drown out the drones, and the herd would turn toward us just as the plane set down and taxied—the noisiest part of the extraction. Without cover from the snipers, and in the thick fog, they could be on top of us before we knew it.
My head was throbbing with the action, and I could hear the blood rushing in my ears.
Behind us, at the water’s edge, I watched as the fog turned into movement, and the movement turned to bodies.
“Copy, Iron Eagle. We’ll see you in three.”
I had been inside too long. I needed a release.
“You go. I’ll buy a little time.” I walked forward, not away. Toward the creatures mustering at the shore, feet stumbling for purchase on the slippery rocks. Gripping my Pathfinder in one hand by the modified stock, so that it was essentially an axe, I drew the machete with the other hand. Beside me, Kate’s form materialized.
“Not going to let you play alone,” she said, staring at the mist and gripping her weapons tightly.
The blood was pounding in my head, and I needed the rush. But I smiled at her attitude.
Rhodes and the others moved toward the end of the runway.
There were nearly fifty of them onshore already, more clamoring behind. The bulk still struggled to find footing on the uneven rocks. Those that had emerged were awkward, as if unused to walking. Trails of water dripped behind them as they struggled forward.
We met them halfway.
I swung the modified shotgun as if it was nothing, and it felt like nothing. It was weightless in my hands. I heard, rather than saw, the head hit the ground, even as I pivoted instinctively to the next body. The torso split in two as I aimed low, and I saw Kate’s machete claim another head as I ducked the arms of the next creature, slicing up with my left hand and severing the arm at the armpit, and taking the head from below. The blade vibrated slightly as it sheared through the spine at an angle.
I rolled forward, throwing both arms out to the sides, and taking the legs from two more as they moved forward. Both bodies fell, as their momentum carried them, toppling toward me, teeth gnashing and arms still searching. I threw my arms wide and caught each by the chest with my forearms as they fell. Their heads whipped toward my own and I completed the motion, smashing their torsos together with a tremendous effort and hearing the satisfying crunch of ribs and sternums. Turning quickly, I pushing both bodies away and took the heads with one swipe of the Pathfinder, even as I spun to meet the next wave.
Kate’s movements were far more graceful. She danced and spun, her movement reminiscent of a ballet dancer, when mine was far more direct. I flung and crushed and stormed and thrashed. She pivoted and twirled and jumped. Not a single creature touched her as she moved through them, like a dancer at a ball.
She was magnificent.
My own style, as unattractive as it may have been, was just as effective.
Within minutes, bodies surrounded us. We had bought the others some time.
Hundreds more were climbing from the water.
It was time to leave.
This was my head talking. My body screamed for more.
“Better move,” said Kate, and I nodded. We started to run, even as the sound of four massive propellers cut through the fog, a low drone on the horizon.
SEVEN
The mist was a blessing and a curse. We couldn’t see more than fifty feet ahead, but we knew that it shrouded our movements as we shadowed the herd of corpses that shuffled along ahead of us. The engine noise grew louder, competing with, and ultimately overpowering the music and acoustic clatter from the overflying drones, now focusing on providing a musical target farther to the west.
The tarmac was filthy with pieces of clothing and other matter, the exact nature of which I could only imagine, seeing that it was the leavings of a herd of thousands of living dead. In the near distance, a small commuter jet was off on the grass between runways, canted slightly to the side, one wing sticking
My head was throbbing with the action, and I could hear the blood rushing in my ears.
Behind us, at the water’s edge, I watched as the fog turned into movement, and the movement turned to bodies.
“Copy, Iron Eagle. We’ll see you in three.”
I had been inside too long. I needed a release.
“You go. I’ll buy a little time.” I walked forward, not away. Toward the creatures mustering at the shore, feet stumbling for purchase on the slippery rocks. Gripping my Pathfinder in one hand by the modified stock, so that it was essentially an axe, I drew the machete with the other hand. Beside me, Kate’s form materialized.
“Not going to let you play alone,” she said, staring at the mist and gripping her weapons tightly.
The blood was pounding in my head, and I needed the rush. But I smiled at her attitude.
Rhodes and the others moved toward the end of the runway.
There were nearly fifty of them onshore already, more clamoring behind. The bulk still struggled to find footing on the uneven rocks. Those that had emerged were awkward, as if unused to walking. Trails of water dripped behind them as they struggled forward.
We met them halfway.
I swung the modified shotgun as if it was nothing, and it felt like nothing. It was weightless in my hands. I heard, rather than saw, the head hit the ground, even as I pivoted instinctively to the next body. The torso split in two as I aimed low, and I saw Kate’s machete claim another head as I ducked the arms of the next creature, slicing up with my left hand and severing the arm at the armpit, and taking the head from below. The blade vibrated slightly as it sheared through the spine at an angle.
I rolled forward, throwing both arms out to the sides, and taking the legs from two more as they moved forward. Both bodies fell, as their momentum carried them, toppling toward me, teeth gnashing and arms still searching. I threw my arms wide and caught each by the chest with my forearms as they fell. Their heads whipped toward my own and I completed the motion, smashing their torsos together with a tremendous effort and hearing the satisfying crunch of ribs and sternums. Turning quickly, I pushing both bodies away and took the heads with one swipe of the Pathfinder, even as I spun to meet the next wave.
Kate’s movements were far more graceful. She danced and spun, her movement reminiscent of a ballet dancer, when mine was far more direct. I flung and crushed and stormed and thrashed. She pivoted and twirled and jumped. Not a single creature touched her as she moved through them, like a dancer at a ball.
She was magnificent.
My own style, as unattractive as it may have been, was just as effective.
Within minutes, bodies surrounded us. We had bought the others some time.
Hundreds more were climbing from the water.
It was time to leave.
This was my head talking. My body screamed for more.
“Better move,” said Kate, and I nodded. We started to run, even as the sound of four massive propellers cut through the fog, a low drone on the horizon.
SEVEN
The mist was a blessing and a curse. We couldn’t see more than fifty feet ahead, but we knew that it shrouded our movements as we shadowed the herd of corpses that shuffled along ahead of us. The engine noise grew louder, competing with, and ultimately overpowering the music and acoustic clatter from the overflying drones, now focusing on providing a musical target farther to the west.
The tarmac was filthy with pieces of clothing and other matter, the exact nature of which I could only imagine, seeing that it was the leavings of a herd of thousands of living dead. In the near distance, a small commuter jet was off on the grass between runways, canted slightly to the side, one wing sticking
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