I Dream of Zombies Read online

  I slung the pack over my shoulder and gripped the muzzle end of my rifle. “Let’s get moving.”

  * * * *

  Julia

  On arrival I found the horses had been hitched and their food loaded on the dray in large metal drums, chained in place, along with a drum of fresh water. The team stood around waiting as I clambered up onto the seat, and for a moment, dizziness assailed. I hadn’t expected it to be quite so high.

  The horses were encased in a mesh and wire cage with what appeared to be stroller wheels. Clearly the powers that be hoped that it would be zombie-proof. I hoped so too.

  Dove slid into the seat beside me and took up the reins, after smoothly releasing the brake. “Make yourselves comfortable, friends. We’re about to go.” He gave a clicking sound and flicked the leads. The horses pranced a little before moving forward with a jerk.

  “I didn’t know you had knowledge of driving drays.”

  “I learned while in seminary. We used to run religious camps and had the usual hayride thing happening. Most of us younger brothers learned while the older ones focused on more spiritual interactions with the boys.”

  I bit my lip, evaluating the sourness of his words. As with the majority of us, he too labored under the immense pressure and sorrow which our new reality shoved us under. There wasn’t much to say, so I pressed his hand gently and looked to the road ahead. The weight of my rifle a comfort as we left our metal gated secure zone.

  The grating sound of the doors closing behind us ricocheted through my mind, as if urging me on a path I wasn’t sure I was ready for. The potholed terrain and wrecks of abandoned cars could hide zombies quite effectively, and now that we’d cleared the gates of the hospital precinct we needed to be on our guard.

  “Okay, boys, eyes peeled and look for zombies.”

  Since the spread of the deadly plague we’d figured out that noise, vibrations, and of course the sight of living humans was enough to work them into a frenzy. The clopping of the horses’ hooves and the squeak of their cage we couldn’t do anything about, so our best bet was to stay alert.

  Within minutes we experienced our first incursion. A group descended, still wearing the shredded remains of school uniforms and doctors’ scrubs. Kids were the worst, because even though we knew they’d turned and had no future, the sight of their bodies… I shuddered and shouldered my rifle.

  “Remember, they’re not kids anymore. They’ll bite and turn us, so be on your game.”

  A rustle beside me alerted me to Dove donning his stole and fishing out bottles of holy oil.

  “Dove?” I half-turned in my seat, and the look he shot in my direction ravaged me. Pain had settled on his features, his mouth a flat line of hopelessness, and his eyes had lost the gleam that usually sat there, replaced by dull acceptance.

  “Time to give them eternal rest.”

  It always seemed incongruous to hear Dove offering last rites as we proceeded to complete the death cycle for zombies, but he did that now, his voice somber and determined over the phut sound of bullets entering flesh.

  I listened to the cadence of “May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up,” with each shot, waiting for the splash of black-red, congealing blood and the thud of the body dropping to the pitted asphalt. The smell, as always, overpowered my senses.

  Then there was silence.

  I always found it eerie after a skirmish. No birdsong, no moans or shuffles. Instead, this time the horses gave a snuffle, and after a quick rustle, Dove took up the reins again.

  “You handled that well.” Leroy’s words over my shoulder reminded me that he hadn’t been with us long enough to be comfortable with how we worked.

  As I opened my mouth to reply, I heard a new sound. A growl, dog-like and loud.

  “We should get out of here now.” Dove spoke loudly and gee’d the horses up, so that the dray rumbled and clattered faster than before.

  “Shit!” Ahead of us were three large dogs. The red glow of their eyes and the matted, greasy fur told me they’d been bitten at some time. Zombified dogs had become more of a concern lately.

  “My turn. Shove over a little, J.”

  Leroy shuffled so he leaned on the seat between Dove and myself, the long muzzle of his rifle steady, amazing though it seemed as we shuttled forward. One quick ping and the first dog dropped. It propelled the others forward. I heard a mutter then another ping saw the second dog drop. It wouldn’t be enough though, because the third was running.

