Caldera | Book 12 | Kingdom Come Read online

  Hatcher slowed as they rounded the corner and headed towards the gates. “Too weak. We had chain link at another location, and it didn’t hold.” He waved to the gate guards as he pulled his shirt back on. “Slow them as they approach so Rich can verify who they are.”

  “I’m pretty sure that has to be them, Hatch. Who else would caravan to this place?” Rich muttered.

  “Pacify me, will ya?” Hatcher stopped at the entrance and watched as the tan colored Jeep slowed.

  “That’s definitely Larry,” Rich said, wiping his brow on his sleeve. “And that’s the Wilsons behind him. And that’s—”

  “Thank you.” Hatcher sighed and leaned against a tree for a moment. He watched as the cars, full of mostly women and children, slowed and entered the gates. “Call me paranoid, but at this point I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

  “No apologies needed.” Rich watched as the cars drove by. He nodded to a few of the drivers then stepped closer to the gates. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find Willie. I’m sure he knows our people are here, but…”

  “Go. We got this.” Hatcher started to turn back then paused as a school bus brought up the rear. He stared at the bright yellow machine and Wally’s words came back to him. He watched as the bus slowed then pulled into the compound. “Big,” he said as he imagined using them to block roads leading to them. Not necessarily a roadblock, but as a barrier to slow any advance.

  He nodded to himself as he worked his way back to where the men were digging. “Wally!” He trotted up beside the man. “Tell me you know where the local school buses are kept.”

  Wally nodded. “Yeah, right around the corner from the PD, why?” He broke into a toothy grin. “Tell me we’re gonna be flipping buses and can knock off this sandbag crap.”

  Hatcher shook his head. “Not exactly, but maybe we can use the buses to block streets leading to us. Slow them down. Break up the mass so we deal with them in waves instead of a tsunami.”

  Wally sighed. “Yeah, I guess we could try that.” He looked at Hank. “Are the battery boosters still charged?”

  Hank tied off the sandbag he was holding then nodded. “I charged them a couple days ago. Why?”

  “We’re goin’ shopping for school buses.” Wally dropped his shovel. “How many you talking about?”

  “A lot.” Hatcher raised a brow. “At least one at each road coming towards us, a block, block and half out.”

  Wally rubbed at his chin. “At least a dozen then. I’m gonna need more men than just me and Hank.”

  “Grab them and go. Be quick about it. We have no idea when the infected are coming.”

  “Or even if they’re coming,” Roger added. “I know, I know…what else could they have planned, right? But if Simon isn’t behind this, then why would they even try?”

  Hatcher gave him that look. “The same reason they had for attacking the old folks’ home.” He spat on the ground. “Because it was there.”

  “Is this really necessary?” Andre asked.

  Davis looked at him as though he had lost his mind. “You haven’t dealt with enough assholes in this post-apocalyptic world yet to realize what a stupid question that is?”

  Andre felt his cheeks flush and he watched as Davis loaded an extra magazine. “I just wonder if maybe it sends the wrong message.”

  Davis loaded an extra magazine and laid the carbine in the back of the Excursion. “Look, Doc, I’m not saying it will be necessary, but I look at weapons like I would a condom. It’s better to have one and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

  “That’s rather crude.”

  “But applicable.” Davis slipped the loaded magazine into the pouch around his middle then reached for another. “I’m not saying that everybody should be carrying a weapon.” He glanced at some of the others milling about, taking their lunch break. “To be honest, I’m not sure I’d trust some of them with a water pistol, but the fact of the matter is, eventually we’re going to run into a situation where we will need firepower.” He turned back to Andre. “I’d rather be prepared when that time comes.”

  “I understand.” He lowered his voice and leaned in. “I just worry that some of the others might be…”

  “What? Offended?” Davis smirked as he began loading another magazine. “I don’t give two shits about their delicate constitutions, Doc. I’ve been using guns to keep them safe ever since I was assigned to your people. It’s the most effective method I know of.”

  “I wouldn’t say ‘offended,’ more like ‘put off,’ perhaps. All I’m saying is when we do run into people out here, I’m not certain that brandishing a weapon like that is the best way to make a good first impression.”

  Davis slipped the last magazine into the pouch of his molle vest then reached for the pistol. “If nothing else, it will tell them that we are prepared to defend ourselves.” He slipped the pistol into the thigh holster then began shutting the rear doors of the Excursion. “If we run into somebody who isn’t armed, then I’d be more worried about them.” He shut the rear glass then turned and gave Andre his full attention. “It’s the ones who appear disarmed or innocent that I tend to watch the hardest.” He patted the researcher’s shoulder. “Relax, Doc. I’ve dealt with civilians my whole life.

  “I want one,” Carol stated softly.

  Andre startled and turned on her. “I didn’t hear you approach.”

  She stared past him to Davis. “I mean it. I want something.”

  Davis glanced between her and Andre, noting the look of surprise on the big man’s features. “You know how to use one?”

  She smiled at him and nodded. “The bullets come out of the business end and into the bad guys. Got it.” Davis raised a brow at her and she smiled. “My dad taught me to shoot when I was little.”

