CHAPTER 21: THE CONVOY
Hanks burst out the drugstore's back door. Cold night wind hit him, thick with the stench of rot.
The nameless fury building in his chest was colder, fiercer, more violent than any wind!
Over a dozen walkers were drawn by the commotion at the drugstore, shambling closer, blocking the path.
"Out of my way!" Hanks snarled. Rather than slow down, he accelerated hard, crashing into the horde like black lightning.
The axe swung! THUNK! The lead walker's skull split open.
He didn't even look. His momentum didn't break. The axe swept horizontally!
CRACK! Another walker's neck severed.
Hanks was consumed by violent release. Glenn followed behind, heart pounding with equal parts terror and admiration.
The two sprinted to a sedan.
Glenn dove into the driver's seat. Hanks yanked open the passenger door and tossed the bloodied fire axe into the back.
"Thank God!" Glenn exhaled with relief, threw it in gear, and the car lurched forward toward the drugstore.
Headlights cut through the darkness. Just as they were about to cross an intersection—
Hanks's heart jolted violently. A sense of lethal danger surged through him!
"Look out!" His body went rigid instantly. He dropped below the dash.
Before the words even left his mouth—
RAT-TAT-TAT! BANG! BANG!
A scattered volley of gunfire erupted from a second-story window in a dilapidated building on the left!
POP-POP-POP!
The hood and left door suddenly sprouted bullet holes! The window glass shattered.
"Ahh!" Glenn jerked the wheel in panic. The car spun out of control, nearly rolling as it crashed into the curb. It finally stopped at an angle, white smoke pouring from the hood.
"Kill the lights! Stay in the car!" Hanks hissed furiously, drawing the P226 from his holster.
The gunfire stopped.
They were probably checking their handiwork or reloading. Or maybe just terrible shots who needed to re-aim.
"Who... who is it?" Glenn's voice trembled as he curled beneath the steering wheel, turning off the headlights.
Hanks didn't answer. Through the gaps, his eyes tracked back to where the shots came from.
Enemy firepower—sounded like pistols and a pump-action shotgun.
No discipline to their shooting. Rabble. Position: left side, second-floor window!
He needed sight lines and angles.
"Glenn, on three, hit the horn quick!" Hanks whispered rapidly.
"What? Why?"
"Draw their attention! Now!"
"Oh... okay!"
"One, two, three!"
Glenn reached up and slammed the steering wheel horn!
"HONK!"
The piercing blast split the night!
Almost the instant the horn sounded, two heads poked out the second-floor window to check—
Hanks, hidden by darkness, had already positioned himself at the window. Seeing his targets, he pulled the trigger!
Four rapid, precise shots. Muzzle flash flickered briefly in the dark!
At the second-floor window, a raider who'd just poked his head out took one between the eyes. He toppled backward.
The other's gun arm caught a round. Screaming, he yanked back inside, weapon falling from his grip.
The third and fourth bullets struck near the window frame, suppressing them from showing themselves again!
Clean. Immediate counter-attack!
"Move! Out of the car! Against the wall!" Hanks barked, not sticking around to fight. He kicked the door open.
Using the car body and wall corner for cover, he fired several more suppressing shots at the window, covering Glenn.
Panicked shouts and footsteps came from inside the building. They knew they'd picked the wrong target. Nobody dared show their face.
"Wait—there's supplies in the trunk!" Glenn called out softly, carefully popping the hatch.
Hanks slung the food supplies over his shoulder, covering Glenn as he grabbed two fuel cans and ran forward.
The two used walls and abandoned vehicles for cover, moving quickly toward the drugstore.
Glenn carried the gas cans, gasping but not daring to stop.
Hanks maintained high alert, P226 barrel angled slightly down.
The brief firefight was like a stone dropped in stagnant water. The ripples were spreading.
More walker snarls echoed in the distance. The raiders had been temporarily suppressed but weren't all dead.
Though they were a disorganized mob, they clearly had some command structure. They might call for backup!
"Almost there!" Glenn spotted the drugstore's blurry outline ahead, hope in his voice.
But Hanks's pace suddenly slowed. He even reached out and grabbed Glenn, pulling him behind a massive billboard support column.
"What's wrong?" Glenn asked nervously.
Hanks didn't answer. He just narrowed his eyes, looking further down the street where the drugstore was located.
About three or four vehicles—including a modified pickup and a box truck—were slowly stopping at the intersection roughly a hundred meters from the drugstore.
Headlights went dark. Shadowy figures climbed out, taking advantageous positions on both sides of the street.
Hanks's heart sank. "Glenn, give me your radio."
"Here." Glenn pulled out the walkie-talkie and passed it over.
"Hey, Clem, you there?" Hanks pressed the talk button, eyes never leaving the scene ahead.
Clementine jumped at the static, then responded with joyful relief: "Hanks! I'm here!"
"Put Lee and Kenny on."
"Okay!"
"Officer, how are you two doing?" Lee clutched a set of drugstore keys.
Kenny stood nearby looking anxious, gaze fixed on the convoy in the distance.
"We're fine. Dealt with two assholes taking potshots at us." Hanks spoke quickly.
"But the gunfire and engine noise drew more people. We're seeing a convoy at the intersection."
Kenny's voice cut in, suppressed anxiety clear: "Damn it, we just spotted them too!"
"They're searching for someone! Gotta be buddies of those gas station pricks!"
Hanks used the bright moonlight to observe—
They carried melee weapons and flashlights, searching everywhere, occasionally cutting down approaching walkers. Armed companions backed them up.
Compared to the earlier rabble, this group was clearly more disciplined!
Hanks spoke low into the radio: "They haven't pinpointed our location yet. That's our window."
"Glenn and I got the fuel. We're hiding in a building not far behind the drugstore."
He paused, issuing orders: "Lee, Kenny—stay absolutely silent. Kill all light sources. Watch the front and back doors. Don't let anyone make noise."
"We need to fuel up, grab the meds, and get the hell out before they surround us."
"Understood!" Lee responded immediately. "We'll stay quiet. Oh, and I... I found the stockroom key nearby."
His voice carried complex emotions, as if reluctant to say more about the key's source.
Hanks didn't press for details: "Good. Hold onto it. We'll talk when I get there."
"We'll try to slip through. Be ready to receive us."
"Copy that! You two be careful!" Kenny's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Hanks..." Clementine's small voice came through, full of worry.
"Clem, don't be scared. Stay quiet. We'll be there soon." Hanks's tone softened for a moment, then he ended the transmission.
"Glenn, hold those cans steady. Follow me. Light steps. We're sticking to the shadows along the wall."
"O-okay, officer." Glenn took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, gripping the fuel can handles tight.