Deadrise (11 page)

"I'm sorry." Matt said.

"Yeah so am I. But that's the past." His voice had suddenly hardened. "And there ain't nothing you can do about the past. Only learn from it. And I learned. Now I look out for myself. My brother’s wife and kids."

"Then why are you helping me out?" Matt asked.

"Call it my time of the month."

Matt chuckled lightly. But there was still a nagging suspicion in the back of his mind that there was a reason for Ron’s interest. With the world falling apart around them, why would he choose to help a group of complete strangers? He wanted something from Matt. But what?

They reached the edge of the human congestion, emerging into open space. Ahead of them, fifty feet down the sloping grass the main army encampment began. In the distant horizon, a lone helicopter was approached from the west.

"Is this all of the military that is here?"

"Hell no." Ron snorted. "Fort Douglas is nearly at full compliment with more up at the hospital, as well as the south perimeter." As they neared the army encampment, two sentries appeared.

"Will... Tim..." Ron acknowledged both of them as they approached.

"Ron..." said the first sentry. Both sentries turned away, no longer interested in them.

They walked between two large black field tents into the main grounds of the army center. Soldiers moved about their various tasks, in small groups or by themselves. None paid them any attention. Ron led him across the yard over to where a row of Humvees was parked, beyond them personnel trucks. Even further beyond, he could see and Abram's tank parked at the base of one of the western perimeter hills. The main road leading in was about two hundred yards to their right. Ron walked right up to the motor pool tent and straight up to the Sergeant in charge.

"Ron..." the Sgt. smiled, shaking hands.

"Sgt. Downing. This is Matt." The Sgt. nodded in greeting, but did not offer his hand. "Matt and his family are new here. Came in on a school bus a couple of hours ago."

"Don't get to many buses up here." the Sgt. replied. Matt could already smell the hook being baited. Ron wanted to use the bus for a supply run. That was why he was being so helpful towards them.

"I don't plan on staying long." Matt said. "Once Zack is healed, we're out of here." He waited for them to say more but neither did.

Ron reached into his vest and withdrew a carton of cigarettes. Marlboro Reds, hard pack. He handed them over to Sgt. Downing.

"How about a ride along with one of the Humvees?" The Sgt. didn't even bother to haggle. He merely set the carton in a box under his folding metal desk.

"Number Five." He pointed without even looking up. There were a few men gathering around the Humvee. Ron led the way. The Sgt. grabbed his radio. "Number Five, this is base. Do you copy?"

"Roger base."

"You've got two to join. Re-assign. Is that clear?"

"Roger Base. Two too join. Re-assign. Over."

"What are we doing?" Matt asked.

"We're going to take a ride with some soldiers."

"But where?"

"Out on patrol."

"But where?" Matt stopped walking. "I want to know where the hell you're taking me?"

"I told you, out on patrol. This Battalion here is responsible for the western perimeter. That’s a lot of ground to cover."

"I'm not going back down into the city."

"We're not going into the city." Ron said. "I told you the western perimeter of the base. It's completely safe."

"How long will we be gone?".

"Patrol lasts three hours. We just roam up and down the perimeter, looking for any zombies that have wandered up. If we see any, we stop and shoot them." Reluctantly, Matt began walking alongside Ron again. As Ron and Matt stepped up to the vehicle, two soldiers were slinging their rifles, and heading back toward the barracks tents. And by the looks on their faces, they didn't mind at all. Another soldier stepped up to them.

"Jenkins." Ron nodded.

"Coming along on this one, eh Ron?"

Matt was surprised at how many people knew Ron. But then again, he had been a hospital security guard, and was here since the beginning.

"Bringing a friend along as well."

The soldier stared at Matt long and hard, Matt stared back. He had a thick body, square jaw, thick black hair, a salt and pepper mustache, and grey, suspicious eyes. Matt identified his three stripes as Sergeant.

"You know how to use that thing?" he asked indicating Matt’s AR-15. Matt nodded.

"Well climb in." the soldier motioned to the open door at the side of the Humvee. All three piled in. Aside from Matt, Ron, and Jenkins, there was the driver, another soldier riding shotgun manning the communications equipment, another sitting in the back next to Jenkins, and a final soldier in the top gunners position, where he manned the heavy machinegun. The engine was already running, and the Humvee began rolling. The Comtech switched frequencies on the radio, and the steady drone of cross communication between various field units could be heard.

"Patrol Five, reporting in." The radio crackled.

"Roger Patrol Five. You are instructed to begin your patrol northbound on the perimeter road. Do you copy Patrol five?"

"Copy base. We are northbound on perimeter road. Patrol five out." The Humvee moved off the grass to the main road, exiting where the bus had entered, and turned north. Another Humvee was ahead of them on the road, passing them going the other direction.

"Okay listen up!" the Comtech raised his voice to be heard. "Intel says the deadfuck activity to the northwest has been a bit heavier than usual. Aerial recon also reports the deadfucks seem to be massing together about a mile west of the perimeter." Matt didn't like the sound of that one bit. "If they don't disperse within the next several hours, HQ is going to send out several hunter killer squads."

"Hopefully that will be us." said the soldier next to Jenkins. The nametag on his uniform read Johnson.

"Hopefully not." Matt said without hesitation. The soldier's eyes were icicles.

"What’s the matter civilian? Afraid of a few deadfucks?" Jenkins was sneering at him.

"Lay off Jenkins." Ron said. "Matt's had a rough night."

"Am I supposed to feel sorry for him?" Jenkins turned to Matt, a toothy grin on his face. "Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?"

