Hi all. Episode 3 below for your consideration. It has been a busy week so has taken me a bit of time to write. Humour may be a little dark in places so be warned! Really hope you enjoy it. If you feel moved to review please do, I love to hear from you. However, if you don't then that's fine as well!
Molly stared at the dead body on the table in the base's tiny medical centre. A white sheet covering all but the head, its dull, lifeless eyes staring into infinity. The medic was familiar with death, had been trained to deal with it, to accept it and, ultimately, to move on and care for those she could still help. However, never before had she been asked to examine death so intimately, to consider the detail and describe its character. It seemed somehow morbid and futile with no hope of treatment or recovery for the victim. Her job was to help the living not pick over the dead.
Molly took a deep breath, carefully pulled on a pair of surgical gloves and wheeled a small trolley full of dissecting instruments towards the table. When she reached the body, Molly pulled the sheet back to reveal the terrible damage beneath. She then selected a small saw and looked at James.
"OK, rump or sirloin?" She asked
"Molly!" protested James "Do try and take this seriously"
"Sorry" she grinned "but basically it is a great big dead cow"
"I know. However, it could also hold vital clues" replied James
"Like what exactly?" She teased
"Well, like what killed it for a start" said James
Molly nodded "Ok, my guess" said Molly with an assessing air "Is that what killed it was all its inside cow bits falling out of that big hole in its belly"
"Hilarious." Replied James "I know you think a cow post mortem is a bit of a joke but..."
"Don't you mean post moootem?" Interjected Molly
"Yes very good...but, it is important that we establish whether there is any connection with the zombies."
"OK, let me take a look and I see what I can find out." She relented
James smiled "Thank you." Then after a short pause he added: "Listen, l'm sorry this isn't quite how we envisaged our honeymoon ending up."
"Speak for yourself" said Molly "I was counting on an intimate, candle lit cow dissection for two at some point."
James laughed then went on: "I will make it up to you. I promise"
"You better." And with that she set to work.
James left the medical centre and went to the operations tent where he was due to meet Captain Dwight and Mansfield Mike for a debrief on the mission so far.
In truth they had made little progress. Once they had extracted themselves from the civic reception earlier the previous afternoon, James and his team had visited the crash site and walked around the wreckage. Dwight had confirmed that tracks had been found leading away to the north but had petered out when the fine dust of the desert floor had given may to the rocky ground of some foothills about a kilometre distant. Tracker dogs had been brought in but one sniff of the zombie scent had made them bolt in the opposite direction with their tails between their legs. Aerial surveillance had also picked up nothing. In fact the only thing to indicate the zombies may still be in the area were the dead cattle which was why Molly's investigations were so key. They were literally the only lead the SZS had.
James was also concerned about their ability to keep the real mission a secret from the local population. Most people seemed to be accepting the chemical spill story as an explanation for the exclusion zone around the plane and the absence of the two witnesses while joint military training operations in the desert were not unknown. However, the two together, along with the cattle incidents had raised the suspicions of the local sheriff at least, who had questioned James quite closely as to the detail of their operation at the reception. James had been dismissive but was certain it had done nothing to dispell the man's growing disquiet.
On entering the ops tent, James was met by Dwight who informed him that one of the Marine patrols had radioed in suspicious activity in a farm outbuilding on the edge of town, including the sound of a struggle and the calls of an animal in distress.
The major immediately ordered three section to get ready for deployment and doubled to his quarters to grab his own kit. Within 15 minutes their APC roared out of the camp and onto the dirt track leading to town.
"Right lads" he said as they bounced around in the rear of the vehicle "I want a standard Mark 2 zombie deployment. I will lead the close engagement squad who will storm the outbuilding. Corporal you will take command of the sharp shooters who will deploy at range around the barn and mop up any we don't get. Understood?"
"Sir" came the eager response from all those present.
They were soon approaching a small farmstead comprising a scattered group of buildings including a barn, a row of silos and a number of small sheds. The APC was flagged down by a marine Sargent at the entrance to the farmyard who directed them towards the barn structure. The vehicle drove on, coming to a halt in front of the large corrugated steel building and three section spilled out, rifles at the ready.
"OK take your positions" called James and watched as Mansfield Mikes squad deployed around the building. He waited until the soldiers were in position then turned to his detachment "With me lads" he said and doubled towards the main door of the barn.
As he reached the building he put his ear to the outside wall and held his hand up for silence. There was a faint moaning sound from within then a clattering sound as if a metal bucket had been kicked over. James nodded to Brains and Baz Vegas who approached the entrance which comprised two large sliding doors. They grabbed one door each and pulled them apart before bringing their rifles up and scanning the dark interior.
From the shadows emerged a dark shape. "British Army!" Called Brains " Show yourself!"
