existence as I stood there. Godzilla and King Kong side by side would have been less frightening (not really, just using that for dramatic effect) but I was pretty petrified.
Not one, not two, but three Terex 5500’s had already crashed through what little fortification the base had offered. Sure one was completely ablaze but that wasn’t stopping its progress. Multiple rocket launchers fired from different locations on the trucks. This I could tell by the telltale smoke trail. ‘Humans? Why?’ Then the second wave of despair crashed into me. The putrefied, pustulant smell of the dead. I tracked my visage lower, thousands of zombies were rambling into the base. ‘Humans and zombies? Why?’ I asked again. Only one thing in the world could have pulled this off, Eliza, the bitch that had planted the tree that had the evil roots.
I stood a few moments longer watching as the two trucks that were seemingly still fully functional raised their dumps up to discharge their payloads. Hundreds, maybe thousands of zombies spilled onto the ground, many became damaged or even crushed from the not so fragile dismounting, but true to their kind, they didn’t seem to mind all that much. The trucks looked like they were taking huge shits, the sight and smell confirmed my thoughts. Time to get moving.
Escape from this base was impossible. Eliza had pulled it off. I could have and I should have ended this all months ago, if I had just let Justin take that original shot back when we first came across Eliza. I felt weak. I had let my humanity rule back then and now Eliza was going to make me pay for it, in spades, some diamonds and maybe even with a heart or two. I ran back to the hummer, the glow plugs seeming to take hours to ignite, giving me ample time to lament my decision for this detour. It wasn’t that the time lost would have spared me the coming fate. It’s just that I would have been able to have a few more moments of life with my family. The hummer started. I put it into drive and slammed my foot down on the accelerator. I rolled out of the parking lot at a whopping 10 mph.
My next stop was the base hospital. Thankfully it was back towards the barracks. If I had to go forward I wouldn’t have made it. I wasn’t being pessimistic, just realistic. I would have tried because I had to, but I wouldn’t have made it. I grabbed my precious cargo that I had liberated from the commissary and headed into the hospital.
Doctors, nurses and patients were running around trying for an orderly mass evacuation. Where the hell they were going to go was beyond me. I heard one voice above all others.
“Someone had better tell me what the fuck is going on!!” The voice boomed from Room 312.
“Oh what is it Lawrence?” I said as I ran into his room.
“Oh fucking Talbot, man, I am so glad to see you. And if you ever call me Lawrence again I’m going to rip your head off and shove it up a zombie’s ass. What’s going on? Forget that, get me out of this contraption.”
I got over to the side of his bed and began to undo the traction sling that had his leg suspended.
“Seriously though Talbot, what is going on?”
“Pretty much the end game BT. Eliza somehow got people to work with the zombies. They got these huge trucks and just stormed the gates. At least a couple of thousand of the rotten meat bags have breached the gates.” I helped BT into a sitting position.
“How much time do we have?” He asked.
“None.”
“Say again. Because it sounded like you said none.”
“There’s no way off this base bud.”
“Than what are you doing here?”
“Personal reasons BT, I was afraid that if the zombies got to you and turned you, the first person you’d come and try to eat would be me. And you already scare the shit out of me without being a monster too.”
“Fucken hilarious.”
“My wife tells me that too. Let’s go.”
“Mike I’m just going to slow you down. Go spend these last few minutes with your family.”
“See I knew you were going to say that. So I got you a present.” I ran out to the hallway and grabbed my ‘gift’ and drove it in.
“A scooter? You got me a scooter? Do I look like I should be collecting social security benefits?”
He was giving me shit the whole time, but he was still shuffling his ass over and onto his cherry red ride.
The scooter sagged under the assault of his weight. Such an inappropriate time, but I couldn’t help it, laughter started slowly in my gut and frothed out my mouth.
“What are you laughing at Talbot?”
It took me a bit before I could get it out. The effect of my words on BT made me break out into a fresh chortle. “You look like a Russian bear on a tricycle.” I told him. It wasn’t nearly as funny when he ran over my toes.
“Yeah not so hilarious now is it?” He said as he drove out into the hall.
“It sort of is.”
“This thing has reverse Talbot, don’t make me use it. Where we going?”
“Ambulance exit, hope my ride is still there.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN - JOURNAL ENTRY 13 - 
Tracy was at the entrance to our building, her demeanor shifted from ‘worried sick’ to ‘where has your ass been' as I pulled up.
“Talbot, everything’s packed. We’re ready. Are we all going to fit in that thing?”
“Get the shit and get back upstairs.”
Tracy seemed to misinterpret my message. She looked relieved.
“They’ve been stopped?” She asked.
“Not so much, this is Camp Custer after all.”
“What’s going on Mike?”
“Trace get the boys, grab the stuff and head back upstairs, I’ll tell you when we get there.”
She was definitely not appreciating my curt manner.
“Hon, remember that huge truck?”
She nodded.
“There’s three more coming and they’re full of zombies, there’s zombies everywhere. There is no way to get off this base.”
I watched as the light of hope in her eyes flickered and then went out.
“So this is it then?” She asked looking straight into my eyes.
“Oh come on, you know me better than that.” I said. Not really a lie, I never said we’d get out.
BT pulled his bulk out of the hummer. Tracy was relieved to see him. She ran over to help support him, as much as a 110 pound woman can support a 300-pound man. But it was the thought that counts.
I could tell BT was really laying it on thick with Tracy. “Mike.” He said through gritted teeth and a false pained expression. “Could you get my ride?”
“That thing is heavier than hell, you get it out of the trunk.” I said.
“Mike!” Tracy shot back.
“Fine.” I answered.
As they headed into the building, BT turned over his shoulder and threw me a wink. He mouthed the words, ‘That’s for calling me Lawrence, asswipe.’
“Real nice, real nice. That’s the last time I risk Armageddon to come get your over sized ass.”
“Mike!” Tracy yelled from within the foyer.
“Fine! But if I get a hernia lifting this thing out, you’re the one that’s going to have to push my intestines back in.”
“Uh huh.” I heard from her as she headed upstairs, BT daintily leaning on her shoulder.
Gunfire had diminished significantly. I didn’t take that as a good sign. The earth was still trembling under my feet, which meant at least one and probably more of those behemoths were operational. I stowed BT’s new ride under the stairwell. I don’t know why. I honestly didn’t think that he’d ever get the opportunity to use it again.
Travis was looking out the window when I got up to the room.
