The Infected Dead (Book 2): Survive For Now Read Online Free Page B

amazed by how calm Molly was. With the exception of her pink sweatshirt, she seemed almost to be a smaller mirror image of the people around her. They were all grim faced, knowing that they could have tried to help the people up on the bridge, but they also knew it was a lost cause. It was worse than a lost cause. It was certain death.
    One of the officers raised both hands in the air and waved them across each other. One by one he got the attention of someone in each boat. They, in turn, got the attention of their companions. When everyone was looking in his direction, he spoke just loud enough for them all to hear.
    Tom said that he told everyone to stay as quiet as possible. No one was to shoot their weapon unless it was absolutely necessary. He said they were going to go downriver to the South and try to join up with other military and police units that were trying to fortify positions and make a stand against the infected.
    His last instructions made Tom realize just how lucky he had been to have the police officer recognize him. He said the man in charge told the others there would be people on the riverbanks wanting to be rescued, and there was no way to know who had been bitten. He told them to keep their boats in the center of the river and to keep plenty of distance between themselves and private docks. There were to be no rescues, and he made sure someone on each boat answered that they understood.
    One of the soldiers called out in a low voice and asked what they should do if they encountered other boats with people who were escaping. It was a logical question because there were hundreds of boat owners in the area. Some of them had escaped by water, and many could be seen on the river already.
    The man in charge answered that private boats were to be told to let them pass and then to follow. When they were far enough downriver away from the populated part of town, they could try to set up a screening process. Anyone who was not bitten could remain with the group. Any boat that was even carrying a bitten passenger would stay behind or be sunk.
    The officers in charge on each boat then tuned their radios to the same channels and did sound checks. They were given call signs by the officer in charge and one by one they idled their engines a little higher and steered toward the center of the river.
    They kept their speed low at first, and all of the boats were dark with the exception of one red running light on the bow. The river was eighty to one hundred yards wide and was fairly deep even along the banks. If they stayed in the center, they should be able to see trouble before trouble saw them. That was when bullets started flying over the boats. Tom said he didn’t know where they were coming from until two of their boats began returning fire.
    The crew told Tom that the boats were armed with the Ma deuce, or M2 .50 caliber machine guns. They and the M134 mini guns were spitting out four thousand rounds a minute and quickly silenced whoever was shooting at them.They were also using tracers, so he could see the eerie glow of every fifth bullet as they streaked toward the boat landing.
    Tom said that he and Molly were just trying not to be in the way, and there were no words to describe the gratitude he felt to the men and women who had snatched them from the jaws of death. He told us he remembered having that thought, and the phrase seemed so appropriate to describe the hideous creatures that were shambling toward families on the bridge. The screams had blended into one high pitched sound that didn’t begin to die down until they were out of sight from the bridge.
    Tom looked like he had reached his limit for one night, and all of us could see it. The man looked completely exhausted. I had a feeling that one more beer would put him under the table.
    “Tom,” said Jean, “you and Molly both need sleep. Finish your food while we get a room ready for you.” She mussed up Molly’s hair as she left the table, and