  I shouldered my rifle, sighted, and squeezed the trigger, waiting, exhaling slightly and hoping. A splash showed on the pelt, and the impact slowed it but didn’t stop the creature.

  My heart thudded rapidly against my ribs.

  Another ping and it fell to the ground, and I inhaled deeply.

  “That was close. Is this a new thing?” Leroy’s question pulled me from my momentary distraction.

  “We’re seeing more of it now, as the zombies are searching for prey and the dogs are starving. They’re taking more chances, and of course…” Dove didn’t finish the sentence, but I knew Leroy understood the unspoken words.

  Where the zombies and dogs converged, it was only a matter of time until they too were bitten and turned. Zombie dogs were a whole lot more frightening, because they were hunting machines with speed and savagely sharp nails and teeth.

  Leroy pulled back and settled against the raised bench. “I haven’t encountered this phenomenon before.”

  I wondered what he’d seen, as he’d dealt with them quickly and efficiently. He hadn’t seemed disturbed at dealing with the zombie children, and that gave me a moment of disquiet. It was something we’d have to discuss. Later.

  * * * *

  Leroy

  The thud and clatter of hooves and metal wheels lulled me, so I lay back, watching behind us for signs of—well, not exactly life, but movement. I’d caught the flash of awareness in J’s eyes as I’d euthanized the dogs, and I knew my ability to do the same to the children had surprised her. Maybe even disturbed her on some level. I didn’t like it, found it hard, but knew the realities. No one probably knew them more than I did.

  She didn’t know about my background, and I guessed that discussion point would rise at some stage. She’d want to know who and what I was, just as much as I wanted to forget.

  We traveled for an hour or two with no other incursions, while the sun rose in the sky. Around midday, we found an open area. It was flat and easy to defend while affording clear sight all around for some distance. We removed the cage from around the horses to allow them to drink but stayed on alert.

  The rest was welcome, but the group remained subdued. I wondered if that was normal after a brief battle, or if it was the result of the group being made up of previous-life civilians.

  The sun beat down, the grass waved back and forth, and for a short time I could forget that the world was no longer the civilized lifestyle I’d lived before.

  “Leroy? What did you do before this?” J dropped down beside me, the grass crunching and her voice soft.

  “I was a soldier.” That didn’t really explain what I’d been, but the truth was unpalatable. Something I’d hidden for a long time.

  “Oh. Were you based here? On secondment?”

  J didn’t take the hint, and I wanted to tell her to stop asking, but what benefit would that be to me? “No.” I wondered if changing the subject would re-direct her attention. “So what does J stand for?”

  “Julia. My name is Julia, but in the middle of firefights it’s inconvenient, so I became J.” She shrugged, her mane of red-gold hair glinting and playing around her shoulders.

  “Did you grow up in Canberra?”

  She gave a harsh laugh. “No. I was here because my stepfather was placed here, and my mother and little sister came with him. I was here on holidays when everything happened. So I stayed in the hopes that…” Now her words died away, and I understood.

  “I’m sorry. Did they suffer?”

  When she turned away, her shoulders shook slightly. Dammit, I’d made the tough woman cry.

  “I’m sorry, J. I didn’t mean to remind you.”

  “No. You’ve a right to ask. I don’t know.” Her arms moved, and I guessed she was swiping away the tears that thickened her voice. “Allan said he tried to get to them. I was out sight-seeing. I’d gotten a lift with him because Abby was at school and Mum wanted to get her hair done. I haven’t seen them since that morning.”

  I sighed. I’d been in the heart of this zombie mess, and a fat blob of emotion was attacking me, leaving me feeling a confusing mix of guilt and softness. Neither of which I wanted to experience. Emotions weren’t important anymore. At least not to me.

  J pushed up from the ground without looking back at me, and for the first time, I made out the slender curves of the woman, a flash of pale pink skin drawing my eye.

  “We should hitch up and move out,” she said. “We need to make the airport tonight.”

