Zombie Theorem (Book 2): The Siege by James Wallace Page B

shit going on since the world fell. “We couldn’t help him, and he was in misery. Come on, let’s go see what’s up downstairs.”
    Brian followed me downstairs and to the back room where the hostages were being released by Vic and Kuppers. Kuppers looked up from releasing a mother and her young daughter from their binds and looked over to us. “What did you find upstairs?”
    “Two hostages, one wounded. Also one dead gunman,” Brian answered.
    “Where are Apache and Doc?” I inquired.
    “They finished their sweep of the area and are bringing back a hostage. The guard should be here soon. Why don’t you two go out front and move that truck so they have a place to land?”
    We turned and trotted back to the dining room, ignoring the prisoner that was still zip tied and lying on the floor. We opened the front doors and waved in the air toward where Senshi was watching us through a scope. We made our way over and opened the driver’s door to the sweet 4x4 Ford Raptor. I reached in and examined the interior. The back of the cab was painted in blood, and the dead guard was still sitting straight up in his seat. I stepped up on the running board and grabbed the man’s arm, pulling him out of the truck. Brian reached up and grabbed him, dragged him to the rear of the truck, and threw him in the bed.  I looked at the seat and was happy to find it dry and clean. I slid in and turned the key and the truck roared to life. The engine in this thing was amazing and strong. I popped the brake and put the truck in reverse. I backed it out onto the street and parked it under the copse of trees Brian and I had hidden under earlier.
    I turned off the engine and sat there thinking, I could probably fire this thing up and go to Fort Bragg on my own pretty quick. ‘What is wrong with me?’ I thought. This is my new family. I need to stay and help them. Then there’s Brian and little Angel. I can’t leave them behind. I sighed deeply and stretched my neck, trying to work the kinks out of it. I dropped the keys on the seat as I got out and made my way back to the parking lot. Brian watched me with concern in his eyes and stepped in my way. “Boss, what’s going on, man? You ok?”
    I stopped and looked up at the sky, enjoying the rising sun from the East. “I don’t know, man. Maybe I am just trying to deal with all this shit. Just last week I was worried about data and reports. Now here I am using guns and shooting people. This is so hard for me to wrap my head around.”
    Brian came closer and gathered me into his arms, giving me a gentle hug. “I understand, Dan. This is not very easy for me, also. I thought I was finally away from all the guns and death. I was falling into what it was like to be a civilian and enjoying the world and what lay before me. To be pulled back into chaos and waiting for my turn to be shot is not what I was expecting for my life, but here I am.” He looked up into the sun and closed his eyes. “I do feel blessed and happy, though, knowing I have a new brother in you and a new family in this team. That is enough for me to keep going, though.”
    He thumped me on my helmet and then pointed in the sky. I followed his finger and saw two helicopters appear. Each one had something attached and swinging from them. “What the heck are they carrying?”
    “Oh, sweet Jesus. Looks like two Humvees,” he clicked on his radio and called out. “Kuppers, Vic, looks like the cavalry is here. Looks like they brought some toys.”
    I squinted at the helicopters. “What kind are they? They don’t look like the Blackhawks we saw at the base.”
    “Those are CH-47 Chinooks. Military transport helicopters. They can carry some pretty heavy loads, as well as forty-four passengers. They need some room to land, though so let’s beat feet back to the truck until they can unhook those Humvees.” Kuppers appeared next to us.
    The Chinooks came in lower. One hovered higher up while the lead set down its load. Vic