197

August 18, 2012

On the ridge above the coastline, you stand in watch over the activities below, the boat racing to the shore, movement around the shadowed lagoon far below, and the last of the undead horde shambling by the Old Pine Woods and out of line of sight. You swing the binoculars off your neck and examine the coastline. Waves dance around the helm of the fishing boat as it cuts the deep blue waters. On the deck, you spot a figure—a tall, bald man in a gray suit, the image of a high-society funeral director.

"Who's on that boat?" Heather asks.

"No one I recognize. I guess we'll find out soon enough," you say.

Turning to the lagoon, you spot the tarp flapping in the breeze over the rotors of a large military helicopter, though no one appears around it.

You follow a steep and narrow path along the ridge, feet displacing loose gravel and an occasional wildflower growing in the side of the mountain. You tell your companions to trace your footsteps and stay close to the wall. A shadow crosses your face in a fleeting moment—the wide, feathered shapes and lean body of a hawk. Your stumble along the track with careful steps, your hands braced on the smooth rock wall. At a bend, the path declines in a sharp slope. This is the only way down.

From your backpack, you remove a rope and grappling hook and fasten in on a twisted birch tree hanging from the side of the mountain. You tie the other end around Heather and lower her off the side of the cliff. When she is down to the bottom, you reel the rope back in, secure it around Mindy and repeat the process, doing this for each remaining survivor. When all companions are at the bottom, you descend the rugged side of the cliff, half climbing, half rappelling. Your feet dig into the terrain, and you hold the rope in a taut grip, lowering yourself over the rocky, tree-riddled face. Looking down, you spot the safe clearing—a stretch of clean earth nestled between a sheer stone slab and a bundle of thorny bushes. You direct your motion toward the narrow nook and drop down.

At the base of the mountain, you gather the group, vault the wall of thorns, and lead them through the thin edge of the woods.

Knowing zombies may be wandering the area, you arm yourself with…