“Along with anyone else you assign to that job, of course,” Wanda said. “We’ll also throw in our supplies. All of it.”
Nick thought it over. “Deal. You know where the center is, right?”
“We do,” Big Joe said.
“You can take all your supplies to Mandy and ask her to assign you posts in the center. Tell her I sent you,” Nick said.
“Thank you,” Wanda said.
Nick waited until she and Big Joe left before turning to Mike. “Hansen? What can I do for you?”
“My team and I would like to fight,” Mike said. “Only those who can’t wield a weapon will sit it out in the community center.”
“Of course. You’re more than welcome. Saul can assign you to those parts of the defenses that still need to be guarded,” Nick said.
“No, not like that. I don’t want to be bogged down behind a wall,” Mike said.
“What then?” Nick asked.
“I’d like to meet the horde head-on. Pick off as many of them as possible before they reach the city,” Mike said.
“We’ve already got a team standing by to do that. They’re moving in as soon as the scouting parties come back, and their objective is to kill and divert as many undead as they can,” Nick said.
“Damn, that’s too bad,” Mike said. “I refuse to die like a rat in a hole.”
“But, As it happens, we’ve just received news of a second horde approaching from the south-east.”
“What?” several voices cried out.
“That’s correct,” Nick said. “Plus, they appear to be closer than the other group, which creates a huge problem for us. We’ll be fighting a battle on two fronts.”
Mike Hansen whistled. “In that case, let my team take care of the second horde. We can slow them down and try to divert them, or die trying.”
“I’d rather you don’t die, but I accept your offer,” Nick said.
“Then it’s settled,” Mike said with a satisfied smile. “We’ll leave straight away.”
“Thank you,” Nick said.
“What about me?” Grissom asked.
“You can have your old position back, but if I hear so much as one peep out of you, I’ll kill you myself,” Nick said. “Got it?”
Grissom nodded. “I won’t let you down.”
Mike, Grissom, and the others left, allowing Nick to return to the meeting. “That went well, I think.”
“Yes, it’s better to make allies than enemies,” Tara agreed. “And Grissom makes a bad enemy.”
“I suppose,” Nick said. “While you’re here, we need to discuss the availability of the cure. People are going to get bitten, and they’ll need it.”
Tara nodded. “We have a sizable amount stored away, plus we’re making more as we speak.”
“Excellent.”
“But, I’d suggest setting up a separate ward in the infirmary for all infected individuals. Even with the cure, we need to be careful.”
“How so?”
“People react differently to it. Some become violent. They’ll need to quarantined and guarded around the clock.”
“Understood,” Nick said. “I’ll see to it.”
“After the fight, every individual who came into contact with a zombie will need to be examined for possible infection,” Tara added. “It would really suck defeating these hordes only to have the virus take over from within.”
“Good point,” Nick said. “We’ll make sure to do that once this is over.”
“That’s if we win, of course,” Dylan pointed out.
“I have an idea that might help in that regard,” Richard said, stepping forward.
Nick waved a hand. “Go ahead.”
“If the zombies can’t get to us, they can’t kill us, right?” Richard asked.
“Right, but how do we accomplish that?”
“By blowing the bridges at US 340 in Sandy Hook and US 15 in Point of Rocks,” Richard said, pointing out the two structures. “If we do that, the river becomes impassable, and neither of the hordes can reach us.”
Nick blinked. “That’s kind of perfect.”
“Any scouting or attacking teams beyond those points will have to fall back before we blow the bridges, or they’ll be crushed, though,” Richard said.
“Who knows anything about explosives?” Nick asked. “We’ll need two teams to do this.”
“I do, but I’m needed here,” Mac said.
“I know a little, but my main job will be diverting any hordes that enter the city away from the base,” Richard said.
“If we blow the bridges, we won’t need to divert them,” Dylan said.
“There are no guarantees the plan will succeed,” Richard said. “The hordes could find a different way, or the explosives could fail. The team could fail. It’s best to be prepared for anything.”
“True,” Dylan conceded. “I’d volunteer, but I know nothing about blowing stuff up.”
“I know a little,” Jackson said.
“So do I,” Saul added.
“How about Mac and I each give a team a crash course in demolition?” Richard asked. “Jackson can lead the one, and Saul the other. They’d need helpers to set the groundwork too.”
“I’m in,” Dylan said. “I’d love to see something go boom.”
“It’s our best shot,” Nick said after thinking it over. “Saul and Jackson, gather your teams and report to Richard and Mac this afternoon. You need to leave in the morning. Whatever happens, blow those bridges, but not before you pull our forces back across the river.”
“Yes, Sergeant,” Jackson and Saul confirmed.
“Then we’re done here. You all know what to do, so get to it,” Nick said. “And good luck to you all.”
Chapter 16 - Mike
Mike strode past the assembled men and women of his community, inspecting each one with a keen eye. They looked ready. Tough and capable, plus armed to the teeth.
Behind them stood a line of trucks and motorbikes, many of them reinforced with sheets of metal, and steel spikes. One even had a snowplow affixed to the front.
“I like the improvements you’ve made,” Alex said with an admiring look. “You’ve got a real Mad Max vibe going there.”
Mike laughed. “You can thank the young ones for that. They thought of it, and I let them have their way.”
“Smart,” Alex replied before moving away.
Mike raised his hands for attention. “Alright, everyone. You’ve all heard about the second horde. It’s
