Tainted Future (The Rememdium Series Book 3) (21 page)

“I seem to remember during training that the safe-zone area is fifty miles, not one hundred,” Dirk interjected.

“That’s a minimum safe distance. Other factors come into play, such as the wind pattern and weather. Winds tend to travel west to east, which throws us right into the path. Remember what happened in Japan at Fukushima? Radiation—right this very minute—is still spreading across the Pacific. When a plant is damaged and can’t cool the towers, meltdown occurs. Not if, but when.”

“Maybe the radiation will cure the zombies?” Kevin muttered.

“Warton!” Dirk yelled.

“Sorry, but some levity was needed. This is some heavy shit we’re talking about! Walking corpses in one hand, radiation poisoning in the other. Some world we live in now. Fuck!”

Everett turned and addressed Kevin directly. “I know, and believe me, I don’t like being the person each of you cringe at every time I open my mouth. My news is never good. So, here’s the final outcome of my calculations, which isn’t good news, either. Finding a cure will take time. Not only are more specimens needed to do so, but I haven’t figured out the type of fungi we’re dealing with. Even if I’m successful at figuring that out, and concoct some sort of anti-zombie formula, it will benefit only those of us not contaminated. The dead have no hope. Then there’s figuring out a way to create enough for other survivors, how to get it to them, and so forth. Those things can—
need—
to be done in a safe zone. This location doesn’t qualify. Let’s all hope we aren’t the only ones working on a cure. Surely there are some people left in the world doing the exact same thing!”

The men all spoke at once, so Dirk held up a hand to silence them. “Look, stop bitching and realize how lucky we are! Dee’s a pilot, so he can fly the Gulfstream sitting in the hangar not far from Dr. Thomas’ place. We leave, drive to the hangar, and fly the friendly skies to someplace without a nuclear power plant. The only thing we need to do now is figure out where to go.”

“Okay, sure! Let me just go grab my map of the world listing all the locations of nuclear reactors! Then, we’ll play pin the tail on the country,” Kevin snapped.

“There’s one in the library at Dr. Thomas’ estate. I remember passing by it numerous times when I couldn’t sleep and went to the library to read.”

“Then it’s settled. We pack up and leave tomorrow at 0800.”

“What about the group of survivors we ran into? Do we warn them? Take them with us?” Everett asked. The thought of leaving the first people they’d come into contact with made his stomach sour.

“No. Too many of them. The Gulfstream only seats twelve. I know it’s a death sentence for them, but it can’t be helped. They’d be forced to pick who stays, and who goes. They’ll be better off all dying together,” Dirk answered. “Warton, Denton, Rice and Winters—you all secure up the place and remove the crispy pilots out front. Make sure to burn them. Dr. Berning and I will handle the lab. Any questions?”

“Yeah, just one,” Kevin said. “Why couldn’t you have told us this earlier, Berning? You know, like before we left the estate and hid inside this fucking place like frightened bats? We could have simply hopped on the plane back then and headed somewhere safe.”

“I didn’t realize the finality of what happened at the time, Mr. Warton. Forgive me for not handling this nightmare with finesse. Seeing the dead walking around kind of messed things up inside my head.”

“Warton—shut up. Enough already. Stop pointing the finger of blame at Dr. Berning. I had a much bigger hand in this than he did, so if you’ve got a problem with him, you do with me, too.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Dirk?” Kevin asked.

“I'm the one who decided to go to Laredo alone, remember? I forced Dr. Berning to leave Laredo the night I rescued him
without
the formula and his notes. Heat of battle decision. It was either let him get shot by wasting precious seconds to snatch the bag, or save his life. I chose the latter, so here we are. Neither of us even remotely entertained the idea this disaster would be the end results, so lay the fuck off him and get to packing. Now.”

Kevin, Drake, and Clive left without saying another word. Everett couldn’t close his gaping mouth, stunned into silence at Dirk’s words. He appreciated the man sticking up for him.

Denaryl walked over and asked, “It’s going to happen everywhere there’s a reactor, right? All over the world?”

Everett nodded.

