Caldera | Book 12 | Kingdom Come

by Stallcup, Heath

  “Copy that. We’ll have everything ready for you when you get here.” Rich lowered the radio and gave Hatcher a concerned look. “We’re about to have company. A LOT of company.”

  Andre twisted the knob and heard air hiss through the water pipes. “I never thought I’d miss a shower again after they restored the pumps at Fort Collins.” He sighed and closed the water valve.

  “You’re barely a day without a shower. You’ve lived through worse.” Carol stretched out on the bed and sighed. “I’m definitely not missing that couch in your office.”

  Andre wiped his face down with a wet-nap and trudged out of the bathroom. “What is it about sitting in a car for so long that it drains you?”

  “It’s like sitting at a doctor’s office. Your body is tense and once you can relax a little, your body takes it too far.” She grinned as she rolled to her side and tucked the pillow up under her head. “Take a load off and get a little rest.”

  Andre went to the window and peered out through the dirt covered glass. Satisfied that there were no immediate threats, he pulled the curtains closed and sat heavily on the edge of the bed. “I think it’s the fear of being hunted.” He pulled his shoes off and lay down next to her. “Just the idea that the military could be coming after us…”

  “Shh,” she shushed him. “Close your eyes and recharge your batteries.”

  Andre let out a low groan as he stretched out next to her and smiled as she snuggled up beside him. He draped an arm over her and sighed. “If it weren’t for being hunted, I could definitely get used to this.”

  “The next place we hang our hats, we’re definitely getting real beds.” Her voice softened as she slowly drifted to sleep.

  Andre closed his eyes and tried to push out the torrent of thought that raced through his brain. He tried to focus on the here and now. His girl curled up next to him. The silence and darkness of the room. The steady, rhythmic rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.

  He’d no sooner drifted off than he was awakened by the beating on the motel room door. He sat up, his eyes blinking in the near total darkness. “Who…what?”

  He rolled off the edge of the bed and opened the door. “It’s nearly sundown. The truck is fueled and ready to go.” Davis gave him a solemn look. “We need to put more miles between us and them.”

  Andre nodded. “Understood. We’ll be ready in five.” He shut the door and could barely see Carol sitting on the edge of the bed. “It’s time.”

  “I heard.” Her voice was soft and low in the eerie gloom of the room. “Too bad you didn’t tell him to give us thirty minutes,” she teased.

  He gave her a confused look then broke into a broad smile. “I could put in a special request.”

  “No sense in making the others wait.” She pulled her shoes on and stumbled into the bathroom. “I’ll meet you at the truck.”

  He finished dressing then opened the door of the motel room. He looked to the sky and noted that the sun was already sending red tendrils across the evening sky. “I have an uneasy feeling about this.”

  Veronica stood to the side while this new doctor looked down at Simon. “What happened?”

  “Penetrating abdominal injuries. Multiple stab wounds to the posterior and the anterior axillary.”

  Derek blew his breath out as he tried to think. “Renal penetration?”

  “Unclear.” Veronica felt her voice faltering and she had to sit down. “I’m pretty sure he’s bleeding internally.”

  Derek reached for the stack of blankets covering him and pulled them away. “His abdomen is distended.” He gave her a worried look. “How long has he been like this?”

  Veronica stared open mouthed, unable to respond. “I never…” She swallowed hard. “I was more concerned with maintaining his temperature. I didn’t think to—”

  “He got stuck a couple of days ago,” Hammer interrupted. “She’s been doing what she could with IVs and blood donors.”

  “Do we know his type?”

  “O-positive,” Veronica choked out.

  Derek felt around Simon’s midsection and shook his head. “We need to set up a surgical suite, stat.”

  Larry stuck his head into the RV. “My guy Rich says that Hatcher’s people have a trauma nurse and a surgical station standing by.”

  Derek stared at him for a moment. “How far?”

  “Rich says twenty to thirty minutes.”

