Shocked gasps, and even a muffled scream, met this statement.
'They are heavily armed. We've verified both through continued monitoring and through visual confirmation that they are now within the city limits. Their intent is to launch an assault on this building. We must assume that this attack could come at any moment, so I'll be brief.'
'What are we so concerned about?' a man yelled from the back. 'This building is supposed to be able to withstand anything.'
There were shouts of agreement. Bates cleared his throat and the room got quiet again.
'Indeed, Mr. Ramsey has repeatedly assured us that this building could withstand any attack. However, he designed it with terrorism and natural disasters in mind. It is my opinion, and the opinion of others in our command structure, that it will not hold up to the sheer amount of firepower we expect to be launched at us.'
'They've attacked us before,' another man hollered. 'What makes it different this time?'
'This is a full-scale military attack. They didn't have tanks and artillery before, and they didn't have a leader.'
Don thought about something that Jim had mentioned to him; that there had been a zombie named Ob who led the others. But Bates couldn't be talking about the same creature, could he?
'His name is Ob,' Bates continued, 'and though we don't know much about him yet, it's clear that he seeks our destruction. So we must fight.
Every able-bodied man and woman will be given a weapon immediately after we adjourn. You will join those already on sentry duty. This is not open for debate. I expect each and every one of you to defend yourselves and your fellow man- because we cannot do it for you. Forrest will be in charge of the lower floors and I will be in command of the upper stories of the building. If you refuse to help protect this building, you will be put out onto the streets.'
An old man rose to his feet. 'You can't do that!'
'Try me. I'm not playing around here, people.'
'What about Mr. Ramsey?' a woman called out. 'Why isn't he in charge?'
Dr. Stern stepped forward and took the microphone. 'Mr. Ramsey is ill and unable to assume command. It's not life-threatening. But he gave express orders that Mr. Bates was to lead this battle.'
Bates shouted down another question. 'We must prepare immediately. None of us could have ever conceived what has happened to our world. It's like something out of a horror movie. But it's real, and it's coming for us all. There's no more time for debate.'
He paused, gripping the podium. When he spoke again, his voice cracked.
'I know that it looks hopeless. Believe me. We ask ourselves, late at night, what the point of all this is. For all we know, we might be the last people left alive in the world. Those things are everywhere, and there are more every day. All they have to do is wait for us to die. So why bother?'
Some murmured ascension and nodding heads greeted his question. Bates continued.
'Because this is our last stand. Think about everything humanity has accomplished throughout history. Do we really want it all to mean nothing in the end? Should our achievements be worthless-appreciated and enjoyed only by those things outside? We stand at the brink of total extinction, but I will not go without a fight.'
Scattered applause broke out amongst the crowd, but many more people remained quiet, still unsure.
'Maybe you're thinking this sounds hokey or stilted. You're probably right. I'm not a public speaker. I'm a warrior. I don't have a lot of oratory skill, and it's not easy for me to inspire people through speech. Believe me, I've been in situations where I've had men looking at me for inspiration. I gave it to them through leadership. I inspired by example. Hopefully, I can do that for you too. But let me tell you of another example. A few days ago, our scouts brought in a father and his son.'
Don sat up straight, listening.
'The father, Jim Thurmond, traveled from the mountains of West Virginia all the way up the coast to New Jersey. He and his companions faced unimaginable horrors with every step of his journey-things that we haven't even considered, clustered away here in our stronghold. Mr.
Thurmond did this for one reason and one reason only. The love he had for his son. That's what powered him, what kept him going.
'I ask you to look around. Is there someone here whom you love? Will you lay down your life so that they have a chance to continue to live?
Perhaps your loved ones aren't here. Maybe they're outside, their bodies corrupted by those things. Maybe our enemies have turned
the one you love into a perverse mockery of who they were before. How many of you saw your loved ones turn into a zombie? Don't you want an opportunity to set things right? This may be the last chance any of us will get. It's us versus them. I say we reintroduce these things to death. Show them what it really means to die. Show them just what humanity is capable of when its back is against the wall! Will you fight?'
Thunderous applause filled the auditorium. The crowd rose to their feet, cheering wildly. Bates held his fist in the air and pumped it a few times, eliciting more shouts.
'Report to the armory,' he shouted. 'Each of you will be assigned a weapon and get a crash course in how to use it. From there, you'll be directed to where we need you. Let's show them that we are not afraid to die, that we reject their promise of what comes after death. Let's show them that we will not go quietly! Let's reclaim our bodies-and our lives!'
Bates strode off the stage. Forrest and Stern followed him. All three were already talking into their radios.
'Well,' Leroy quipped, 'I guess it wasn't a drill after all.'
As they filed out, Don's legs felt numb, as if they'd fallen asleep.
Fear gripped him, but at the same time, he felt determined-and proud. He wondered again what had happened to Jim and Danny, and how Frankie wasif she was aware of what was going on. Then he fell in with the crowd and was swept away.
