The Beginning of the End (Book2): Road to Damnation (28 page)

Sawyer raised two open
hands to calm Daniels, “Don’t worry, it’s not like that. When I
say armed, that just means I put the pieces together. It’s like a
light bulb. It won’t go off until you flip the switch.”

“And who is going to
flip the switch?” Daniels questioned.

“Nobody is going to
flip the switch. That’s why we have this.” Sawyer reached into
the backpack and pulled out the remote detonator, placing it on the
table, “I showed you this on the deck. After breakfast, Beck and I
will attach it to the device and we’ll head out of the city. Then
we’ll have to find a satellite phone to let the General know the
device is ready.”

Daniels didn’t like
the idea of sitting next to a ticking time bomb, whether it was
ticking or not, he didn’t care. And what was it with these Navy
Seal guys, device this and device that. Why didn’t they just call
it what it was. . . a big ass bomb that would turn everyone in the
room into liquid, before they even knew it went off.

Daniels picked up the
detonator, “I don’t know if I like the idea of attaching this
thing to the bomb, and then leaving town. I don’t really trust the
people in control down in Atlanta with my life. Maybe I should get
the kids, Bunker and Destiny to a safe place, then let you guys arm
the bomb, and you can meet up with us in Newark.”

“I’ll do it, sir,”
Beck said.

“Do what?” asked
Sawyer.

“I’ll stay behind
and connect the detonator. You help the Corporal get the kids out of
the city. I’ll give you thirty minutes to get clear. Once you're in
the safe zone, then I’ll attach it, and meet you in Newark, right
by the highway.”

Daniels gave Beck a
single accepting nod, “You’re a true soldier, son. You should be
proud.”

“I don’t like it,”
Sawyer confessed, “I see a couple of flaws in your plan. First, how
are you going to get clear of the city without a vehicle? Second,
what if you run into a pack of flesh eaters, and there are too many
to take on alone.”

“Come on, Master
Chief. You know me. I can hotwire anyone of those vehicles out there,
and if I run into any of those biters, I’ll just step on the gas
and run them down.”

Sawyer shook his head,
“I still don’t like the thought of leaving a man behind.”

“You’re not leaving
me behind; I’m just stretching your clock. Besides, you know I move
faster alone. This posse will just slow me down. I’m so fast, I’ll
leave after you and probably still beat you to Newark.”

Sawyer looked over in
time to see Bunker throwing a white powder donut at Kaden. Cecilia
responded by tossing a piece of pie at Bunker’s face. Chocolate
filling and whipped cream plastered his face. Everyone at the table
was rolling in laughter.

Sawyer let out a deep
sigh, “I don’t like it, but we can’t jeopardize those kids
lives. I guess we don't have a choice. Let’s finish our coffee and
then head outside and find you a reliable vehicle.”

* * *

Bunker joined the three
men by the entrance, where they parked the Tahoe last night. He was
already wearing a MOLLE vest and had his M4 slung over his shoulder,
“Where are we going?” he asked, as the men were stepping in the
vehicle. Daniels was the last to get in, after untying the rope from
the trailer hitch, “We’re clear, let’s go.”

“What am I, on the
pay no mind list,” Bunker asked, “where are we going?”

“The next pier over
is a parking lot. We're heading over there to secure a vehicle for
Beck.” Daniels said.

“What’s the matter,
Beck? You too good to ride with the rest of us?” Bunker said
smiling.

Beck responded, “Well,
we didn’t realize how bad you stunk in the morning, and to be
honest, we decided to put you in a vehicle alone.”

The smile dropped from
Bunker’s face, “What? Really?”

“Okay, you boneheads.
Knock off the crap. We’re getting Beck a vehicle so he can hook up
the remote detonator after we leave. Then he’ll catch up with the
rest of us in Newark.”

“I don’t
understand,” Bunker said, “I thought we were going to hook it up
and leave together.”

“We don’t want to
take a chance of the device going off with the kids around.” Beck
said.

“There’s a chance
that thing could go off when it’s hooked up?”

“Small,” Beck
answered.

“How small,” Bunker
asked, “like one in a million?”

Beck chuckled, “More
like one in a hundred million.”

The conversation ended
just as the men pulled up next to a pick-up truck. It was blacked out
with big mud tires and the total off road package.