  Derek nodded to Herman. “Let’s get moving. The sooner we get there, the better.”

  “Copy that.” Herman shooed Larry out the door and honked the horn for Hammer. “Let’s move it, old man. Time is money!”

  Hammer stepped away from Willie and extended a hand. “Count us in.” He climbed back aboard the RV and fell into the passenger seat. “I think I just bought us a more permanent residence.”

  “What do you mean?” Herman asked as he eased the big RV back into the middle of the road.

  “These folks are on their way to help a group of homesteaders. Apparently the cure didn’t stick with all of the infected and they’re facing a pretty big group of the fuckers.” Hammer shot Herman a brilliant smile. “In exchange for defending their borders, they’re offering homes.”

  Herman snorted. “Big deal, asshole. There are literally millions of homes out there sitting empty. Pick one.”

  Hammer smiled even broader. “Homes with hot and cold running water? And electricity?”

  Herman gave him a shocked look then shook his head. “They’re bullshitting you.”

  Hammer sat back in the chair and propped his shotgun across his lap. “I reckon we’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?”

  Lana stayed low as she observed the two groups interacting. Her mind played games with her as different people exited their vehicles and interacted with the newcomers. She waited anxiously, fully expecting all-out war to erupt at any moment.

  She chewed at her lower lip as the tension built in her mind, ready to boil over and cause blood to be spilt. She actually groaned with disbelief as the groups broke apart and meandered back to their vehicles.

  She cursed under her breath as they all started their engines and began driving off together. She kicked at an errant piece of trash and stood to her full height, watching as the two groups merged into one.

  “Son of a bitch. Not a single drop of blood spilt.”

  She leaned against the truck and growled low in her throat when a thought entered her dark, clouded mind. “I can fall in right behind them now.” She slowly began to smile. “Neither group would realize that I wasn’t with the other and…” She laughed to herself as she realized she would be hiding in plain sight.

  She nearly skipped around to the door of the truck and hopped into the driver’s seat. As she started the big V-8 engine, she hummed a little tune to herself then pulled closer, waiting to fall into the end of the line. She made sure that the pickups and motorcycles from the new group were between her and the caravan of survivors from the woods. She couldn’t risk any of Simon’s people recognizing Tony’s truck slipping into their little convoy.

  Jedidiah slept fitfully and jerked awake, his eyes straining in the gloom for any movement. He listened intently and could hear movement outside the office.

  He snatched his hat and jacket as he pulled open the door and stepped into the lobby of the movie theater. He could sense movement to his left and stepped closer to the counter as he slipped his coat on over his shoulders and tugged the lapels straight. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the gloom, but he was able to locate the source of the noise.

  Two of his soldiers had wandered from the theater and were rifling through the offerings behind the counter. They’d tossed the candy to the side and were struggling to reach the beef jerky when Jedidiah appeared at the entrance.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  The two froze in place and turned worried eyes to their fearless leader. Slowly they pulled their hands away from the cabinets and turned to face him.

&n
bsp; “You know that you’re not supposed to be out here.” He stood fully erect and squared his shoulders. “Do I need to make an example of you?”

  The two slowly crept back and away from him, edging closer to the side entrance of the theater. One kept his head down and his body facing Jedidiah as he reached behind and gripped the brass handles of the doors.

  Jedidiah watched as the two slipped back into the total darkness and heard the others react with their grunts and guttural growls. He sighed as he pulled his hat from his head and placed it deliberately on the glass countertop. He pinched his eyes shut and fought the urge to lose his temper.

  Couldn’t they understand that the Lord directed their every movement? He needed them to be hungry in order to fulfill His will.

  Jedidiah leaned against the counter and peered upward to the ornate ceiling. “Please, Lord. I’ll need your guiding hand and your influence if we’re to see your work done.”

  He scooped up his hat and marched back to the office, opting to leave the door open so that he could hear if any others decided to push their luck.

