Free Orpheus: Homecoming (The Orpheus Trilogy Book 2) by Dan DeWitt Page A

Lieutenant?"
    "You think this is a good idea, Dad?" He noticed his father's amused look. "Captain Dad. We're the only ones who have any experience with this. Maybe we should get to the school first."
    "I get what you're saying, but what if the other way is blocked, too? Better to jump in with both feet while we have a simple egress. And I want to know if anyone doesn't have the nerve before they're in a position where they can compromise us."
    Ethan nodded. "In that case, I have an idea of how we can do it safely."
    He explained, and Orpheus said, "Do it."
    Ethan spoke into his radio and coordinated the vehicles. Per his instructions, each of the three command centers pulled parallel to each other, diagonally across the road. Each one dropped its stabilizers, anchoring them. Lastly, the smaller vehicles plugged the gaps.
    Ethan had created a wall of metal that, even if the worst happened, the Jeeps wouldn't become overwhelmed by zombies, and each of the vehicles could just simply drive away from danger, if it came to that. When Ethan was satisfied, he looked to Orpheus, who nodded his approval.
    Ethan called for Zulu 2. After they had responded, Ethan told them what he wanted. He was met with a shaky "copy" from Constantino, but he saw a confident thumbs-up from Tim.
     
    O
     
    Tino locked the transmitter back in place. "Any sense in objecting?"
    "I'm with him," German added.
    "Nope," Tim said flatly. "It's a good plan."
    "Your boss does know that there are two people in this car who have no experience dealing with these things, right?"
    "Three."
    Tino looked at Lena. "Come again?"
    "The closest I came to them was walking by a few one time. Other than that, I was pretty isolated from them."
    "So why aren't you freaking out?"
    "Because I trust my friends."
    Tim put it in drive and moved forward slowly. "Relax. We don't even have to engage, which tells me that Orpheus already trusts you to an extent. We're just bait. Which would be really ironic, if you had been on the island with me."
    Lena managed to giggle.
    "Aw, Hell, just go," German said. "I already hate your stupid inside jokes."
    The Jeep moved toward the mob slowly. Tim kept expecting to have to turn around in a hurry, but he kept getting closer than he would've thought possible. "This is weird. It's almost like they're in sleep mode."
    Lena said, "Maybe it's because they haven't seen anyone alive since we -"
    And then, the closest one heard their approach. It turned, and the occupants of the Jeep had just enough time to register that its right arm was missing before it broke into a full sprint.
    Tim hadn't known what to expect, but he was still taken aback by how fast it had "woken up."
    And by how fast the rest followed suit. There was a visible ripple in the mob as each zombie was alerted to their presence.
    They came for the kill, if not simultaneously, close enough to it.
    Even though the Jeep was moving only a few miles per hour, Tim hit the brakes hard enough to throw everyone forward. "Hold on!" By the time he began to reverse, the first few zombies had caught up and threw themselves at the Jeep. They all felt the impacts and screamed in unison, but then they were fully in motion and began to pull away. Tim threw an arm around Tino's headrest and just drove that way, not wanting to waste the time it would take to turn around.
    He saw what he wanted to see. Each command center had armed men posted on top, and each SUV had two ready to fire from their positions on the roof.
    The most reassuring thing that he saw, in the center of his field of vision, was Orpheus. He stood a few paces in front of the vehicles with an arm raised. The other arm pointed at the approaching vehicle and motioned for it to peel off to the left. Tim obliged the order, and as soon as he did, Orpheus dropped the other arm and then hustled back to his Jeep.
    The shots began, and the rapidly approaching bodies began to get thrown around. Parts flew off, but most kept coming.
    "Jesus," Tino