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“Mr. Baker, make no mistake about it. We want Priest back alive. If anything happens to him, every ounce of our knowledge, every round of ammunition we possess and every breath in our body will be used to remove you and the shitheads that follow you off the face of this planet. That is the only outcome I can personally guarantee,” Webb said stoically.

There was no response.

CHAPTER 42

They geared both Teams up in no time. Webb and his team took both Jeeps and drove down the access road. They activated the perimeter traps behind them as they went.

A figure in the woods watched as both Jeeps exited the facility. The figure-maintained surveillance on the Jeeps from a distance.

“Yes, both Jeeps exited the facility. We are staying with them to make sure they eliminate those infected. Good thing too, because I am tired of losing men trying to filter out this infected mob.”

“I know you are Mr. Brody. You have my word; we will not lose one more brother to this.”

“Thank you, Mr. Baker.”

“You are welcome. We will keep Mr. Priest company; however, I am moving him to Site B. The town could easily become a war zone depending on how the infected mass travels. Once you have completed your surveillance, meet us there.”

“Understood, Mr. Baker.”

Doc and Neville made their way through the fence at the back of the facility, which was surrounded by a thick forest. They re-wired the fence and took off through the woods. Traversing the outskirts of town, they kept to the tree line. Doc and Neville recon’ed houses from the tree line, only coming out if they spied a potential mode of transportation. They came across a few cars, but passed them up.

After a half-dozen houses, they came across a house with tan brick and brown trim which had its garage door open. Parked inside was exactly what they were looking for. A black Toyota Prius sat there waiting for them. Neville went into the empty house and found a set of keys, probably the backup set. They got in and Doc turned the key and the engine came on.

“Sweet,” Doc whispered. The hybrid car

was just what they needed. As long as they stayed under 45 mph, the electric motor powered the car quietly which would allow Doc and Neville to approach their potential target unnoticed. They continued to stay on the outskirts of town, taking all less traveled roads. Seeing exactly what they were looking for, the two soldiers pulled off the road and behind the building they had scoped out.

The building was one of the tallest in the town and would give them an adequate view of the town. As they traveled up to the top floor, they set booby traps to warn them of any enemies making their way up the stairs. They set up an observation point and looked for any signs of Priest.

Meanwhile, a mile out from the facility, Shaw started to set up claymores, white phosphorus grenades with trip wires and remote C4 mounds with jars of shrapnel. They equipped each mound with ten jars full of nails, screws and any other scraps of metal the team could find. If the infected got through that, then the team planned to mow down the rest with small arms fire.

Thomas and four of his men opened the door to a dark room. The room had once been a small office, but now all the furniture and carpet had been removed. Laying in one of the far corners was a figure that resembled a man lying in a bloody heap. He was dressed in only pants, no shoes, no shirt. There were fresh cuts all over his body that were crusting up. Priest was lying on his side; his eyes closed, his beard was soaked with blood and his nose didn’t sit straight on his face. Bruising along each side of his ribs had showed. The blood pooling right underneath the skin was turning a sickly shade of purple. The men with Thomas looked uneasy at the sight, and it was apparent that Thomas was not comfortable with the view either.

“Damn, Brody may have gone a little overboard on this,” Thomas said almost at a whisper. “Well, we need to move him, so ahead.”

The men moved into the room and two of them grabbed him underneath his arms to lift him up. He was so slick with blood that the men couldn’t get a good enough grip to lift him. The men slung their rifles over their backs and each grabbed an arm or leg. They lifted him off the ground with his head dangling down. He didn’t stir; he didn’t cry out in pain; he didn’t react at all.

“Wait,” Thomas commanded. He reached over and placed his fingers on Priest’s neck. “Ok, take him away. He is still alive…..barely.” They exited the building and headed for one pickup.

From an observation point on the top floor of a building across the road.

“Shit, we got movement,” Neville said to Doc.

Neville zoomed in, “Holy fuck! They are carrying Priest out to one truck. They really fucked him up and you can barely make out its him. He looks dead.”

Doc came over with his binos and his mouth hung open. “Jesus, Mother Mary and Joseph. Look at all that blood. We stay with him no matter what.”

“Fuckin-a-right we will!” Neville said in a loud whisper.

“Those fuckers are going to pay for this one way or another! Come on!” Doc exclaimed.

Thomas’s men loaded Priest into the back of one pickup and drove off, heading north. Doc and Neville were already in their Prius and following at a safe distance.

The Team had fallen back from the field of death they just constructed. Never the patient one, Shaw was getting agitated. With Priest out there in whatever state, Shaw was chomping at the bit. He liked to take the fight to the enemy, not the other way around.

Webb had his binos out and could see the infected coming their way, but not making good time. They were milling around, seeming to locate their have lost prey.

“Looks like they don’t know which way to go. Allison, Lia, hit those horns. Let them know we are here.”