Surviving The Dead: Heartland Zombie Apocalypse Vol. 1 by Marty Brockschmidt Page A

lots of places for them to nest.  Let get what we are here for and get back out.  Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouths shut.”, Sgt. Andrews said in a 'I don't expect any nonsense' tone.
     
    Sgt. Andrews kept his squad on the loading dock to keep watch and to assist in loading the trucks.  The other two squads were assigned a soldier to guard them as they salvaged supplies from the store.  The final soldier took a jeep to the end of the line of trucks to guard their rear. The building supplies they wanted were closest to the loading dock and they began loading and moving them out as quick as they could, constantly taking a moment to look over their shoulders to make sure a Dee was not creeping up on them.
     
    An hour into the work even the big guy Mac was starting to wear from all the lifting.  No more dead had shown themselves and they were nearing the end of the list.
     
    Mac called a short break, “Tobin you and Ed get to work on the fencing and Althea and I will get this load of posts out to the dock and be back with a couple of empty carts.”
     
    Once they left Ed started to chatter, “We got this gig licked Tobin.  Can't wait till we roll up with all this stuff.  Folks back home are gonna treat us like heroes.”
     
    Tobin was atop a rolling stairway tossing down rolls of fence, “Sergeant said keep our mouths shut.”
     
    “Tobin don't be that way, it just like the outlet mall nothins in here.”, Ed pouted.
     
    Tobin touched the shell casing, from Crystal, that was hanging around his neck, “Ed I don't intend on getting my ass chewed off, cause your dickin around.  If you can't keep your mouth shut come up here and start hauling fence.”
     
    Ed complied, “Alright alright I'm on it.” 
     
    Ed was quiet then for all of 30 seconds and started up again, “Hey Tobin that Amelia Cavendish she's pretty hot ain't she.  Do you think I could have a shot with her,  I mean goin on this deal has got to count for something don't it.”
     
    Tobin just ignored him and kept tossing down rolls of fencing until he heard Ed scream.   Looking down Tobin saw one Dee ripping out Ed's throat and a second one coming up the stairway towards him.  Tobin chucked a roll of fence at its chest knocking it back down the stairway.
     
    Tobin pulled his machete and yelled “Dee's”.
     
    Scrambling down the stairway and past the dead one pinned under the roll of fence, Tobin split its skull   Moving quickly Tobin pulled the other dead one off of Ed and ran his machete up under its jaw through the top of its skull.  Tobin put his foot on the things face and jerked his machete free as he scanned about looking for more of the dead.  Seeing none Tobin went over to Ed who was covering the gaping wound in his throat with one hand.  Tobin grabbed Ed's other hand and helped him sit down.
     
    By then Mac and Blade were back and all they could do at that point is watch Ed bleed out.  Once Ed had died, Blade rolled Ed onto his stomach and pulled his knife.
     
    “I guess I'm the closest to a friend Ed had in this world.  Its the least I can do.”, Tobin stated as he slipped his machete up the back of Ed's skull.
     
    Blade radioed the other squads and ordered them to pull back to the loading dock.  They wrapped Ed's body in a tarp, loaded it onto a cart and pulled back to the loading dock as well.  Blade quickly filled in Sgt. Andrews as to what transpired.  When Blade finished Sgt. Andrews turned to Joe Gant.
     
    “I know there is still a lot of stuff we would like from in there, but we got to cut that list down to what we absolutely need.  It is too dark in there and too big, I don't want to pay any more than what we have already.”
     
    “We still need more fencing and posts.  We need some tools and nails and bolts.  I could go with you in there point out exactly what we need.”, Joe offered.
     
    “Mister Gant you need to build this wall once we get back, I ain't risking your ass for