Beck let out a
“Woo-hoo, this is the one, Master Chief.

“Can you hot-wire
it?” Sawyer asked.

“Does the Tin-Man
have a sheet metal cock?”

Sawyer thought for a
moment, “I guess he does.”

The truck doors were
all locked. Beck hopped in the bed and popped out the back sliding
window. The men waited as he climbed in and disappeared under the
steering console. After a little pounding and a couple beeps of the
horn, the truck turned over. Beck rolled down the window, revving the
engine, “Hop in boys. Next stop the U.S.S. Intrepid.”

Sawyer smiled, “You
can take Daniels. Bunker and I will take the Tahoe back.”

Daniels climbed in the
back of the truck and stuck his head in the cab, “You remind me of
my boys, Ty, and Chevy. If we can get out of this mess, you might get
to meet them in Newark.”

The quarter mile ride
back to Pier 86, the final resting place of the U.S.S. Intrepid was
uneventful. Just the way Daniels liked it. In the distance, plumes of
smoke were visible. The city was eerily quiet, except for the
occasional car alarm. Daniels looked down 46th Street into the Hells
Kitchen neighborhood. The place was deserted, except a single slow
moving zombie. At the pace she was moving, his group would be long
gone before she got to them. Where could the millions of people who
lived and worked here disappear to?

Daniels scanned the
perimeter, one last time before Beck pulled in next to the Tahoe.
Kaden was standing guard outside, wearing his newly acquired MOLLE
vest and M4. He walked over and gave the truck’s mud tire a kick as
Beck hopped out, “This thing is awesome, Beck. Can I ride in it
with you?”

“You guys are leaving
ahead of me, but as soon as I catch up to you in Newark, you can be
my co-pilot.” Beck said, giving Kaden a head rub as he walked away.

“Awesome,” said
Kaden as he gave the tire another kick and chased after Beck.

Sawyer and Daniels
paused when they saw Ceci step off the Intrepid with arms full of
gift shop bags. An additional ten bags were piled up next to the
railing.

“What’s all this?”
Daniels asked.

Cecilia dropped her
load of bags into the pile, “It’s everything from the vending
machines and most of what was salvageable from the cafeteria. There
are still a few cases of water in the cooler, but it stinks in there,
so someone else can get it. I told Kaden to, but he said he was too
busy guarding the ship while you guys were gone. He hasn’t done
anything I’ve asked him. He’s too busy trying to be a mini Beck.”

“Oh geez, that’s
the last thing we need,” Sawyer fussed.

“I’ll grab the
water,” Daniels said, “I saw a hand cart in the storage room last
night. Then I’ll split up the food in between the truck and Tahoe.
I don’t want you outside, Cecilia. I just saw a zombie walking
towards the ship. You stay inside until we leave.”

“I think that’s a
good idea too,” Sawyer said, “If you can load all the supplies,
Daniels, I’ll bring the device up to the deck and run a quick
diagnostic. It’s a few mikes after 0800hrs now; I want to be out of
here by 0830hrs. You and Bunker get everything loaded and then round
up the team. Beck and I will meet everyone in the cafeteria in twenty
for a final briefing, before attaching the detonator.”

“You got it,”
Bunker said giving a half-ass salute.

Sawyer saluted back and
disappeared into the ship.

“Isn’t that
bizarre. That can’t be comfortable lying in bed with your arm like
that. You must have been exhausted, you didn’t move an inch. Let’s
get you packed up and in the vehicle.”

Kane’s body, stiff
from the rigor mortis, made loading him difficult. A little pressure,
a few cracks, and his brother was able to make the body more
manageable.

Lividity turned the
backside of Kane’s body a deep dark purple. His brother caught a
glance of it and pulled up the back of his shirt, “Oh, dear
brother. Do you remember what Mother and Father use to tell us before
they died? You don't recall? They told us to always take our
vitamins. It’s apparent you haven’t done that. Your skin looks
absolutely atrocious. It’s a good thing I love you and don’t mind
taking care of you. I just happen to know where I can find some.”

Kane’s brother jumped
off the step of the MRAP and headed to the motel office where he’d
spent the night. He felt blood rush into his face and his heart began
beating fast. The modest man pushed open the door to the office with
an affectionate greeting, “Hello, Matilda. It’s me.”

