[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
rotten vegetables. The remaining creatures fired back, then ducked
inside the stairwell for cover.
133
"Guess that proves they're not zombies!" Frankie yelled. "Let's go!"
She pulled Danny toward the helicopter as it touched down on the roof in
a cloud of dust. Don followed with Jim.
All four survivors were battered and bleeding, and for a second, Steve
considered that they might actually be zombies. Then he saw the little
boy gaze at the unconscious man, and knew better. Only a son could stare
at his father with that much love. He helped the four aboard and got
them situated.
Quinn sent the helicopter skyward just as the remaining zombies opened a
second volley.
The thrum of the chopper's blades filled the cabin. Don and Frankie
glanced around in confusion.
"Strap yourselves in," Quinn yelled, flipping up his visor. "It's gonna
get bumpy."
He turned away from them and opened fire. The massive rounds shredded
the zombies on the roof.
"Who are you people?" Don asked.
Page 92
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"My name is Luke Sky walker. I'm here to rescue you."
"What?"
The red-haired, freckle-faced pilot chuckled over his partner's gunfire
and the roar of the rotors.
"Sorry. I always wanted to say that. My name is Quinn and this here is
Steve."
"Where are you guys from? What's going on?"
"I'm from Brooklyn. He's from Canada. Like I said, we're here to rescue
you."
"Clear," Steve said, and leaned back in his seat, breathless. He removed
his helmet. "Whew-that was intense."
Lacking a headset, Don had to shout. "I don't understand any of this.
How did you know where to find us?"
134
"For that matter," Frankie piped up, "how did you even know we were in
trouble?"
"We didn't," Steve answered, reloading his rifle. "There was a big
battle near the border of Pennsylvania and New Jersey earlier today.
Near Hellertown."
Startled, Frankie jumped in her seat, but kept quiet.
"We were sent out to look for survivors. We were on our way back when we
saw zombies converging on the garage. We figured with that much activity
there must still be somebody alive on the ground. Lucky for you guys we
decided to investigate. You folks weren't involved in that, were you?"
Don shook his head. Frankie kept quiet.
Steve reached out and shook Don's hand. Then he reached for Frankie's.
She turned away.
"It's okay," Steve told her. "We're not gonna hurt you."
"She's had a bad day," Don said. "And she needs medical help."
"I understand." He smiled at Danny. "What's your name, little buddy?"
"Danny."
"Nice to meet you, Danny. I bet that guy there is your father, huh?"
"Yeah. How did you know that?"
"Because you look like him ... and because you remind me of my little
boy, back in Montreal."
"Why aren't you with him now?" Danny asked.
Page 93
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"I-I got stuck in New York when everything happened. I was there on
business. I don't know if he's ..." He trailed off and shook his head.
"You should go find him," Danny said. "My daddy came across five states
looking for me."
135 "Five states, huh?"
"Yep." Danny counted them off on his fingers. "West Virginia, Virginia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey."
"Wow." Steve's face turned sad.
"My head hurts." Danny rubbed his temples.
"I've got a headache too," Don said.
"That's our fault," Quinn replied. "Sorry about that. Looks like it
knocked your father out completely."
"What are you talking about?" Frankie asked.
"Shit." Don pointed ahead of them. "Look at that!"
A massive cloud of dead birds swarmed toward them.
Frankie gripped the seat. "Oh my God."
"No sweat." Quinn grinned. "Watch this."
He flicked a switch and the birds began to drop from the sky.
"What the hell is that?" Don whistled.
"U.B.R.D., or Ultrasonic Bird Repelling Device. I can't tell you how it
works, but it's saved my ass more than once. That's why your heads hurt.
Guarantee you the zombie's heads hurt worse, though."
"What's it do?" Frankie asked, kneading her scalp.
"Doc Stern can probably explain it," Steve said. "He's the one who
retrofitted the chopper with it. He's a medical doctor, but he knows a
lot about other stuff too. But basically, it turns their little brains
into pudding."
Cold air hissed through the cabin. Frankie shivered, both from the
temperature and shock.
Don reached out and squeezed her hand. Smiling weakly, Frankie squeezed
back.
Quinn picked up the radio handset.
"Pale Horse, Pale Horse, this is Star Wormwood. Do you copy? Over."
136
There was a burst of static, and then a voice answered.
"This is Pale Horse. Go ahead, Wormwood. What's your status? Over."
Page 94
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]