  “J…” I reached out, and she turned back, just enough that I could see the shimmer of tears in her eyes. “You need to know—”

  “No, Leroy. I don’t need to know what happened to them. I wish I would find them alive, but realistically…”

  She’d assumed something totally different to what I’d been about to say. The splash of acid that burned my throat at how she’d react if I told her what I’d done and been stopped any further words from emerging.

  It was foolish and pathetic, but I grabbed the easy way out with both hands.

  Pushing away from the ground, I brushed the grass from the seat of my pants and started heading for the dray. “I’ll get Dove’s assistance to hitch the horses back up.”

  J didn’t respond, just turned her back and looked out over the wilderness behind us.

  * * * *

  Julia

  Approaching the heart of what had been Canberra was disquieting.

  I trudged one weary foot in front of the other. “How are the horses holding up?”

  “Better now that most of the weight is off the dray.” Dove spoke quietly.

  We’d pulled up at the old War Memorial last night and he’d declared the horses were finding the weight hard. As a group we’d decided that walking would be better to help them make it to the end of the mission.

  We’d be traveling for two and a half days, and I had to be honest, the commander had been right. Skirting the main areas of town had meant only smaller packs of zombies. The center of Canberra was clearly visible as it had been for a fair chunk of yesterday.

  “I wonder how many zombies are in Parliament House?” Van’s voice echoed with mirth.

  A laugh rippled among the group.

  “They were zombies before the plague.” Jack snickered.

  “You could be on to something.” I flicked another look in the direction of the center. Memories of my citizenship education classes reminded me that Canberra hadn’t been settled over a period of time, rather a town built around Lake Burley Griffin with the intention of becoming the heart of Australia.

  I glanced ahead and contemplated what I could see. Anzac Avenue was exposed. My stomach was tied in knots. In the distance lay Parkes Way. The back of my neck itched, and I gripped my rifle tightly. The closer we came to what had been a heavily populated area, the deeper the danger. I felt it keenly.

  “Hey, J? What’s that blob ahead?” Dove called out to me, the horses and dray in the center of the team while I’d taken the right flank.

  I squinted, looking into the distance. “I don’t know.” My senses screamed it was something I didn’t want to know, and dread filled me as the blob moved apart, separating into smaller moving parts. “Incoming!”

  We moved like a well-oiled machine, tightening the pack so we flanked the dray and horses as we moved forward. Leroy vaulted onto the back of the dray, a statue exuding confidence as he shouldered his rifle.

  Five… Six… Dammit, ten shambling zombies were heading in our direction. I wasn’t happy to be found here on the outskirts of the town. We could beat these ones, but my greater concern was how much noise we were about to make becoming an invitation to more. There were plenty enough heading toward us, as if we were a large magnet. More could potentially swamp us.

  “Pull up and let them come to us.”

  Dove gave me a look that clearly said ‘you’re crazy’, his eyes wide as he stared at me, but he hauled the horses to a stop.

  “If we engage them here, the noise won’t carry so far,” I explained. “We don’t want to attract any more than we have to deal with.”

  “That’s it, just a little closer.” The whisper of Leroy’s words impinged.

  I sighted the zombies and waited, inhaling lightly.

  The tiny thud and oomph from the man beside me, together with the toppling of the zombie, told me the bullet had found its mark. The sound of the reload echoed as I checked my aim and squeezed the trigger. The kickback jerked, the wood of the barrel digging into my shoulder.

  Another dropped. The others took aim and fired while Dove intoned the world of the last rites again, but this time he held the reins tightly. The sound must have been startling to the horses as they shuffled a little.

  Another phut beside me, and finally, the puffs of smoke that had filled the air cleared. One lone zombie dragged itself in our direction. Van cursed and lowered his rifle.

  “Hold your ground, Van.”

  Surprisingly, he didn’t listen. Instead, he mumbled something and strode forward, each step faster than the last.

  Jack hurried, his hand outstretched as if to grab him, but Van shrugged him off.

  I knew what this meant. It happened sometimes. The constant death and slaughter became too much for a person to handle. He’d snapped.

  Jack grabbed for him again, meaty fingers grabbing Van’s shoulder. “Stop, man!”

