Project Zulu by Fred Waltz Page B

request permission
to withdraw and retreat.”
    “What kind of situation?” Mike asks hearing the
faintest sounds of gunfire in the background. “I was under the impression that
Captain Hellatoni left you with orders not to engage.”
    “Sir, we did not engage. We are defending ourselves,
Sir. There must be hundreds, maybe thousands of those things, the zombies; they
are attacking us and I swear they are using strategy, almost like they know
where we are and what we are going to do.” Louder gunfire drowns out his voice
on the phone.
    “Corporal, are you still there? Corporal, I want you
and the team to fall back to my position, fall back immediately, I will send
out a team to meet you.”
    Mike has a panicked look on his face. “Get Captain
Hellatoni on the radio, tell him to abort and return to this location. Then
assemble a team and head out to meet the forward team and cover their retreat.”
    “Sir, there is no answer from Captain Hellatoni.”
    “Well keep trying him, damn it, keep trying.”

Chapter 28
    The small band of soldiers moves silently across the
field with Captain Hellatoni in the point position issuing orders via hand
signals and eye contact. All radios had been rigged for silent, tuned to a
short-wave frequency that only broadcasts 200 meters, used only for mic clicks.
    Two by two the soldiers traverse the field and
assemble below a three inch electrical conduit exiting the perimeter wall of
the Syscorp facility. Captain Hellatoni twists the cap from the conduit,
reaches inside and presses a recessed button. Just below the conduit, a panel
opens in the wall, revealing a forty-eight button keypad. He enters the
complicated code and waits. To his right, an access hatch slides open,
revealing a crawlspace. He knows that the tunnel leads to a secure bunker on
the second level of the facility. He also knows that once opened from the
outside, the hatch can’t be secured again, except from inside the bunker. He
instructs two of his men to stay and guard the entrance and takes the other
seven with him.
    They travel the tunnel in a two, three, two pattern,
the Captain on point until they reach the bunker. Captain Hellatoni keys his
radio once, letting the two soldiers outside know that they have made it into
the bunker, he receives an audible click back from outside.
    Inside the bunker is an array of instrumentation and
work station positions. Along the wall is a desk with a computer and telephone.
He picks up the telephone receiver from the desk, dials a three digit
extension…no answer. He tries the extension for the command center…no answer;
the cafeteria, the dormitory, the gymnasium...nothing. He instructs two soldiers
to remain in the bunker and then leads the remaining five out into the
corridor.
    The facility is strangely quiet, only the sound of
the air circulators humming in the background. The group continues down the
corridor, Captain Hellatoni leading the way. He signals ‘all stop’ when he
approaches a ninety degree turn to the right. He peers around the corner, and
sees two men in combat gear staggering down the hall, with the one handed
zombie, from the basement containment level, between them. He approaches them,
walking briskly and with a purpose. “You there, what is going on, why are you
roaming around the halls with that creature, and why is it not secured? I am
talking to you two; do you know where Major Chonk is?”
    The three continued to shuffle away from him, which
causes his temper to boil.
    “This is Captain Hellatoni speaking; I order you to
stop, turn around and identify yourselves.” He was a few feet away from them
now, and he reaches out to grab one of the soldiers by the shoulder. “What is
going on here, why is this thing out of its cell; and why are you allowing it
to roam the halls?”
    As his hand touches the soldier on the shoulder,
they both turn around to finally face him. He freezes, yanking his hand back,
and bringing his weapon up to the ready position.