Chapter 144: Can't You Fire a Few Fewer Bullets?
"The zombies are coming!"
The guards' warning exploded from the city walls like a thunderclap, piercing everyone's ears.
The people digging trenches dropped their pickaxes. Those laying barbed wire threw down their pliers. Workers carrying ammunition crates immediately grabbed the boxes and sprinted toward the city gate.
Before the iron gate could fully close, people squeezed through the narrowing gap. Someone tripped on the threshold but was immediately pulled up and shoved inside by those behind him.
A van was backing up when its rear slammed into the iron gate with a loud bang. The gateframe shook violently before the heavy doors finally shut.
The driver killed the engine, jumped out, and quickly wedged blocks beneath the wheels.
Overhead, helicopters roared through the sky.
The rotor wash whipped pebbles and dust into the air, stinging exposed skin.
Nine Little Bull helicopters descended onto the open area near the harbor. The recently relocated containers had created a temporary landing zone.
The rotors were still spinning when ground crews rushed forward, crouching low as they secured wheel chocks beneath the landing gear.
The final helicopter hovered beside the eastern city wall. Its cabin door stood open, and a cameraman crouched at the edge, filming the gray-white tide of walkers surging from the south.
Andrea stood near the harbor with her arms crossed, watching the helicopters land one after another.
Marcus jumped from the last aircraft, removed his headset, tucked it beneath his arm, and walked toward her.
"Long time no see."
He extended a hand.
Andrea shook it briefly before letting go.
"How have you been?"
Marcus shrugged.
"As you can see."
His gaze swept across the neatly stacked shipping containers lining the seawall.
"Retreating to the harbor? Afraid the walkers will come around from the sea?"
Andrea nodded.
"My command abilities aren't good enough. Sean was right. I've never fought a battle like this before. Defending the harbor at least lets us seal off one side."
Marcus glanced at the containers, then toward the gray horizon beyond the ocean.
"Not a bad position. At least I don't have artillery shells flying over my head."
Andrea smiled but said nothing.
A muffled explosion echoed from the south.
It wasn't artillery.
A walker had triggered a landmine.
After crossing the minefield, the horde reached the trenches.
The first trench filled quickly.
Then the second.
The sound of mud, flesh, and shattered bones mixing together was dull and wet, like fists punching soaked cotton.
Standing atop the city wall, Sean lowered his binoculars slightly.
The entire two-kilometer coastline was covered by a gray-white sea of walkers.
They pushed and shoved endlessly.
Those in front fell into the trenches.
Those behind climbed over the bodies and continued forward.
The fallen were trampled into the mud before being buried beneath fresh corpses.
One trench after another disappeared beneath mountains of bodies.
Barricades collapsed.
Barbed wire was flattened.
"Artillery."
Sean's voice came calmly through the radio.
Franklin crouched beside a mortar, gripping a shell tightly as he waited.
His eyes remained fixed on the horde beyond the walls.
"Fire."
The shell slid into the tube.
Thunk.
The mortar launched it skyward.
Moments later, it exploded behind the advancing horde.
Dozens of walkers were thrown into the air as flesh and severed limbs rained down.
A hundred mortars fired simultaneously.
Explosions blossomed like dark-red flowers across the battlefield.
The walkers were harvested like wheat.
Some were hurled aside by shockwaves.
Others were shredded by shrapnel.
Many simply had their skulls crushed by the concussive force.
Those in front kept falling into trenches.
Those behind kept getting blown apart.
Those in the middle continued walking.
The scene resembled a living painting of hell.
Someone atop the wall began retching.
Not from fear.
The stench of blood, burnt flesh, and gunpowder churned their stomachs.
One man vomited, wiped his mouth, picked up his rifle, and resumed firing.
Gunfire erupted.
The defenders unleashed a wall of lead while artillery continued pounding the horde.
Abraham's machine gun occupied the easternmost section of the wall.
Its barrel glowed red from continuous fire.
He swapped in a fresh barrel and kept shooting.
Bullets poured into the sea of walkers, carving bloody paths through the mass.
