“Son of a…” Hatcher turned to Roger. “Stay with your friend and take her with you.” He turned back to the guards, “Snuff out anything that makes light. Put everybody on lockdown and get this entrance secured!” He snapped his fingers at the people as they scurried about. “Let’s go, go, go!”
He keyed the radio again. “Keep an eye on them. If any of them approach the entrance, I want to know.”
“Roger that, Hatch.”
Hatcher jogged to the ladder and climbed up to the roof. He grabbed the binoculars from Hank and scanned the area. “No lights?”
“Just the occasional brake light.” He pointed to the path the second group had taken to circle the block. “No headlights, but I saw some of them turn up there. They should be coming around any time now.”
Hatcher approached the parapet and hunkered down, only the field glasses visible at the crest. “I’m not seeing…wait. I’ve got movement.”
Hank rested his rifle across the crest of the parapet and tried to track where the bikers would emerge.
Hatcher keyed the radio again. “Where’s the other group?”
“They’ve circled back to the south. I can’t tell if they turned west or not. They might just be gridding the area looking for the truck.”
Hatcher groaned. “There’s only so many places that truck could disappear to.” He glanced around at the other abandoned buildings in the area.
Hank stiffened and turned to Hatcher. “Once they’ve cleared our block, me and Wally could take that truck and try to lead them away.”
Hatcher shook his head. “How would you get back? And that’s if they didn’t stop you on the road and…NO. It ain’t happening.”
Hank squared his shoulders. “Hiding ain’t working, Hatch. They’ll figure it out eventually.”
Hatcher groaned and tried to imagine the ramifications of leading them away from the area. “I don’t like it, Hank.”
Hank stood and handed Hatcher the rifle. “Sorry, Hatch. I gotta keep the rest of our people safe. I’m the head of security, so it falls on me.” He pulled his radio and held it in front of Hatcher. “The moment they’re clear of our block, you radio me. We’ll make sure they see the truck, but we’re heading north. We’ll lead them away from here.”
Hatcher shook his head and came to his feet. “I can’t let you do this.”
Hank chuckled. “You can’t stop me, Hatch. I’m a grown-assed man.” He patted the man’s shoulder. “I will see you again.”
Before Hatcher could argue, Hank turned and disappeared down the ladder. Hatcher slid back down the side of the parapet and cursed. “I should have shot him in the knee.”
“They got to be around here somewhere.” Simon cursed under his breath and slowed the motorcycle to a stop. “Where the hell could they have disappeared to?”
Scud braked, lighting up their rear. “I saw them turn this direction, but now…I have no friggin’ clue.”
Simon pulled his radio and keyed it. “Anybody got eyes on that rusty piece of crap?” He received a collection of negatives before he held the radio aloft, wanting to throw it, but refusing to let go. “I really want to kill something right about now.”
His radio barked and Simon turned it up. “We could double-back, retrace our steps?”
“No, keep moving. They’ve got to show themselves eventually.” He turned to Scud and ground his teeth. “That little bitch Stella probably saw one of those idiots’ brake lights. She’s hiding someplace. I know it. I can feel it.”
“Hey, boss, you don’t reckon she got to where she was going, do ya?”
Simon opened his mouth to curse the idiot beside him, then slowly closed it, the gears inside his head spinning. “You know…she might have.” He glanced over his shoulder and tried to imagine which buildings could possibly hide a pickup and a group of survivors.
“You might not be as stupid as I thought you was.”
Hatcher cursed, then keyed the radio. “They’ve stopped. They’re only a block and half away, but it doesn’t look like they’re going anywhere. If you’re going to do this, you better do it now before thedouble-back.”
“On our way, Hatch,” Wally replied.
Hatcher gripped the radio and uttered a quick prayer to a god he didn’t believe in that his people would remain safe. “God’s speed, boys.”
