Fade to Grey (Book 2): Darkness Ascending (15 page)

“If you truly think that I’m the best person available
for that job, I’d be on that roof in a heartbeat. If you’re just trying to
protect me, well, you better take another look at who you think I am.”

Her words came out rigid, intense, and honest. And yet,
accompanying them was another undercurrent. Eric matched her eyes for a moment;
a trail of thoughts forming as he reexamined his perception of her words . . .
her tone. The endless battle between what was said, and what was left unsaid.

Still locked with her eyes, he reached over and put
his hand on top of her knee, squeezing gently. Almost immediately she placed
hers on top of his.

“I’m sorry, I just . . . it’s just . . .” He stopped—hesitation
locked in combat with opportunity.

“What?” Her response was much softer this time.

After another pause, Eric lightly shook her knee and
said, “Just tell me one thing—from you, from ‘Michelle’—where would you want me
to be?”

Her eyes swung away, and she turned to look out the
passenger window. Her hand stayed on top of Eric’s, though. He counted two
breaths before she spoke.

“You’re the best shooter that I know—that I’ve ever
seen. I watched the tapes that you sent of your 3-gun matches. You’re pretty
amazing.” She hesitated for a second before continuing, “I’m hoping that this
is just two guys, normal guys, up on the road. But if it’s not, then I’d want
you down on the ground.” Turning to face him once more, she looked deep into
his eyes and said, “But the honest truth is that I’d want you on the roof too.”

Guarded silence filled the truck as they both tested
the waters. Michelle was the first to speak a moment later.

“Eric, there’s something else, something that you need
to know right now.”

The ice ball of dread that signaled rapidly
approaching letdown formed in his throat. A boyfriend? Not the right time? End
stage cancer? Already remarried? His heart spit out those—and a million more
possibilities—as he waited.

“What is it?”

“The back of your hand is really slimy with Max’s drool.”

The stunned look on his face held him there long
enough for Michelle to lean over and give him a quick kiss. It wasn’t on the
cheek.

“
You know our headlights are shining right into
your truck, don’t you
?” It was Sam.

Michelle giggled as Eric pulled away from her. “
Ah,
10-4 Sam, I was just helping her find a contact she dropped
.”

“
Amazing what people can do with their lips these
days
.” Thompson’s voice could be heard hooting in the background.

Eric let another few moments pass by before he
transmitted, “
Sam, I’m thinking that we need another shooter on the roof.
Maybe even two. What type of artillery are you and Thompson carrying
?”

“
Shotgun for me, and Thompson has his M4, selective
fire version, and a full load out of ammo
.”

“
I could get up on the roof and run the spotlight
if needed
,” Amy’s voice came across the radio.

“
Negative. I don’t want anybody to risk going
outside until we know what’s happening. Keep everybody inside the store
.”

“
Will do
.”

“
Eric, Walter here . . . I’ve got about five people
up here who are all raising their hand to volunteer if you need ‘em
.”

“
OK thanks, I’ll let you know. For right now, just
keep them on standby
.”

“
Roger
.”

“
Sam, let’s get moving again. I’d like to have both
you and Thompson upon the roof watching our backs, if you’re willing
.”

“
That’ll be fine, but let’s see what we find at the
gate first, OK
?”

“
10-4
”

He let off the brake and accelerated slowly. Twenty
seconds later he coasted to a stop about fifty feet behind the RV’s. “Both of
the guys in the RV’s are too good for us, if you know what I mean,” Michelle
said.

“Where’s Alton supposed to be?”

Michelle pointed forward and left. “There’s a duck
blind—one of those insulated box types—just off the road in the reeds.”

“Are you ready?”

She nodded.

“
Sam, are you ready
?”

“
Good to go, just waiting on you
.”

“
Everybody stay alert. If you have to shoot, be
sure of your target. Remember, we have potential non-hostiles in the area, and
watch out for Max. If he goes for something, don’t get in his way
.”

Eric opened the door latch and stepped to the ground.
Drawing the Delta with his right hand, he crossed his left wrist underneath and
held the Quark flashlight in the ready position. It was called the ‘Harries’
method for using a flashlight in conjunction with a handgun, and was especially
suited for lights that had their pressure switches located on the tail cap.

Thompson and Sam joined them a moment later.

“Max, come here.” For such a large animal, he could
move remarkably quietly, and Eric barely heard him hit the ground and pad up.
It was obvious that he sensed the tension in the air, and Eric watched as Max
bobbed his head and flicked his ears.

“Max, tight . . . stay tight Max.” Another quick check
of their group showed no inconsistencies that they could change at this point,
so Eric began walking—Max took lead about a dozen paces ahead.

Both RV’s were silent and dark as they passed.
Michelle shined the bright beam of her flashlight off the left side of the
driveway. “Over there,” she indicated.

Max had paused up ahead, and Eric flashed a hand
signal for him to wait. As a line, the four of them approached the reeds where
Alton was supposed to be hidden. It didn’t take long to discover the ground
blind. It was empty.

