Dead of Knight: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale (30 page)

“We looked everywhere Ryan, we’re good,” added Mike.

“Good.  Thank you, both for stepping up.  Let’s get this stuff out of the vehicles and onto the boat.  And then get out of the rain.  Take Tony and the kids onto the boat first.  Make sure we have a watch.”

They nodded and everyone got to work.  No one moved quickly, the mood was low.  But it got done in just over an hour.

“Let’s take another look,” I said.  “I don’t want to leave anything.  Then, lock the vehicles, I want them to be here if we need them.”

“I realize it’s a little late,” Tom said.  “But are you sure you can drive that thing?”

“Yeah, once we get it started.”

“And if we can’t get it started?” asked Mike.

“Then we’ll shove off and anchor until we can get it started,” I said.  “At least we’ll be safe.”

“Aye, aye captain,” quipped Mike.  It was good for a chuckle.  “I think one of the zombies was the captain.  I’ll go see if he has the keys.”

He did and after several tense tries, I got the boat started.  The lines were tossed to the dock.  I put the port engine in forward and the starboard engine reversed.  The P.G.T. Beauregard pulled away from the dock and headed out into Charleston Harbor.  Once underway, Karen brought Tabby and Mal up to the bridge.  Mike was with Tabby, holding her hand.

“You did good with the boat, Ryan,” she said.

“It’s been awhile but I spent a lot of time on the water when I was younger.”

“Can I drive the boat daddy?” asked Mal.

“Sure buddy.”  I lifted Mal up and sat him in the captain’s chair.  He couldn’t reach the wheel from there so I sat back down and put him on my lap.  The boy could reach the wheel from there and happily turned it back and forth.

“Head for that red buoy over there,” I pointed.  “Do you see what I’m pointing at?”  Mal nodded but couldn’t keep the big boat on course so I grabbed the bottom of the wheel where Mal couldn’t see.

“I can’t believe we lost her,” I said.

“I know,” Karen said quietly.

“What are we gonna do?”

“Live, Ryan,” she said.  “We’re gonna live.  We’ve done the best we could under impossible circumstances.”

“That’s not good enough, though,” I replied.

“It’s the best we’ve got.”  I nodded.  She tousled his hair as he drove. 

“The group is mentally and physically exhausted after the morning we’ve had.  We need to have some lunch, get some rest and regroup.  So, we’re not going to get to Ft. Sumter today.”

I turned the wheel a little to the right.

“But, we’ll make it.”

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Dead of Knight:  A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale,

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Ryan Knight and his group return in

Knight Terrors:  A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale.

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Stephen J. Beard is a tour guide in Historic Charleston, SC and is fascinated by how people react when things go really, really bad.  He lives with his wife, a crazy dog and two cats.  This is his first book.