by Mark Tufo
“Mike Talbot, can you hear me? My name is General Burkhalter. Please do not open your entryway,” he said over his bullhorn. “Our scientists are afraid of any alien contamination and want to quarantine the lot of you before we debrief you and your fellow travelers. Is that understood?” I gave him the thumbs up through the front window.
“Great, we travel all the way back from Venus and we’re going to be stuck in a quarantined lab for who knows how long.” I was hot, I was sick of being confined by aliens and now by my own kind.
“We are going to seal the hatchway and then you will be allowed to exit into the rear of a transport van. Please make sure our ‘guest’ disembarks first.”
I understood the concern they had. And I sure didn’t want to be the person responsible for unleashing a new and improved version of the Black Plague. But I wanted to be far away from this whole party, hopefully holed up in some little dive with a couple or three cases of nice cold beer. But it was beginning to look like it wasn’t going to happen any time soon. Those tanks might look impressive but I was pretty sure they wouldn’t stand up to more than two or three blasts from the small arms I was carrying, much less what their fighter ships were capable of unleashing. And I knew without a doubt the mother ship knew exactly where we were. They could probably track the commander from his vital signs. Just like in all those Star Trek movies.
The commander left the ship on his own accord much to the gasps and horrified stares of the detail ordered to watch him. Even in full de-con suits I could tell from their body language they were shocked and scared of their new captive. Just think how I felt, boys, when I had to look at him when I was his captive. That was infinitely worse. One of the guards had to be replaced after he began to hyperventilate in his suit. Whether it was the heat in the suit or the sight of the commander I’m not sure.
“Get him out of there!” the general yelled over the bullhorn. “National Guard can’t even guard a prisoner right.” Although this was no ordinary prisoner the general had still hit the nail on the head. The mess that was Staff Sergeant Bruce Gardner was unceremoniously hauled away into another waiting van. We would have to wait our turn. Our getaway ship was sealed back up and the commander was taken to parts unknown.
“What’s going on?” one of the girls cried from the rear. “Why aren’t they letting us off the ship?”
“Don’t worry, Suzy.”
“Susan,” she said indignantly.
“Whatever.”
She crossed her arms.
“We need to be quarantined before they will let us out and then I’m sure they will want to debrief us to no end.”
“But I’m not contaminated. And I don’t know anything!” she whined in a high-pitched voice that suddenly made the commander’s grating laugh seem enjoyable.
“Of that I have no doubt, Suzy.” And luckily, she shut up. It took them a couple of hours to get another van rolling, they had not been prepared for a National Guard flip-out, and so had to start from scratch with a hermetically sealed van. We were all uncomfortable, tired and irritated when the replacement ride finally arrived. The negativity seemed to flow out the second the hatch was opened, but staring at those inhuman decon suits was still unsettling even though we knew they were inhabited by humans.
One suit stepped toward me.
“Welcome home, Mike,” the suit said, extending a rubber clad hand.
So ends book one in The Ravin series, coming soon - The Quarry!
Check out these other titles by Mark Tufo
Zombie Fallout
It was a flu season like no other. With fears of contracting the H1N1 virus running rampant through the country, people lined up in droves to try and obtain one of the coveted vaccines. What was not known, was the effect this largely untested, rushed to market, inoculation was to have on the unsuspecting throngs.
Within days, feverish folk throughout the country, convulsed, collapsed and died, only to be re-born. With a taste for brains, blood and bodies, these modern day zombies scoured the lands for their next meal. Overnight the country became a killing ground for the hordes of zombies that ravaged the land.
This is the story of Michael Talbot, his family and his friends. When disaster strikes, Mike a self-proclaimed survivalist, does his best to ensure the safety and security of those he cares for. Can brains beat brain eaters? It's a battle for survival, winner take all!
Zombie Fallout 2: A Plague Upon Your Family
Zombies have destroyed Little Turtle, the Talbot’s find themselves on the run from a ruthless enemy that will stop at nothing to end their lineage. Here are the journal entries of Michael Talbot, his wife Tracy, their three kids Nicole, Justin and Travis. With them are Brendon, Nicole's fiancée and Tommy previously a Wal-Mart door greeter who may be more than he seems. Together they struggle against a relentless enemy that has singled them out above all others. As they travel across the war-torn country side they soon learn that there are more than just zombies to be fearful of, with law and order a long distant memory some humans have decided to take any and all matters into their own hands. Can the Talbots come through unscathed or will they suffer the fate of so many countless millions before them. It's not just brains versus brain-eaters anymore. And the stakes may be higher than merely life and death with eternal souls on the line.
