Caldera Book 7: The End Is Here Read online

  Broussard smiled and placed a reassuring hand on the man’s shoulder. “It is like a cold. One person catches it and spreads it to ten others. Eventually, everybody is exposed.”

  The soldier grunted. “If you say so.” He hefted the rifle and propped it across his shoulder. “Personally, I say kill ‘em all and take back our world.”

  Simon sat at the upstairs window overlooking the housing addition. He scraped along the bottom of the can of beans then tossed the can to the side, licking his spoon clean. He washed it down with a long pull of bourbon then leaned against the window sill. “I’ll go nuts sitting here waiting for something to happen.”

  He capped the bourbon and made his way downstairs. Once in the garage, he climbed into the tiny truck and twisted the key. To his surprise, the engine started and quickly began to fill the garage with noxious fumes. He backed the truck out and stared down the hill toward the gates. Simon turned the wheel and practically let the truck coast toward the street below.

  “Time to find a real truck.” He slapped at the dash. “No offense old girl, but I need something that can haul more than a letter.”

  He turned for town and slowly cruised through the streets. He knew he was approaching the intersection where the Ragers had rushed him and he slowed even more. “I know you’re out there. I can feel your eyes on me…”

  He stopped at the intersection again and peered into the midday shadows. He couldn’t see the red-eyed bastards, but he knew they were there. He slipped the truck back into gear and let the clutch out, the engine protesting as it pulled forward.

  “I’m gonna get me something big. Like…BIG big and come back here and run you fuckers down.” He chuckled to himself as he imagined Ragers squishing between the tires of a semi. “I need me one of them big four wheel drive Army trucks. Those things are unstoppable.”

  He slowed the truck and stared down the street. He could see trash blowing across the pavement but nothing stood out to him. He eased down the road until empty fast food places came into view. He nodded to himself as he slowly swerved through pile ups and hastily left cars in the road.

  He saw the sign ahead with Chevrolet, Buick, GMC printed boldly across it. Simon nodded as a smile began to form. “Maybe I’ll find me a big ol’ GMC with a diesel engine and all-wheel drive.” He took a pull from the bourbon and sighed. “Maybe even leather seats.”

  He pulled the little pickup into the driveway and crept through the lot. He slowed toward the end and spotted what looked quite promising. A big, black GMC with four doors, dual wheels and four wheel drive. “Let it be a diesel…” He crawled out of the Luv and ran a hand along the fender of the dust covered truck. “Yup. Duramax, baby. With an Allison transmission. Well, what do you fuckin’ know?” He whooped as he eyed the truck.

  He studied the beast until he found the little yellow tag with the stock number. He dug in the Luv until he found a pen and wrote the number on the back of his hand.

  “Let’s go shopping.” He practically danced a jig on his way to the main building. “Daddy needs a new pair of shoes!”

  Chapter 23

  Hatcher looked up as Vicky stepped inside, her face one of concern. “What’s up?”

  She sat down gingerly and loosed a heavy sigh. “I think….There may be something…wrong with Candy.”

  Hatcher’s brows rose. “Why do you say that?”

  “At breakfast, she only got a few bites down before she made a mad dash to the trash cans.” Vicky shook her head slowly. “The poor thing wretched until there was nothing left.”

  Hatcher wiped a calloused hand across his face. “You should check her out. Make sure she isn’t contagious.”

  Vicky’s face slowly lifted and she gave him a knowing look. “I did.” She cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “She isn’t contagious.”

  Hatcher’s brows knit again. “Food poisoning?” He couldn’t keep the concern from his voice as he spoke.

  Vicky shook her head again. “Not food poisoning.” She seemed hesitant to share and Hatcher felt dread rise in him. “She’s…pregnant.”

  Hatcher couldn’t have been more shocked if she’d punched him in the groin. He pushed away from his desk, his face searching hers for some sign that she was joking. “You’re positive?”