  He really didn’t want to have to start killing his soldiers to send a message to the others.

  10

  The line of headlights approaching the compound seemed to stretch for miles. Roger whistled low and elbowed Hatcher. “If they’re all here to help fight the infected, we might stand a chance.”

  “Don’t get too excited,” Rich mumbled. “Most of those lights are bikes with single riders.”

  “Every bit helps,” Hatcher muttered as he came to his feet and marched towards the gate.

  “What do we do, sir?” the sentry asked nervously. “There’s too many to do a thorough search.”

  Hatcher reached for the gate and unhooked the latch, pulling the gate open. “Wave them through!” He pulled the gate all the way open and stood to the side as the first of the RVs approached. “Roger! Wave them down the street and around the corner. We’ll find the injured man and get him to Vic!”

  Roger gave him a mock salute and began to walk backwards, waving the RVs forward. The second vehicle through the gate slowed to a stop and the driver leaned out. “Where’s your infirmary?”

  “You got the injured man?” Hatcher called.

  “In the back.”

  Hatcher waved him to the side to let the others pass by. “To your left. The second house from the corner.” He waved the RV in front of Vic’s place and stepped aside as she and Buck hurriedly pushed a wheeled gurney out to the open side door.

  “Can you move him?” Vic asked.

  “We shouldn’t, but we have to,” Derek answered. He appeared in the doorway and waved her back. “They have a stretcher of sorts.” He extended his hand. “I’m Derek.”

  “Vicky.” She tiptoed and peered past him. “What are his vitals?”

  “Pulse is weak, but we’ve started another IV. His belly is distended, and we think he’s bleeding internally.”

  “Have you checked his drain tube?” Vic asked.

  Derek blanched and glanced at Veronica, whose eyes widened. “I didn’t even think to…”

  “That’s fine. We’ll drain him inside.” Vic stepped aside as the two men set Simon gently down onto the gurney. “You two go and get scrubbed in. As soon as we’re all ready, we’ll get started.”

  Buck pushed the gurney away from the RV and the two men escorted the patient inside, assisting in lifting the gurney up the short steps and into the house. Vic caught him at the door. “I need you to get some volunteers. We’re going to need blood.”

  “What type?” Buck asked.

  “O-negative is universal—”

  “He’s O-positive,” Veronica said over her shoulder. “If you have anybody willing to donate, that would be great.”

  Vic nodded to Buck. “O-positive then. Whoever is willing.” She turned and rushed into the house. “Betadine scrub is over the sink. Poly sponges are in the cabinet to the right.” She pushed past the two doctors and grabbed surgical gowns. “Who’s the surgeon here?”

  Derek and Veronica looked at each other then turned to her. “You are?” Derek groaned.

  Vic paused and felt her shoulders slump. “I’m a trauma nurse. I’m not a surgeon.”

  “You are now.”

  The trio turned and Vic saw Stella standing in the doorway. “You saved my Mike.” She stepped forward with tears in her eyes and set her jaw. “If anybody can save someone, it’s you, Vicky.”

  Vic felt her chest swell and her heart break at the same time. “Why are you here, Stella?”

  “I’m O-positive. Buck said…” She swallowed hard. “I have to do something.”

  Vicky inhaled deeply then turned to the other two. “Neither of you have any experience with a scalpel?”

  Derek and Veronica both shook their heads. “I tried to stitch him up but…” Veronica’s voice cracked as she spoke.

  Vicky nodded nervously. “Fine. But you’re both assisting.” She snatched open the surgical gown and pulled it over her arms. Stella stepped forward and tied the gown behind her.

  “You got this, Vic.”

  Vicky tugged the cap over her hair and reached for the Betadine soap. “I hope you’re right.”

  Carol nearly jumped when Davis’s radio chirped. He slowed the big truck and reached for the handheld. He keyed the sequence into the unit and waited for the call.

  “Roadrunner, this is Sparrow, copy?”

