03 Deluge of the Dead by David Forsyth Read Free Book Online

should keep the Cigarette boat in reserve for any fast response that’s required.  For now I’d like you to start plotting a grid along the coast where survivors are most likely to show up.  We’ll assign positions to the ships and boats of the Flotilla based on those assumptions and make adjustments as necessary.  In the meantime I’m going to call Captain McCloud on the Stratton.   We’re going to need a lot of coordination with the Coast Guard. Any other developments I should know about?”
    “Well,” said Captain Fisher, “Your plans for this operation are the only thing the remaining radio and TV channels are talking about this morning.  Your friend at GNN is about to have a nervous breakdown.”
    “Fox Rusher?” asked Scott with a grin.
    “Who else?” Captain Fisher said sarcastically. “I thought his eyes would pop out when he started reading the announcement about using sprinklers to deter zombie attacks, but he really lost it when he reported that the mayor had endorsed your plan to relocate survivors during the imminent rain storm.  He had to stop and ask for confirmation from his producers twice.  I don’t think he believes any of it, but at least he is reporting it.  I don’t know how many survivors will hear the news, or if they will believe it and act on it, but GNN and the Emergency Broadcast System are doing their best to get the word out.” 
    “That’s all we can ask,” Scott said and nodded thoughtfully.  “Let’s add our own voice to the mix.  Ask Marty to put together a transmission to send out from here and ask the Sea Launch Commander to relay it on other frequencies too.  We should be able to broadcast on Marine and Weather band channels, as well as AM and FM frequencies.  I’ll get my son, Billy, to post a notice on sovereign spirit dot net and other internet sites too. Let’s do everything we can to spread word of our plans in the remaining hours before the storm arrives.” 
    *****
    Carl and Sergeant Major O’Hara discussed their strategy for clearing the freeway on the short trip to the Marine Reserve Center where the convoy from the refinery was encamped.  O’Hara encouraged Carl and Karen to ride in the Amtrac with the Marines, but Carl insisted on driving his zombie-proof Suburban, arguing that it would give him better maneuverability and perspective.  Karen insisted on going with him again.  Carl reluctantly agreed, but handed O’Hara the micro-recorder with Karen’s screams for use by the Marines. “Since your APC is secure and well armed, it might be best for you to attract most of the attention,” said Carl.
    “Outstanding plan,” agreed O’Hara with a smile as he pocketed the recorded zombie lure.  “And you will have the real thing riding with you, in case you need to lead them away again.” O’Hara gestured towards Karen. “Just be damned careful not to get bottled up in the traffic jams.  Let us and the heavy equipment clear the road and stay close enough to the fire trucks for them to wash off the Z’s.”
    Carl nodded as he watched the rest of the hand-picked vehicles gathering in the parking lot of the Reserve Center under the eerie light of dawn. The big earthmover from the refinery was joined by a slightly smaller model that had been used to clean up the bodies of zombies in front of the Queen Mary.  It had received a quick facelift of chain link around the driver’s cab to make it zombie-proof. These big machines would do the heavy lifting when it came to clearing the traffic jams. The zombie-proof wrecker with its powerful winch might prove useful and they were also bringing the shuttle bus in case they stumbled upon more survivors.
    The Panther fire truck was manned and full of water.  It was accompanied by three other conventional fire engines, including the one Carl had liberated and two others from fire stations in the port.  The water truck from the refinery was also present. These fire-fighting apparatus should