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

gave her a gentle push, sending her
straight into the hole.
    “Your
turn to help. Rest of you can get out. We’re switching teams.”
    Digging
was tiresome, more so in our case because we were trying to keep to a
timetable. Not wanting to wear anyone out, I had the squads alternate every
fifteen minutes or so.
    “Where
is Lizzy?” asked Mary. She’d taken Brenda’s shovel with a good natured smile.
    “Off
with the twins dealing with a group that’s ahead of us. Xavier spotted them and
called it in a little while ago. Pretty small, so it shouldn’t take long.”
    “It’s so
not fair that they get to do the fun stuff.”
    “Life
isn’t,” said Brenda, before I could make a statement to similar effect.
    One
quick note, it was near this airstrip that we passed Lizzy’s Grand Cherokee and
collected the last of the gear we’d left behind. With everything inside, it had
been kept safe from the elements, and nothing was missing. Lizzy did have a few
choice words for Mary concerning her breaking the engine however, as if that
was anyone’s fault.
     
    *
* *
     
    “Squad
three gets to babysit the vehicles,” I announced. “The rest follow me and the
local guides – thank you, guys – to where we are building the base. This
outpost is going to serve as a rallying point. It will also be the main supply
depot for those doing the fighting.”
    “Are we
going to be fighting?” asked Harvey. “That hasn’t been made very clear.”
    “No
idea,” I admitted. “Right now we’re reserves for the Yellowstone militia who
will definitely be engaging the raiders, well, unless they turn around and run
away, which I don’t see them doing. Being reserves, we have to assume we’re
going to get pulled into it at some point, and because we are a rallying point,
we will be constructing some proper defenses, so get ready for more digging.” I
laughed. “Yes, more digging. Those not digging will head back here so they and
squad three can haul the gear up.”
    “How far
away is this?” asked Lizzy.
    “Five
miles,” replied Mary, “and there are hills, big ones.”
    “Damn
it!”
    The
teenager laughed. “It’ll do you good. Want to race?”
    My stout
friend scowled. “No.”
    “Come
along, people,” I called. “There’s only so much time in the day, and we have a
lot to do.”
     
    *
* *
     
    We got
everything to the hillock before the sun set. My Jeep and about half the trucks
were hidden back by the road. Others were placed closer to our base, giving us
a little more flexibility and ensuring that if we did have to run away, we
could do so in the direction of waiting transportation. The three big tanker
trucks were somewhere. I have no real idea, they being handed off upon our
arrival. Captain Briggs was busy with some logistical issues, possibly relating
to the fuel supply, so Lieutenant Gikas was currently encamped with us to
ensure there was proper coordination with the Yellowstone militia. Due to the
rather large distance between our two settlements, we really haven’t spent any
time operating together, not much talking to one another either, beyond the
leadership.
    “Us not
doing the attacking is all fucked up,” declared Lizzy.
    We were
seated around a campfire. The tents were up, and one latrine was in place. We
had cut the timber and plywood walls in advance, so all that remained was
bolting it together. That and the beginning of a trench which would eventually encircle
the hill were all that had been accomplished.
    “I think
it’s nice,” replied Mary.
    “It is
more relaxing,” I agreed.
    “I don’t
like it.” Lizzy rose and stomped over to the coffee pot. The beans were
courtesy of the military, grown in Hawaii and dropped out the back of a huge
transport plane. “How much time do we have before it starts? Anyone know?”
    “Lieutenant,”
I prompted.
    “Kimberly
saw them massing,” he began, “in several medium size groups, but there still
aren’t any concrete indications they are ready