“Might want to get a move on,” he urged, “we don’t want to be anywhere near here when that thing goes off.”
Jarvis peeled out of the parking lot, headed away from the main road towards the smaller pack. As she started to plow through them, there was a gigantic explosion behind them. They checked the rearview mirrors, seeing a fireball engulfed in smoke rise a hundred feet into the air.
“That oughta get their attention,” Jarvis declared.
Burch laughed. “If Captain Odom asks, it was Jinx’s idea,” he suggested.
She shook her head vehemently. “Hell no!” she declared. “He isn’t stealing credit for this one.”
CHAPTER SIX
Jinx led the group of four through the neighborhood, taking shelter in a house to examine where they were. He studied the map with Davila looking over his shoulder as the other two kept watch out the front and back of the house.
“Pretty sure we lost that pack,” Rollins reported. “A couple of them just wandered by and didn’t even so much as look our way.”
Jinx nodded. “Good,” he replied, “let me know if that changes.” He studied the map, tracing his finger along the route they’d taken to get to the house. “Did we go five or six blocks?” he asked.
“Pretty sure it was five,” Davila replied.
“Okay, that puts us here,” the Corporal said, pointing. “Just a block away from the shopping district and three away from the bridge.”
Davila nodded. “We didn’t have that much resistance getting up here,” he said, “so hopefully the bridge isn’t too bad.”
“The gunfire from the ship isn’t too present up here,” Jinx replied, “so hopefully it won’t alert too many of them.”
Davila raised an eyebrow. “And if it is?” he asked.
“Then let’s hope Jarvis keeps that truck in one piece,” the Corporal replied, folding up the map and returning it to his pocket.
“Speaking of them, any idea how we’re going to signal them?” Davila asked, stepping back as his superior got to his feet.
Jinx nodded. “I say we get to the shops the next block up and see what we see.”
“Stein, how we looking on the backside?” Davila asked.
“Yard is clear and haven’t seen anything on the next street,” came the reply. “Could be hiding behind the houses, but none of them have walked by.”
Jinx checked his weapons. “All right, let’s get moving,” he instructed. “We have a half block of houses until the stores. If it’s crowded, find the first place with multiple exits we can get into. If it’s not, let’s find the most useful.”
He headed for the back door, his team in tow. They readied themselves, doing one last sweep of the yard.
“Silent if possible,” he said. “Light them the fuck up if not.”
The soldiers nodded as the Corporal opened the door and led them out. They rushed through the backyard to the next set of houses by the first row of shops across the street. Jinx paused at the first house and looked out.
There were half a dozen standalone shops, none of them in mini-mall style buildings. They were mostly a few small consignment shops, all of which were built into existing homes.
“Ain’t this all nice and quaint,” Stein murmured.
“Yeah, just dress up the zombies in formal wear and it can be a real tourist trap,” Rollins added.
Jinx held up a hand. “Come on, let’s move up,” he said quietly.
He led them across the street, moving swiftly so that they didn’t draw too much attention to themselves. They sidled up next to one of the businesses, and he noticed one of the zombies had seen them and wandered towards their position.
“Rollins, hang back and handle it when it gets here,” Jinx instructed quietly. “Davila, let’s see what we’re working with.”
The duo moved to the back side of the building, which butt up against another. They inched their way up to the corner, peering out over the road.
There were a few dozen zombies on the roadway and in the parking lots of the businesses. They were spread out well, covering about a hundred yards. Across the street was a large grocery store, and on either side were mini-malls packed full of random stores.
“What do you think, grocery store?” Davila asked.
Jinx shook his head. “No, too many of those things around,” he murmured. “We need to stay mobile.”
On the right they saw the front edge of the bridge, but the bulk of it was blocked from view by the buildings.
“Stay here,” the Corporal said quietly, “I’m going to scout the bridge.”
Davila nodded as Jinx carefully moved out in front of the building, creeping along the wall as close as he could. He darted down a few buildings before ducking down the alley, taking cover. He scanned the area, happy to note that none of the corpses had taken notice.
From this vantage point, Jinx could see the bridge, and that it was sparsely populated with zombies, maybe fifty or so running the entire length of the structure. At the far end was the main shopping district, and there was a lot of movement down the street and on the side street running along the bridge.
If we can get to the other side, we can push through and start causing some trouble, he thought to himself. Pleased with what he’d seen, he worked his way back to the others. His footsteps attracted the attention of a few zombies on the road, and they turned, moaning and shambling towards them.
Jinx reached the others just as Rollins jammed a knife into the skull of a zombie. Davila kept an eye on the two that were giving chase to the Corporal, relieved that it was only a duo and not more. Stein joined them as Rollins kept watch on the back end.
“How did it look out there?” Davila asked.
Jinx leaned in. “Bridge is spread out
