One corner of the roof was hastily being stacked with supplies. This would be their last fall-back position, should the school become overrun. Q had surprised folks when he busied himself with bringing ammunition up to the roof and offering to be a runner. Maybe it was just self-preservation, but John would take any help he could get from the surly teenager.
John figured that none of the zombies would be able to climb ladders, and even if they did, the roof hatch would only allow one to come up at a time.
Turkey shoot.
The undead would have a battle on their hands to get that far. The basement level and main floor had been emptied and locked up. They had pulled the large mats out of the basement gym and these were going to be laid down and secured in place on the stairs. Any zombie would struggle to make it up the improvised slide. Ben, Joe, Romy, and Keith would be waiting for them on the first landing. They had arranged the same setup for the second set of stairs behind them and would retreat to the top should the first position fall. In the meantime, the evacuation to the roof would occur.
Shelley got Joe and Keith to move Mel upstairs and out onto the roof already, just in case. They somehow figured out a way to strap the woman onto an improvised stretcher. Mel argued viciously, calling John every name in the book. She wanted to be in the fight. In the end John relented enough to let her have her own rifle. He figured Mel could put the undead down faster than they could make it up the ladder and onto the roof.
Well, he hoped so, anyway.
But that would only happen if both Plan A and B failed. John didn’t want to think about that, so he hopped into the lead Humvee with one last wave to those remaining at the school.
The vehicles pulled out soon after. There was no time for goodbyes, just a hastily yelled out “Good luck” by Joe as he shut the gate behind them, wrapped and tied a long chain between the gate and fence post, and retreated back into the school.
“Careful,” John warned Mike.
He need not have worried. The veteran was well aware of the hidden danger. Mike pulled straight up onto the sidewalk and then into the front yard of the house across the street. He followed the beaten down path across several yards to the next road and turned away from their trap, with BB hot on his heels.
They hit the gas once they reached the pavement, the powerful six-liter V8 engines roaring as the two vehicles sped towards their target locations. The vehicles had gone less than a block when the radio in John’s vehicle chirped.
“Abi, this is Breanne. Come in, over.”
Abi looked over at Mike in surprise and answered.
“Can you relay a message to John for me, over.”
“He can hear you, over.”
“What do you call a soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray? ... A seasoned veteran, over.”
John guffawed despite himself.
“10-4, Breanne. Good luck, over,” Abi managed before joining the laughter.
Chapter 47
Jack
November 9, 1:30 P.M.
Inside the building, people were hustling into positions. Most were wide-eyed with fear. Jack was an exception. He was focused on the radio and maintaining contact with Abi and Breanne. Ethan would be joining him as soon as he was done moving gear to the roof.
“Jack.”
It was his mom, calling his name from the doorway. Jack quickly put down the headset and walked to her. Mother and son embraced in silence.
“It’s OK, Mom,” Jack said as they drew apart. To his surprise, she was smiling.
“You’re just like your father,” she said as she held him at arms’ length. “Always looking out for those around you.” She ran her hand through his hair, pulling the bangs away from his forehead. “I’m proud of you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom,” Jack replied, trying to control his emotions.
She ran her fingers through his hair again. “Remind me to give you a haircut, after this is over.” It was her way of saying that they would get through this.
“OK, Mom.”
She turned away without another word. “I’ll see you soon,” she called over her shoulder as she walked into the hallway and out of sight.
Jack had walked back to the desk and was just about to sit down when he heard somebody else approaching. To his surprise, it was Nat. She had a massive rifle slung over her shoulder. It was so large that she had to stoop to get through the doorway.
“Hey,” She said simply as she walked in.
“Is that a big gun you’re carrying, or are you just happy to see me?” Jack surprised himself with his own quick wit. Ordinarily, he probably would have stood there with a dumbfounded look on his face. Something about Nat put him at ease.
“Oh, ha-ha,” she replied sarcastically. Her face became more serious as she stepped closer. “I just wanted to wish you luck — and tell you to be safe.”
Jack grinned nonchalantly. “Hey, I’m just manning a radio — not leading the charge into battle or any—”
Jack broke off as Nat stepped closer and looked up into his face. Jack noticed how large her pupils were and noticed her slightly crooked nose — its imperfection somehow adding to her beauty.
He felt slightly flustered. All he could muster was, “Um...”
Um?