  Davis keyed the radio. “Go ahead, Sparrow. Read you five by five.”

  “Know that the Eagle is not happy. If you are headed north, you need to push harder. Eagle has sent eyes to track, copy?”

  “Copy, Sparrow and thanks for the heads up.” Davis gripped the radio tighter then asked, “Are they aware of your assist?”

  “Negative, Roadrunner. All is clear here.” There was a short pause then the voice returned. “Be safe out there, LT.”

  “Roger than, Sparrow. Keep your head down and do not contact again unless the situation changes. Know that northbound is clear.”

  There was an obvious sign of relief in the voice when Sparrow came back. “Good to know, Roadrunner. We’ll maintain radio silence unless the situation warrants. Over and out.”

  “Does that mean what I think it means?” Andre asked.

  Davis tucked the radio away and gave him a quick smile. “Yes it does. They think we’re headed to Canada. The truck that we sent that direction will most likely be found and intercepted. By then, it will be too late for them to locate us.”

  Carol covered her mouth as she realized that the men in the northbound truck could face serious repercussions. “What will happen to them?”

  “To who?” Davis asked.

  “The people in the northbound truck.” She was afraid that she didn’t really want to know the answer.

  Davis took a deep breath and sighed. “I honestly don’t know. They can claim that they were given a direct and lawful order to drive the truck north to the Canadian border, and there’s the possibility that nothing can be done to them.”

  “Assuming that the rules haven’t changed,” Andre muttered. He turned to Davis. “But considering that the president and his lackeys aren’t stupid?”

  Davis shrugged. “Let’s just hope that they can cross the border before the truck is located.” He clenched his jaw and shook his head slowly. “Most likely they’ll use drones to track it down. Then they’ll have to send a chopper with soldiers to stop the truck and interrogate.”

  “Won’t they tell them where we went?” Carol asked.

  Davis shook his head. “I made sure that they didn’t know the direction we were headed.” He tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “They may try to rough them up a bit, but they’ll soon realize that we didn’t tell them so that they couldn’t be compromised.”

  Andre ground his teeth together. “This doesn’t feel right. We shouldn’t have allowed those men—”

  “Doc,” Davis interrupted. “Those men knew what we were facing. They k
new that the president wanted the virus used for military purposes.” He shot the man a stern look. “They didn’t want that to happen any more than we did.”

  “You’re saying they sacrificed themselves?” Carol asked, her voice barely a whisper.

  “I’m saying that they knew what they were volunteering for.” He gave her a knowing look. “They were willing participants. I couldn’t bring myself to order anybody to…” his voice trailed off.

  Andre stiffened and pulled Carol tighter. “Then we need to ensure that we truly escape their grasp.” He gave her a grim smile. “So that their sacrifice isn’t made in vain.”

  Carol sat back and leaned her head against his shoulder. As much as she relished the idea of being free, she didn’t want to consider the actual cost.

  Lana pulled the truck through the gates and ground her teeth as she saw all the people milling about. This was supposed to have been hers and Simon’s home. Their own little slice of heaven after hell on earth. And now these assholes had gone and turned it into a community?

  She drove around the block and pulled past the parked RVs and line of motorcycles. She drove almost to the opposite gate and pulled the truck into one of the only driveways that didn’t have lights on inside.

  She shut off the engine and slid from the cab, her body protesting at the aches caused by tension. She walked to the front of the truck, ensuring that the vehicle stayed between her and any passerby that might want to take a peek.

  She sat on the stoop of the grand house and pulled the ball cap from her head. She scratched absently at the hairs growing back on her scalp and tried to think.

  “What would Simon do if he were still alive and kicking?” She flipped the ball cap around in her hands as her mind tried to imagine numerous scenarios. “It’s not like any of these assholes actually knows me.” She scoffed, “Except for the assholes from the mountain.” She groaned as she fell back onto the porch and stared up at the large house.