Chapter 80: On the Eve of Battle

Shao Ming was loading bullets into various firearms in the train car when Feng Yusheng climbed in through the door.

"What's wrong?" Shao Ming asked.

She sat across from him and declared, "I'm going with you."

"With me where?" Shao Ming replied.

"To... to ride the off-road vehicle and kill zombies!"

"No," Shao Ming refused flatly. "You'll stay here and help Asgi operate the artillery to protect the train car."

Seeing Feng Yusheng's reluctance, Shao Ming added, "Driving out there is too dangerous. Staying on the train is much safer."

Feng Yusheng wanted to argue further, but Shao Ming cut her off.

"Listen to me. Stay here and cover for me."

As she climbed back onto the flatbed car, Asgi turned to her and said, "Don't worry. Honestly, you wouldn't be much help out there anyway."

"Thanks," Feng Yusheng replied. "You really know how to comfort people."

"Alright, let me show you how to reload the cannon."

"Hmm…" She watched as he took out a cartridge strip, seven shells neatly lined up on it.

"Huh?" Asgi looked surprised. This was not what he expected. "So, this thing doesn't use a belt-feed system?"

"How would I know?" Feng Yusheng shrugged. "I've never used one of these before."

Asgi muttered to himself, "The last time I trained on anti-aircraft guns was during drills twenty years ago. Haven't touched anything like it since."

"So?" Feng Yusheng prompted.

"So, no wonder that kid didn't know what a loader was," Asgi remarked. "This cartridge can be loaded manually."

Feng Yusheng feigned a look of realization. "Oh... right, got it."

Asgi slid the cartridge back into the ammunition box and continued, "Then what I dismantled earlier wasn't the auto-feed mechanism; it was probably just the fire-control system and its power supply."

Feng Yusheng nodded thoughtfully. "Uh-huh... sure, you're probably right."

Out on the grass, Shao Ming and Lambert were making their way toward the railyard.

"Asgi…" Lambert broke the silence after they had put some distance between themselves and the train. "Do you think we've kept him out for too long?"

"I think he's fine," Shao Ming said, glancing back at the anti-aircraft gun. "Haven't you noticed how well he's recovered?"

"But we don't know—"

"Enough," Shao Ming interrupted. "Let's stop arguing about this."

"Alright… I'm just worried about the safety of the team."

Shao Ming shot him a look. "You think he didn't notice you pointing a gun at him yesterday?"

"Let me ask you this: would you rather deal with a trained, experienced soldier or a mindless zombie?"

Lambert raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I get it."

"Then drop it and keep your eyes on the woods," Shao Ming warned.

"Let's hope the zombie you mentioned has moved on…" Lambert muttered under his breath.

Both men raised their weapons and cautiously entered the forest. As they advanced, the silence was almost oppressive, much like it had been half an hour earlier.

Shao Ming doubted the mutant would have left the forest. The only thing that could have drawn it away was the deer.

As they pushed further into the dense woods, Shao Ming held his pistol at the ready while Lambert carried a double-barreled shotgun.

"This way." Shao Ming tapped Lambert on the shoulder, directing him toward a hill.

Suddenly, a noise ahead made them freeze.

They ducked into a thicket, and Shao Ming peered through the gaps in the trees. Near the top of the hill, the mutant from earlier was feasting on the deer's corpse.

"Don't fire," Shao Ming whispered. "We're too close to the railyard. Gunfire will alert the others."

Lambert nodded and reached for the iron bar at his waist.

The mutant was directly in their path to the high ground overlooking the railyard—a vantage point they needed to scout its layout. They'd have to either eliminate or distract it.

"What's your plan?" Lambert asked softly.

Running wasn't an option. Shao Ming had already seen the mutant's incredible speed and endurance. If even a deer couldn't outrun it, what chance did two city-dwellers have?

Their only advantage was their numbers.

"Remember how we dealt with those jumping zombies in the warehouse?" Shao Ming began. "We can—"

Before he could finish, the mutant let out a deafening roar and charged toward them.

"Damn it."

The creature was terrifyingly fast, reaching them in seconds.

Shao Ming reacted instinctively, raising his pistol and pulling the trigger.

Bang!

So much for endurance—up close, even this mutant was just one bullet away from death.

The gunshot startled a flock of birds into the sky—and, more alarmingly, roused the hundreds of mutants in the railyard.

"I thought you said no shooting!" Lambert shouted.

"I didn't have time," Shao Ming retorted. "How was I supposed to know it'd notice us? I was aiming for a sneak attack."

"Well, now we're the ones being attacked!" Lambert grabbed Shao Ming as distant growls grew louder. "Run!"

They bolted for the treeline, Shao Ming pressing his radio's button and shouting, "We've been spotted! Prepare for battle, prepare for battle!"

"Copy that," came Asgi's reply.

The pair sprinted toward the edge of the forest as the sounds of pursuing mutants grew deafening.

Shao Ming didn't dare look back, though he was certain the scene behind them was anything but pretty.

Thankfully, the incline slowed their pursuers, buying the pair some time.

As they burst out of the woods, Asgi was already at the train's front, aiming the anti-aircraft guns at the treeline.

"Start the car!" Shao Ming yelled to Lambert as he ran. "I'll grab the off-road vehicle!"

"Where are we heading?" Lambert called back.

"Where else? Straight into the railyard!"

Before they reached the train, several mutants emerged from the forest.

Asgi swiveled the anti-aircraft gun and opened fire.

The thunderous explosions roared behind them as Shao Ming dove toward the train's rear.

Armor-piercing rounds tore through the trees, the twin 35mm cannons spitting over 14 shells per second. Trunks as thick as a man's waist splintered and crashed to the ground, leaving the forest's edge in chaos.

Leaves and branches flew everywhere, but the mutants were less affected by the barrage. Many were still on their feet, their numbers undiminished.