Mark Tufo - The End ....

I got over to the side of his bed and began to undo the traction sling that had his leg suspended.

“Seriously though Talbot, what is going on?”

“Pretty much the end game BT. Eliza somehow got people to work with the zombies. They got these huge trucks and just stormed the gates. At least a couple of thousand of the rotten meat bags have breached the gates.” I helped BT into a sitting position.

“How much time do we have?” He asked.

“None.”

“Say again. Because it sounded like you said none.”

“There’s no way off this base bud.”

“Than what are you doing here?”

“Personal reasons BT, I was afraid that if the zombies got to you and turned you, the first person you’d come and try to eat would be me. And you already scare the shit out of me without being a monster too.”

“Fucken hilarious.”

“My wife tells me that too. Let’s go.”

“Mike I’m just going to slow you down. Go spend these last few minutes with your family.”

“See I knew you were going to say that. So I got you a present.” I ran out to the hallway and grabbed my ‘gift’ and drove it in.

“A scooter? You got me a scooter? Do I look like I should be collecting social security benefits?”

He was giving me shit the whole time, but he was still shuffling his ass over and onto his cherry red ride.

The scooter sagged under the assault of his weight. Such an inappropriate time, but I couldn’t help it, laughter started slowly in my gut and frothed out my mouth.

“What are you laughing at Talbot?”

It took me a bit before I could get it out. The effect of my words on BT made me break out into a fresh chortle. “You look like a Russian bear on a tricycle.” I told him. It wasn’t nearly as funny when he ran over my toes.

“Yeah not so hilarious now is it?” He said as he drove out into the hall.

“It sort of is.”

“This thing has reverse Talbot, don’t make me use it. Where we going?”

“Ambulance exit, hope my ride is still there.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN - JOURNAL ENTRY 13 -

Tracy was at the entrance to our building, her demeanor shifted from ‘worried sick’ to ‘where has your ass been' as I pulled up.

“Talbot, everything’s packed. We’re ready. Are we all going to fit in that thing?”

“Get the shit and get back upstairs.”

Tracy seemed to misinterpret my message. She looked relieved.

“They’ve been stopped?” She asked.

“Not so much, this is Camp Custer after all.”

“What’s going on Mike?”

“Trace get the boys, grab the stuff and head back upstairs, I’ll tell you when we get there.”

She was definitely not appreciating my curt manner.

“Hon, remember that huge truck?”

She nodded.

“There’s three more coming and they’re full of zombies, there’s zombies everywhere. There is no way to get off this base.”

I watched as the light of hope in her eyes flickered and then went out.

“So this is it then?” She asked looking straight into my eyes.

“Oh come on, you know me better than that.” I said. Not really a lie, I never said we’d get out.

BT pulled his bulk out of the hummer. Tracy was relieved to see him. She ran over to help support him, as much as a 110 pound woman can support a 300-pound man. But it was the thought that counts.

I could tell BT was really laying it on thick with Tracy. “Mike.” He said through gritted teeth and a false pained expression. “Could you get my ride?”

“That thing is heavier than hell, you get it out of the trunk.” I said.

“Mike!” Tracy shot back.

“Fine.” I answered.

As they headed into the building, BT turned over his shoulder and threw me a wink. He mouthed the words, ‘That’s for calling me Lawrence, asswipe.’

“Real nice, real nice. That’s the last time I risk Armageddon to come get your over sized ass.”

“Mike!” Tracy yelled from within the foyer.

“Fine! But if I get a hernia lifting this thing out, you’re the one that’s going to have to push my intestines back in.”

“Uh huh.” I heard from her as she headed upstairs, BT daintily leaning on her shoulder.

Gunfire had diminished significantly. I didn’t take that as a good sign. The earth was still trembling under my feet, which meant at least one and probably more of those behemoths were operational. I stowed BT’s new ride under the stairwell. I don’t know why. I honestly didn’t think that he’d ever get the opportunity to use it again.

Travis was looking out the window when I got up to the room.

“Would you shut the curtains, please?” I asked him.

He turned to me; this was the first time in weeks he looked more like the boy I knew than the man he was becoming.

“What now Dad?” He asked.

I was out of answers. I sure as shit wasn’t going to tell my youngest that we were waiting for death. I turned to Tommy who had somehow got a hold of Tonka truck that looked suspiciously like the rolling death machines outside. He was peering into the plastic windshield in an attempt to get a closer look at the figurine driving the truck.

“What’s going on Tommy?” I asked him. Something had fastened itself to his attention and I wanted to be there for the reveal.

“Ryan keeps telling me to look closely at the synthesizers.” Tommy answered, his tongue nestled securely between his upper and lower jaw. Henry had come over to sniff at the purple goo covered appendage.

I couldn’t have been any more confused if I had just tuned into an English Cricket match. Flat bat, bouncing pitches -- it’s madness!

“Did he mean ‘sympathizers’?” BT asked.

“Well that makes a shitload more sense.” I answered.

“Talbot.” Tracy said.

Damn cursing. “Tommy, what are you looking for?” If Ryan thought it was important enough to share with Tommy, than it was.

“I don’t know, it’s really fuzzy. It looks a lot like the old cable boxes TV picture when you would try and watch the scrambled adult channels.”

“Hey wait now, I was just a kid.”

Tommy looked at me funny.

“Okay so you weren’t talking about me personally then, I take it?”

“Talbot what is wrong with you?” Tracy asked?

“Come on BT, help me out every kid did that.”

BT looked away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, we couldn’t afford cable when I was growing up.” He winked at me again over Tracy’s head.

I flipped him off.

Tracy thought I had done it to her and reciprocated the gesture.

“No wait, honey it wasn’t for you it was for that effen big jerk behind you.” BT winked again. “You’re lucky you’re that huge.”

Tommy spoke up, the room instantly quieted down. “Ryan keeps saying we have to go look at the humans. Like now.”

BT made as if he was going to get up.

“Not this time BT.” I said. He looked hurt. “BT, I can’t think of a better friend I would want to stay here and defend everything that is sacred to me.” Now he looked honestly touched, I couldn’t leave it like that. “And besides I think your cherry red scooter might draw us some unwanted attention.”

“I know where you live Talbot.” BT rumbled.

“What are you going to do Mike?” Tracy asked.

“Most likely the stupidest thing possible. Justin, grab your stuff.” Travis made to get his gear too. “I put my hand on his shoulder. “Not this time. I want as few of us out there as possible.” I thought he might be hurt from my decision and maybe he was and wasn’t showing it. But not having to go out into a deadly nightmare has its pluses. Justin’s health was vastly improved from when we had arrived on base, but he still harbored the virus within him. I was hoping that this would somehow benefit us while we looked for some answers to Ryan’s questions. Uncertainty mounted upon ambiguity, sounded like a crappy foundation from which to launch an escape.