Zombie Fallout 3: The End…
Continues Michael Talbot's quest to be rid of the evil named Eliza that hunts him and his family across the country. As the world spirals even further down into the abyss of apocalypse one man struggles to keep those around him safe. Side by side Michael stands with his wife, their children, his friends and the wonder Bulldog Henry along with the Wal-Mart greeter Tommy who is infinitely more than he appears and whether he is leading them to salvation or death is only a measure of degrees.
As Justin continues to slip further into the abyss he receives help from an unexpected ally all of which leads up to the biggest battle thus far.
Dr. Hugh Mann – A Zombie Fallout Prequel 3.5
Dr Hugh Mann delves deeper into what caused the zombie invasion. Early in the 1900’s Dr. Mann discovers a parasite that brings man to the brink of an early extinction. Come along on the journey with Jonathan Talbot is bride to be Marissa and the occasional visitations from the boy with the incredible baklava. Could there be a cure somewhere here and what part does the blood locket play?
Zombie Fallout IV: The End…Has Come and Gone
The End…has come and gone. This is the new beginning, the new world order and it sucks. The end for humanity came the moment the U.S. government sent out the infected flu shots. My name is Michael Talbot and this is my journal. I’m writing this because no one’s tomorrow is guaranteed, and I have to leave something behind to those who may follow.
So continues Mike’s journey, will he give up all that he is in a desperate bid to save his family and friends? Eliza is coming, can anyone be prepared?
Zombie Fallout V: Alive In A Dead World
Michael Talbot has set up a plan to finally turn the tables on his bitter rival Eliza. Sick of being relentlessly hunted, Mike asks for volunteers in a pivotal move that could finally end their conflict. But like what always happens to the best laid plans, nothing goes as it was drawn up. Now they are once again struggling to survive and more than one will succumb to the evil that walks the world.
Indian Hill
This first story is about an ordinary boy, who grows up in relatively normal times to find himself thrust into an extra-ordinary position. Growing up in suburban Boston he enjoys the trials and tribulations that all adolescents go through. From the seemingly tyrannical mother, to girl problems to run-ins with the law. From there he escapes to college out in Colorado with his best friend, Paul, where they begin to forge new relationships with those around them. It is one girl in particular that has caught the eye of Michael and he alternately pines for her and then laments ever meeting her.
It is on their true ‘first’ date that things go strangely aske
w. Mike soon finds himself captive aboard an alien vessel, fighting for his very survival. The aliens have devised gladiator type games. The games are of two-fold importance for the aliens. One reason, being for the entertainment value, the other reason being that they want to see how combative humans are, what our weaknesses and strengths are.
Follow Mike as he battles for his life and Paul as he battles to try and keep main stream US safe.
Indian Hill II: Reckoning
After escaping from the alien vessel with their Supreme Commander, Michael Talbot is now given the opportunity to hide in obscurity with the rest of the human race or rise to the occasion and once again he finds himself immersed in a battle that he wants nothing to do with.
Mike goes home and while reconnecting with a family that believed him dead, he decides to join whatever resistance force can be mustered to repel the oncoming invasion. As the world of man gets thrust towards the abyss of extinction, two women in love with the same man make a desperate bid to travel across the country to unite with him. Will mankind fall or will the tiny hu-mans thwart a takeover? Only time and bloodshed will tell.
Indian Hill III: Conquest
The long awaited conclusion to man's very struggle to survive against overwhelming odds and an aggressive alien species hell-bent on enslaving the entire world.
Timothy
Timothy was not a good man in life being undead did little to improve his disposition. Find out what a man trapped in his own mind will do to survive when he wakes up to find himself a zombie controlled by a self-aware virus.
COMING SOON! - Part One in The Book of Riley series! - My Name is Riley
Follow the adventures of Riley an American Bulldog as she tries to keep her pack safe from a zombie invasion. Traveling with her are Ben-Ben the high strung Yorkie her favorite two-legger Jessie, Jessie's younger brother Zachary and Riley's arch-enemy Patches the Cat.
The Ravin
This is book one of the Indian Hill series in a more youth friendly version.
Coming Soon - The Prey! Book Two in the Youth Adventures of Michael Talbot.
Coming Soon! - The Spirit Clearing
Can love transcend even death?
