Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse (Book 3): Salvation by Joshua Jared Scott

captain know about this,” remarked Lieutenant Gikas. “We’ve spotted
some on the west coast, pets, maybe zoo animals, that escaped or were released.
They are going to become an established species soon.”
    “Maybe
that will keep them from going extinct,” said Mary. She rounded on the men. “No
shooting the tigers! Unless they try to eat you.”

 
    Interlude – Briana’s Story
     
     
    “What do
you mean there are forty thousand zombies on the interstate?”
    Harlan
Jones, resident expert in charge of our communications system, winced at her harsh
tone. “That’s what the pilot said. There are at least that many marching down
I-90 toward Rapid City. The things are strung out for over ten miles with more
lagging behind.”
    “Zombies
bad,” declared Asher. The toddler was sitting on the carpet playing with his
wood trains. He had yet to see one of the monsters with his own eyes, but the
boy knew full well that they were something to be avoided.
    “Yes,
they are,” affirmed Briana. “How far away?”
    “Maybe
twenty miles from the city limits. They will be inside this time tomorrow.”
    “No,
they won’t. Jacob didn’t go through all that trouble clearing the place so it
could be looted to have to restart now. We can’t do it all over again, not with
so many having to go to Yellowstone.”
    “Not
much we can do about this,” said Marcus. “That’s too many for us to simply
shoot. We would have to set up firing lines and major obstacles, and we can’t
do that in the time we have.”
    While
Briana and I were technically in charge with the nifty titles of consul, it was
standard practice to bring in others whenever anything important arose. The
people consulted varied, based on what was being discussed and who was
available. In this case Marcus, Steph, and Lizzy were participating.
    “The
fu…” Lizzy stopped herself, glancing at my son and pointedly avoiding the look
of death Briana was sending her way. “Since we can’t shoot, we get them to go
somewhere else instead.”
    “Same
problem,” pointed out Marcus. “That’s too many to risk sending a car out to
lead them away. The driver’s bound to get swarmed.”
    “Why do
we have to use a car?” asked Steph. She ran long fingers through her fiery red
hair. The color was spectacular, and it was natural, something that resulted in
widespread irritation and envy among a significant portion of the female
population.
    “What?
You want someone on foot to do it?” demanded Lizzy.
    Briana
brightened. “How about a plane?”
    “Nah,”
replied Marcus. He dug some marbles out of his pocket and sent them rolling
toward Asher. The boy squealed with excitement and promptly began placing them
on the train tracks. “Those move too fast. The dead heads are going to lose
sight right off the bat, and I don’t know if they would follow the sound if
it’s coming from up high.”
    “I was
thinking of a helicopter,” continued Steph. “Ronnie takes his out and hovers
just off the ground and moves them down another road away from the city or
maybe gets them turned around so they go back the way they came.”
    “Could
work,” said Briana, “and it’s better than the alternatives. Harlan, go find
Ronnie and get him over here, will you?”
    “Sure
thing, ma’am.”
    My
sweetie repressed a sigh. Briana hated being addressed that way, even if she
was the boss and a mother to boot. I think it made her feel old. Such respect
was the norm however, at least outside our inner circle of longtime friends.
    “Not
ma’am, mommy,” corrected Asher, speaking to no one in particular.
    “That’s
right.” Briana retrieved a lollipop from a jar on the desk and gave him one.
They were homemade, crafted by Steph and her ingenious cooks. “Here you go.”
    “I’ll go
with Ronnie to make sure he doesn’t mess up,” stated Lizzy. “We’ll put some
spotters on the ground too. I can radio them if anything looks funny, so it can
get relayed back here, if we end