Michael Thomas - Night of the Nazi Zombies

“Chuck me some mags, I’m getting low here.”

Each man carried spare clips for the unit’s machinegun and conveniently the gun took the same ammunition as the Lee Enfield rifles carried by nearly half the unit. Chard grabbed the spare magazines and placed them on the wall next to Archer. Clarke, Gardner and Harris with their Enfield rifles then joined them at the wall. The men spread out with about six feet between each man. They were ready.

The rest positioned themselves between the church and the wall, covering all possible angles into their position. All the soldiers were now inside the secure position, apart from the officers and Smith who were bringing up the rear with the wounded Humphreys.

Smith could see the last of his men leaping over the wall ahead and it looked like they had finally found a position they could successfully defend. The sound of the creatures was getting worse and each time he checked over his shoulder the number of them seemed to have increased. Forgetting about shooting them he used his last burst of energy to manhandle Humphreys up onto his shoulder and then jogged the last hundred yards. The two officers ran with them, firing the odd shot with their handguns as they ran. Up ahead several dazzling flashes glittered then the whistle of bullets as the riflemen fired with great precision right between the officers to hit the creatures behind them. Smith grinned to himself; all that training was finally paying off. They were now at the wall and Smith literally threw Humphreys to the waiting arms of the soldiers at the wall. He then leapt over the wall, followed by Lieutenant Harvey and Captain Scott.

Chard moved over to the group and explained the situation.

“Martinez is in a bad way and you brought Humphreys back. The bad news is we lost quite a bit of our heavy equipment back there.”

Smith looked at their position, then back at Chard.

“Still got the mortar?” Chard nodded.

Smith considered their position for a moment and then spoke to Lieutenant Harvey.

“We have a decent position here for now, but we’re going to need something better and soon.”

Captain Scott added, “I agree, if we get stuck here and the sun comes up we’ll be sitting ducks from Fritz,” he looked up to the church tower.

“What about inside this church?”

Lieutenant Harvey agreed, “I suggest you take the wounded and the girls and get them inside. The high walls and windows will make the doors an easy bottleneck for those bastards.”

He pointed to the creatures that could just be made out far in the distance. Smith arranged the details.

“We’ll leave Clarke, Gardner, Harris and Archer on the perimeter, the rest can get inside for now.”

Harvey nodded in agreement. “Reckon you can get Trent and his rifle up in the tower?”

Smith looked up and shrugged, “I’ll see what I can do.” He moved off to make the arrangements.

At the wall Archer slammed in a new clip onto his Bren gun and pulled back the bolt. This wall was the first line of defence for the church and Archer would be damned if he was going to let one of those things make it anywhere near them. He looked off to his right, Clarke and Gardner were both leaning against the wall, watching the horizon the same as him. Looking to his left Harris was a little more casual, smoking on a newly lit cigarette whilst watching off to their left.

The church was as expected, well constructed. Though it likely saw few people during the occupation it was in generally good condition. The roof was intact and the stained glass windows all remained. The entrance to the church was through a stone porch that led to a large doorway, protected by solid wooden doors that were reinforced with iron bands and studs. Luckily for the soldiers the church doors were open, something Smith made a mental note to rectify. Smith pulled back his bolt from the safety slot cut into it, the first round slid into place. With his weapon ready he entered the building first. Jones, Lewis and Wilks followed close behind and immediately fanned out to check the building was safe. The church followed the traditional basic design with the altar off to the right whilst the tower was to their left.

The doorway the men passed through took them directly into the centre of the nave. Smith stood there so that he was in the exact centre of the church, he turned in a full circle, noting any points of interest to his men. With an unknown number of hostiles outside it was important that they established a defensive position that could be held for an indeterminate amount of time. There were two main aisles running along the northern and southern parts of the nave. Each of the two long walls featured two tall windows, each a good four feet above the ground. Smith noted their height with satisfaction; they would be a decent obstacle to the things outside. Looking ahead Smith could see the chancel, the traditional space around the altar at the liturgical east end of any traditional Christian church building. In the centre was the altar, a large stone item that commanded this part of the church. Opposite the chancel was the tower, a cramped but thick walled part of the church with a dark entrance at the rear leading to the staircase.

Trent moved off to the left so he could scout access to the bell tower. The two girls ran to corner of the church, finding a dark spot at the northern aisle, they kept low and out of sight. Jones headed for the altar whilst Lewis took the northern aisle and Wilks to the southern. So far it all looked good.

In walked Captain Scott and Lieutenant Harvey, between them they were carrying Humphreys. Moving through the nave they took him straight to the chancel and lifted him up onto the altar, the only raised flat space they could see. Lieutenant Harvey moved up to Smith for a situation report.

Smith explained, “The church look pretty solid. I’ve got Trent setting up in the tower and all the access points are covered. I reckon this is as good a place as any to check the wounded and sort out our plan.”

Harvey nodded in agreement, “Good work Smith, have Martinez brought in here and get Chard, I want him to check them both over.”

Smith nodded and moved to the doorway.

Outside the church the small group of four soldiers were still watching the perimeter. Lewis had left his mortar with the group and it was already set up and in position. Archer was getting restless; he could see the figures in the distance getting ever so close. He called over to Gardner to check on the other side of the church. Looking back he started counting the figures out ahead of him. He lost count after forty five.

Gardner ran back. “Shit! We’ve got more coming in from the vicarage.”

Archer kept his eye on the enemy to the front, replied, “How many?”

Gardner moved up close to him, “At least thirty, maybe more.”

Clarke moved over to them to share even more good news.

“You’re not going believe this, we’ve got a whole road full of those guys and they are coming this way.”

Without hesitation Archer turned and gave his orders, “Gardner, get inside and let the Lieutenant know what’s happening, you two get on the mortar!”

Inside the church Chard was busy re-applying bandages to Martinez. He’d already finished with Humphreys, who with a bandaged leg was now sitting up on the altar. Chard was particularly concerned with the way the wounds were congealing on the two men. He voiced his concerns to Harvey whilst Captain Scott discussed the parachute drop of him and his men. There were several things they needed answers on and fast.

“We need to know what has happened to these people? What if they are all the way to the Orne River Bridge? We’ll never make it there if there are so many. Where are you radios?”