'Human? A militia maybe?'
'Negative. They're zombies, sir.'
'Any idea what their destination is?'
'Here.'
Bates blood turned to ice water.
'I'll be down right away. Continue monitoring all channels.'
Cursing under his breath, he stalked to the elevator.
Ramsey's door, which had been open a crack during the conversation, quietly shut again.
Darren Ramsey hadn't obtained his position in life by being stupid.
Clever cunning, a keen sense of self-preservation, and a healthy dose of paranoia had served him well in his sixty-five years on Earth.
He drew upon those skills now.
He let the door slide shut and listened for the elevator doors to ding.
When he was sure Bates had gone, he placed the loaded pistol on the desk and clicked his computer's mouse. The Screensaver disappeared. Ramsey clicked again, and then typed in a password. This gave him access to the building's security system; something that even Bates was unaware was still fully operational. Ramsey had paid off the head of the maintenance crew with a box of cigars, a bottle of bourbon, and the promise of a million dollars when society was normal again, after the man had accidentally discovered the network. There were over one thousand carefully concealed, state-of-the-art surveillance cameras in the building, each with full audio and zoom capability. None was bigger than a pinhead.
Ramsey let his fingers glide over the keyboard, feeling like a pianist at a concert. Rapid-fire images flashed by on his monitor.
Smokey, Quinn, the mess-hall cooks Leroy and Etta, and one of the new arrivals, (De Santos-was that his name?-Ramsey couldn't remember) played a raucous game of poker, laughing and smoking and telling bawdy jokes.
FLASH
Carson had found comfort in the arms of another man. Though the room was dark, Ramsey could see the tears on the young man's face, trickling around his splinted nose. The old man wondered if the tears were for his suicidal friend, or for himself, or for them all.
FLASH
Kelli, the young nurse, lay on her bed, vigorously masturbating with one hand while the other caressed her breasts. Ramsey briefly turned up the sound, but soon lost interest. His penis remained flaccid. He wondered if the videos that Maynard had filmed before his death would interest him more.
FLASH
Steve, the Canadian airline pilot, lay sprawled on his bed, fully clothed and snoring. A half-empty bottle of Knob Creek and a photo of the man's son sat on the dresser.
FLASH
On the roof, undead crows, pigeons, and sparrows strutted about or perched on the helicopter and the strobe lights, watching the door patiently.
FLASH
DiMassi, the sickened pilot, watched television, an old episode of Hogan's Heroes via the building's closed- circuit broadcast, and drank a can of warm beer. His room was littered with debris: crumpled cans and tissues, half-eaten pizza crusts and empty candy wrappers. Ramsey was filled with disgust, yet he considered the fat man's worth. DiMassi had recently had an altercation with Bates, and might yet come in handy.
FLASH
In the darkened lobby, all was silent, save for the distant curses of the zombies milling around outside the barricaded main entrance doors. A complicated nest of boobytraps and trip wires snaked through the lobby.
Two guards (he was fairly certain their names were Cullen and Newman, but it was hard to keep track of everyone), sat behind the sandbagged receptionist desk-fortress, and listened to the undead outside. Ramsey could see the smoldering fear that they tried to hide from each other.
FLASH
Bates had entered the radio room, and was seated in front of a console, with Val and Branson flanking him. He knew that Val was pregnant. He didn't know much about Branson.
Ramsey turned up the sound and zoomed in on them.
'... will be there to assist you. Message repeats. This is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, broadcasting to all who can hear this message. The United States Department of Homeland Security has determined that Manhattan and the other New York boroughs are now safe zones. The quarantine has been lifted. All civilian and military personnel are encouraged to make their way to the area immediately. Shelter and aid stations have been set up for your convenience, to provide food, water, and medical aid. Again, the threat alert for New York City has been lifted and the area is now designated as a safe zone. Make your way there for further assistance. Military and civilian authorities will be there to assist you. Message repeats ...'
'Unbelievable,' Val breathed.
'It's something, all right,' Branson agreed. 'What do you think, Mr. Bates?'
Bates lit a cigarette, and snapped his lighter shut.
'I think we're fucked.'
'How so?'
