Emperor of a Dead World (36 page)

Paddling as quietly as possible, they headed around the peninsular. Brad wanted to come ashore near the enemy’s headquarters and he wanted to be in a position where he could clearly see all the buildings from his canoe. Fortunately, the night was dark and there was little chance of anyone spotting the canoes on the lake. The spy was under the impression that they would come in through the gate so Brad was not concerned the man could betray his position.

About a hundred yards from the front gate, the lookouts were watching intently. All four had night vision goggles and while two watched the gate, the other two scanned the area for creatures.

Inside the trunk of the charger, the prisoner had already freed himself from his bounds. Being a lifelong villain, he was no stranger to this type of treatment. When he could no longer hear anyone, he pulled the trunk safety release and peeked out. The two men Brad had told to watch the vehicles were nearby so he would have to wait until they left before he could slip out to warn his friends.

On the lake, Brad and the others observed the shore with binoculars or through the scopes of their rifles. They were now in position only a short distance from the shore. The night was brisk but the men warmed with anticipation and no one felt a chill as they waited in silence.

As Brad watched the camp, he could not believe this was happening. He was leading men he barely knew into battle to kill others he had never met. The thing that bothered him most is how easily he had risen to the challenge. It almost seemed like he was running one of his old football plays. Only now, he was not running for a simple touchdown. Now he was leading men into a life or death situation. He glanced at Tyrone sitting alone in the canoe next to his and saw the determined look on the man’s face. This reminded him that the life he had once known was gone forever. He was no longer a simple teenager. He was now some mythical leader. A man thrown into this renowned position because another man believed he was dead. Tyrone had said that it was easier to get people to follow a myth than it was a man. Unfortunately, it is not so easy for a living man to live up to the myth. In fact, it was an impossible challenge. While he reflected on this, he remembered Tyrone had explained that in this insane world, people needed something to believe in. They needed some glimmer of hope that someday the world would be a better place. In order to give people the hope they so desperately needed Tyrone had forced Brad into this roll. Though Brad was not the one that had changed the world it was his mission to get it back as close as he could to what it had once been. The sad part is that everyone had someone to look to as a savior except for Brad. He had no one to give him that same hope. If things were going to get better, he was the one that had to bring about the change. He looked at those around him and reminded himself that the men he had come to kill must die so that others could live with one less threat.

“There he is,” Tyrone said, distracting Brad’s meditations.

Brad watched as the spy came out of the building with three others. He did not look toward the lake as he exited. He just glanced at the gate then walked over to his yurt while the others stood around smoking.

Now that the spy was safely inside, Brad kept a close eye on his foes. He wanted to wait until they went back inside before he began the assault. Fifteen minutes passed, twenty, half an hour before they finally went back into the building.

“Everyone line up,” Brad whispered to the men once it was clear. “We all hit the shore at the same time.”

They started forward and everyone kept a sharp eye ahead. After pulling the boats ashore, they climbed the hill towards the camp. When they got to the top, Brad flashed a light twice. This was a signal to kill the guard. A moment later, the man fell from his seat. Brad barely had time to reflect that he had just ordered the death of a sleeping man before someone walked out of headquarters and headed straight toward him staring at the ground as he came. Had the man looked up he may have seen Brad and the others. Had he looked toward the gate he may have seen the dead guard. He stopped at the edge of the embankment and relieved himself. The hiding men could barely breathe. The man was so close that his stream of urine actually splattered on one of the men. When he finished he turned to go back inside. He was almost to the door when the spy came out to check on the guard.

The man saw the spy and called out, “What are you doing?”

The spy froze in place.

The man stared at him until another man came out at and asked, “What is going on?”

The first man pointed to the spy.

“Do you want something?” the second man asked.

The spy shook his head and nervously glanced toward the gate.

The other men also looked and saw the guard lying on the ground.

“Hey, are you drunk?” the second man called.

“Almost show time,” Brad whispered.

The two men exchanged glances then walked toward the gate.

“Get up, what is wrong with you?”

The dead man did not move and neither did the spy. The night was cool but he was perspiring heavily. As he watched in agony, someone came out of the yurt behind him.

“What is going on?”

“Get back inside,” the spy said.

“What is wrong with him?” the new man asked as he pointed toward the gate.

“That is what I want to know,” the uncle said as he came out.

“Go inside,” the spy whispered to his friend.

The two men were now at the gate. Brad and the others aimed their rifles.

“He has been shot,” one of the men cried.

The uncle walked toward the spy with a gun in his hand. “Who did this?”

The spy did not reply.

Suddenly someone from outside the gate ran forward. “Look out, it is a trap,” cried the man from Goleta. He had heard the plan from inside the trunk of the Charger and come to warn his friends. The men guarding him had left when the others shot the guard allowing him to escape. “They are in canoes on the lake,” he cried.

All at once, men ran out of the buildings and someone shined a light on the invaders. Upon seeing them, the uncle fired a shot that passed over their heads. Brad and the others returned fire hitting several of their enemies but many escaped behind the buildings.

“Everybody, get down,” the spy warned when the shooting started. He pushed his friend back inside then turned and ran to open the gate so the others could enter.

“Let’s go,” Brad cried as he led the assault.

They charged forward while the men outside the gate opened fire. Brad pursued the fleeing men behind the buildings but when he turned the corner, the uncle was waiting. He knocked the rifle out of Brad’s hands then grabbed his throat and pushed him against the wall.

