The Last Bastion of the Living: A Futuristic Zombie Novel by Rhiannon Frater Read Free Book Online Page A

against the Inferi Scourge . Between the air craft , the p resident ’ s speech, and the abrupt cancellation of all his meetings, his growing sense of unease definitely didn ’ t seem without merit.
    Tucking his hat under his arm, he strode down the long corridors that would lead him to his office. Like the rest of The Bastion , the hallways and offices were austere with black tile floors, pale gray walls, and very little ornamentation. Only the flag for The Bastion and the crest of the Constabulary decorated the main corridor. He noted that there was definitely tension in the air as the lower officials of the Constabulary spoke in hushed voices. A few glanced in his direction, but quickly averted their gaze. He was most likely the highest ranking officer in the building today and people didn ’ t want to be seen gossiping.
    Reaching his office, he glanced at the doorway across the hall that led to Commandant Pierce ’ s office. The doors were shut.
    “She didn ’ t even come in today,” Petra, his assistant informed him as she stepped into the corridor to greet him.
    “Something ’ s up,” he decided.
    He slipped past her into the small block of offices where his staff worked. Petra followed, her pad in her hand.
    “Absolutely,” Petra agreed.
    She was efficient, smart, and tenacious. Very tall, a little too thin, and fine-boned, she reminded him of an avian predator. Her slightly hooked nose and narrow face only added to that impression. Her thick curls were pulled back from her face into a braided bun and her uniform was immaculate.
    As he hooked his hat on a metal coatrack and slid out of his wet jacket, he inclined his head toward her pad. “I know you have your ear to the ground. Talk to me.”
    “I admit I have been in communication with a few sources,” she said, the corner of her mouth quirking upward.
    He entered his personal office and flipped on the coffee maker in the corner. He desperately needed caffeine. “And what did you discover?”
    “Commandant Pierce didn ’ t come into the office this morning, but her assistant sent a communiqué informing me that all her meetings were canceled, including the one with you. Then word began to filter in that all the echelon of the government was canceling meetings.” She tucked her long body into a chair, her pad resting on her lap.
    Dwayne slid into his somewhat comfortable chair behind his big ugly desk. “All divisions?”
    “Every single one. I did some sleuthing and found out that an air craft picked up the president ’ s counsel and delivered them to the capital. Which is where they have been since early this morning,” Petra informed him.
    “I just saw an air craft heading toward the capital.”
    “Ah, now, the i nteresting part is that the aircraft you saw was seen landing and departing from the SWD.” Her fingers lightly caressed her pad. “I received that information right before you arrived.”
    “The Science Warfare Division? Interesting. They ’ ve been incompetent since the beginni ng of all this. I wonder what ’ s changed.” Dwayne set his hands on his desk and tapped the surface. The keyboard display popped up and he entered his password. Scanning through the communiqués being sent out by the senior officers, it was obvious they were all in the dark. “Do you know anyone in the Science Warfare Division?”
    Slightly inclining her head, Petra affirmed what he suspected. “I have been in contact with a few people I know. They ’ re scrambling for information as well. There are rumors of a covert operation being implemented by the SWD, but there are no specifics about what that operation may be.”
    “I hate being in the dark,” Dwayne complained.
    “I will attempt to remedy that,” Petra vowed.
    “You really are a tenacious creature,” Dwayne mused.
    “I would have made a fantastic investigative reporter before humanity fell,” she conceded. “Of course, there will only be so far I can go before the information I