The Hunt Chronicles (Book 2): Revelation (34 page)
“Please, Captain. I know I’m old. I know I’m not the best with a gun. But I feel this is right for me to do. Like maybe I am supposed to go.”
“Are you telling us God is telling you to go, Preacher?” Dobson sneered. “Trust me, God isn’t listening or talking to anyone anymore.”
Preacher smiled. “God talks in ways some people do not understand. I do not think it is chance that you, Major, found Doctor Tripp and ended up here in our camp. Here, with the only known person to be immune from this scourge.”
Doctor Tripp chuckled. “It’s not a scourge or God’s wrath, Preacher. The M Virus is man-made and Christian here is a medical anomaly. There are no miracles here.”
A slight smile appeared on Preacher’s face as shadows danced across his dark face. “I spent over twenty years creating miracles. Just because science can now explain them, doesn’t make them any less miraculous.”
“Religious debate aside,” Fish interjected, “it’s not a bad idea to bring an engineer. Who knows what we’ll need while we’re out there. Besides,” he smirked, “we could all use a little faith.”
“Okay, fine. Preacher, you’re in,” Campbell stated. “Anyone else?”
Enrique stood up. “I owe Christian my life. I go.”
I smiled at him. Enrique returned a weak grin and took a seat.
“You ain’t leavin’ me out,” Jenna laughed. “Most of you can’t shoot for shit.”
“Or hunt,” Kolin laughed.
“Jenna, Enrique, and Preacher,” Campbell rang out. “Is that it?”
“I guess I’ll go, too,” Daniel said sourly.
That surprised me. Daniel wasn’t always the bravest of men and he was the last person I expected to volunteer.
Campbell nodded, and waited to see if anyone else was going to speak up.
I overheard DJ say something sharp to his wife. She was gripping his hand as he stood and pulled away.
“I’m going,” he said hoarsely, and then began to march off.
Campbell held up his hand. “DJ?”
The big man turned around. “I’m going, Captain.” He spun back around and headed toward his camper. His wife, teary eyed, got up and followed him.
Silence encompassed the group for a moment.
“Looks like we have our team,” Dobson said, breaking the peace.
“I guess so,” Campbell agreed dryly.
“Why would DJ go?” I whispered to Fish as the gathering broke up.
Fish winced as he stood. “I don’t know.”
“He can’t leave his wife and kid here,” I said.
Fish didn’t respond. He turned and limped back to the shack.
Everyone else that volunteered was only leaving safety behind, but DJ was talking about leaving his family. That didn’t make sense to me. I wondered why he would risk his life to save me. I had to know his reasoning.
I waited a couple of hours before I made my own way over to DJ’s RV. He was sitting outside, staring off into the night.
“DJ,” I whispered as I approached.
He glared up at me and then turned back to the stars. “What is it, Christian?”
“You can’t go,” I stated. “You can’t leave your family for me.”
“You think I’m going for you?” he scoffed, turning to face me.
“Why else…” I trailed off.
“You heard that Doctor. This virus could mutate. Dobson said there was little chance of anyone returning with the cure.” He shook his head. “I’m going to make sure that cure gets back here to my family.”
I stood in silence, realizing that it wasn’t just about me. I hadn’t considered what it would take to get the vaccine back to Camp Holly… back to my friends.
I left DJ to himself.
***
Preparations for both the trip and for Camp Holly took a little longer than projected, but by the beginning of August, we were ready to leave.
Doctor Tripp was not only able to get the equipment she needed, but a vehicle specifically designed for medical testing as well. A group of runners was able to procure a CDC mobile lab from one of the FEMA camps that had been set up at a nearby school during the onset of the outbreak. The short bus-like vehicle had to be reinforced for the journey, but it was just what the doctor needed to begin running some preliminary tests. DJ and Preacher spent a week adding a shovel on the front frame of the bus, covering the wheel wells, and welding other defensive armaments around the windows and doors.
Big Red and Fish’s Ford F350 were going to be our other two vehicles. The Police APC we had dubbed Vader would stay at Camp Holly for their security.
Camp Holly, though, would not need to make that many more runs. The new runners had scavenged so much equipment and supplies over the past five weeks that there was little reason to risk going back into the death trap that Melbourne had become. During those runs, we had acquired twenty-eight more survivors, bolstering Camp Holly’s residency to over one hundred people.
A second HAM radio was installed into Big Red. This would allow us to not only communicate with Hoover Dam and any other potential allies along the way, but also let us keep tabs on Camp Holly. That was mostly DJ’s idea, though Campbell supported it wholeheartedly.
The night before we left, Karina, Fish and I were in our shack, packing the last of our gear.
“Why can’t I go,” Karina asked sadly as she loaded my clothes into a duffle bag.