  Vicky shrugged. “As positive as I can be with an over the counter tester.” She handed the small plastic pen shaped device to him. It clearly showed a blue plus sign.

  “Holy shit.” Hatcher had to remind himself to breathe. “What did she say when you told her?”

  Vicky gave him a wide eyed stare. “I haven’t. Not yet.”

  Hatcher’s mouth fell open. “You had her pee on the tester and she didn’t suspect what it was for?”

  Vicky gave him that look that indicated he was too dense to be included in the conversation. “I had her give me a sample, told her we had a bug going around. I dipped the end in it after she left…just so I could rule it out.” She sighed again and set the tester on his desk. “I haven’t had the nerve to tell her yet.”

  Hatcher gave her another wide eyed look. “Doesn’t that break like all of the medical rules? Telling me before you tell her?”

  Vicky came to her feet and glared at him. “In case you missed it, it’s not exactly like the AMA is going to swoop in here and reprimand me or threaten to pull my nursing license!” She began to pace the small office, her face turning red as she built herself up into a frenzy. “I came here because…because…” She threw her hands into the air. “Because I didn’t know what else to do. What if she decides she doesn’t want the baby? What if she decides she does? This isn’t exactly a conducive environment for raising kids, now is it?”

  “We have kids climbing the walls here, Vic.” Hatcher groaned as he came to his feet and took her hand, stopping her from wearing out the floor. “Rather than letting yourself get worked up over this, how about you tell her? Let her and Roger figure out what they want to do.” He pulled her closer and lowered his voice. “It’s their decision.”

  Vicky blew her breath out hard then snatched the pregnancy test from his desk. “I know. I just needed to vent a little before I talk to her.” She searched his eyes. “I have no idea how she’ll take this.”

  Hatcher patted her arm. “I’d offer to tell her for you, but that might piss her off worse.” He gave his sister that knowing look. “And nobody wants to deal with a pissed off Candy.”

  “Amen to that.” She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I feel like Daniel walking into the lion’s den.”

  Hatcher gave her a crooked smile. “I always liked that story.”

  “Because mom said that was why she named you Daniel.” She smirked at him. “You’d love Noah’s ark if mom named you after him.”

  Hatcher shrugged. “I love that story too. I just wouldn’t want to be him. Cooped up with all those animals? The smells alone. Ugh.”

  A knock at the door turned their attention from the subject at hand. “Hatch, ya got a minute?” Cooper gave Vicky a wink and she blushed.

  “Yeah, Dave…just give me a moment.” He watched the man step away and he turned a narrow gaze on his sister. “Please tell me that there’s no risk of this happening to you…with him.”

  Vicky’s eyes shot wide and she gave him a hurtful glare. “That is NONE of your business.”

  Hatcher continued to give her his steely eyed stare. “Uh-huh. Just promise me you’ll be careful.” He glanced to the hall and saw Dave milling about. “I couldn’t imagine having a niece or a nephew with thinning hair and a grey beard.”

  “Stop it.” She punched him in the arm then spun on her heels. “I have news to deliver.”

  “Let’s hope it’s good news.”

  Vicky shook her head. “I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.”

  Hatcher waved Cooper into his office. “So what’s happening?”

  “Savage…er…I mean, Mike is going over the ham radio stuff. He’s got a list of things that he thinks he’s goi
ng to need but I can’t find Roger.”

  “They went to try and snag an antenna.” Hatcher grabbed a radio from the charging dock and tossed it to him. “Try channel three. I’m pretty sure that’s the one they’re on.”

  Cooper grinned as he twisted the knob on the radio. “Thanks, man.” He turned to leave then paused. “And, for the record…my hair wasn’t always thinning and grey.” He shot Hatcher a wink. “Just saying.”

  “Get your old, wrinkled, eavesdropping ass out of here.” Hatcher shot him a smirk.

  “I’ll get this to Mike.” He gave Hatcher a departing grin then scooted down the hall.