He heard the rattle of the chain link gates as they were pulled open and the engine of the truck rev before Hank pulled out onto the street. He couldn’t hear the gates close over the engine accelerating down their road, but he watched as the truck shot past the empty box truck and slide around the corner by the gas station. Once they rounded the corner, the boys turned their headlights on and floored the accelerator. Hatcher winced as the sound of the large V-8 echoed off the surrounding buildings, but he nearly whooped with joy when the motorcycles all turned and followed the noise.
He slid down the parapet and sat on the roof. “Your ploy worked, Hank. They’re following.” He hung his head and fought the urge to punch the wall. “Be safe, fellas.”
“We’ll see you come daybreak, Hatch.” With that, the radio went dead.
Hatcher stood on weak legs and walked to the ladder. He felt like he didn’t have the strength to climb down, but he dug into his reserves and forced his body to respond. When he reached the floor of the warehouse and leaned his head against the rungs of the ladder and muttered, “Please keep them safe.”
Vicky worked quickly. She got the saline IV going and used the morphine she had in stock to knock the mountain man out. It took everything she had to probe his innards and seal up the two small cuts in the small intestine.
She was stitching him together when Roger stuck his head in. “How’s he doing? His girl is about to go nuts out here.”
“I’m closing him up now.” Vicky wiped at the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand. “I probed as best as I could and only found two small cuts inside.” She glanced at Roger who couldn’t see her expression behind the mask. “That must have been a really sharp blade. Usually the intestines are fluid enough to avoid being sliced.”
“So, he’s gonna make it?” he asked hopefully.
“If he doesn’t succumb to a secondary infection, yeah. He should be sore, but he’ll survive.”
Roger visibly relaxed. “She’ll be thrilled to know that.”
“Don’t get her hopes up just yet.” Vicky stepped back and pulled her mask down. “Look, I’m no doctor, and I’m definitely not a surgeon. There’s still a lot of things that could go wrong. He’s not out of the woods yet.”
“I understand. And I’ll make sure she knows.” He started to stick his hand out, then held it up. “I’d shake your hand but…”
Vicky shot him a grin before she pulled the mask back up. “Afterwards.”
Roger watched her return to work and he pulled the door shut. He walked to the old couch where Stella nervously sat, her thumbnail ruined by her chewing at it. When she spotted him, she stood so abruptly she startled herself. “Tell me what’s going on.”
Roger gave her a reassuring smile and pulled her into a hug. “Doc says he’s gonna make it.” She nearly collapsed in his arms and he directed her back to the sofa. “Look, there’s still a lot that could go wrong. His guts were sliced up pretty good, but Doc stitched him up. He’s still got a long way to go to make it through all of this, but his odds are good.” He placed a hand on her cheek and gave her a solemn look. “He’s going to need your strength, okay?”
Stella nodded and tried to give him a tear-stained smile. “You know it.”
“I’ve got to check on what’s going on outside. I’ll be back to check on you shortly. Just sit tight and Vic will come and fill you in when she’s done.”
He patted her shoulder reassuringly before turning and heading back into the warehouse. He spotted Candy talking to Hatcher and trotted to the pair. “Tell me they drove past.”
Hatcher shook his head. “They started to, but stopped just a block away. You
could almost see the gears in their heads spin as they tried to figure out where the truck went.”
“So…where are they now?”
Hatcher lowered his eyes. “They’re following the truck.”
Roger stepped closer and stared at him. “They’re what?”
“Two of our people volunteered to drive north in the truck. To lead them away from us.” Hatcher looked up at Roger and didn’t like what he saw.
“No. No, you gotta call them back. If Simon catches them…the things he’ll do to them? They’ll tell him everything just for a quick death.”
“Oh my god.” Candy gasped.
“They’ve turned their radios off.” Hatcher leaned against the column and eyed the men in the warehouse still loading ammunition in preparation for a fight. “If I had some way to catch up with them…”
Roger’s eyes lit up. “My Harley.”
“Can you see ’em?”
Wally turned and stared out of the back window. “Nope. You sure they’re back there?”