Baz Vegas crept further into the barn whilst Brains covered him. He then stopped and lowered his weapon before turning with a smile "Its a bloody cow, boss"
James joined them in the barn and stared at the animal. "Think you'll find that's a bull Baz"
"Really sir, are you sure?" Asked the private
"Well, try milking what's hanging between its legs and see man" replied James
Brains chuckled "Good one sir"
The major turned to him and frowned "What do you mean?"
"See man - semen, very quick"
"Oh, right yes of course" said James "OK well let's shift it out the way so we can check out the rest of the barn"
The two soldiers stared at their officer "Err, how do we know its not a zombie cow sir?" Asked Baz
"Don't be ridiculous private, the pathogen only affects humans" replied James
"You sure sir?" Asked Brains "Its just that there's a fair amount of snot around its nose and mouth"
"That's perfectly normal for a bull" said James authoratitively
"Shouldn't we shoot it just in case sir?" Ventured Baz
"Oh yes private, 'cos us shooting farm animals on a mission always works out really well, doesn't it" replied James
"Ah, fair point" he acknowledged.
Brains then cut in "Leave it to us sir" and turning to his companion said "OK off you go Baz"
His friend frowned "Why me?" But at a glare from Brains he started to approach the bull with his hand out calling "Here boy, here boy, walkies!"
Brains rolled his eyes at James "Not like that you daft Pratt, you've got to grab that ring through its nose"
"Oh, really. Well farmer Giles if you know so much why don't you do it"
"For goodness sake just move out of the way" said James finally losing patience with both of them.
He strode towards the bull his hand extended to grab the nose ring. The animal, on seeing the advancing figure, lowered its horns an pawed the ground, letting out a low grunt. James stopped dead and bit his lip.
"Baz, on second thoughts let's see if we can't rustle up a length of rope. Anyone here know how to make a lasso?" He asked...
Sheriff Wyatt paced the small kitchen impatiently while a middle aged lady sat at a table and followed him with her eyes, an innocent expression on her face.
"Gadnamit Claudia Jean, you can't go around locking up young men in your understair closet. That's called kidnappin' in some parts." Complained the Sheriff
"Oh Jed, he was free to go any time he liked, just had to say the word." Replied the woman, her hands held up in supplication
The sheriff stopped pacing and looked at her in disbelief "And how was he supposed to do that with his hands tied behind his back and that vacuum cleaner hose stuffed in his mouth, may I ask?"
"Now that was just a bit of fun, Jed. He came back of his own free will and I showed him what I needed doin'. He said he was game, so what was I suppose to do?. Seems to me we were consentin' adults"
Wyatt put his hands on his hips and shook his head "CJ Barker, you've had him in there three days! Only reason he's out now was cos he managed to get that gag out and holler through the air vent"
The woman grinned "I gotta feelin' he could a got free easy enough if he'd wanted any time. You gonna tell me he's pressin' charges?"
The sheriff grimaced "No, he ain't pressin' no charges, on a count of me having a word with him. Told him you got a screw loose and needed help rather than prison"
"You now what I need Wyatt" said CJ looking the sheriff up and down "These young'uns ain't satisfyin' me no more. I recon' I need a more mature man. Someone who knows what he's doin'...you got your cuffs with you Jed?"
Wyatt glared at CJ "You just keep away from me woman..."
Just then the sheriffs phone rang and he dragged it out of his pocket saying "Stay right there CJ, I ain't finished chewin' you out"
To which the woman smiled and said "Hadn't noticed you'd started Jed, you may have to chew a bit harder to get my attention"
Wyatt groaned and stomped from the room with the mobile "Hello? Oh hi Wilma what's up...uh huh, uh huh...what the hell they doin' there?...Well ain't no one told them to leave it be? ...That's the meanest bull in 50 miles! OK, OK I'll be there in 10" Wyatt ended the call and turned to CJ. "I gotta go but we ain't done. I'll be back"
"Lookin' forward to it Jed" replied CJ with a smirk...
James looked at the knotted rope in his hand and then at his men "OK, well how hard can it be right? Just a swing and a throw and we can lead it out like a dog on a leash"
Mansfield looked at the assembled faces of three section then back at the Major "Right you are, sir and good luck, we are right behind you" and gave James a double thumbs up.
James nodded uncertainly then walked towards the bull who had been regarding them impassively. He arranged the rope in his hands then swung it above his head experimentally. Satisfied that he had the action right, James gathered the rope again twirled it above his head and threw it in the direction of the bull. The lasso sailed through the air and landed around the head of the animal.
"Oh good throw sir" called Brains
James turned to them delighted , "Well that was a piece of paaaaaaugh!"
In a flash James was pulled off his feet and dragged along the ground as the bull charged out of the barn and into the yard
"Heeeeeelp!" Called the major as he was pulled behind the fleeing animal
"Grab that rope!" Shouted Mansfield Mike as the rest of the lasso line started to follow the receding James.