He glided into the
room, staring at the floor with pursed lips, standing silent trying
to build up the nerve to speak again. Time was short, and he couldn’t
afford to wait any longer. Taking a chance, he laid it all out on the
line. The way he figured it, the worst she could do was say no.

“My dear, Matilda.
From the moment I left, I haven’t been able to get you out of my
mind. I think we made a real connection last night.”

The starving zombie
wearing the Matilda name badge clawed at his face and raising her
nose sniffing at the psycho's warm pulsing blood.

“Last night we
talked, I sung to you, and it felt like we made a connection. After
such a perfect evening, I can’t bare the thought of leaving you
here alone. I believe if you’re willing to give a guy like me a
chance, I think we could have a wonderful future together. So what do
you say, doll? Are you in?”

Matilda clawed and
swung her arms violently, reaching for his neck.

“What? You’ll come?
That’s fantastic news. I can’t wait to tell my brother. Let’s
get you loaded up in the back of my vehicle. I think this is going to
be the beginning of something wonderful.”

Kane’s brother opened
the office door and stepped out. He paused to peek back into the room
to speak with Matilda, “I’ll be right back. I just need to run
out to my truck and find some rope to tie you up with.”

He made a move toward
the MRAP and stopped remembering the reason he had returned, “Would
you be a dear and find me some vitamins while I grab the rope. You
see, my brother is in critical need of them. Thanks, hon.”

Sawyer and Beck walked
into the Intrepid’s cafeteria after checking the nuclear device.
Destiny was standing near a long table, telling a story, while the
rest of the group sat around her laughing. The Seals took a seat and
caught enough of the story to give them a chuckle. When she finished,
she asked, “Are you boys all done lighting the fuse on your bomb?”

Sawyer smiled, “Yeah,
something like that.”

Destiny sat down as the
focus turned to the Seals.

“Well?” Bunker
asked.

Sawyer stood up from
the table, “The bomb is armed, and I ran a quick diagnostic. She’s
five by five.”

“She’s what?”
Kaden interrupted.

“That means she’s
good to go, Kaden,” Sawyer explained, “I’ve talked to Beck, and
again he’s volunteered to attach the remote detonator. I don’t
like the idea, but I don’t see any other way around it to ensure
everyone’s safety. As soon as we conclude this meeting, we’re
going to load up in the Tahoe and head for the George Washington
Bridge. We’ll travel toward the Bronx and cross the bridge there.
Without traffic I should have us there in less than fifteen minutes.
Beck is going to stay behind and wait for thirty minutes. Then he’ll
attach the detonator, hop in the truck, and meet us in Newark later
today. Let me make this perfectly clear. Beck is not setting off the
bomb. He is just making it possible for the President to detonate
through a satellite signal. There is no reason to get upset, panic,
or be scared. So let’s all stay calm, and get to New Jersey. Does
anyone have any questions?”

“Yeah, I got a
question,” Destiny said, raising her hand as though she were back
in high school, “what happens if that cute young man runs into a
whole bunch of zombies all by himself?”

“I got this one,”
Beck said addressing the Master Chief, “have you seen my truck? If
anything gets in my way, I plan on running them down. It probably
won’t even slow me down.” Beck said smiling.

“What if the bomb
does go off, when you’re hooking it up?” Cecilia asked.

The Master Chief
glanced over to his fellow soldier, “The bad news is, we will lose
Beck. The good news is, the bomb will liquify him before he even
knows it went off. But you have to understand, that’s not going to
happen, God forbid, even if it does go off, he’s going to give us
that thirty-minute head start window so we’ll all be just fine. Now
does anyone else have any questions?”

The group said nothing
and looked around at each other. No other hands went up.

“Good, so if there
are no more questions, then let’s head down to the Tahoe and Beck
can start the clock.”

Sawyer walked over to
the wall and unplugged the communicator battery packs. He attached
the mic around his neck and twisted the earpiece into his canal. He
tossed the second to Beck.

“What do we need
these for? The range is only a couple of miles.”

“Just in case,”
Sawyer said.

“In case of what?”

“Just wear the damn
communicator. That’s an order. I want to be in communication with
you when you’re clear from the device. It will also make it easier
for you to find us in Newark.”