  Hatcher groaned as he stared at the monitors. He watched as Vicky slowly approached Candy in the courtyard. The pair spoke for just a moment then she handed her the test.

  Hatcher watched as Candy fainted, Vicky trying to catch her as she went down.

  The soldier approached Broussard and pulled a radio from his belt. “Skipper wants a word, Doc.”

  He handed him the device and Broussard pressed the transmit button. “Hello?”

  The voice that came back sounded agitated. “Have you seen enough, doctor? Do you have the data you needed?”

  Broussard looked to Carol who gave a slight shrug. “We’re pretty confident that it works. I think we can green light the use of the generators.”

  Broussard keyed the radio again. “Yes, sir. Dr. Chaplain and I are confident that the generator will successfully attract the infected. The only thing we didn’t consider was the effect it has on them.”

  “What are you saying, Dr. Broussard?”

  “I’m saying that the generator lulls them into a semi-conscious state. Because of that, they move very slowly.” He peered over the rooftop again and did a quick head count. “We’ve been here for hours, transmitting, and we’ve only gathered twenty-five or thirty infected.”

  “Is that enough to successfully treat and release?”

  Broussard sighed heavily. “Anything is better than nothing, but the more we attract….What I would suggest is allowing the generator to run overnight. That would ensure the largest collection of infected. We could send the teams out with the knowledge that they will have an extended stay. Set up the generator, sit back and wait, then spray them with the treatment the following day.”

  “I’m not willing to put my people at risk like that, doctor.”

  Broussard grimaced. “That’s just it, Captain. Once the generator is running, your people won’t be in any danger. As long as they are within range of the frequency being broadcast, any infected will be lulled into a state that appears…almost drugged. They have no desire to attack or…” He sighed and looked to Carol. “Your people are safe as long as the generator is operating.”

  “I’ll need more than your word on that, doctor.”

  Broussard looked to the soldier on the rooftop. “Would you be willing to attest to their activity?”

  The soldier shook his head. “They’re all standing around slobbering on themselves. That doesn’t mean they won’t bite a chunk out of your ass if you are in sight.”

  Broussard blew his breath out hard then keyed the radio again. “Very well, Captain. I’ll give you and your men the proof you desire.” He looked at the soldier again. “You have a way to record images, oui?”

  The soldier tapped the small camera mounted to the side of his helmet. “I’m broadcasting now.”

  “Excellent.” He handed him back the radio. “Keep the camera pointed at the subjects below.”

  Broussard turned and headed for the roof access door. The soldier stiffened and stepped to intercept. “Hey! Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

  “To give you and your captain the proof he desires.” Broussard looked to Carol and smiled. “If you would be so kind as to broadcast my interaction with the infected, I think my point will be made.”

  “I can’t let you go down there, Doc.” The soldier grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. “Part of my objective is to keep you safe.”

  Broussard gave him a knowing smile. “Trust me, I’ll be safer down there than you could imagine.”

  He pulled his arm free and opened the door. “I can’t effectively cover you from this vantage point, doc. You’ll be on your own.”

  “All the better to prove my point.”

  Carol watched as the door shut behind him. The soldier looked to her and shook his head. “He’s either very brave or very stupid.”

  “He’s the smartest man you’ll ever meet.” She stepped to the edge of the roof and waited for Broussard to exit the building.

  After what seemed entirely too long he stepped into the street, followed by a half dozen infected, slowly stumbling toward the generator. Broussard walked slowly but assuredly between the infected.

  Carol found her breath caught in her throat as the doctor stepped directly in front of an infected and waved his hand in front of the man’s face. The creature’s head turned to follow the waving hand but once Broussard stopped, the creature turned his attention back to the speakers.

  Carol watched as Broussard stared up to the roofline and gave an animated shrug. She turned to the soldier. “Is that proof enough?”

  The man sighed heavily then leaned over the edge. “You made your point, Doc. Get your ass back up here.”

