The Necromancers of Santa Muerte (Part V)

"Helicopter landing" by Statkraft is licensed under CC by 2.0

James scrambled over to the fallen Ranger. He aimed with one hand, while the other checked the elder Ranger’s pulse. Weak but it was there. He grabbed the radio on Roberts’ shoulder and clicked the button.

“Mayday, SOS, help! Do you copy!”

“This is Ranger Command. Stop messing around on this frequency, or you will be in violation of...” the voice stopped as James fired several shots at the oncoming zombies.

“This is Deputy Swift at the Laredo border crossing. There is a Santa Muerte cultist that is able to make the dead walk again. Ranger Roberts is severely injured and we need backup or evac or something! We have two refugees with us, a mother and her infant son.”

“Roger that. Hold as long as you can, we’re on our way.”

James dropped the radio in shock as a decaying hand wrapped itself around his boot. He looked down and saw the upper half of young girl, no older than 7, trying to bite him. He aimed his gun at the child’s head, but he could not pull the trigger. Even though, the child was no longer alive, he could not bring himself to end her existence as a crawling corpse. He kicked the undead kid away, thankful that he wore his boots today. He raised the carbine and hesitated. Too many targets. He realized it was too late, they were overrun. He dragged the semi-conscious form of Ranger Roberts to the truck.

He swallowed his fear and decided that even if the followers of Santa Muerte were going to take Texas, he would make them pay for each inch of her precious soil. He reached the truck with the undead bearing down on him, only twenty feet away, he yelled at the woman to help him lift the Ranger into the truck. Luckily, the language barrier was not an issue and she helped him lift Roberts into the truck.

A corpulent zombie grabbed James from behind, just as he finished securing the old Ranger in the passenger side of the cab. The pudgy fingers had a grip like a vise that would not let go of James’ arm. He slammed his elbow into the walking corpse three times and it finally let go and stumbled back. He kicked it in its massive gut and it fell to the ground. It flailed helplessly in the dust, as he hopped into

The woman grasped her child and got into the bed of the truck, taking Roberts’ revolver with her. As he slammed the door shut, he heard her fire several shots at the oncoming undead. He put the truck in reverse and slowly backed up. Despite not being right-handed, he aimed out of the driver-side window and tried to shoot at the oncoming horde. Only a few shots hit their mark.

James pulled his gun inside and switched hands on the wheel. With his now-free right hand, he grabbed the radio off Roberts’ shoulder and spoke into it.

“Ranger Command, this is Deputy Swift. The Laredo border crossing has fallen. I am falling back in a blue pick-up, license plate number Tango X-Ray Romeo dash Niner Zero Seven. Taking shots when I can.”

“Affirmative Deputy. Give ‘em hell!”

He slowly backed down Fifth Street and until he got to the top of a small hill. He put the truck in park and leaned out the window, picking off a few zombies. Once they get a little closer, he backed the truck up. The necromancer in the red robe never was quite in range, and he always seemed to have enough zombies between himself and James to make it nigh-impossible to hit.

“Deputy Swift. Ranger Command here. Can you make it to Center Park? We have a helicopter en route,” said the voice over the radio.

Ranger Roberts groaned pitifully and continued to bleed all over the seat. Not a moment too soon, thought James as he shifted the truck into drive and went over the Center Park. He was well ahead of the horde, so for the first time that day, he felt confident that everything would end up fine. The helicopter, a commandeered traffic ‘copter from Channel 6 News, landed at the park and James ran over to speak with the pilot.

“Deputy Swift?” asked the pilot at the top of his voice. The rotors of the helicopter were still going.

“Yes,” replied James.

“Good. Who’s coming with?” asked the pilot.

James ran back to the truck and gestured for the woman to help him move Ranger Roberts. Together, they dragged him to the helicopter. It was then that James noticed there were only two seats on the helicopter. Chivalry was not dead. Not yet. James helped the woman and her child get into the helicopter.

“Get them out of here!” yelled James. The helicopter lifted off as the smell of the dead found its way to his nose. He turned and saw the dead at the edge of the park. Among them stood the necromancer smiling at him, with his hands on his hips.

“Deputy Swift! All alone, I see,” said the red-robed man with a genuine kindness. The dead stood around him, but were not advancing forward.

“And?” said James defiantly.

“Santa Meurte offers all a second chance. Join me. We could use a resourceful man like you. This morning, you were an average man, until you were deputized into the Texas Rangers. Now, you have proved a bit of a roadblock for the glorious reclamation of this land in the name of our Lady of Death. We are succeeding as you can see. Where is the God that you foolishly worship? Did he protect Ranger Roberts? No. Is He protecting you? We can offer you whatever you want. Wealth. Power. Women. Men, if that is what you are into.”

“I’ve seen your women. Solid two out of a ten, all of them,” quipped James. The necromancer laughed.

“Such a fiery spirit! I meant living women, although Santa Muerte does not mind those who enjoy partaking in the delight of the dead. By the way, look around you.”

James looked around and saw that the entire park was now surrounded by the undead.

“She offers second chances, but not a third,” said the necromancer, “make your choice.”

Read Part I of the The Necromancers of Santa Muerte here: https://steemit.com/fiction/@notjohndaker/the-necromancers-of-santa-muerte-part-i

Read Part II of the The Necromancers of Santa Muerte here: https://steemit.com/fiction/@notjohndaker/the-necromancers-of-santa-muerte-part-ii

Read Part III of the The Necromancers of Santa Muerte here: https://steemit.com/fiction/@notjohndaker/the-necromancers-of-santa-muerte-part-iii

Read Part IV of the The Necromancers of Santa Muerte here: https://steemit.com/fiction/@notjohndaker/the-necromancers-of-santa-muerte-part-iv

Read Part VI of the The Necromancers of Santa Muerte here: https://steemit.com/fiction/@notjohndaker/the-necromancers-of-santa-muerte-part-vi