Dawn of the Apocalypse: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel by TW Gallier Read Free Book Online Page B

Afghanistan.  Not all of them good.
                Even better, HQ wasn't too far from the armory.  Ideas flowed.  Most of them scary dangerous.  There was a damned good chance we'd all die in the attempt.  Still, it was better than staying and betraying my family.
                "All we have to do is figure out a way to get our hands on the armory keys," Charlie said.  "No small feat."
                "Agreed," I said.  "In the meantime, let's see if we can get hold of some road maps across the Dakotas."
                None of us were from that area.  My understanding was there weren't many roads.  It was mostly wilderness.  The Wild, Wild West, with zombies.
                When we returned to our tent, Sergeant Major Russell was talking to SFC Beatty.  We hung back until they finished and the Sergeant Major strode off.
                "Gilley," Beatty said, looking impatient as we approached.  "You're Sergeant of the Guard tonight."
                I'd forgotten all about pulling guard duty.  They'd probably expect me to work the next day, too.  Yeah, not happy.
                "What are we guarding?  The perimeter?   Front gate?"
                "No, you're guarding the brig and armory," he said.  "They have another unit guarding the perimeter."
                I looked at Mike, then Charlie, and grinned.
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
                I quickly put on all my gear.  Kevlar helmet.  WEB gear.  It was pretty basic.  In a war zone we were issued a lot more equipment.  Then I headed over to the armory, where I was issued my M-4 and pistol.  I was even given three full 30-round magazines for the rifle, and two for the Beretta 9mm.  The "enlisted" men showed up and were issued their weapons and ammo.
                There were just six men.  One for the brig and one for the armory per shift.  We all knew how guard duty worked, but I gave them the spiel again.  Everyone was going to be on guard for two hours, four hours off to sleep.  I didn't know what time guard duty ended, but most likely around 6 AM.  That was twelve hours, so each man would pull two shifts.
                I was expected to stay awake all night.
                "Here you go, Sarge," SSG Edwards said, handing over the armory keys.  The armorer looked harried after a long day of issuing weapons.  I really didn't expect her to give me the keys.  No one ever gave me keys when I was on active duty.  "If anything happens, meet me back here so I can open up and issue weapons.  Otherwise, give the keys back to me in the morning."
                After marching the guard detail over to HQ, I formed them up right in front of the five Humvees idling away.  Only one of the drivers still sat in her vehicle.  I went inside to find the Officer of the Guard.  It was Lieutenant Miller, a raw butter bar National Guard officer.  He looked out of his comfort zone, but was putting on a brave face.  Sort of.
                "Sir, the guards are ready for inspection."
                After the inspection, which he barely took any time to conduct, Lieutenant Miller gave me the keys to the brig with orders to keep a close eye on them.
                "Also, that first Humvee is ours," he said.  He pointed at the brand new one, with no top.  "They didn't give us a driver, but I don't see any reason we'd need to use it."  He started to go back inside the Brigade TOC.  "Oh, you are also responsible for ensuring all five are topped off at all times."
                "What about that driver?"
                The driver looked up from the book she was reading and frowned.  She was a pretty little brunette.  Her rank was PFC, and she had a patch on her left shoulder that I'd learned was the area's Army Reserve unit.  Sanchez was on her name