I was attaching a silencer that DJ constructed for my AR-15. Karina had asked that question for at least the tenth time in the past hour. I paused and was about to respond when Fish beat me to the punch.
“I told you, your voice attracts zombies,” he grumbled as he packed a duffle bag with clothes.
“No it doesn’t!” she shot back.
I sighed, scratching my left arm. Rich had removed the cast earlier that day, and it was awkward not having the extra weight.
“Karina, you know this is going to be a rough trip. After everything we’ve been through...” I hesitated, not wanting to remember the friends I had lost. “I just couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to you.”
“I can take care of myself. I did fine on the run I went on last week. Heck, I did better than most of the greenies,” she claimed. And from what I heard, she did. Major Dobson was on that run and said he was impressed. She had put down seven zombies, only missing with her MP5 once.
“We’re not bringing a kid with us, and that’s final,” Fish grumbled. He winced as he lifted a small ammo crate. His shoulder wasn’t fully healed, but he no longer needed a cane and had even gone on two runs that very week.
Karina put her hands on her hips. “What if I decide to come anyways?”
Fish chuckled. “Then I’ll handcuff you to the latrine.”
“Then, when I get free, I’ll steal a car and follow you,” she persisted.
“Karina…” I said sympathetically.
“No, I’m serious, Christian. You’re the only family I have left. Do you remember what Chad and Gonzales said months ago? There are no more kids. I’m not a kid.” Tears started to fall from the teenager’s eyes. She quickly wiped them away in defiance.
I glanced up at Fish. His face softened as he considered the young girl. Fish’s eyes shifted to me and he gave a shrug.
Karina had used the word family. She was right. We were a family and I think Fish let that word hit home within his tormented soul.
I gave Fish a nod.
Fish returned the gesture and glared back at Karina. “Alright, I tell you what. If I can get the Major to buy it, you can go.”
“Really?” she asked, ecstatic.
“Really,” he said with a smirk.
Karina ran over and hugged Fish as hard as her skinny arms would allow. Fish pushed her off in agitation and embarrassment.
“Get off me, runt.”
Karina fell against his bed and giggled.
A scratch at the door told me Boomer was there and ready to come inside. I let him in and he hopped on my bed.
I scanned the small room and a sense of easiness washed over me. This was my family. Karina, Fish and Boomer were all I had. I did feel close with most of the others that were going to embark on the journey, but these three were the ones at my core.
The next morning, everyone gathered in the motor pool to bid us farewell.
It was hard watching DJ say goodbye to his wife and son. They embraced each other for a long time while the rest of us loaded up the three vehicles with the rest of our gear and supplies.
Jenna hopped into the driver’s seat of the F350 with Enrique and Daniel as passengers. That was our scout vehicle.
Campbell drove the CDC bus with Major Dobson, Preacher, and Doctor Tripp.
Big Red was still the most formidable vehicle, and Major Dobson wanted me as secure as possible. DJ drove the fire truck with me, Fish, Pitman, Boomer, and finally, Karina as passengers.
Dobson wasn’t too keen on the teenager joining us, but Fish said that if he had to backtrack to rescue her because she decided to follow us, he would hold the Major accountable.
In the end, Dobson agreed, but said he wasn’t responsible for her safety.
Karina and I sat on the back of Big Red and waved goodbye to our friends. The massive fire truck, its large fire-suppression tank now full of biodiesel, rocked as we climbed onto Route 192 and turned west toward the unknown.
Epilogue
Now you know how everything started. If I would have told my friends I was immune earlier, maybe so many people wouldn’t have died. Specifically, I think of Chuck and Gonzales. Both of them literally sacrificed themselves so that I and others could live. That is what a true hero is, not a kid, who by some random chance, is immune to the M Virus.
I was lucky today. A large raven landed in the windowsill of the office. I was able to trap it with a curtain and voila, real food. It doesn’t change my water situation though, and I’ve had to resort to some rather sordid means for the time being.
So much happened on the long trip to the Hoover Dam. The horrors I witnessed in Melbourne, Florida pale in comparison to our encounters on the road.
I will write more tomorrow. Night is approaching and I feel weak and tired. The zombies below are still there but they seem to have calmed some. Maybe they will start to disperse after the sun goes down.
One could only hope.
Christian Hunt
About the Author
J.D. Demers
J.D. Demers served in the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst for five years. After he was honorably separated from service, he continued to serve his country as a civilian Department of Defense Contractor for another seven years. Since then, he has returned to his hometown in the State of Florida.
J.D. Demers has been writing since he was in High School. His interests mostly gear him toward Science Fiction, though he does enjoy Politics, International Affairs, and History.
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Other books in The Hunt Chronicles Series
COMING SOON!
The Hunt Chronicles: Volume 3
CRUSADE