The Infected Dead (Book 3): Die For Now Read Online Free PDF Page B

drifting with the current. As it did, there was more room for bodies to reach the surface, some so bloated with gases that they broke the surface like cork bobbers.
    Allison gasped as a shark tore one away from the rest. The face of the infected was expressionless as it disappeared under the surface once again.
    I switched on the camera that showed a view of the southern tip of the island. The current was drawing the floating infected through the place where the water exited the moat, and one by one the bodies were washed out to sea. I figured if anything could make Allison want to stay inside the shelter, it would be remembering what was waiting outside.  
    She looked like she was going to be sick, but she put her shoulders back and said, “I’m going along.”
    It was easy for us to see that her reason for wanting to go was to keep an eye on Kathy, but the truth was that we could always use another gun or just a pair of eyes. Jean could stay behind with Molly, so Allison could come along. Also, none of us were in the mood to argue with her.  
    “That’s settled,” said the Chief. “We leave tomorrow at dawn.”

CHAPTER THREE
Charleston Revisited

    Jean and Molly were up before the rest of us the next morning. They wanted to give us a big breakfast as a surprise send off. The smell of coffee and fresh baked bread was enough to get me out of bed, but they had found plenty of other treats to go along with it. The supply room had some wonderful canned food, and the jars of jam and preserves had been a delightful surprise.
    One by one we gathered around the table and dug in, but it wasn’t the usual excitement we normally felt before leaving the shelter. This time felt different, and it was probably because Allison wasn’t a good fit.
    Regardless, we were all ears when the Chief explained that the best approach to the harbor was going to be from the south, and it would be by plane. He could land close enough to Fort Sumter for us to beach the plane and then walk to the hidden entrance to the tunnel. The high resolution photographs of Morris Island gave us enough detail to see that there were low places between the dunes that couldn’t be seen from the fort. If someone was still in control there, they would undoubtedly have one or two people standing watch in case they were attacked from land.
    “If I were in charge of a group of survivors at Fort Sumter,” said the Chief, “I would try to post a watch somewhere outside the fort on the island. I hope they don’t have enough people or weapons to do that.”
    Bus asked, “Wouldn’t it be a good idea to wait one more day? We could fly over it at night and see if we can spot any campfires.”
    “We can’t risk it,” said the Chief. “If they hear the plane, they may increase their security for a few days.”
    Tom had been quiet and wanted to be careful of what he said because Molly was in the room. She was cheerfully dishing out food, trying to do her part. Allison was sullen, as usual, but she didn’t want the tension to be obvious to Molly.
    “I’m a little worried about leaving the plane on the beach,” said Tom. “These pictures show that the beaches are totally exposed with nothing to use for cover. Even if we pulled camouflaged tarps over the plane it would still stick out like a sore thumb.”
    “What do you suggest?” asked the Chief.
    Tom rubbed his stubbled cheeks and looked at the pictures. “If we leave the plane out in the open and something happens to it, we may be able to get inside the shelter, but how would we ever leave?”
    “He has a good point,” said Bus. “We have two pilots, so why don’t I drop you guys off and then fly the plane back out. Once you’re inside the shelter you should be able to find the radio and tell me when to come back to pick you up.”
    Kathy said, “Chief, you’ve got more hand to hand combat experience than Bus. We could use you when we get ready to take the fort.”
    I could tell the Chief didn’t