Zombie Mountain(20)

“Grizzly bears, too. Problematic.” Jack thought this should end the debate, since clearly the dangers outweighed the benefits. The animals were all better off in the zoo, as long as he and Brice came back regularly to feed them.

Jared, clearly agitated, continued to pace back and forth. He tapped a pencil against the table. Jack still ignored him.

“Look, Jack,” Brice finally said. “The bottom line is this: I know you mean well, but there’s no guarantees we can get back here safely. And, I’m not leaving any of God’s beasts here to starve to death.” Brice sat back and folded his arms defiantly. “That’s my final answer.”

Letting them starve had never been Jack’s intention either. He was about to debate Brice again about coming back to feed them as necessary, but realized how impractical it would be.

“You’re right, as usual,” he finally conceded. “It’s the lesser of two evils.”

Jared sighed impatiently. But Jack ignored him, intent on resolving the disagreement with Brice first.

“Okay, we’ll do it your way,” said Jack, finally. “We will do whatever it takes to get you to come with us.”

“Good.” Brice stood and downed the rest of his coffee. “We’ll take your truck around. Just unlock the cages and gates. Start with the least dangerous. The big cats last. Most of them won’t realize they can get out for a while anyways.”

“I hope you’re right about that.”

Jared reminded Jack about the lava rocks, and they loaded a few fifty-pound sacks into the bed. The truck cab was small, so Brice insisted on sitting in back, armed with a loaded tranquilizer gun in each hand.

“Just in case,” he chuckled.



* * *



The trio started with the smaller species, the monkeys, the chimps. As they made their way around, unlocking cages and gates, some of the animals ventured out. Most, however, were unsure and stayed within their safe homes. The elephants congregated around their open gate, trumpeting. The guys left them to decide on their own, whether to venture forth or not.

Finally, they freed the big cats. Only one of them, a particularly hungry tiger, charged, but Brice was an expert shot. Jack waited for it collapse before re-opening the gate. Knowing the tiger would awaken soon, the guys finished their business at the zoo and got the hell out of there.

By then, Jared was beside himself with worry to get back to Anna. Jack, too, who drove as quickly as possible to reach the observatory.

Despite Jack’s attempts to converse with Jared, he remained silent, looking around each bend and curve on the way up. His nervousness increased Jack’s uneasiness and he picked up speed.

Rounding the final bend that brought the hill to the observatory into view, Jared leaned forward as if this would help speed the truck. Jack couldn’t help chuckling about it, and unfortunately failed to avoid the strip tacks coming up. The tires instantly deflated.

Thump... thump... thump...

It almost sent them crashing into the hillside, with Jack fighting to keep the truck on the road. When it skidded to a halt, Jared jumped out first. Scarcely noticing the shredded tires with a glance, he raced up the hill to the observatory.





Chapter Thirteen



“Jared!” hollered Jack.

But the kid ignored him, and a moment later disappeared around a corner. Damn, he’s fast! Jack wanted to chase after him, but didn’t want to leave Brice alone either. In his experience, you didn’t go running into trouble, you let trouble come to you. And when it did, you were prepared. And something—or someone—was looking for trouble.

Whoever laid this damn strip definitely had thrown down the gauntlet.

For an older guy, Brice still moved well. He was up and over the side and stood next to Jack. They spotted the sprinting figure of Jared running in the direction of the setting sun. Despite being only about an eighth of a mile away from the observatory, neither man could sprint like Jared. The foolish kid had left his rifle in the car, and Jack spotted a few zombies up ahead. Jared paid them no attention, obviously focused on reaching the building’s main entrance. If the undead didn’t get to him, whoever had put out the tack strips was likely waiting nearby.

The two men almost didn’t hear the zombies creeping up from behind. Brice turned in time to shoot a tranquilizer into one. It did no good.

“Well, shit,” he said. “I should have known....”

Jack quickly handed him a spare pistol, and splat, splat splat. Goodbye zombies. More were coming, but from further down the road. They didn’t have time to get them all.

“Come on,” urged Jack.

“No, you go get Jared,” he said. “I’ll hurry as fast as I can. I can hold these fuckers off.”