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

would provide us with a significant advantage
over the raiders. Lizzy, forced to deal with all the duties of an XO, only went
on a single hike. Carlson didn’t go anywhere. In contrast, Mary was gone nearly
every day. There wasn’t anything I really needed her for, so she had my
blessings. The only time she demurred was when Tim Myers asked her to accompany
his team. Mary said she would love to but that all the paperwork she’d been
neglecting had reached the breaking point. As it turned out, she spent the
afternoon drawing pictures and doodling in a notebook.
    The
twins were hovering more than usual, which I found bothersome. It wasn’t their
mere presence – I was used to that – rather, they seemed on edge, more so than
the others. It took me a while to figure it out, but I think their uneasiness
was based on the unusual stretch of quiet we were experiencing. The raiders had
delayed in the past before attacking but never for this long. What were they
doing?
    Of the
squads not patrolling, most spent their off time hanging around our little
supply base. Some worked on the defenses, primarily digging additional trenches
or creating obstacles in the meadows and open areas around the hill. Others
relaxed and took it easy. Every so often we would haul supplies to the west
where Captain Briggs had deployed the bulk of the Yellowstone force. He had
close to two hundred people with him, each of his platoons commanded by a
battle hardened, professional soldier.
    Keeping
them fed proved easy enough. The people of Yellowstone brought us whatever was
required. I then had this sorted and stacked, ready to be forwarded whenever Captain
Briggs made the request. It was a very different role from what I’d previously
experienced. I was used to being at the forefront of the conflict.
    Briana
was happy with the situation, something she made very, very clear when we spoke
via satellite. You know, the last time I was in the field, we went weeks
without exchanging words. Now, with our impressive technology that I can’t
begin to understand, we have the ability to speak pretty much anytime we want.
I would feel guilty talking to my sweetie so often while the others in my
command have far less access to their loved ones, but a great deal of our
communications were related to day to day affairs in the Black Hills which
needed to be addressed.
    Our
overhead flights were continuing without pause. Kimberly usually went up at
night, taking full advantage of the equipment installed in her Cessna. Others
passed by during the day to examine the area with cameras and the naked eye.
The raiders were digging in as well, setting up their own strong points and
keeping to whatever cover the trees provided. Xavier participated a few times
but more often used our helicopter to move personnel around Yellowstone.
     
    *
* *
     
    I was
bored. Do you recall the week or so of patrols I mentioned just a few
paragraphs earlier? Well, that quickly doubled. Nothing was happening. It was
getting so bad that I had complained to both the captain and the lieutenant, with
Lizzy adding her voice as well. Yes, I realize we were outnumbered, but we were
armed to the teeth, controlled the sky, spent more than a year training under
the watchful eye of true experts, and possessed fully armed military
helicopters as a secret weapon. My opinions were politely disregarded. Then
something finally occurred. I would jump up and down shouting yippee, but it
wasn’t anything good.
    “Lieutenant
Gikas just called,” announced Mary.
    I set
the field manual I was reading on the table. “What’s up?”
    “A
hunting group vanished. There were nine of them, six adults and three kids ages
ten to thirteen.” She began to fidget.
    “Any
trace?”
    “Nothing.
Well, they found their pickups. One had an elk in the back. It had already
started to go bad, so the theory is that they’ve been missing pretty much from
the moment they left.”
    “Where
were the trucks?” asked Lizzy.
    She