Hank shrugged. “As much noise as we made when we split? Yeah. They’re back there.”
“Wait! I saw a flash of red.” He turned to Hank. “Cop bikes?”
Hank shook his head. “Tail lights, I’d bet.” He goosed the accelerator and shot through another intersection. “The hospital is just a couple of blocks away. That’s where I’d go if I had a hurt friend and didn’t know any better.” He glanced to Wally and shrugged. “You never know. There might be supplies there still.”
“We know,” Wally deadpanned. “There ain’t.”
“But they don’t know that.” Hank slowed the truck, then accelerated through a turn. “Two blocks, bud. Be ready to run.”
“Run?”
“Once we get there, we need to get inside and pray we can lose them.”
“But, Hank…what if the Zulus are inside?”
“One problem at a time, Wally!” Wally paled and reached for the radio. “What are you doing?”
“If I get eaten by a zombie, I want them to know where to place the flowers.” He keyed the radio and called for Hatcher.
Chapter 23
“Do you know what you’re supposed to do?” Hatcher barked. He received a chorus of affirmatives, then ordered the men to man their stations. He walked to the Harley and straddled it.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to lead this insane operation?” Roger asked.
“I don’t want them knowing you survived the Zulu attack. Not yet, anyway.” He switched on the ignition and fired the engine. “Just stay close and keep your lights off. If we can get the drop on them, all the better.”
Roger gave him a mock salute, then climbed into the cab of the larger box truck. He leaned out the window and hollered at Hatcher, “Not too fast. This thing doesn’t handle like that bike does.”
Hatcher gave him a nod, then spun the bike around and pointed it to the staging area. He waited until the guards had pulled the gates open, and then kicked the machine into gear.
It had been years since he’d ridden, and the large bike was awkward. He wobbled a bit as he turned out of the staging area. He goosed the accelerator and had to hang on as the bike shot away.
Roger smiled to himself as he slammed the door on the truck and banged on the side. “You boys ready?” His reply was a bang from the inside. He put the truck into gear and pulled out of the warehouse, pointing the truck in the direction of the taillights ahead of him.
He knew it was just a short distance to the hospital, but the streets were rough and couldn’t be taken too quickly. He could only hope that Simon would hit a pothole and be laid out on the pavement. As much as the idea pleased him, he knew the odds were against such a thing.
Hank slammed on the brakes of the pickup and slid it right up to the EMERGENCY ROOM doors. Both men piled out and bolted for the insides of the building. Wally flipped on a flashlight and threw it across the waiting room and into the Nurse’s Station. The two men ran in the opposite direction and prayed that there was a rear exit that they could slip out of and make their way on foot back to the warehouse.
The roar of multiple V-Twin engines rumbled outside of the building and Hank bit his tongue, praying that the bikes would attract any Zulus in the building.
He grabbed Wally by the sleeve and pulled him inside a room that had a heavy wooden door. He pointed to the window on the opposite side and held a finger up to his mouth.
Wally clicked the lock on the door shut, then turned to Hank. “How are we gonna break that out and them not hear us?” he whispered.
Hank was searching the border of the window, praying that it would open from the inside. He slumped beside the desk and shook his head. “It’s double pane security glass. We ain’t getting out that way.”
Wally hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “That’s the only exit.”
Hank wondered if they could lay low and survive the gang members searching for their lost friend, but knew better when he heard the heavy thud of a door being kicked in down the hall. The crash of glass and men talking loudly to each other told him they feared no man nor beast.
Not even the Zulus.
“I’m sorry, man. I think I screwed us on this one.” Hank sat on the edge of the desk and fondled the pistol in his hand. “I doubt we have enough bullets for this.”
Wally pulled his own pistol and took up a position in the corner behind a filing cabinet. “We’ll catch them in a crossfire.”
Hank gave him a reassuring smile, even though it was too dark to see it. “Sure. Crossfire. Sounds good to me.” He hunkered down behind the desk and pointed the pistol at the door.
