“They seem to revert back to base aggression. They bite and scratch and hit. They do not seem to know how to use tools or weapons.”
“The undead continue to attack the living and will continue to attack until the person is dead, or unresponsive. At that point they leave the body and attempt to find another victim.”
Tammy shuddered. This was clearly making her uncomfortable. But she was a professional and continued.
“In our city, the rescue of uninfected people has been going on for a couple of days now. Three to four times a day, multiple convoys of busses leave for their intended area, to pick up folks from their homes. We do not have an accurate count but estimate that between eight to ten thousand people have made it to the safe zone so far.”
“Army officials have been tight-lipped over their own operations, but there are multiple reports detailing staggeringly high infection rates amongst our armed forces. One leaked report contains the following:”
HAPS infection rates for all full-time military service branches is currently estimated at 99.5%
Military services are anticipated to lose operational and combat effectiveness within 72 to 96 hours. We recommend that military forces be given carte blanche authority in use of force, in order to meet mission objectives. We have no time for, and can not allow, any delay.
“We have heard that there have been incidents between civilians in vehicles and army units. The army is doing everything it can to keep the primary roads and highways clear, and anybody that tries to take these roads are ordered to turn around or get off the road.”
“The people that are here at the safe zone have told us stories of busses running over people, both dead and alive. We have also heard many times about troops firing on people. Safe zone officials have had no comment regarding these accusations. I have also witnessed first-hand the gathering of several zombies outside of the very fences around our safe zone. Security personnel seem unsure on how to handle this.”
THE INTERNET WOULD provide answers to questions that officials refused to answer. One of the websites that quickly grew in popularity was “Syndrome end of days.org”.
The website offered a simple forum for posting messages. Peter Delonge had posted something recently. He was on the inside, as it were. He had been picked up in one of the first extractions and was residing in a safe zone. His post this evening was short and to the point.
Don’t come to the safe zones!
People here are scared. There have been several confirmed cases of people infected with HAPS inside the this so called ‘safe zone’. Their scanners ain’t worth shit! Let me tell ya. Fact is, if you got a tummy ache, then you probably got the HAPS. Well, guess what; A lot of people here got tummy aches!
And where’s all the army folks? When I first got here there must have been a thousand of them running around, but now I figure there’s less than a hundred! Where’d they go? I’ll tell ya. They got infected just like the rest of us!
People, if you truly don’t have the HAPS then you got to hide somewhere! I’m gonna try to get out of here. But truth is, I got a tummy ache too...
Chapter Twenty-two
October 27, 11:45 AM
Acceptance.
When the world around you has gone to shit. When the virus boils in your gut and you know there is no escape. When you have seen loved ones suffer and die – from matriarch to the youngest child. When there are things outside your door that seek to harm you. You struggle to your feet, stumble to the door, and open it to accept the embrace.
PRESIDENT CLARKSTON made another televised address to the nation. He was clearly at a different location. The wall behind him was concrete, and the desk in front of him, while still a fine desk, was far less ornate than his English oak desk at the white house.
“My people.”
He stared straight at the camera for a few seconds without another word. It is clear to anybody that this man had a great love for his country and its inhabitants. It is also clear that this was all weighing very heavily on this man’s shoulders.
“I am speaking to you from one of our bunkers. I hope that you are also in a safe environment.”
“I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to all of our public servants, our armed forces, our first responders, our police services, and the many people and organizations that support our country from behind the scenes. Our federal and state employees have worked tirelessly to organize the safe zones, in which an estimated sixty million civilians have taken refuge. Many of our people have worked countless hours to keep this country running. ... Thank you for your service.”
“Many of us are infected with the syndrome. I, myself am infected.”
This shocking admission stunned an entire nation. However, David Clarkston was not a man given to melodrama. He continued.
“It is estimated that over eighty percent of our population is currently infected, and I have been told that this number is bound to rise. I am told that the level of infection is in direct correlation to the onset and severity of the symptoms. Many people have started feeling the symptoms over the last 24 hours. Like myself.”
“It is further estimated that close to one quarter of the people that are infected with the syndrome have succumbed to the virus and have re-animated. These undead are very dangerous! They are not contagious but avoid them if at all possible. They will attack any living person.”
“I have instructed our remaining armed forces to form up into brigades at our bigger cities, and regiments at our smaller cities and rural locations. These groups are to focus on the elimination of the