“Jesus, the whole world is fubared. In more ways than one,” Denaryl whispered. “Hurry up and figure out where I need to fly to, because I’m ready to get into the clouds.”

Denaryl walked out of the room, leaving a bewildered Everett staring at his rigid back. “What does fubared mean?”

“Fucked up beyond all recognition,” Dirk answered.

“Quite the appropriate acronym.”

“Yeah, quite. Come on, Doc. Let’s get moving so we won’t be in the same boat.”

CHRISTMAS IN A CAVE - Thursday, December 25
^th
– 2:15 p.m. – Central Standard Time

“Lamar, aren’t you gonna eat? You haven’t touched your food.”

Lamar Wilson looked up from his plate, Martha’s words bringing him back to the present conversation. “Sorry, not too hungry at the moment. I’ll eat later. Promise.”

Martha shook her head. “No, you’ll eat now, and let out whatever’s crawlin’ around inside your head. Remember, we’re supposed to share our thoughts, and it’s obvious you’ve got some rollin’ around. Talk. We’re listenin’.”

Lamar wasn’t the kind of man given to bouts of emotion. After his wife died of cancer twelve years prior, he’d shut himself off, pouring all his efforts into being a prepper. Filled the lonely hours after work with research, and the companionship with the others in the prepper group, to satisfy his needs.

How was he supposed to tell them what he’d heard in the woods yesterday? The three women and a young, injured boy, were already teetering on the edge of hysteria. Jane spent the entire night pacing back and forth, only stopping to stare at the entrance. Martha busied herself by doting on Turner, while Jesse gabbed non-stop. All of them were worried about their loved ones, so how could Lamar dump the news?

The worry about a nuclear disaster had been a nagging thought in the back of Lamar’s mind since yesterday. When everything went down in Malvern and they escaped to the mountains, Lamar was so mentally and physically exhausted, he’d forgotten all about the dangers lurking in Russellville. He’d been too busy grappling with the knowledge the dead were walking and interested in eating the flesh of others.

Now, he was beyond terrified.

“Lamar? You’re as pale as a ghost. What’s goin’ on?” Jane asked.

“Nothin’. Just thinkin’ about how this is the weirdest Christmas ever. Eatin’ soup and canned peaches inside a cave. Glad I’m not alone. Grateful to be surrounded by a fine group of people. Things like that.”

Turner shifted positions, grunting with the effort. “I call bullshit. Pardon me for sayin’ so, but you don’t just look like a ghost. You look like you’ve seen one. Come on, Lamar. We’re family. All each other’s got, so share. There ain’t none of us gonna judge you for whatever’s on your mind.”

Lamar stood, unwilling to look at the four, worried faces staring at him for answers. He couldn’t lie unless he turned away. “Just thinkin’ about Bertha, that’s all. I miss her, yet I hate myself for thinkin’ I’m glad she died before all this happened. Bertha was like you, Jesse.”

“You mean claustrophobic?”

“Yes. She wouldn’t have lasted but maybe five minutes in here. So, I feel like an ass for bein’ glad she’s gone.”

Lamar choked up, biting his lip to keep from crying. He heard someone stand and walk toward him. A warm hand touched his shoulder.

“Don’t beat yourself up for thinkin’ that way, Lamar,” Martha whispered. “It doesn’t mean you don’t miss your wife. It means you loved her dearly and realize she couldn’t have handled this situation. Come on now, eat. We all need to stay strong and healthy if we’re gonna get through this together.”

Lamar’s heart broke and the words tumbled out. “We ain’t gonna get through this, Ms. Martha.”

“Of course we will, Lamar!”

Pulling away from Martha, Lamar turned and faced the group. “Not here we won’t.”

“What? Why? We’re safe as kittens inside this big cave, Lamar!” Turner replied.

Lamar shook his head, tears streaming down his face. “God, I swear, I don’t know how to say this, but we aren’t.”

Jesse stood and strode across the floor. She grabbed Lamar’s shoulders and forced him to look at her. “Lamar? If you know somethin’ we need to know, just spit it out. We’ve made it this far after losin’ everythin’, and most everyone, we know. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. Say what’s on your mind.”

Taking in a huge breath, Lamar forced the tears away. “Arkansas Nuclear One.”