“They’re in here someplace,” Simon barked as he kicked over a small table, scattering months’ old magazines across the room. “Search every room.” He pointed down the hallway. “Two of you start searching the rest of the hospital.”
He watched as two men took off in a jog, their flashlights bouncing as they pushed through the double doors. Simon pointed to two more. “Search the left side. You two, search the right. Check every room.”
Simon strode past the Nurse’s Station and picked up the torch. “Yeah, I know you’re in here, you silly bitch. You might tell that man of yours that if he doesn’t come clean, he can watch us skin you alive until he decides that he CAN talk!” He threw the flashlight and felt a certain degree of satisfaction when he heard the distinct sound of breaking glass.
Scud appeared at his side and held his hand up. “There’s an awful lot of blood in the cab of that truck, boss.” He shook his head slowly. “Savage might not have made it.”
Simon turned and gave him a stern stare. “Are you completely stupid?” He smacked Scud upside his head. “Stella’s what? A buck ten? A buck fifteen? And Savage is near three hundred pounds. If he died in the truck, what did she do with his body? Put him in her pocket and run away?”
Scud opened his mouth to reply, then decided it was best to keep it shut. He gave Simon a knowing nod. “You’re right, boss.”
“Of course, I am. Now get your stinky ass in there and find them!”
He pushed Scud toward the hallway and stood back to see what his men might flush out. Scud walked past the first two men who were checking each exam room. He pulled open a door quickly and flashed his light inside. They weren’t in the janitor’s closet. He shut the door and walked across the hallway to another door. “It’s empty, boss.”
“Keep looking, dumbass.”
Simon watched the lights from their flashlights bounce off the walls while his men checked the rooms when the distinct sound of a V-Twin engine caught his attention. He turned and walked back to the entrance. “What son of a bitch rode out here with his lights on? I told you to disconnect all of the lights, Shitstain!”
“I did, boss!” Scud emerged from an exam room with a cotton swab in his ear.
“Then who’s this ignorant son of a…” Simon froze and his eyes widened. He spun and saw the bike accelerate, pointed toward the main entrance.
&nb
sp; He dove to the side just as the huge Harley burst through the double glass doors. Simon rolled away and came up with his gun pointed at the machine, searching for its rider.
“Don’t move asshole.”
Simon froze, his gun extended and pointing away from the voice. He relaxed his grip and a smile slowly formed.
“Let me guess. You’re the son of a bitch that was on that chopper, ain’tcha?”
“You’re smarter than you look.”
Simon could hear the glass under the man’s boots crackle as he carefully entered the lobby. He debated whether he could drop and spin fast enough to get the drop on him, but the thought quickly evaporated when the sounds of numerous booted feet approached the building.
“You’ll never get all of my boys.” Simon offered. “They’re smart enough to either ambush you or wait you out.”
Hatcher smiled as he reached around Simon’s shoulder and removed the pistol from his hand. “We don’t have to deal with them.” He pointed toward the main hospital building. “Inside there? That’s zombie central. They’ll take care of your boys for me.”
Simon felt a hand grab the back of his vest and roughly pull him toward the broken double doors. He watched as twenty or so men moved past him and take up position in the lobby.
He glanced toward the hallways and wondered where the hell his people were. He didn’t get to think it for very long before the first shots rang out in the darkness.
Hank listened as the doors were opened and slammed, people yelled at each other and he nearly jumped when it sounded like somebody drove a car through the front of the building. He glanced to the corner where Wally was. “What the hell is that?”
“Sounds like they’re bombing the place.”
Both men stiffened when the doorknob rattled. They heard a muffled thump as somebody threw themselves against the door. Hank pulled the hammer back on his pistol and leveled his aim.
“Let me show you how it’s done,” a voice stated from the hallway. The door exploded inward and a large man in biker leather stepped inside. Hank squeezed the trigger and Wally followed suit.
Caldera Book 4: Countdown To Oblivion Page 20
