Deployment
(chapter 10)
Josh grabbed the nearest plastic chair he could find and pulled it right next to Riley, who was sitting alone in the back of the group as Old man Bill started to speak.
"As you all know," Bill began. "The world as we knew it is gone. It's been replaced by these in human monsters that think of nothing but tearing into our warm human flesh. Just so we are all on the same page here, I'll go over some of the facts we have about this new world. First of all these monsters out there are indeed zombies, secondly they seem to only die when hit in the head. Keep that in mind because hitting them anywhere else is pointless and a waste of time. Also those bitten anywhere by those things will turn into one. We saw this happen to Matt the President of this company and unfortunately we had to put him out of his misery. Now as many of you saw earlier this morning the National Guard has been deployed, they've set up a safety point at the theater downtown now. They've been saying all day over the radio that that's the only safe place left. So this brings me to the reason for this meeting. We have food and water thanks to the Dole fruit warehouse next door and the river behind us. We have weapons and a safe perimeter with steel fences and a big running river behind us to protect us. Unfortunately we don't know how long we'll be able to hold out and this should concern everyone. As your elected leader I believe it my duty to provide you, my friends, the best chance of living. I'm certain that we can survive this together if we stay at Guardian, but if any of you feel otherwise you are welcome to go to the National Guardsmen.
The small room filled with the 25 citizens of guard grew quiet.
"If any of you would like to go then raise your hands now."
Slowly ten different hands went up and a look of discouragement came over Bill's weathered face.
"What the hell is wrong with these people..." Josh whispered to Riley in amazement at how many hands went up.
"Obviously they haven't seen what we've seen. If they had they wouldn't even dare go back out there." Riley whispered back.
Bill cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Since so many of you feel the need to leave and seek refuge with the National Guardsmen then you are free to go. I'll provide you with transportation and protection until you reach the checkpoint, but you will not be able to keep any weapons that have been given to you. I will assign 5 people to go along with you and insure your safety. The rest will stay behind and protect Guardian. Is that understood?"
The ten people who had raised their hands nodded in acceptance of Bills condition. Josh didn't recognize any of those who raised their hands but he thought they were the stupidest people ever.
"Now as for those who will accompany you ten people... Any volunteers?" Bill said with a booming voice.
Aza, Chris and Lee threw their hands up in an instant.
"Great!" Bill exclaimed. "You people are lucky, you've got Guardians best shooters goin to protect you. Now just 2 more people."
A skinny white hand shot into the air.
"I'll go!" a shallow toned voice spoke over the crowd.
"Okay then James you're in. Now just one more person." Bill mumbled scanning over the people who were left.
With out thinking Josh raised his hand high into the air.
"I'll go too." Josh said surprised that he actually volunteered to go back out there. "I've got experience driving with those things in the road."
"Great then you're the 5th guy. What's your name son?"
"Josh, sir."
"Alright then it's settled. Josh, James, Lee, Chris and Aza will escort you ten folks to the Guardsmen. You can leave whenever the trucks ready. God be with you men." Bill gave a sad smile and disappeared into the crowd of people who were now saying good bye to the ten people who were to go with the Guardsmen.
"What the hell are you thinking Josh!" Riley spoke sternly grabbing Josh by the arm. "You want to die don't you!"
Josh grabbed Riley's hand and pried it off his arm.
"Don't worry about me, Aza's got my back, he won't let them hurt me. Just stay here and help out in any way you can because there's only gonna be 10 of you here when we leave."
Riley nodded her head and gave Josh a hard hug.
"You better come back... I don't want to be stuck here with those old guys and the big lady."
Josh laughed and gave Riley a warm smile.
"Hey, I hate to break you to love birds up but we gotta get goin." Aza pointed towards the loading dock entrance.
"We're not love birds, you dumbass." Riley responded giving Aza a stern stare.
"Whatever, let's go Josh."
Josh waved good bye to Riley and made his way to the loading dock.
"Here take this." Aza handed Josh an M-16. "We have extra now that those ten guys are leaving." Aza handed Josh one extra clip.
Josh placed the clip in the back pocket of his fading dark blue jeans. It would be uncomfortable to sit on, but his front pockets were full with his pistol magazines.
"Hey what a sec," Josh said searching his pants. " I forgot my pistol in the car, let me go get it."
"Ahhh don't worry about it kid, you won't need it." Chris gave Josh a nudge as he made his way towards the big delivery truck they would be using to make it to the Guardsmen.
The 10 people who opted to leave filed into the back of the delivery truck as Josh, James, Chris, Lee and Aza all jammed into the front.
"I thought I was driving?" Josh asked as his brother took the driver's seat.
"Nope not today, Bill said not to let you drive, he doesn't want the truck coming back like your mustang." Aza gave a light chuckle and started the big delivery trucks engine.
The steel fences slid apart revealing the only road that led to Guardian. It was all clear except for the zombies they had killed earlier in the day. The truck started accelerating down the road. Destination, the Kent Theater.