Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #22 January 2016 | Page 47
it became fists and rifle butts. As they struggled and
fought, they didn’t see another figure come down the
ramp—they were too involved in the life or death
battle to notice the silver mask, the long coat or the
large, ancient book.
The figure in the long coat ran past them and
up the street to the open area where he shouted in a
strange language that, had any been close enough to
hear, would have struck them as an inhuman sound
that no man should be able to speak. No living being
heard him, but a dozen corpses that stood in the open
area did and, obedient to the command, they shambled
into the narrow street to kill everyone they found
there.
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In the fort the other half of first platoon was
formed up behind the embattled houses. There were
no walking corpses in this street, and they were able
to form a line to cover the alley further up. A pair
of Ironsides and several men of third platoon were
fighting their way backwards down the alley and into
the street. They stepped clear, and the first of the dead
staggered into the street and straight into the fire of
two lines of redcoats.
One, then another, then two more of the
dead were cut down; one made it close to the line of
infantry while the ones in front took the shots but it
was smashed aside and crushed by the Ironside.
Lieutenant Ambrose stationed a squad and one
Ironside to block the alley and led the rest of his men
along the street behind the houses.
corpses staggered down the alley and attacked the
Ironside. He turned and opened fire alongside the men
standing there, and for several minutes the sergeant
was too busy to do anything other than load and fire.
Lieutenant Ambrose reached the end of the
street where it opened out into the clear area in front of
the fortified building that sat against the highest point
of the hill. He waved the rest of his men and most
importantly the noisy Ironside to stop then peered
cautiously round the corner of the last house.
He saw a figure in a long leather coat step
through the door into the fortress building and the
backs of a number of walking corpses as they lurched
into a narrow street across the open area by the far
wall.
Once they were out of sight he gestured his
men and the Ironside to advance to the corner and into
the open area. He sent a few men to check the door of
the fortified building, and then once no enemies were
seen, he led the rest to the top of the street facing the
gatehouse.
As he now looked down the street towards the
ruins of the gatehouse he could see less than a score of
redcoats holding the gate, another dozen or more on
the rooftops of the houses on one side and Greyhound
standing above the rubble of the houses on the other
side.
street.
No more than fifty corpses still moved in the
Behind them the fire from second platoon was
slackening off though none here were aware of it over
the c ۜ