Matt fought the urge to smash him right in the teeth. He took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. It had been a long, rough night. He could feel fatigue settling in the back of his brain. Soon it would be in his bones. He cursed himself the fool for letting Ron talk him into this patrol. After it was over, he was getting some sleep.

"No." he finally said in response to Jenkins question.

Jenkins held his stare a little longer, before settling back with a smile. "Light 'em if ya got 'em." he said, pulling a pack of cigarettes from a pocket.

They drove perhaps another mile before Ron turned to him, a half-cocked smile on his face.

"You know that bus could keep you and your friends living quite comfortable."

"Forget it." Matt said. "I already told you we are out of here as soon as Zack is better."

"I know. But that could take a little while."

"How do you know? You don't even know what his injuries were."

"They must be pretty serious if you brought him here. You said earlier he was shot. If it was a simple flesh wound, you could have taken care of it yourself. My guess is he's shot up pretty bad." He gave Matt a smug grin, waiting for him to respond.

"There's a bullet in his side. And it nicked his lung."

"Like I said, it could take a while before he was better."

"I still don't want to go down into the city."

"Well then where the hell are you going to go?" Jenkins asked, his eyes hard. You don't want to go into the city. You don't want to stay here. Where the hell you going to go?" his voice was mocking and arrogant.

"A friend of mine has a place up in the mountains. We were headed there until Zack was shot."

"If you’re going up into the mountains you're going to need things." Ron piped in. "Things you can only get down there in the city."

Matt knew he was right. They planned on staying at the cabin until things were back to normal. Matt knew that wouldn't be for a long time. There might be enough to get them by for a while, but not for the duration Matt had in mind. And food was the least of their worries. They could hunt and fish to eat. He was thinking more along the lines of blankets, bandages, medicine, and clothes. Especially winter clothing. If they were going to hunt and fish they would need as much extra tackle and bullets as they could carry.

"I know you know what I'm talking about." Ron said triumphantly. He had him. And he knew it.

"You're right." Matt said reluctantly. "But how can I get what I'll need for myself if I'm too busy supplying the hospital?"

"When you go out, it's with specific items in mind. They know what they need. Besides, it's standard practice to reserve one quarter of your cargo space for your own take."

"Standard practice huh?" Matt repeated sourly.

"Hell yes. We all gotta get paid." Ron said with a chuckle.

"If I go, it has to wait until tomorrow morning." Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Matt cut him off. "I need some sleep, and I'm not going anywhere until I find out about Zack. The doctor said I could find out tomorrow morning. I'm meeting Susan at the parking lot entrance at first light."

"But after that you’re in?"

"A couple of more things. I want my companions and our gear put someplace safe. And I don't mean in that refugee camp. You told me a while ago that there were soldiers at Fort Douglas. Take us there. And I want proper medical treatment given to Zack. I know you have doctors and a hospital on the base. Those are my conditions." He waited for either of them to argue so he could tell them both to shove it straight up their Asses! But they only nodded to one another.

"I think I can arrange to have them moved to Fort Douglas." Jenkins said.

"Today? As soon as we get back?"

"I'll take care of it." Jenkins’s said.

"What about medical treatment for Zack?" It was a long shot. He wasn’t supposed to meet Susan until the morning.

"I don't see any problem their either." Matt was amazed at how easily they had met his demands.

"Why are you guys being so helpful? One run down into the city can't be that helpful."

Ron and Sgt. Jenkins gave each other an amused glance.

"If only you knew." Ron said, chuckling as if to a private joke.

"Well why don't you fill me in?" Matt asked.

"HEADS UP!" the Comtech called. "WE GOT DEADFUCKS!" The Humvee skidded to a halt.

"Talk to me!" Jenkins called to the front seat. They were all peering out the windshield.

"Four deadfucks, Sarge." the Comtech said. "Two hundred feet ahead." Jenkins patted the top gunner on the thigh.

"Light 'em up Private!" he barked.

Seconds later, the heavy machinegun topside began chattering. Although far from quiet, it was not nearly as loud as Matt had expected. It continued for perhaps five seconds before it fell silent, leaving only the ringing in Matt’s ears.

"Deadfucks eliminated Sarge!" the Comtech said.

"Carry on!" Jenkins called. The Humvee began rolling again.

"What did I tell you?" Ron said. "Safe as could be."

"What are we going to be raiding tomorrow?" Matt got right back to the point.

"Your boy here is all business." Jenkins laughed. Matt didn't like him.

"I just like to know what the hell I'm getting my ass into."

"We are going to be hitting a couple places. An Instacare unit and a grocery store." Ron said.

"The usual." Jenkins said.

"But like I said," Ron continued, "You always save some cargo space for yourself. And you would be surprised what is worth value around here. Hard liquor, beer, candies, chewing gum, toilet paper, toothpaste, soap. Those are among some of the most valuable."

"Don't forget CDs and cassettes, clothes, books and magazines." Jenkins added. "Fuel and ammo are always valuable. You name it, somebody wants it."

"Plus we also have to equip you for your trip into the mountains. So what do you think?" Ron flashed him a crooked smile.

"I'm in." Matt said.

"Good man." Ron smiled. "You won't regret it."

The patrol continued on up the road another two miles. They stopped at two checkpoints along the way. The checkpoints were nothing more than two squads of men in Humvees, just like them. They radioed in to base at the checkpoints, as well as did their own bit of trading. Ron swapped two packs of cigarettes and a pint of whiskey for several bottles of prescription medication.