38. Change of plans

He didn't even have time to waste. Who knows what is the next evolution of these creatures?

''Emma, please show me the nearest landing runway. I think you should raise awareness of the red level. I fear this time the zombies might not be as simple as the last ones. Too bad, I can't pick those up.'' He already got all the information's from the operator about the strange zombies that were waiting in the laboratory.

''They are for now safe. I wills till help them spread so we could save them somehow, one by one.'' Emma was seriously reconsidering what should she do with those.

On the picture the zombies for now just made vortex but this time they didn't swallow each other. She feared that even more. What if they just gathered energy to start attacking them? most zombies from both counties are now in the vortex should she try saving those newborns?

''Give me positions from free shelters in their neighborhood. Maybe we could send them one by one to shelters and save some of them so we could find a way to maybe even find the vaccine against the virus. Like that even if someone got scratched or bitten, at least it won't turn into a zombie.''

Actually the whole procedure was live the whole time and people watched whenever they didn't work. Now it was already evening and most of the people stopped working. They sat with their families and instead of playing with them or doing something relaxing, they watched the zombie vortex that grew with time.

More and more zombies appeared. Like a small creek, the line of zombies arriving from all kinds of directions. Somehow it felt like something magnetically called them to that place. At first, it was just hundreds of thousands of zombies that walked over each other, crawled or juped, but always in a circle.

The more zombies came the thicker the crowd became. Soon those that couldn't walk properly were stomped into the ground. There were left only those that had a steady step and unified walk. Like an army of strange soldiers just waiting for the command to attack.

Mario and the rest of the people were listening to operators' reports and were quite worried. This situation doesn't seem to be simple at all. Suddenly operator yelped. ''They started moving.''

Somehow they waited for his next report but it took him while then the relaxed tone in his voice announced. ''It seems they are going to southern countries. We checked the other cities. Only here was the zombie tide, the other cities were just pested with zombies. But to tell the truth, they are cowards. If they kill them while they are still in this slow state lass zombies will join the tide. Boss is getting crazy while arguing with those from the leftover government. They plan to nuke the tide. Of course, she is against it. You all have to hurry faster. They gave her a deadline. They hope other zombies will join the tide and then they plan to attack it... Waits she wants to talk to you.''

''Yes, Emma?'' He missed her voice. Even tho he heard it just a little while ago.

''Stop being foolish. The nearest town has just a few zombies left and no shelters, so it means we can raid it. I plan to harvest anything we can before nukes go off. I fear that food, clothes and anything else will have a high degree of radiation. Do you think you can find a few trucks and you guys can start harvesting? I will send more people there.'' She is certain that he can handle a few zombies that are maybe left in the cities.

Those that are not in tide are not at all aggressive so she hoped he could start harvesting everything. Luckily the next town was just about a hundred fifty miles away. She could send more people to them.

''Of course. As soon we find some transportation vehicles we will go to the nearest mall a clear the way. Please give us directions.'' He looked back and saw them all agreeing.

''The operators will stay with all of you in contact. Try to be careful and get ready your weapons. There are about a dozen zombies at the small airport. Can you handle them?'' She already knew the answer but she still wanted to hear it from him.

''We can handle even a few dozen with the amount of munition we have... Don't worry. Do you have some vehicles at the airport? We will be there in about twenty minutes. Check are there some that you could open before we come. I wouldn't mind driving at least once a good looking car.'' He laughed out loud while everyone on the plane joined him. Somehow they felt relaxed as they knew that they had a safe place to go back.

On the other hand Emma was shaking her head and looked at operators. ''Those that have a shift over please stand up and leave and let those that are fresh help them. I don't need tiered people in such important positions. Every single tiny mistake could cause one life to be lost. Now humanity has just this little bit of lives, we need to cherish every single one. Now go sleep. And for God's sake go eat something. I can hear your stomaches almost growling at me. Quite threatening you know...''

She joked a bit with them as they were leaving and smiled at those that just sat down. '''Find them the cars. If you can find trucks even better. Point cameras towards me. ''Afte seeing few cameras red lights he knew she was on the big screen.

''Ladies and Gentleman, I officially call as many of you that know how to drive to go and help that crew harvest the city. Everything you feel the shelter could use anytime in the future, no matter how strange it is, bring. We have just enough time until all the zombies gather together. As these do not walk fast we probably have between two to three weeks. that might seem quite a lot, but it isn't.'' Someone gave her a glass of water and she continued talking again. ''There are many homes that are not finished. Please consider future generations. We do not know how long our people will have to live underground. And even afterward, what will be our choice. We still are not sure is there a way to survive after everything is done. We might be lucky and no one would have to worry about radiation. But let's not take chances. Let's think of the worst-case scenario and gather as many things as we can. All that wish to join come to the first level. Everyone else please relax. We are safe here.''

Then the picture turned off as she finished talking. This time hundreds of men and women choose to join the cause. First, most of them went out and started shooting nearby zombies that appeared. Actually, most of the zombies were already killed from before so those couple wee probably those that mistakenly ended up nearby. They all left with helicopters that had just that much time to bring out the children. The helicopters seemed like busy bees that would land and fly away, just like bees at the bee stock.

The moment Mario landed the zombies heard the noise and rushed out meeting the bullets that rained already as soon they opened the door. It was really true. The airport was small and had just a few people tending it so it was not many people that turned into zombie here.

The few zombies were cleared and he checked the outside parking lot. Seeing a couple more zombies inside cars he just shot them clean and rushed to the ones that made huge sounds. Yep, the operators couldn't contact them the other way so they just used the automated cars that they could attach to computer and turned or music or honks on.

They rushed inside and started driving to the nearest big center. Luckily it was not more than twenty miles away. On their way they shot any zombie they could see. As soon they went in front of the mall they could see broken windows treatment that those zombies inside were gone already.

''Let's chack first storages. They should have already packed stuff and trucks. We can drive first those and then we can come back tomorrow for the others.'' The evening was already nearing and they planned to just gather as much they could.

As they rushed to the back of the mall with their cars they could see about 5-6 big trucks already standing around. Mario wa scurious. ''Only this many? Is there some big gas station or place where they parked more trucks? This is not enough.''

There was a moment of silence and then he got an answer. ''About five miles further are two big gas stations. Ther are at least 20-30 more trucks. Should I lead you there?''

''No. Send the helicopters there with enough drivers. The rest should get here. We will start checking the storage space and mall and cleaning of any possible and impossible treat. I am off now. When I find phones you can contact me on it. I need to rush.''

''Yes, sir. Boss said you should not think you are Superman. Don't go alone... sir.'' It seems the operator found it queazy to talk about it and just muttered the rest of the words.

Mario just chuckled and turned off the radio. Unfortunately, as it seems the others had heard the last words from his operator and gave him big smiles. ''It seems Bos likes you.''

He just shrugged. ''Why shouldn't she? I am good looking, smart and strong. And have good genes. What is there not to like?''

They almost didn't facepalm at his words and just followed him speechlessly while he walked in front of them almost like a peacock.