The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(67)

"…not fast…enough…" Laura had begun to murmur.

She had been so silent and it startled them to hear her.

"She's starting up," Bill had whispered.

They had worked as quietly as possible, trying not to draw too much attention. By the cries and moans behind the barrier keeping them safe, they had known the zombies were well aware of their presence.

Travis had climbed up onto the pallet and when the large hook from the crane had descended far enough, he had hooked the pallet onto it.

"Okay, remember where I told you to stand. It's all about weight distribution to keep us from tipping over," Travis had said.

Laura had whispered, "…not…fast…enough…"

Katie had helped Bill get Laura up onto the pallet. Katie had pressed Laura's hands to the ropes Travis had made as hand holds, and Laura had gripped them firmly, despite her continuous blank stare. Katie had taken up her position, slinging her rifle over one shoulder, while Bill and Travis took theirs.

"Nervous?" Travis had asked.

"Not at all," Katie had lied.

The pallet had lifted rather smoothly and when they were high enough to be safe, they had started a long, slow swing over the zombies toward the Fort.

The stench of them had filled their nostrils, an almost burning sensation, and the screams from below were hellish and chilling. Katie had kept her gaze on the fort and had tried not to look down. Occasionally, she checked on Laura who stood near her, holding the ropes tightly. Her lips had been moving and Katie had barely heard her whisper, "…not fast…enough."

Bill had looked down and let out a whistle. "Damn. There's a lot of zombies."

Katie couldn't help herself and she had looked down. It had made her gasp to see how many were beneath her, jumping up and down, swinging their arms, trying in vain to reach them.

Laura had looked down as well. Her voice had risen in volume. "…not fast…enough…not fast enoughnotfastenoughnotfastenough…"

"Laura, calm down. Look away," Travis had said firmly.

"Laura, don't look," Katie had said.

Then Laura had stopped her fevered muttering and looked at each of them one by one. "We can never be fast enough," she had said clearly.

And had let go.

"No!" Katie had made a mad grab for the girl and had caught her hair for just a moment. But gravity grabbed the young woman and dragged her down into the hands of the zombies below.

But Katie wasn't the only one who had lunged for her. Bill and Travis had reached out in vain and Bill, who was much heavier than all of them, shifted his weight too much and the pallet had leaned to one side and swung in a dangerous arc.

Katie, already holding on by just one hand, had lost her footing and fallen.

"Katie!" Travis had grabbed for her.

She had managed to hold onto the handhold he had created, but she had dangled over the zombies, her weight making the pallet swing even more.

Bill had almost fallen off trying to regain his footing and sprawled over the top of the supplies, gripping the netting fiercely. Travis hand had found her wrist and hand and had grabbed on.

And now she hung suspended, as the feeding frenzy below made her feel like throwing up. She could hear the slurping noises, the harsh crunching of bones, and it made her even more desperate to get up onto the pallet.

"Don't move, don't swing us," Travis ordered her. "I have you. Just hang there."

Katie stared into his eyes and trusted him.

Slowly, the pallet stopped its crazy swinging and came to hang over the zombies, slightly listing to one side. Finally, the crane began to move again.

"I'm slipping," Katie whispered.

"No, you're not," Travis responded firmly. "I have you."

Her fingers gripped his wrist tighter. His hand had such a tight hold of her, she felt as if he was crushing her wrist and hand.

Bill didn't dare move and kept whispering, "Oh shit…oh…shit…she jumped."

Katie dared to look down and saw the dirt trucks beneath her and some very evil looking black spikes. Beyond that was the fence and, last of all, the concrete wall.

The pallet began to descend and Katie sobbed with relief.

"Katie! Katie! Katie!" Jenni's voice wafted up to her.

Suddenly hands were all over her and for a moment, she had one of Travis' waking nightmares, and she thought they had her. But when Travis let go of her, she fell into Juan's arms. Jenni was next to him, tears on her cheeks, and she grabbed Katie's bruised hands.

"You made it!"

Katie felt wet tears flowing down her own face as she nodded and pulled Jenni into a tight hug. Jason threw his arms around both of them in a tight hug and Jack, at her heels, barked for attention.

Katie kissed both Jenni and Jason on the cheek firmly then hugged them both to her again. It felt delicious to be alive and with them once more.

Travis swooped down and hugged them all at once in a big bear hug.

Jenni threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"You saved Katie!" Her expression was one of absolute joy.

Travis shook his head. "Nah, she saved herself. She had such a tight hold of me, I think she broke my wrist."

Jason didn't smile at Travis, but he hugged Katie again and whispered, "I'm so glad you're back.