TYBEE ISLAND
By By Paul Paul Cales Cales & Becca
Continued from the Oct. 2019 Beachcomber.
Catch up @ http://tybeebeachcomber.com/magazine
CHAPTER 29
HE DOESN’T EVEN LIKE HOT SAUCE
DAY 10
“There’s a ton of infected in the Huc A Poo’s parking lot,” Sara
says.
“Exactly,” Joey says. “That’s why we need the tank.”
“Jesus Joey. What’s with you and the damned tanks?” Becky asks.
“No, seriously,” Joey says. “It just makes perfect sense. It’s safe
inside the tank!”
“He’s right,” Tony chimes in. “There’s literally 0% chance that
anything bad can happen to us in the tank… except the tank
breaking down, being trapped and surrounded by zeeks, running out
of ammo, and dying of dehydration.”
“So, we bring LOTS of water,” Joey says.
“Whatever vehicle y’all decide to take, I want to go with,” Rudy
says. “I want to see what it looks like out there now. Go Braves!”
“Yeah, go Braves,” Johnny mumbles. “They always die before the
World Series.”
“Yeah,” Rudy sighs. “If they’re not dead already. Remember the
time we went down ten to nothing in the first inning and came back
to win the series?”
“No,” Johnny says.
“Yeah, me either,” Rudy huffs.
“So,” Tony speaks up. “Game plan people. Joey drives, Rudy’s in
the loader’s station…”
“Pick me! Pick me!” Sara interrupts.
“Okay, Sara,” Tony says. “You can ride in the gunner’s station. We’ll
roll up to Huc A Poo’s, take care of the zeeks in the parking lot, and
find out how many survivors are inside the bar.”
“Can you drive and let me control the turret from the tank
commander’s station?” Joey asks.
“Once I teach you basic turret manipulation and gunnery, sure.
But for now, I’ll control the tank from the TC’s position. We’ll start our
classes back up as soon as we return. The more people that know
how to operate and maintain these beasts, the better.”
Joey, Sara, Rudy and Tony load up in the tank and head toward Huc
A Poo’s.
“Hey Rudy,” Tony says. “Did you get in contact with Key West last
28 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | NOV 2019
ISLAN
night?”
“I did, but they couldn’t talk long. It seems that the inner fence was
about to fail, and they needed all hands-on deck to try and shore it
up.”
“I hope they’re okay,” Joey says.
“I guess we’ll find out tonight,” Tony says. “Any new info beside
their impending battle?”
“Not really. It just seemed like a really somber mood coming from
the short wave. Even Sarge was worried about them. Is there anything
we can do to help?”
“Not from here,” Tony says. “We have access to boats big enough
to make it there, but there’s no way to bring a tank with us. Besides,
we’ve got enough to worry about here on Tybee.”
“True that, brother,” Rudy says.
“Is it just me…” Joey begins. “Or am I seeing a lot more infected
today?”
“Yeah,” Rudy says. “And a lot of them look charred. Their clothes
and skin are burnt.”
“Oh crap,” Tony sighs. “The Bull River Bridge! They’re walking
here.”
“We never completely blocked off the bridge after we moved the
tanks and the Humvee,” Joey says.
“We’re going to have to block off the bridge so no more zeeks can
simply walk to Tybee,” Tony says.
“Why don’t we just blow the damned thing up?” Rudy asks.
“If we blow up the bridge, we remove an escape route,” Tony
answers. “I’m not willing to leave boats as our only means of
transportation off the island.”
“Wait. Why are they all burnt?” Sara asks.
“Probably the bombs they dropped a couple days ago,” Joey says.
“They bombed the islands?” Sara asks.
“And Savannah too,” Joey says.
“Holy shit!” Sara exclaims.
“Yeah, probably a lot of other places too,” Rudy chimes in.
“Oh Sara, you missed a lot in jail,” Tony says. “All right guys, we’re
coming up on Huc A Poo’s. Be vigilant and keep your eyes open. Joey,
stop short just at the entrance to the parking lot. I don’t want to give
the zeeks an opportunity to climb onto the tank.”
“They can climb?” Sara asks.
“To a certain extent,” Tony answers. “Stop here Joey.”
Joey brings the tank to a halt at the entrance to the parking lot.
Tony surveys the parking lot through the tank’s optics.
“Looks like we’ve got about 75 zeeks give or take,” Tony says.
“Shouldn’t be too difficult. A few bursts from coax machine gun and
done!”
“Oh, crap,” Joey sighs.
“What is it?” Tony asks.
“Ummmm… I don’t know how to say this.”
“JUST SAY IT!” Tony says.
“Sara’s husband, Mike. I see him.” A grimace overtakes his face as
he realizes the impact of what he’s just said.
“He’s alive? Where?” asks Sara.
“He’s not alive Sara, but he’s walking around,” Joey says sadly.
“Where?” Sara asks.
“He’s right in front of Inferno, the hot sauce shop.”
“Here,” Tony says, and swings the turret around to aim the main
gun at Inferno. “Look into the gunner’s sight. Do you see him now?”
/magazine