  Davis opened the back of the Excursion again and reached for a duffel. He pulled a pistol out and handed it to her. “You’re certain?”

  “Finger off the trigger until ready to fire. Never point it at anything you aren’t willing to kill. Always know what’s beyond your target.” She accepted the pistol and checked the magazine. “Safety on. Booger hook off the bang switch. Good to go.”

  Davis gave her a crooked grin then shut the doors of the truck again. “I’m ready once they’re done.” He slipped around the corner of the truck and made his way to the front.

  Andre pulled her aside and gave her a worried look. “Are you sure about this?”

  She gave him a nod and slipped the weapon into her jacket. “Positive.” She gave him a sad smile. “It’s not just for my protection.” She turned and looked past him to the others. “Like it or not, we’re a family now and we have to rely on each other.”

  Andre took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “You know I’m not comfortable with…”

  She nodded and cupped his face. “I wouldn’t try to force you,” she kissed him lightly then stared into his eyes, “but Davis is right. The world isn’t exactly safe right now. So please don’t ask me to surrender one small thing that makes me feel a bit safer.”

  He watched her walk away and shook his head slowly. “Why does it make me feel less safe?”

  Simon groaned as he tried to move on the bed, his body suddenly stiffening and his eyes popping open. “Holy shit.” He could barely breathe, the pain was so intense.

  “Easy.” Veronica sat up and hovered over him. “We’re pretty sure you’re out of the woods.”

  Simon blinked rapidly and stared into her eyes, his body trying to relax. “It hurts.” His voice sounded dry and cracked.

  “Hold on.” She held a cup near his mouth and pointed a straw to his lips. “Drink slowly.”

  Simon took tentative sips of the cold water and lowered his head, his breath caught in his throat. “Why do I hurt so bad?”

  Veronica noticed his hands clenching the sheet and she reached behind her for a syringe. “You were stabbed multiple times. You were touch and go for a while, b
ut we found help.” She inserted the needle into the plastic IV line and Simon seemed to almost instantly relax. “This is morphine. It will help with the pain.”

  “Oh yeah…” he groaned. He turned his head towards here and gave her a sad smile. “You probably shouldn’t give me that though.” He swallowed roughly and reached for her hand. “I used to have a real problem with pain killers.”

  “Problem or not, you need it now,” she whispered.

  “Is he awake?” Derek asked as he peeked into the room. He broke into a toothy smile. “That’s a hell of a good sign.”

  Simon glanced at the young man and nodded. “Thanks for saving me, Doc.”

  Derek’s face fell and he shook his head. “It wasn’t me, sir. I just assisted.” He glanced down the hall to where Vicky still slept. “We found a lady that knew what she was doing.”

  Simon nodded weakly and gave him a thumbs up. “Tell her I said thanks.” His eyelids began to grow droopy and he closed them.

  “I think he’s out again.”

  Veronica nodded and held the needle up. “I had to give him morphine. He woke up in intense pain.”

  “I should imagine so.” Derek stepped into the room and placed his fingers at Simon’s wrists. “His pulse is strong. Looks like he’s going to make it.”

  Veronica sniffed back a tear and nodded. “I was pretty worried.”

  Derek placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I know.” He glanced back to the open doorway and lowered his voice. “And know that no matter what, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you both safe.”

  Veronica gave him a confused look. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Lana stood in the open window of the upstairs bedroom, chewing on a piece of the old woman’s buttocks. She watched the men on the other side of the wall frantically filling poly bags with dirt and couldn’t understand what the rush was about.

  Part of her hoped that one of them would glance at the upstairs window and see her standing there, nude, staring at them while they worked. She had never been an exhibitionist before she became infected, but now…it was the beginning of a whole new her. She slowly chewed the leftover meat, the pink water running down her arms as she watched them toil below her.

  She grew tired of the game and disappeared. It was time to wander out and about and see what was going on in this little wonderland of survivors. “Cagers” is what Simon had called them. People who drove cars, trapped in a metal cage without even realizing they were trapped. “Or maybe just liking it that way,” she said.

  She popped the last of the meat into her mouth and chewed while she sponged the pink stains from her arms and abdomen.

  She slipped into her shorts and found a white t-shirt which she tied under her boobs, exposing her midriff. She tried to imagine how she could avoid the newcomers. The RV’ers would recognize her, probably instantly. She pulled her boots on and stared at her reflection.

  “I hate to say it, but I should probably show less skin.” She tsk’d as she began to peel the clothes back off. She rifled through the closets and found jeans small enough to almost fit then put on a long sleeve shirt. Unfortunately, the bitch that lived here before didn’t believe in wigs, otherwise she could hide under the fake hair and be a lot less noticeable.

  She found a lightweight shawl and put it over her head, tying it loosely under her chin. A floppy sun hat covered most of the shawl, and, at a glance, she appeared almost normal.

  “Normal,” she scoffed. “Nothing will ever be normal again.”

  She practically danced down the stairs and out the door, bouncing along as she walked. Act like you belong here and people are less likely to notice you, she thought.

  She stepped out into the sunlight and took a deep breath. “Ah, the lack of bird shit is invigorating.” She turned and made her way along the backside of the complex, checking out her new home.

