Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 3): March by Dave Rowlands Page B

by the hundreds that they kept chained up to be used at their leisure.
     
    I told The Principal then of The Abbott and Biker, and all that had entailed.  He looked grim, and told me that he had heard that The Disciple had been from a group that had been led by a religious figure called The Abbott.  The group had been wiped out, apparently, all save for one.  Apocalypse Girl and I exchanged a concerned look.  The Principal told us not to be too worried, as The Followers, though a fairly large group, were a good distance away and they mark their territory  clearly.  They enjoyed crucifying anyone who survives an encounter with them, it seemed, and their portion of the city was well-decorated with strung up Dead and dying.
     
    The good news that he had for us was about another, far friendlier group, that The School occasionally had dealings with.  Calling themselves The Mech-Techs they specialised in automotive engineering, having started as a few mechanics surviving alone in a small chopshop on the eastern edge of town.  They had grown, as the odd survivor had discovered them, moved their headquarters a couple of times, and had recently returned to their starting location with a hundred people, heavily armed, and about twenty working vehicles most of which were reinforced and well prepared for the rigours of post apocalyptic Australia.  The Principal had heard recently that The Mech-Techs had even acquired a petrol refinery, but he wasn't sure he believed it.  Still, refinery or no, he advised us to seek them out and try to get a vehicle from them, if possible.
     
    noon
    Later on in the day, Apocalypse Girl's phone jangled with a message from The Smart Couple.  They had managed to hook up with another group of survivors, only three strong.  Still heading to The Facility, but they hadn't yet told their new comrades about it.  Apocalypse Girl told them in turn that we had a possible lead on a vehicle and would be moving out from Melbourne within the next couple of days.  Barely a minute after she sent this last text, her phone blorped once and died.  She swore, and put it away.
     
    After a tasty lunch of freshly baked bread and stale cheese we, that is the ten survivors of The Think Tank, discussed the relative benefits of remaining with this community.  The Twin and Archer, together with our medical friends from Japan and Foreman had already committed themselves to staying, Firecracker and Redbeard had decided that heading to The Facility once we return from Canberra would be a better move.  Apocalypse Girl, speaking for me as well, said that we planned to stay here once we get back.  Sister simply shrugged, saying she'd decide later.  After all, those of us that were going with The Colonel had to make it there and back safely first.
     
    Apocalypse Girl and I relayed everything that we had learned from The Principal at breakfast, both about The Followers of this Disciple person, and The Mech-Techs as well.  The news of the former was greeted with a mixture of disgust, anger and a little fear.  The latter, on the other hand, was met with a small celebration from the rest of us making the journey.
     
     

evening
    Guide came in after we had eaten, telling us that a fairly large group of Dead had moved through the street that the furniture shop was on.  He offered to give us a hand cleaning them out tomorrow morning if we wanted him, as there were a bunch of Schoolfolk in there with The Colonel, keeping her company in her exile, at least temporarily.  I asked him what he knew of The Mech-Techs, and he replied by saying that all of those that he had met had been decent people, but harsh bargainers.  Apocalypse Girl wondered aloud what they might want in exchange for the use of one of their vehicles.  Guide looked mildly concerned for a moment, then shook his head slightly.  He said that no matter what it was, the price would be a high one.
     
    Redbeard assured him that we would manage, one way or