Rows of zombies collapsed.
The ones behind stepped over them—only to fall moments later.
Spent shell casings cascaded from the weapon and piled into a small mound at his feet.
"Ammo!"
Abraham shouted without turning around.
Bi Yuntian sprinted up the stairs carrying an ammunition crate.
He dropped it beside Abraham, gasped for breath, then immediately ran back down.
Abraham pried open the lid, grabbed a fresh belt, fed it into the gun, and resumed firing.
By the time Bi Yuntian reached the bottom, his legs felt weak.
Leaning against the wall, he bent over and gasped for air.
Zhang Chong stood nearby with a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
"Weak already?"
Bi Yuntian rolled his eyes.
"If you're so capable, then you do it."
Zhang Chong removed the cigarette and spun it between his fingers.
"Fine. Just watch."
Suddenly, he frowned.
"Huh? Where's Boss Fu? Kong Dexiang and Li Hua are gone too."
Bi Yuntian straightened up and looked around.
Aside from ammunition runners and messengers, the square was crowded with defenders.
The three men were nowhere to be seen.
"Damn."
Zhang Chong tucked the cigarette behind his ear.
"When things get dangerous, these big shots always disappear first."
---
Meanwhile, in the center of the square, distant gunfire and explosions echoed through the air.
Li Hanfu crouched behind a flower bed, only half his head visible as he stared toward the transfer station entrance.
Kong Dexiang crouched beside him, one hand resting on the knife at his waist.
Li Hua crouched at the rear, hugging his knees and muttering under his breath.
"You're sure there's a railway down there?"
Li Hanfu spoke quietly.
Kong Dexiang never looked at him.
"Of course there is. I asked the workers. There's a transfer station and a railway line underground."
He nodded toward the city wall.
"I think this base is finished. Instead of waiting here to die, we might as well escape through the railway."
Li Hanfu remained silent for several seconds before nodding.
"Fine. I'll trust you one last time."
He rose and hurried toward the station entrance.
Kong Dexiang followed.
Li Hua brought up the rear.
The iron gate stood slightly ajar.
Most of the guards had already gone to reinforce the walls.
No one stopped them.
The three slipped inside and quietly closed the door behind them.
The staircase stretched downward.
Bright lights illuminated the walls, which were marked with red-and-white warning signs.
Li Hanfu led the way.
His boots echoed against the concrete steps.
His hand rested on his weapon while his eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.
Kong Dexiang followed close behind.
Li Hua's legs trembled slightly.
At the bottom stood a heavy iron door.
Closed, but unlocked.
Li Hanfu pushed it open.
The three froze.
The underground space was enormous.
A towering ceiling loomed overhead.
Powerful lights illuminated every corner, leaving almost no shadows.
Railway tracks stretched endlessly into the darkness.
The platform was stacked with ammunition crates, weapon boxes, fuel drums, and forklifts.
One forklift even carried a pallet loaded with artillery shells.
Li Hanfu swallowed.
He walked over, picked up a G36 rifle, weighed it in his hand, then selected another.
Opening the straps of his tactical vest, he stuffed magazines into every available pouch.
Several grenades quickly found their way onto his belt.
Kong Dexiang was even more aggressive.
He filled his backpack to the brim and then stuffed extra supplies into his pockets.
Li Hua grabbed a pistol and tucked it into his waistband.
Then he grabbed another and tucked it into the opposite side.
Far above them, a red indicator light blinked.
A security camera rotated slowly and focused on their faces.
A red warning icon appeared on a nearby monitor.
Facial Recognition Failed.
No Match Found in Employee Database.
Bright red text flashed across the screen.
Unauthorized Intruders Detected!
The following stockpiles contain highly dangerous munitions and must not be removed.
Activating Emergency Response Protocol.
Eliminate the Intruders Immediately.
Deep beneath the Hive, on Basement Level Five of the Bioweapons Cultivation Zone, a containment hatch slowly opened.
White vapor billowed outward like rolling fog.
The ventilation system quickly pulled it through the corridors.
Something inside had been released.