple days or more to lure in the infected then the plastic explosive would detonate taking them out. There were also about a half dozen other charges that would be daisy chained to the main charge to inflict more damage. The noise would also send any late arrivals wandering off far away from any known settlements.

There was a little bit of time left before the briefing was supposed to start. Frays was surprised to see Rodriguez standing outside the TOC with Paulie and Becca. The kids hugged Frays’ legs when she got a little closer. “Hey Frays.” the woman called with a wry grin “Somebody wanted to say goodbye to you and their dad before you guys left.”

“Awww!” Frays grinned and knelt to hug the children. “I’m gonna miss you guys so much!” She kissed both of them on the cheek and hugged them again. “You two be good for Aunt Frannie and Uncle Carl, alright?”

Paulie scowled at Frays. “I don’t want you to take Daddy away again.” the little boy said hotly with his little hands balled up into fists on his hips. “I don’t want Daddy to go.” Paulie’s little chest heaved as if he were about to start crying.

Frays frowned and kissed the little boy’s forehead. “I’m sorry, buddy…” she said quietly. The woman sighed and knelt so she could look into Paulie’s eyes. “I don’t want to take your Daddy away but he’s a really important guy and I need him with me, understand? Look, kiddo…I promise I’m gonna bring your daddy back safe and sound, alright?”

The little boy’s expression softened a little. Amy
had
always brought Daddy home safe before and she had not
promised
before. He made a strange face then held up his fist and extended his pinkie finger. “Pinkie swear, Amy.” Paulie said, his little features doing an excellent impression of an adult being serious.

Frays grinned and hooked her pinkie around the boy’s digit then did the same with Becca. “Pinkie swear, kiddos.” she said and tousled the children’s hair as she stood up. “But you guys gotta make sure that Carl stays out of trouble for me, alright? We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon at the latest.”

Frays could not help but feel more than a little horrible as she left the children and entered the TOC. There was a palpable electric tension in the air of the lobby. Stark, Hubbard and the other trainees stood around in little groups chatting excitedly amongst themselves. She waited for a moment then cleared her throat. “At ease!” Buckley shouted, making the ten people fall silent and lock their hands behind their backs.

“Alright folks!” Frays announced as she hiked a thumb at the door behind her. “Grab your stuff and get out to the trucks. Convoy brief in five.” She smiled a little bit as she herded the privates outside and watched them gather around a battered late model Ford F250 King Cab with all the bells and whistles: CD player, USB ports, satellite radio, leather interior, air conditioning, customized off road suspension... An incorrigible tomboy, there had been a heated Rock Paper Scissors contest between herself and Sergeant Hanes regarding who was going to get to drive that bad boy. She had won in the end even though it had come down to a tie breaker.

Frays listened to Sergeant Hanes’s briefing as a strange sensation started wheedling her insides. It had been some time since she had felt it so it took her a moment to realize what it was: she was craving a cigarette. When she was overseas Sergeant Emery would let them smoke while he briefed the convoy… She ignored the urge as she watched the map spread out on the other truck, a piebald Toyota Tacoma.

The plan was basically this: Frays would take Lacey and half the squad to a traffic circle where Routes 4, 109 and 4A joined together. Frays would help Lacey emplace the device and daisy chain other prefabricated charges placed under stalled cars or piles of debris to help make sure the infected did not just get mangled by the explosion.

Sergeant Hanes would take the other half into the housing track close to the FOB in search of medical supplies to supplement their dwindling supplies of antibiotics, pain medications and bandages. Frays and her group would leave first in twenty minutes then the others would head out and start their search. Perhaps the most nerve wracking part for Hanes was the fact that Frays and her group would be out of radio communication until they set up their bombs and started back to the FOB.

Frays grumbled to herself as she turned to Lacey and her team. She would be taking Grimes, Robles, Pittman and Rowe out with her. “Alright, fall in.” she ordered and started her hands on check of her team’s gear. She nodded after checking Lacey’s ammo carriers, camelbak and his other kit. Frays gave him a light punch in his chest. Grimes looked like she was on the verge of peeing in her pants. Frays checked the woman’s carbine and smiled. “Relax, Grimes.” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s gonna be fine.”

Frays bowed her head and pulled out the Saint Joan’s medal from under her shirt. The woman muttered a quick prayer, kissed the little silver disk and cranked the F250’s ignition. The big truck’s motor rumbled to life drawing a big grin to Frays’ face as she pressed down on the gas pedal a couple times. The Ford pulled away from the TOC and rolled towards the north gate with the four privates seated nervously next to the bomb and ammo cans full of plastic explosives and detonators as well as more conventional supplies: a case of MREs, two five gallon containers of fresh water and a couple hundred rounds of ammunition for their weapons. There was space left over so they could stash any extra supplies they stumbled across while on their mission.

Lacey rode in the passenger seat. He could not help but smile whenever he saw the little grin on Frays’ face as she steered the massive truck around stalled vehicles or onto the shoulder of the little two lane highway. It made him unbelievably happy to see her enjoying herself again. After burying all those people that died in the fire Frays acted like she was carved out of wood for days and days. “See if there’s a CD or something in the glove box, man.” Frays said as she reached back to crack the little sliding window in the truck’s rear windscreen.

The man rolled his eyes. The storage compartment had a small selection of Country and Western and some unidentified homemade CDs. “What do you want to hear?” he asked with a small scowl as he ran a finger over the plastic cases. “Waylon Jennings? George Strait?”

Frays frowned slightly as she considered the options. “Got any Garth Brooks?” she asked as she held her arm up in the air to let Lacey rifle through the rest. “I’d love to hear me some Garth. If not some George Jones would really hit the spot.”

Lacey chuckled, opened a case and put a disk in the truck’s CD player. Moments later they were bombing down the road and all of them singing along with a Charlie Daniels Band greatest hits CD. Frays was surprised to learn that of all people Rowe had a really good singing voice. Lacey, however, had a voice like a wounded goat…not that hers was any better.

Grimes gripped the wooden stock of her SKS with sweaty palms. While everyone else was acting like they were on some kind of fucking road trip she could not take her eyes off the stumbling forms following the truck just inside the copses of trees on either side of the road. There was at least five to ten of them that she could see and probably more just out of sight in the brush. What the fuck was wrong with these people? “Jesus would you assholes shut the fuck up? Look at what the fuck you’re doing!” the woman hissed under her breath.