Read America the Dead for Free Online Page B

he asked, leaning back in his chair and folding his massive arms across his chest.
    Lt. Lon outlined the general plan and broke down the specifics. Major Thorton nodded his big head. “I like it.” He said. “Except for the part about leaving in winter. We’ll stay here, then travel when the snows break.”
    “Why not travel when the zombies are frozen?” Captain Tamikara asked, the only man there who dared question the Major.
    Major Thorton would normally bristle at this insolence, but today he was feeling magnanimous. “I agree it would be easier, but we don’t know what kind of shelter we might be able to secure for ourselves. Here we’re established and are ready for winter.” Reluctant nods were seen around the table.
    Ken continued with a wicked grin. “Besides, I was looking forward to a winter tucked away warmly with my toys.”
    The NCOs shared a glance and Lt. Lon smiled openly. Only captain Tamikara kept a straight face, but it was wasted on Major Thorton. The man was a full blown pathological narcissist and would not be distracted. Major Thorton sat back and waved his hand. “Dismissed. You know what we need to do,” he said as he turned in his chair and looked out the window.
    The men left the room, to reconvene outside the mill compound. Captain Tamikara issued additional orders. “We will need to make sure we have adequate supplies. Raids from the north will focus on gathering materials for the trip. We’ll store them there,” he pointed to a tall brick building that once was a saloon, but now was unused. “When the snows break, we’ll be on the move. I want to be able to just pack in and go. The sooner we get this… job finished, the sooner we can look to expanding our operations.”
    None of the others seemed to notice the pause, but it summed up what a lot of them were thinking at the same time. Their leader may not be completely sane.
    The men dispersed to their various duties and to inform the rest of their men what the coming spring held in store for them. The wind over the hills was noticeably colder and everyone knew that winter was close behind. For the poor people of the settlement, it was a small release from the work that was required of them. But winter was long and cold and the people were literally prisoners in their own homes, only allowed to leave when the time came to pick up their foodstuffs or supplies. The animal caretakers were kept busy, making sure the animals were fed and healthy.
    The only thing that broke up the monotony was the raids and the materials they brought back. Sometimes they brought back new people for the town. Sometimes they brought back new equipment. Once in a while not all of them came back.
    The big excitement happened when someone actually escaped. A soldier came stumbling in from the outer posts, holding a ruined and bloody mouth. Apparently someone had decided they had had enough and disappeared into the wild.
    Captain Tamikara was not pleased. He confronted the man in his office who was trying to clean himself up.
    “Do you have a weapon?” he asked quietly.
    “Yeth,” the private said thickly, dripping blood onto the floor.
    “Then why did you not kill the man when he approached you?” Tamikara asked.
    “He din’t loog lige trubble,” the private said, gently dabbing his face with is sleeve.
    “Really?” Captain Tamikara’s voice softened and the private winced visibly, expecting a fatal bullet . Tamikara continued. “Well, I guess he was trouble. You’d better go get him before more of these fools think it is okay to hit their guards with rocks and leave.”
    “Now?” the man squeaked, looking at the new blanket of snow that was falling from deep grey skies.
    “Right now.” Tamikara dropped a hand to his sidearm, a nickel-plated Browning Hi-Power, his one vanity.
    The man shouldered his rifle and headed out into the gloom, pursuing prey that would not want to be caught and would fight if cornered.
    Captain Tamikara watched the