32. She found him

''Connect to any radio station'' Emma's words were quickly answered.

''Yes. Who is there?'' A deep male voice came from another side while hearing clamor around.

Emma sighed, she got the bus. ''Hello my name is Emma Thompson and I am the owner of Aislin country shelter. I think Hose brought you all together?''

At first, there was silence and then an answer. ''Miss Thompson. We are withing for them. Are they ok? We didn't hear anything about them since they send us last message.''

''They are on their way there. Don't you worry? In about 20 min he will arrive. We will try to clear your way as much as you can. Please do as I instruct you. If you deviate from my instructions everyone might die. Even if there is no zombie tide, many zombies are still left and can make dangerous groups. So listen to me. I have no power to get you out of trouble. I can send my people only to the borders of the next county. That is the furthest they can fly.''

''We understand. I will tell others. If they play dirty I will use the law of war. I hope God will forgive me. But at this point, there are too many children that I have to save. My whole buss is filled only with children. I can't take anyone's bullshit in this case.'' His voice became rough as he spoke.

Emma shook. Whole bus fille with children? How did they even survive so far? That man, she definitely needs to save him.

''From now on follow Hose. If the people have some weird ideas and go their ways do not stop them, I repeat do not stop them. It is their choice.'' She just got rid of some troublemakers, if new ones join her, she will just have a headache.

''I understand.'' His voice seems to turn around and tried to silence children with a bit softer voice. ''Please calm down, they are trying to save our lives. I need to hear everything.''

Few children started hushing the smaller ones and only small chatter could be now heard. ''Sorry, miss Thompson. They are anxious, afraid and hungry. Is there a way to find some food and drinks. We are almost out of it.''

''I will check is there something on your way. If there is I will make you all stop for a few minutes. But only minutes. Understood?'' She just sighed. Maybe gas stations? They can get gasoline and some food as well.

''I will just bring a few big ones out to help me. Its easier to run.'' His serious voice seems to motion that he did this kind of thing already.

''Good. Go tell others to be ready. I will call you as soon they are in range so you can all start your vehicles.'' Emma suddenly felt her hands getting sweaty.

She glanced towards Aisa that looked at her at the same time and rose thumb up as she smiled. She then exhaled out in relief.

''Give me a plan of the roads towards us.'' Few analytics in the room started furiously typing and then suddenly few maps appeared on the screen.

''Mam, the first map is the one from old files. We use it as in-country regions are fewer zombies, so they will have to go around cities for a while. The second is a map of the same cities with stores on their way, but we think its better if they stop on gas stop stations so they could gather as much gasoline as possible. Thatswhy the third map is with streets and gas stations.'' The young woman and two men exchanged the information with Emma.

''We will follow the third map. You are right I had the same idea. Could you now check the first gas station and its surroundings? Quickly. Soon the family Gomez will pass by. But those children need food.''

Suddenly the computer voice could be heard. ''Warning. The zombie tide is behaving strangely. Warning.'' Suddenly a picture could be seen how the zombies started stopping and turning their heads back like something got their attention.

The worst thing is, between zombie tide and those people are just some hundred miles difference.

Everyone in the room started breathing heavily. If they start running back, those people need to rush as fast as possible.

Emma started pacing and then stopped. ''Isn't there one of those stadion's?''

''Yes, mam.'' Suddenly one of the young men turned around with a big smile and started typing vigorously.

The stadion was about some fifty miles further away but if they would just get the attention of zombie tide maybe these people would have a slight chance to survive.

Suddenly the zombies started moving towards stadion. '' I turned national anthem into a loop to play from all speakers in the stadium. Will that help a bit?''

He saw zombies moving there and sighed in relief.

Emma still was anxious. ''Where is Gomez's family?''

''They are close. '' Aisa's voice answered.

''Connect again to the bus driver. '' Not even moment later she heard him again. ''I am starting buss miss. Everyone is in their cars. We will wait for them to pass us.''

''Good. Look there is a strange situation going on. the zombie tide almost changed direction back to you. We just distracted them for short while but I am afraid they will start moving back this way. We will try our best to distract them as much as we can. You will have one stop on your way here. We found a big gas station. Get what you can, pee if you must on road, no time to get to the lavatory. Literally, no time.''

''I understand mam. The bigger kids are sitting near doors so they can just jump out and go scavenge as much they can. We will be at the gas station only for a few minutes. Stay in contact please.''

''Don't worry. I will. I send more helicopters and if nothing else you will continue driving until we find another way. Just in case there are not enough seats. can you do that?'' She didn't know what kind of unpredicted things could happen on their way.

''I can. I heard you are on the other side of the county. But if you find a clear way there I will be able to bring everyone to safety.'' His voice was strong and calm.

''Now move, they just passed you.''

''I am, I am...'' The bus moved but one red car crossed his way and went in between the Gomez Jeep and buss. Emma rolled her eyes. There are everywhere those people.

''Connect me to that stupid idiot.'' She is losing her patience.

''Hello, hello.'' Young woman voices could be heard.

''Why did you have to do that stupid maneuver? Are you trying to kill those kids?''

''Who the hell are you? I will drive however I want.'' The young man's voice could be heard.

''Your arrogance might cause you not to be permitted in my shelter. Get your little ass behind them. The children always have priority.'' She was furious now.

