Zombie Road by Simpson, A. (best ereader manga .TXT) 📗

at his beard and dropped his hand to his gun as soon as he spotted the weird contraption blocking the tracks on the other side of the gorge just outside the tunnel. He took his cue from Gunny, who was relaxed and leaning over the railing, and went back to scratching at his beard. It was softer and smelled better than it ever had before since Debbie had gotten him some beard oil. The stores in town were getting fancy with all kinds of luxury items now that Cobb had all the basic necessities coming in regularly. Since she liked the way the Viking Gorilla sandalwood smelled he used it every day despite Scratch’s wiseass remarks.

“What’s that all about?” he asked as he scanned the mountaintops looking for silhouettes. Looking for people with guns aimed at them.

“Not sure.” Gunny said. “I tried to approach him but he shook his head, pointed at the bridge and then his watch. I think we’re waiting on someone.”

Griz noticed the track then. One of the rails had been moved a few inches so it didn’t line up with the rest. A train would derail and tumble over the edge if it tried to go over it. The spikes that had held it in place were neatly lined up on a cross tie waiting to be reused. The contraption the man sat on had obviously started out as a motorcycle but it had been converted to run the rails. The arm that stretched to the opposite rail to stabilize it was on a pivot so the machine could be easily turned around to go in the other direction or disconnected and the bike could be used on roads. It had banks of long, thin batteries where the engine used to be and solar panels on the open air roof that provided shade. Griz grabbed the field glasses Gunny had been using and scanned the horizon, the boulders and anyplace else someone could hide.

Nothing but scrub and rocks.

He finally zeroed in on the man on the machine and saw that it was only a boy, maybe fourteen or fifteen with loose, flowing clothes. Something similar to what they wore in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. His hair was dirty blonde and pulled back in a ponytail. There didn’t appear to be any guns on the machine but there were rifle shaped things that could have been some kind of weapon. The kid wore complicated looking bracers that looked more like something out of a science fiction movie than knights of the round table and they could faintly hear Bastilles voice coming from a radio.

“No wonder they knew we were coming.” Griz said in disgust. “That guy has no idea of operational security. I oughta have Debbie throw his ass in jail.”

“1st amendment.” Gunny said and sipped his coffee. “But you’re right. I’ll be having a little chat with him when we get back.”

“Good. I’m going to check the backtrail.” Griz said. “Make sure they haven’t boobytrapped the rear entrance of the tunnel behind us.”

“Already did.” Gunny said. “It’s clear. That kid on the trike is the only person around.”

The others joined them and just as they were getting impatient to do something, they saw the beam of headlights coming through the tunnel on the other side of the gorge.

“Positions.” Griz said and the crew dispersed. Hollywood and Bridget hurried to the rear to watch for anyone sneaking up from that direction, Scratch and Stabby casually leaned on the mounted .50 calibers and Griz picked up the binoculars again to scout the mountaintops.

The kid on the trike dismounted and talked briefly to the men in the car. It had arrived with only a whisper, the modified Tesla running nearly silent on the rails. One of the men waved and the three started across the bridge.

“Old gray headed guy is in charge.” Griz said quietly. “Kid is probably just a scout. Big guy is the security. If things go south, take him out first.”

They were dressed in loose fitting sand-colored clothes, suitable for the desert heat. Like the kid, they wore electronic gizmo bracers on their arms and both had headsets with eye pieces. They weren’t armed and didn’t seem particularly unfriendly but just the same Gunny didn’t leave his guns behind when he opened the gate and climbed down the ladder.

“President Meadows I assume?” the older man asked and held out his hand as they approached.

“Yes, sir.” Gunny said as he shook but noticed the big man kept his distance and kept his eyes roving, alert for danger.

“I’m Chairman Simon.” He said. “This is William and Xavier. Welcome to Utopia, formerly the great state of California.”

“Okay.” Gunny said and nodded to the big man and the kid. “Thanks. What can I help you with?”

“You can get us what we need, maybe make up for what you’ve done.” The big man said and glared at him before returning to scan for snipers.

The old man grimaced, made an apologetic half shrug and continued.

“We would like to know your full itinerary while you are in our country, how long you’ll be staying and the route you plan on using.”

“Your country?” Gunny asked and worked hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

“That’s right.” The big man spat. “OUR country. You and your kind abandoned us. You left us to die. You dynamited the roads and bridges so we couldn’t escape and you haven’t done a damn thing to help us since. You’re leading in millions of undead with your damn trains, the deserts are full of them so we couldn’t go into YOUR country if we wanted to. You turned your back on us, you and your new coalition of city states, and we owe you nothing.”

“William.” The old man said and placed a hand on the big man’s arm. “We agreed to handle this diplomatically so please, allow me to talk with President Meadows. I’m sure we can come to an understanding.”

“Talk then.” He said