  He tugged the Eurasian man toward him, and I caught a glimpse of the pain on Van’s face.

  “It’s not them,” Jack said.

  The wail of zombies rent the air, and I cursed and turned to the others. “Get on the dray now!”

  I had a sudden sensation of doom. The clench of my stomach and the prickling feeling increased. We were out in the open, still some distance from our destination, and one of my team was emotionally compromised. It spelled disaster.

  “Dove? Get us out of here now,” I ordered.

  He did, clicking at the horses and sending them forward. He stopped momentarily beside the men and Jack shoved Van onto the back.

  I touched Van’s shoulder. “Give me your rifle.”

  He stared at me, a blank expression on his face. I grabbed the rifle, and Van dissolved, hunched into himself.

  Right now there wasn’t time to evaluate his condition. His scream had sounded loudly, and the sound of moans and growls filled the air. My mouth dried.

  The horses moved as quickly as possible while the men, rifles ready for action, did what they had to. The violence leaving Van rolling on the wooden platform.

  If I wasn’t so worried, I might have made a comment that it seemed somewhat surreal. Weird and mind-numbing almost. So many forms came at us.

  “Can we go faster?” I asked.

  Dove’s expression shut me up. Clearly that wasn’t a useful question. So I joined the work of the others, the constant thuds and phuts of firing weapons melding with the clop of the hooves and the squeak of wheels.

  Ahead lay the shimmering waters of Lake Burley Griffin and beyond that the decaying remains of the impressive parkway. This was the most dangerous part of our journey. Once we entered the parkway, we were in what had been a densely populated area. Full of zombies.

  I licked my dry lips as I scanned the horizon.

  * * * *

  Leroy

  As fast as we aimed and shot, another one or two zombies appeared. This was just the tip though. Once we were on the approach to the laboratory, there would be more. Lots more. They congregated in areas that had been busy, because that’s where they’d find food.

  “We need to get off this road.” The clip of my G2A was empty, and I was struggling to find another filled clip in my pocket.

  “No. This puts us in the right area to approach the lab. Next door is an abandoned hotel, which has an underground parking area. So long as it’s clear, it’s a defensible place to leave the horses and Van. Probably Jack too.”

  I glanced in J’s direction and noticed her biting her lip. Yeah, Van’s breakdown was a massive problem for the team. Hopefully he could pull it together enough to hang on.

  We hit the end of the motorway and turned onto the road beside the water. It wasn’t going to be far, but we’d have to outrun and outthink the zombies.

  “We need to get into the car park?” I asked.

  “Yeah.”

  My mind whirled. “And you intend to do that, how?”

  “I haven’t worked that out yet.” Julia’s voice was stiff, and I understood she felt threatened by my questioning.

  Shit! “So what, we’ll just stroll up and see if there’s any zombies and ride the dray in?”

  “Dammit, Leroy—”

  “Stop it you two.” Dove’s voice cut through our argument. “J, I see what Leroy is saying. We need a distraction so we can check the environment out.”

  Julia subsided, the woman sighing and pulling at her hair as she thought. Funny how I suddenly thought of her as a woman, not just a fellow soldier. The sensation was wholly unwelcomed.

  With so much weight on the dray, the horses were struggling. They panted, and their sides lathered with a white foam. “We need to get off this, otherwise we won’t get there.”

  Dove glanced at me. “You know a little about horses?”

  “Not much, but enough to know that the longer we keep them under this kind of load, the sooner they’ll break down.”

  Dove grunted.

  “I say Jack, Reg, and I take up the rear. We’re quick and armed. You, Van, and Dove go ahead. We’ll meet up with you at the entrance to the hotel… What did you call it?”

  “The Neapolitan,” Dove answered, and I glanced at him again. “I was based here for several years before the plague. I officiated at weddings and was a guest at the hotel on several occasions. The entrance to the car park is up the center. There are only a few places where we could be ambushed, so it’s highly defendable. That’s assuming there are no zombies inside the car park itself.”