''It's not like it is your own. The government...''

''Stupid idiot. It is MY OWN.'' Now she was fed up. Even if he comes she plans to bring him in as the last one.

''Then I am sorry. But my father is a state secretary. I have ...''

''You mean nothing to me neither your father. Go behind or you will not be permitted to enter my shelter, understood?!'' Her yell made everyone surprised. Out her eyes shot fire and she just inhaled and exhaled trying to calm down.

Suddenly the car started slowing down and slowed everyone down and then stoped square over the streets not letting anyone pass. But he got himself in trouble that way. The bus driver did slow down but he was not a simple personality. He suddenly speeds up and showed the small car from the street and then continued to drive without even looking back.

Emma first was astonished and then started laughing. ''We need that man definitely here. Get all helicopters ready. It seems we will need to go for them multiple times. Find a safe route so they can just continue to drive until we can pick them up all safely in case they don't have enough space.''

''Yes, mam.'' Everyone started working hard. Even outside the people typed vigorously trying to find the best ways. Suddenly she saw Aisa waving her hands.

''Connect.'' Secon later she could hear Aisa's voice.'' Mom, we found a few hospital helicopters as well, and military ones. If we bring more pilots there maybe we could use those to save more people. My friends were looking for the best possible solution and this is what they came up with.''

''Amazing job. thank them from me. I think that is the best news we had. Commander.'' She turned her head to Oliver. He nodded.

''All our soldiers had flying training as in battles the main pilot can get wounded as well. We can send them now and get the helicopters ready.'' When he saw her nod he started connecting the soldiers up, while walking towards the escalator.

''If things go well, they might have a chance. but we better not tell them anything before we are not sure.'' She warned everyone not to say a word.

''Connect me to buss.'' Soon after he heard his nervous voice.''Yes, mam?''

''Good job. In about twenty miles there is a huge gas station. Others will be noticed as well. Get some gasoline and the kid should rush for food and drinks. Do you have something strong like a hatchet or something?''

He was confused. ''What? I have some knives, guns and metal sticks, will that work?''

''They are perfect. Go hit the food machines and get the food out of them. It's not like you have time to put money in it.'' She was in this case not even joking.

Suddenly the computer voice could be heard. ''The zombie tide arrives at stadion.''

The way zombie tide now acted made Emma quite scared. Like mountains of ants, they walked over each other's heads and the stadion was filled to the brim, literally.

Suddenly they stopped and started moving out. They seem to have destroyed all the speakers and are now rushing back. Damn. They are fast.

Suddenly a strange idea came to her mind. ''Look for artificial lakes. I think there should be one that is used for electrical energy.''

''Yes, mam. There is one big one. I think if we let out the water now it will stop the zombie tide for a while.''

''Show me on map. Oh... Wait before releasing, wait... Now!''

She could see huge amounts of water rushing towards the approaching crowd of people that wanted to cross the empty river bed.

Most of the tide was in a movie so it was rolled off bu the mass of the water. Some still were pushed inside while they tried to cross over. But the amount of the tide was huge. So this little water will just give the people another hour of time that could give more space between them and the zombies.

''Connect to the bus.'' But then saw the bus driver stopping the bus and jumping out while dozen of older children jumped out with metal sticks and started destroying machines and other half entering the market inside to harvest as much as they could.

Of course from other cars, people jumped out to get food and gasoline as well. Soon the children came out half-naked carrying the food and water in their shirts and hands.

The boys outside started taking beverages as well and throwing them into baskets that they took out. Then the kids from before came rushing and took the baskets giving them shirts. At the same time, the bus driver took inside the bus multiple big tanks filled with some strange material. Not even five minutes later they all rushed out of the store and jumped into their cars only waiting for the bus driver to fill his tank. The children rushed one more time into the store and with all kinds of things came out, jumped on the bus and didn't come out again.

The bus driver rushed back in and started driving right away. Everything was done in just a mere six-seven minutes. Emma realized that she held breath and exhaled slowly.

''Are you there, mam?'' His rushed voice could be heard over the radio.

''Yes. The zombies seem to have changed their direction. e are trying ou best to stop them as much we can. You all need to rush as fast as possible. By the way, what did you get into the bus?''

''Someone seems to have a wish to get more gasoline, so they filled it in, but probably had no time to take it with them. I just got lucky. We can use every little drop now.''

''Smart. Just follow Hose now. We will chat after I get news.'' She just now calmed down and patted her chest.

''Yes, mam.'' And the connection was broken.

Emma started pacing again while looking at the number of zombies that fell into the water. Suddenly they changed the direction again towards the south, where the water went.

''What the hell is going on?'' She was wondering until when she saw something that crawled her skin.

Big amount of people rushing out enclosed space and running around as it seems screaming. Behind those people, zombies started appearing but were still slow. She was right. As long they are not in tide they become slow and don't have much energy.

But that was not the biggest problem. She saw the person she was looking for between those people, running with a child in his arms and two more runnings after him.

Those other children seem to be zombies and were trying to bite him but he just hit them bit his foot and rushed again. He saw an open car standing on the street and jumped inside closing the door. Soon he started driving, making Emma go bananas. He was driving straight to the zombie tide.

''Damnable idiot. Connect!'' She was furious, happy and anxious at the same time.