Total Apoc Trilogy (Book 2): Fighting the Hordes Read Online Free PDF Page A

stared at Ralph.  Was he really that eager to go back out and kill zombies?  The idea of being on a crew-served weapon did have some appeal, but fighting zombies still scared me.
                "Actually, I can do better than that," Jake said.  He turned around and shouted.  "Aaron!  Get them out of this cell and into some BDUs.  They're coming with us."
                "Some food would be nice," Olivia said.  "And not that thin ass soup you served us in the NML Zone."
                Aaron was our jailor.  He was standard issue cop type, clean shaven and ramrod straight.  Hell, he still wore his uniform, complete with badge, pistol, and night stick.  He, of course, didn't look happy about letting us go.
                Jake left, while Aaron unlocked the cell and motioned us out of the holding cell.  What a relief that was!  At least it wasn't raining, but the sky was still clouded and angry looking.  He then led us across the street and two blocks down to an old and very large Quonset hut structure that housed the town's Army Surplus store.
                "We can have anything we want, Aaron?" Ralph asked.
                "It's Officer Hanks," he said.  "Only take what you need."
                I don't think Officer Hanks liked us.  Didn't matter.  We were three geeks in a candy store.  The video game company we worked for before the end of civilization specialized in military and vigilante games.  We loved to depict real military gear in the games, so to actually have a store full of it was glorious.
                "I've always wanted some Army camo," I said.
                Everything was used, so it was more like a second hand surplus store.  So first we found Battle Dress Uniforms, or BDUs, that fit.  Mine was desert camo, while Ralph found a pair of standard green BDUs, and Olivia found some Jungle fatigues.  Her shirt was camo, but her pants were olive drab.  We all found used combat boots that fit, though I didn't like the idea of wearing someone else's boots.  What if he had athlete's foot or something worse?
                We each took a "steel pot" helmet and liner.  Aaron gave us web gear with a holster, canteen, and some magazine pouches on the pistol belts.  We each took a pair of Aviator sunglasses, too.  By that time Officer Hanks was looking at us like a bunch of shoplifters.
                "Now what?" I asked after we took turns in the store's bathroom, filling our canteens as well as peeing and pooping.  There was actual toilet paper.  "Are we going to get something to eat now?"
                "Do I look like a cook?"
                Gunfire erupted off in the distance.  The cop didn't flinch.  I tensed up.  For the last ten days gunfire meant a big zombie attack was about to hit us.  Officer Hanks led us out of the store and I was able to determine the fight was just on the short bridge.  That was the bridge we'd have to cross to get on the highway back to Carson.
                "Are they starting to clear out the zombies from around the bridge?" Ralph asked.
                "Sounds like it."
                It was sustained machinegun fire.  There were a lot of men with machineguns shooting.  And Officer Hanks was leading us in that direction.
                "Shouldn't they do that just before we leave?" Olivia asked.
                "Yes."
                We shared a look as we followed the cop through the empty night streets.  Jake said they were leaving before sunrise.  It wasn't even pre-dawn yet.  No light on the eastern horizon, but then it was still pretty cloudy and drizzling.
                "What time is it?" I asked.
                "I don't know," Olivia said, looking at her left wrist.  She had a watch on that she didn't have before.  She started winding it.  "I haven't set it