“Let’s do a quick search. No more than fifty feet from
the gate—stay in pairs.” Their brief investigation turned up nothing, other
than discovering that the two RV’s were locked. There was no answer to their
soft knocking. They took a moment to open the gate before walking back next to
their trucks.

Eric holstered his weapon and unclipped the radio. “
Scott,
Alton is not at the gate, repeat, Alton is not at the gate. Is there any change
from the road
?”

“
Not that I can really tell. I still see—at least I
think so anyhow—somebody standing by the edge of the road. I’m not sure where
the other one is. Like I said, they’re pretty far away and it seems like it’s
getting darker
.”

A swift glance upwards showed Eric the leading edge of
wispy clouds that were beginning to move in.

“
Scott, we’re coming up now. Sam and Thompson are
going to join you on the roof in a minute, but don’t leave your observation
point until they get there, OK
?”

“
Got it boss
.”

Max jumped back in the truck bed at his command, and
within a minute, their two vehicle convoy crept through the gate.

Behind them, the soft cherry glow of a cigarette ember
momentarily pulsed orange inside the left hand RV.

Sam drove Walter’s truck to a point just below the
store. He parked it but left it running with the headlights angled toward the
broad, gravel lot that led to the boat ramp. He and Thompson exited the vehicle
and trotted over to Eric. Extending the shotgun, Sam asked, “Wanna trade?”

“No, if this goes south we’re not gonna stand around
and duke it out wild west style, we’re going to bust ass backwards and join you
on the roof.”

“Just phone ahead, and we’ll leave the light on for
you.” They turned and scuttled over to the ladder. In a few seconds they had
disappeared over the roofline.

“Any ideas?”

“Whether they’re human or . . . not . . . they’ve got
to know we’re here already,” Michelle answered. “So let’s be quick, but not
unsafe. Just remember what I told you about how hard it was to stop them in the
back hallway of my office.”

Eric nodded and shifted the truck into drive. Curving
to the right, he circled around the store counter clockwise, bringing them out
onto the highway near the bagged off diesel pump.

“Last chance to head west and drive to Hawaii.”

“I wish.”

He cut the wheel left and drove out onto the highway.
Almost immediately Max’s growl rumbled in through the sliding window. Up ahead,
a single figure could be seen standing at the far edge of the road near the
weed line. A steady press of the accelerator brought the truck to twenty miles
an hour, and they closed the distance in just a few seconds. The figure was
wearing a puffy, yellow and purple ski jacket, and as they approached it began
to turn towards them. Max’s growl resonated deeper.

“Eric, I think it’s infected,” Michelle said in a low,
hushed tone.

“I think you’re right.” Eric drifted the pickup closer
and closer, finally stopping about forty feet away. The headlights of the truck
pierced the darkness of the road, but didn’t have the angle to show what was
below the slight drop off heading toward the lake. The ski jacket-clad figure
turned full-on towards them, and they could easily make out the smear of blood
on his hands and face. Dull red eyes glared back at them, but it made no other
move. Max’s rumble transformed into a hair raising, fearsome snarl.

“Max . . . wait.”

Eric mashed the brake and shifted into reverse. “Tell
Sam to get ready with the spotlight, but not on this guy here. I want to see
down to the left in the weeds where his partner is.”

Michelle picked up her radio and called out, “
Sam .
. . the one on the road is definitely infected, but we can’t see to the left down
the slope. On my mark, we’d like you to hit that area with the spotlight, OK
?”

Scott’s voice came over the radio. “
Miss Michelle,
this is Scott, I have the spotlight ready to go. Sam says that him and Thompson
are lined up and waiting on your word. Wait a minute . . . OK, Sam wants to
know if you want him to take care of the guy on the road first
?”

Eric risked a short look at Michelle. “I can’t make
that call. It just doesn’t seem . . . right.”

The figure on the road slowly cocked its head and
stared at the truck.

“Do you realize what might happen if that thing gets
close to you . . . or me?” Michelle’s question ricocheted back immediately.

“I know . . . I’m just still having a hard time making
the jump from ‘what should be’ to ‘what is.’”

Michelle dropped a series of ‘F’ bombs in a manner
that would make a drill instructor blush. “Not me, I’ve already sailed down
that road. Think about it, Eric, in the space of just a few days, those
‘things’ out there,” she pointed towards the ski jacket, “have been directly or
indirectly responsible for the deaths at the campground, for Miss Fran, all of
Thompson’s friends in the Guard, for what happened to Samantha and Melissa—and
what almost happened to me—and let’s not forget about your uncle, and Brenda,
and Sally . . . do I need to go on?”

“I know, I just need a minute to . . .”

Michelle cut him off with, “I don’t.” She keyed her
radio and said, “
Sam, do the headlights give you enough light to shoot by
?”

“
He said it’s plenty
.”

“
Tell him to drop it
.”