The troops dived at the rope as it went passed and Smurf, Baz Vegas and Brains managed to catch hold of it only to be dragged along afterJames while the rest of the section ran behind in a desperate effort to catch up.
The bull ran around the yard and through a large manure pile before finally trotting back into the barn where it had originally started. James let go of the rope and rolled over onto his back with a groan, his body caked in cow dung and covered in dust. The others who had managed to grab the rope were in a similar state.
Mansfield Mike finally caught up with James and knelt down beside him "Are you OK sir?" He asked in a concerned tone.
James looked up at him and through gritted teeth gasped "Forget what I said before, just shoot the bugger"
Just then the sound of a police siren came from the direction of the town and grew louder. An unmarked car with a removable light perched on the roof soon came into view and entered the track leading to the farmstead. The marine sargent started to flag the vehicle down but it soon became obvious that the driver had no intention of stopping and the soldier had to fling himself into the ditch at the side of the road to avoid being flattened. The car came skidding to a halt just by three section and Sheriff Wyatt clambered out, hitching up his gun belt as he did so.
James rose from the ground stiffly and dusted himself down as the officer approached.
"Sheriff" he said to Wyatt " What seems to be the problem?"
"Major, we got a call from the owner of this farm saying he wasn't bein' allowed access to tend his prize bull. He was frettin' cos Nigel gets awful mad if he don't get his feed'
James looked at the sheriff "He calls the bull Nigel?"
"Sure does. On a count of how mean he can get" replied Wyatt
"OK, well we should be finished here shortly. We just need to gain access to the barn and we will be on our way"
"Seems a damn strange place to have a military exercise major" said Wyatt with a frown
James looked a little uncomfortable "erm...farm yard combat is an essential skill in the modern army"
Wyatt snorted then looked over at Nigel the bull. "Havin' some trouble herdin' him are ya?"
"Just a minor issue" admitted James.
"Well, two ways to shift a bull, give him somethin' to eat or give him somethin' to hump. Walk this way."
Wyatt set off towards the bull but turned when James didn't follow. Seeing the startled expression in James face he added "Relax soldier I only plan on feedin' him"
The sheriff then grabbed a metal pail and headed to one of the nearby grain silos. Having filled the container half full of corn feed he placed the bucket in the middle of the yard and let out two short whistles between his teeth.
Nigel walked sedately out of the barn and towards the feed. Once he was over the bucket he lowered his snout into the container and started to feed contentedly.
James shook his head and smiled whilst Wyatt patted the Bulls rump and then turned to the Major.
"Seems to me, that things would go a darn sight smoother if you trusted me more" and with that he tipped his hat and strode to his car.
James watched him go with a pensive expression then turned to Mansfield Mike and said "Sweep the barn Corporal while we cover you"
Mansfield's detail approached the building cautiously and disappeared into the shadowy interior. At the same moment the radio in the APC crackled into life, Baz Vegas doubling over and picking up the handset. The private listened for a moment then called over to James "Yer misses...sorry sir, Lance Corporal James on the blower"
James held up his hand then spoke into his head set "Anything Corporal"
"All clear in here sir" came the response.
"OK form up back at the APC" said James then strode over to Baz Vegas who handed him the radio.
"Yes, Lance Corporal?"
"Bos Taurus" said Molly
"Pardon?" Said James
"Bos Taurus" repeated Molly
"Actually l'm a Sagittarius" replied James
"No, that's the scientific name for a cow" explained Molly "I found it in this book, 'How to Cut Up a Cow' by I.M. Butcher"
"Oh bloody hilarious lance corporal. Did you radio to practice your stand up routine or have you actually got something for me." Asked James with a smile.
"Yep I have actually" said Molly turning serious "Bite and claw marks on the body are human as far as I can tell. The bite marks also seem to have a residue around them. Looks like dried mucus to me but I won't be sure until I can geta sample back to the lab at Fort Bliss"
"Good work Molly" said James
"That's the straight forward bit I'm afraid sir. The bite marks have very little blood around them which suggests they occurred after death. The cow was killed by the the big belly wound, and the biting and gouging happened some time afterwards. The belly wound is also really clean like its been made by a very sharp knife."
"That makes no sense, why bite and claw the meat away from the bone when you have an effective cutting tool?" Pondered James
"No idea sir. I've also looked at the remaining organs and the only one that is missing as far as I can work out is the stomach" said Molly
"That's strange" replied James " OK well we are all done here so should be back there within the hour"
James signed off and frowned to himself. It appeared as if the zombies were still in the area but their behaviour was inexplicable. There was more going on here than met the eye and James resolved to get to the bottom of it, one way or another...
In a small hotel room in the centre of town, the shop keeper switched off the radio scanner and studied his scribbled note of the conversation between the soldiers. He smiled to himself humourlessly then returned to sharpening his combat knife.