  Broussard gave the pair a beaming smile then walked back toward the doors. The soldier keyed his coms. “Did you get that central?” She watched him nod his head slightly. “Forward to Captain Proctor…with the recommendation to implement the doc’s plan.”

  He turned to Carol and sighed. “I sure hope this works on all of the infected. If just one man gets killed doing this…”

  She gave him a confused look. “What?”

  He shook his head and turned away from her. “Skipper’s looking for any reason to napalm these sick freaks and be done with it.” He shot her a furtive glance. “I can’t say that I blame him, either.”

  Simon topped off the tank on the big black dually and pulled the siphoning hose from the tank of the dormant semi. He continued to spit the oily fuel from his mouth and wiped his hands across his shirt.

  As he climbed into the new truck he sighed under the blast of the air conditioner. “I could LIVE in this thing.” He closed his eyes for a moment then pulled the gear selector into drive.

  He rolled the beast of a truck slowly through town, his mind playing different options, each of which had him coming out as the victor. He slowed the truck at the intersection where the Ragers had been chewing on some unfortunate bastard’s leg and stared into the shadows. “I know you’re out there. You really ought to show yourselves.”

  He set his pistol in the cupholder and idled through the intersection, his mind still trying to decide his next move.

  “If those ungrateful shitheads want a place to call home, we could all move into those empty houses.” He stared in the direction of the addition he was set up in. “There’s plenty of empty houses….” he trailed off.

  “It’s not fair. Those are my people.” He looked up into the rearview mirror and yelled at his reflection. “MY PEOPLE!”

  He slammed his hand on the steering wheel and braked the big truck. “I need my people back. Fuck them Cagers.”

  He didn’t catch the hypocrisy of his statement since he was now, technically, a “Cager”. To a biker, anybody not riding on two wheels in the open air was a Cager…trapped in a steel cage.

  The realization struck him as he turned the solidly built truck around and headed back into town. He chuckled at himself and cranked the air conditioning up higher. “Fuck it. So now I’m one, too.” He turned the truck and tried to find his way back to the compound the Cagers were set up in.

  “In the immortal words of some old Bible guy, ‘Let my people go!’”

  Chapter 24

  Hatcher’s head spun around as the concussive blast struck the side of the building. Women screamed and children wailed as dust, dirt and debris settled over the wall and fell into the
courtyard.

  Hatcher snatched the radio from the cradle and pressed the button. “What the hell was that? Is anybody hurt?”

  The radio shot out static for a moment then a sentry’s voice cut through. “Negative.” The man coughed into the mic then added, “One of the IEDs in the alleyway blew.”

  “Sweet Jeezus.” Hatcher ignored the pain in his ribs and pushed out of his office. He pointed to the nearest man. “Find Cooper and see if Roger’s back. Tell them to meet me at the gates.” The man nodded then ducked into the hallway.

  Hatcher pushed his way outside and stood in the wave of people rushing to get back inside. Like a lone statue in a sea of moving people he peered over their heads as they ran from the unknown. He looked up to the sentry. The man pointed to the alley then pointed two fingers to his eyes.

  Hatcher groaned as he pushed through the remaining people and marched to the rear gates. Trevor stood in the door of the camper cradling a frightened Patricia as Hatcher pushed the gate open. “Did you see anything?”

  Trevor shook his head. “We were dozing. I’m sorry Mr. Hatcher…I didn’t see anything.”

  He pointed to the camper. “Get back inside. If there’s a threat we’ll move you inside the perimeter.” He pulled his pistol and held it at the ready as he edged along the side of the wall. He keyed the radio again. “Tell me that Will and his people weren’t out there setting mines.”

  “Negative, boss. They finished with all of that yesterday. The only people who left went out in trucks and they were out front. Whatever that was, it wasn’t one of ours.”

  Hatcher allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief and approached the blind corner of the wall. He edged around it, “slicing the pie” with his pistol until he saw the bloody splatter along the sides of the small trees that separated the alley from the compound.