Jane and Martha both gasped, but Jesse and Turner looked confused.

“Oh, dear Jesus. I forgot all about that place!” Martha whispered.

“So did I, for a few days. Yesterday, on my way back from seein’ the boys off, I was slapped back into reality.”

“How?” Turner asked.

“I heard a noise and followed it. Snuck up on two of those men we ran into the other day. You know, the one’s in the underground lab?”

“Where? And what were they doin’?” Jane asked.

“They were down by the graves, burnin’ bodies. They were grousin’ about leavin’. One of them was on a tear, complainin’ about their doc, and how he should have thought about the meltdown and radiation exposure before they decided to come this way.”

“Radiation? Meltdown? I don’t understand,” Jesse said.

“Arkansas Nuclear One is a reactor, and without power to keep it cool, it will go into meltdown. Radiation will be released and head right this way.”

Martha and Jane looked like they were close to passing out. Jesse backed away from Lamar and headed to Turner’s side.

“What else did you hear, Lamar?” Jane asked.

“They’re plannin’ on leavin’ tomorrow mornin’ and flyin’ somewhere safe. Didn’t hear where, just that they’re goin’. Apparently, their doc realized the dangers, too, and they ain’t stayin’.”

“Leavin’? Tomorrow? What about the cure he’s supposed to be workin’ on?” Jesse asked.

“I don’t know. Guess they’re givin’ up on that, at least, for now.”

“Great! Zombies and now radiation poisonin’? This is insane!” Jesse yelled.

“Lamar, in your research, did you study up on—?”

Nodding, Lamar interrupted Martha’s question. “Yes. Radiation was another one of my fears.”

“How long before meltdown?”

“I ain’t no expert, Ms. Martha, but from what I remember readin’, a few weeks. Month, tops.”

“Okay, let’s not panic here,” Turner said. “We’re in a cave, which will protect us, right?”

“For a while, yes. But, eventually, we’ll have to venture out to find more food, and then we’ll get contaminated. Or, whatever’s left to scavenge, will be.”

Lamar looked over at Jesse, who appeared to be on the verge of a crying jag. Instead of sobbing, she squared her shoulders, bent down and kissed Turner’s forehead, and then turned her gaze toward Lamar. The steely look on her face wiped all traces of the young woman’s features away. Though her hair color was different, the resemblance to Regina was downright eerie.

“We’ve been through too much to give up now. If those men are leavin’, and have access to a plane, then they’ll just take us with them.”

“That’s crazy, Jesse!” Jane interjected. “We don’t know them, or where they’re goin’, and the guys aren’t back yet! We can’t leave without them!”

Jesse pointed to the rifle at the end of Turner’s cot. “We aren’t goin’ to, Jane. We won’t give those men a choice. Our loved ones are out there, riskin’ their lives for us. It’s time we do the same. I’ve got a plan.”

“And that is?” Lamar asked, shocked by Jesse’s determination.

“We’ve got a man in need of medical assistance, and they’ve got a doctor. You know where their lab is, Lamar. Take me there, and I’ll convince them we need help right away, or my fiancé won’t make it. Then, will take the doc hostage. Use him as leverage to not only wait until Uncle Reed and the rest of them return, but take us all on that flight.”

“There’s no way that’ll work, Jesse!” Lamar said. “They aren’t stupid. Those soldiers are former Special Forces. I saw their tats. They won’t let the doc go alone, if they let him go at all. That means we’ll have at least one, if not more, highly trained killers inside here. We can’t take down that many.”

Jesse smiled. “They’ll let him come, I guarantee it. And you’re right, he won’t come alone.”

“Then why in the world are you smilin’, Jesse?” Lamar asked.

Jesse walked over and picked up the rifle. “Because they have no idea how many of us are here, and where they’re hidin.’ Right, Jane? Martha? Besides, they’ll be busy carryin’ me, after I completely freak out, overcome with worry about my fiancé.”

Lamar chuckled. “You know, that just might work!”

“We don’t have the luxury of ‘just might’, Lamar. It’ll be guaranteed if the terrified fiancé and the distraught mother arrive, beggin’ for help.”