“Who the hell are you?” the man hissed.

Gasping for breath, Brad swiftly brought out his trusty storm trooper and it found the man’s heart. As the uncle fell, Tyrone and the others joined Brad and showed no mercy to any they caught. The ambushed men fought as best they could but Brad’s men surrounded and overwhelmed them.

“Take no prisoners,” someone shouted as they all charged forward for hand-to-hand combat slaughtering everyone they met.

The battle lasted only a few minutes but it was a complete victory. Brad did not lose one man though he succeeded in annihilating his enemies.

“Check under every rock,” Brad demanded. “I do not want any to escape.” He ran over to the spy. “Keep your people inside so we don’t mistake them for the others.” He now approached the men that had been outside. “Where is the prisoner?”

“He must have gotten away,” one replied.

“Find him!”

While they searched for this man, Brad had some men lay out the dead and there were twenty-two in all. He now called the spy over.

“Are there any missing?”

The spy looked at his enemies and counted the bodies. “Fifteen we left behind and seven more returned from the attack. This is all of them.”

“What about your wife and friends?”

“She and all the others are safe inside the yurts,” he replied. Then with a tear in his eye he added, “Thank you for saving her.”

Brad patted him on the shoulder then set his sights on his escaped prisoner. He needed to find this man before they could leave.

“I really doubt we will find him tonight,” Tyrone said.

“I will have four men with night vision goggles on guard duty,” Brad replied. “If this man comes back they should see him before he sees them.” He turned to the spy. “Make sure the yurts are secure and keep everyone inside. I and my men will rest in those building.” He turned to a guard. “You and three others wear the goggles and keep alert. If anyone gets sleepy send them to bed and wake another.”

“Yes sir.”

“Try to get some rest,” Tyrone advised Brad. “It has been a long day.”

They went into the building with the other men and secured the doors and windows.

While they slept, the escaped villain wandered around gathering creatures. The noise had attracted a few and he intended on setting them loose on his enemies. The people inside had secured the gate but the man knew the secret to get in. While the guards focused on protecting the buildings in which the people were sleeping, he made his move. After gathering half a dozen creatures, he opened the gate and went inside. He then snuck around behind one of the guards that was dozing off and stuck a stick in his throat. After killing him, he put on the guards night vision goggles and jacket then took his weapon. Now armed and wearing a disguise, he headed over to the other men.

When they saw him walking up one asked, “What’s up? Are you tired?”

He did not reply as he approached. When he got close, he pointed his gun and fired hitting one man in the shoulder causing him to cry out. The other man jumped up and shot the villain in the side as he ran around the corner of the building. He cried for help and shot again but missed allowing the man to escape. His shouting awoke the others.

Brad was the first one out. “Where is he?”

“He ran over there,” the guard pointed.

The villain was making his escape when the fourth guard accosted him. “Stop right there,” the guard cried.

The villain shot him and headed for the gate.

Brad heard the man scream and ran after the villain barefooted and wearing only jeans. He did not even have a weapon in his hand. Fortunately, the man never looked back as he headed straight for the gate. Just as he was going out, he ran into two of the creatures. Before he could react, they were on him and tearing at his flesh. Brad stood and watched as the others joined him.

“Kill those things,” Tyrone shouted. The men opened fire and after the creatures dropped, Tyrone walked over to the man. He was laying on the ground bleeding. “You won’t die,” Tyrone smiled.

“What do you mean?” the man whined. “I am infected.”

“I know. Now you can go to hell,” Tyrone replied. The man reached for his gun but Tyrone grabbed it. “That is too easy.”

“This is not over,” the villain threatened as he stood to his feet.

“It is for you,” Brad stated coldly. “Now you are going to get what you deserve.”

The man lunged toward Brad but Tyrone shot both his kneecaps and he fell to the ground.

“Bastard,” he screamed as he lay on the ground holding his knees.

“Enjoy hell,” Brad said as he walked away.

“I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you all.”

“You can try,” Tyrone smirked as he turned to walk away, “but just remember what I told you before. I will not kill
you
. Not even if you beg me to.”

“Oh go fuck yourself,” the man wailed as he threw a stone at the departing Tyrone.

“How many men did he get?” Brad asked one of the guards.

“He killed one man and wounded two others.”

“Did the dead man have family or close friends,” Brad asked.

“No sir, he only came to us a month ago. He was alone and had no close friends that I know of.”

“In that case we shall bury him here tonight,” Brad said.

In the background, they could still hear the man cursing at them.

Tyrone turned to one of the men. “I want you to stand guard over that man. I don’t want any creatures to get near him.”

“I understand,” the man replied. “Nothing will get near him.”

In the morning when they headed out, they passed a creature with two blown out kneecaps crawling around on the ground.

Chapter 30

It was now time to begin work on the wall. The engineer had drawn up the plans and from what Brad could see this was going to be a massive undertaking. To acquire the needed supplies, he sent people to collect cement blocks, mortar, rebar and anything else the workers requested. These people went to every home improvement store around and even dismantled block walls to gather materials. As the supplies arrived, the engineer set out with one hundred workers along with twenty-five guards to protect them. Every man, woman and child capable of assisting was expected to do so and anyone not directly involved in the wall employed themselves by feeding the workers, farming the land or joining in on supply and rescue runs.