  Jedidiah paced the lobby and cursed under his breath. He had seen a constant stream of vehicles driving through town, and his pulse was racing. “How many more of them are there?” He clenched and unclenched his hands, his mouth puckering in preparation for a string of epithets.

  “Where are they all coming from?”

  He turned and stared through the dirty glass doors, half expecting another line of vehicles to drive by. “How did they know to come here? Why this town?”

  He walked to the doors and pressed his face to the glass, peering as far down the road as he could. “They must be going to join with the unclean.” He pounded his thin fists against the glass. “The heathens will be purged from this earth if it’s the last thing I…” He stopped himself and took a deep breath, doing his best to regain composure.

  He stepped away from the glass and tugged at the lapels of his jacket. He inspected the sleeves and front of his long coat once more to ensure that it remained perfect, as that of the Lord’s representative should be. He reached for his flat brimmed hat and placed it gently atop his head. He ran his fingers along the sides, tucking any errant hairs behind his ears.

  Turning to the main doors of the theater, he pulled open a door and could see those soldiers closest to the entrance turn and stare at him, their eyes wide, their bodies tense and ready.

  “I need six volunteers.” He stood tall and squared his shoulders. “I have a special mission and I need the best of you.”

  He smiled at the wave of bodies that pressed forward. “You six in the front. Come with me.” He stepped aside as they filed out and into the lobby. “The rest of you, wait here. Be patient. No fighting amongst yourselves.” He smiled at the Lord’s army. “Your time is almost nigh.”

  15

  Hatcher nervously checked his watch again and cursed under his breath. “Wally, where are you?” He tried to push the idea of the men being ambushed out of his mind. Surely one of them would have been able to radio for help first.

  Then again, he had thought the same thing about the people who’d stayed behind at the retirement home.

  A rumbling engine caught his attention and he watched as the big black Ram pickup pulled to the gate then eased through. Hatcher trotted to the men and gave Wally a worried look. “What took you so long?”

  Wally slammed the door of the truck and removed the battery booster from the rear. “We could only get eight buses. The others just wouldn’t start.”

  Hank appeared beside him. “They’re mostly diesels, Hatch, and it’s possible the fuel soured over the last year or so.”

  “What roads were you able to cover?”

  Wally pointed. “North, south, and west.” He turned back towards the rear of the housing complex. “We have a pretty wide green belt back there that will allow us to see them coming from a good distance. I thought blocking these other roads would be the best for trying to slow them down.”

  Hank raised a brow. “I told you a moat was a good idea.” He smirked as he walked past.

  “We got the sandbag barriers started on the east side.” Hatcher groaned as he stretched his back. “They’ll have to do for now.”

  “We’ve done all we can for now, Hatch.” Wally clapped the man’s shoulder. “Once we get the sharpshooters in the crow’s nests and the others along the wall and on the rooftops, they’ll have to be damned lucky to get within two hundred yards.”

  Hatcher gave him a serious look that Wally wasn’t sure how to interpret. “You didn’t see what we saw. The sheer number of them…” He fought an involuntary shiver as the image of the massive horde rose in his mind’s eye.

  Wally nodded as Hatcher turned towards his house. “Roger said there were thousands.”

  Hatcher shrugged. “Possibly.” He turned and gave Wally a tight lipped smile. “Hundreds, for sure.”

  He watched him step up to the sidewalk and push past the bent gates that sealed his driveway then muttered, “You’re welcome.”

  Hatcher pushed into the garage entrance and stopped short when he spied a short woman cooking in his kitchen. “Can I help you?”

  S
he turned and gave him a broad smile. “Willie said to make sure there was food on the table.” She lifted a lid and stirred something that made Hatcher’s mouth water. “You boys have been working nonstop since we arrived. I wanted to make sure you had something substantial on your stomach.” Her face stiffened and became more serious. “Just in case.”

  “In case we have to go to war tonight,” Willie said from behind him, causing Hatcher to startle. “I’ve got spotters between where your boys set up the buses and here. They’re pretty quick on their feet, so I’m confident they can make it back before that infected army can catch them.” He stepped around Hatcher and opened the fridge, pulling out a beer.

  “Make it two.” Hatcher pulled the chair out from the table and waited quietly as Willie sat across from him. “How are your people settling in?”

  “They’re not.” Willie unscrewed the cap from the bottle and took a long pull. “They’re too busy reinforcing your defenses and setting up choke points.”

  Hatcher gave the woman a furtive glance then turned back to the man across from him. “If this goes sideways…”

  “It won’t.” Willie’s voice made it clear that they must prevail. “And if something should happen and our two groups end up leaderless…” He let the sentence hang in the air. “My people know how to make themselves useful. And how to get along.”

  “I was going to say that. I’d like you to work with Roger and Candy. She’s filled in for me and so has he. They’re good people.”

  “Good to know.” Willie drained the bottle and leaned back, loosing a long belch. “But my intention was to get my people someplace that they could put down permanent roots.” He glanced around the room at the electric lights and smiled. “This is as close to ‘back to normal’ as we could ever hope for. I don’t intend on rocking the boat.”

  “Meaning?”