Capital Falling | Book 4 | Sever Winkless, Lance (most popular ebook readers TXT) 📖

“He’s right Josh,” Alice tells him, “us being up there is not a good idea.”

“Josh.” I stand, putting my hand on his shoulder. “Those steps down are going to be the pinch point and you can cover us just as well from the boat as you can from up there.”

“Fuck’s sake. Okay, okay,” Josh says, pulling away from my hand whilst raising his in surrender.

“We’ve got company,” Alice says, looking up towards the embankment.

Near the top of the steps, a Rabid has appeared from out of nowhere. The creature’s long black hair tells us it is female as it stumbles forward, not stopping. It doesn’t seem to realise there is a drop of about three meters right in front of it, down from the embankment and onto the small beach below. All three of us watch as it steps out into fresh air and falls head over heels onto the beach. She would have been swept out to sea if the river were up, but now she slams into the sand, her body almost parallel to it, hitting face down.

“Ouch, that’s gotta hurt,” Josh cringes.

“Has it,” Alice questions, “It’s moving.”

Alice is right, no sooner has the beast hit the ground, it is moving to get back to its feet. I take it as a small reminder of how formidable these creatures are, and I also see an opportunity.

“Take me in Alice, drop me on the beach,” I tell her urgently.

“Are you sure?” she replies.

“Yes, there’s only one sure way to find out if these creatures are still going to ignore me,” I tell her as I quickly gather my gear. I am not taking much with me, just a small rucksack with a few provisions and my M4 of course.

As Alice manoeuvres the boat to get it aimed at the beach, I reach into my combat vest. Stealth will be the name of the game from here on out and I twist my silencer onto the muzzle of my weapon.

“Give me a new mag,” I ask Josh as we approach the beach, suddenly wanting to keep all the ammo I’ve got on me.

“Dad,” Josh says, once the mag is in place and I look up to him. “Good luck and if it isn’t on, retreat. Remember, if the streets are packed with Rabids up there you’ve got no chance of getting Karen and Jim through.”

“I know, Champ. I’ll be back, try not to worry and be ready for when we arrive.”

“You can count on it,” Josh says and pulls me in for a man hug.

“Good luck Andy, we’ll be waiting,” Alice says.

“Thanks, I know you will,” I reply, and I sweep my hand through the air to clasp hands with her.

Chapter 13

Alice approaches the beach nice and slowly, aiming a few meters to the left of the Rabid that is still struggling to right itself on the sand. As soon as she feels the bottom of the boat scrape against the riverbed, she cuts the engine.

I immediately launch myself off the front of the boat, my feet thrusting forwards. Luckily, the boat has got close enough to the beach to let me land on the sand instead of in the water, which is a bonus. At least I’ll be dry, if I get my face eaten off, I joke to myself as I turn to see Alice reversing the boat away.

Alice doesn’t venture far, in case the Rabid does attack me and this part of the mission is over before it’s begun. Josh is down low in the boat, his rifle resting on its side and aimed directly at the Rabid.

My boots crunch against the sand as I take my first steps forward, low and behind my M4. I step straight towards my waiting experiment, which has just about managed to get back to its feet. I doubt that even if it does attack me, it will be much of a threat, the creature barely looks like it knows up from down, but I still approach with caution.

I can’t see the face of the female Rabid, it is hidden by its long black hair, hanging down the side of its face. I am not even sure if the thing is aware that I’m here and I don’t want to get too much closer to it, I am only about three meters away now.

“Hey, you,” I call, trying to get its attention, but I get no response. “Excuse me, do you know the way to Buckingham Palace?” I try again, saying the first sentence that comes to mind, but still nothing.

With no alternative, I ease myself closer to the creature that is simply standing on the sand with its head down, unmoving, like a sick version of an Anthony Gormley art installation. I move closer and once again call, “Hey,” and when I still get no response, I lean forward and with the silencer on the end of my rifle, I poke the creature in the shoulder.

Now I do get some reaction. Slowly the Rabids head begins to come up and turn in my direction. My heart is pounding hard and fast as the creature’s face is revealed as it looks at me.

Dead black eyes stare into mine. I know the woman must be quite young by the way she is dressed. Her face has turned old and decrepit though, her skin is greyish yellow, and her lips are blistered and almost black, to match her lifeless eyes. A low vibration begins in the creature’s throat, a horrible, inhuman sound and the volume increases as the blistered lips begin to part. The mouth opens and the jaw moves as if the creature is trying to communicate with me. The low screech changing tone, with the movement of the black mouth.

My fear and disgust subside at the display by the unfortunate creature, and I begin to feel nothing but sorry for the poor beast. It has made no attempt to move towards me, never