Even from my vantage point, I could see part of the twenty-foot-long ramp, which had indeed slammed downward, hovering over the water. The Stargazer, idling mere yards away, rapidly closed the gap, and as soon as the crewmen secured the ramp, I held my breath, hoping to see the van roll aboard.
But it didn’t.
What the hell are you doing, Clare?
Apparently, the crew and passengers of the Stargazer were as perplexed as I was. I could see a few of them standing near the railing, beckoning frantically. I couldn’t tell if any zombies had made it through the warehouse rubble, which would explain the nervous vibe of the folks on the boat, or if it was simply a matter of run-of-the-mill anxiety and impatience brought about by the horrendous events of the past few days.
Either way, I suddenly wished I’d thought to grab a walkie-talkie before hopping out of the van. Then, maybe I could’ve urged Clare to get a move on.
Because I couldn’t see her—or hear much of anything over the undead moans and hisses around me—I didn’t know what was happening down below. Maybe the van had conked out on her. Maybe zombies had gotten wedged beneath the rear tires. Maybe… maybe she refused to leave without me.
Cuz let’s face it, I wouldn’t go without her either.
Though the sentiment touched me, I didn’t want her to wait one second longer.
“Go, Clare!” I shouted futilely. “Get your ass on that boat!”
I doubted she could hear me, but she could certainly hear the ear-blasting horn that someone—probably Captain Sal himself—blared from the boat. Despite her reluctance to hit the gas, that seemed to do the trick. Slowly, the van rolled onto the ferry’s lower deck.
Almost immediately, the crewmen released the ramp, and the ferry pulled away from the dock. I watched as Clare hopped out and ran toward the starboard side, arguing with the workers and waving her arms toward the tower.
Clearly, the captain of the Stargazer had no intention of waiting for me. And really, who could blame him? He’d likely seen the zombies surrounding the control room. He probably figured I was a goner—and not worth risking his neck for.
Besides, for all he knew, the creatures would find a way to crawl through the rubble or climb over the wall and ultimately invade the vessel. A lot of people, including his daughter, were counting on him to keep them alive. He had no choice but to move on down the river.
Leaving me behind wouldn’t sit well with Clare, but as much as I didn’t want to die—or lose my family—I had to admit… if I’d been in Captain Sal’s shoes, I would’ve done the same damn thing.
I exhaled. Clare and Azazel were safe. And that was all that mattered.
As if mocking my relief, a window behind me shattered. I whirled around, unholstered my pistol, and executed the overeager zombie who’d busted through the glass. His body fell limply out of sight, but another goddamn monster soon took his place.
One down. Hundreds more to go.
Chapter
25
“We are now up against live, hostile targets. So, if Little Red Riding Hood should show up with a bazooka and a bad attitude, I expect you to chin the bitch.” – Sergeant Harry Wells, Dog Soldiers (2002)
More glass cracked and broke apart under the pressure, but thankfully, all the windows surrounding the control room sported small, rectangular panes, held together by metal lattices. As with the shelving unit blocking the door, they wouldn’t prevent the inevitable invasion, but they might ensure me a little time to figure out my next—and possibly last—move.
Cuz fuck this, I’m not giving up yet.
I didn’t have the foggiest idea where I’d go if I managed to extricate myself from such a no-win situation, but after all I’d done to survive the zombie apocalypse thus far, I couldn’t simply throw in the towel.
I faced the door I’d entered, the one straining from the pressure of countless zombies on the landing. Unfortunately, it was the only obvious way out.
While a second winching device sat opposite the first one—and likely operated the boat ramp next to the tower—there was no door on that side. The control room had just one, solitary entrance—and a crap-ton of useless windows. Useless because my would-be attackers had them all covered.
“Well, Joe, what the fuck are you gonna do now?”
Originally, I’d hoped to scramble back over the wall and follow the van onto the ferryboat, but clearly, that option was out. Too many damn zombies stood between me and the wall—and too large a gap now lay between me and the slowly drifting vessel.
I glanced up at the sagging ceiling and spotted a skylight. If I could somehow reach the opening and bust myself through it, perhaps I could climb onto the roof of the tower, leap over the zombie-filled landing, and grab the wall on the way down.
Yeah, right. And if farts were bars of gold, I’d be a rich man.
Obviously, that was a no-go. Same with trying to battle my way down the staircase. I only had two guns, a handful of bullets, and mere fumes left in the tank. Adrenaline had kept me standing when I should’ve been hibernating, but even self-preservation had its limits. The rotten fuckers would devour me before I got halfway to the ground.
Sighing in frustration, I turned toward the windows facing the river. Beyond the walking corpses pounding on the glass, I could still see the Stargazer. Although Captain Sal had guided her away from shore, he hadn’t left the area yet.
Apparently, Clare wouldn’t give in without a fight either. She’d already lost enough today.
I was grateful for having such a loyal,
