Geostorm The Collapse: A Post Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (The Geostorm Series Book 3)

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Geostorm The Collapse: A Post Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (The Geostorm Series Book 3) Page 26

by Bobby Akart


  She pushed it behind her back and out of his view. “Is there anyone to lend them comfort? Anyone from the church?”

  “Are you volunteering?” he asked. “If so, I’ll get you a candy-striper uniform, but you’ll have to get rid of the gun.”

  Isabella closed her eyes slightly and scowled at the man. When she didn’t immediately say anything, he used the silence as an opportunity to be on his way. Isabella walked back into the central hub just as Chapman was finishing up at reception. A scuffle had broken out near the entrance as several people had forced their way past the police officers guarding the entrance to the emergency room. One of the officers used pepper spray on one of the men, causing everyone to begin coughing and wiping their eyes.

  Chapman put his arm around her waist and pointed toward the east wing, where they’d spoken with Dr. Rambo earlier. They made their way through several groups of people until they were alone.

  “I guess now we just wait.”

  Isabella frowned and shook her head. “I am thankful for the ambulance people and the doctor. So many are not receiving help. It is very sad.”

  Chapman looked down the corridor at the line of gurneys. Some of the patients could lift their heads to look around; others appeared to be asleep or dead.

  Shouting could be heard again near the admitting desk, so Chapman led Isabella deeper down the corridor. “We’re lucky. I hope I’ve made the right decision.”

  “You had to, Chapman. Unlike these people who have been left to die alone, your father has a chance.”

  Chapman’s face brightened. “You know what? It doesn’t have to be that way. Like you, I am very scientific minded and not religious, really. That said, I do believe in the power of prayer to comfort those who are ill and on their death beds.”

  “Oui. I am not a doctor, but I can give them hope and strength.”

  Chapman kissed her on the cheek and led her down the hallway. They stopped at the gurneys and spoke with any of the patients who were awake. They listened to their concerns and offered a prayer, which seemed to give them some peace.

  They allowed the patients who were asleep to continue resting. Chapman sighed. “The best thing for an illness is rest. However, as morbid as it seems, we should make sure they’re alive.”

  Isabella walked ahead as Chapman comforted an older man who was a homeless drunk. The man had served in the Middle East and was never able to get over the trauma of the horrors he’d witnessed. He had lived on the streets of Indianapolis, his hometown, until one day he was transported to a shelter in Fort Wayne. Now he was going through severe alcohol withdrawal.

  When he finished up with the veteran, he caught up to Isabella, who was standing over a man wearing camouflage clothing. She turned to Chapman and said, “He is asleep. He smells terrible, like death. But he is alive, just sleeping.”

  Chapman approached and suddenly stopped. He shook his head quickly and wiped his eyes. Then he approached the gurney to study the gaunt face of the man who was passed out.

  “Levi?” he asked, reaching for his brother’s hand. It was cold, so he rubbed it and squeezed it at the same time. “My god! It’s my brother. Isabella, this is Levi!”

  Chapman tried to shake his brother awake.

  Isabella immediately became concerned, as Levi didn’t respond to his brother’s touch. She reached across the gurney to press two fingers against his neck. Levi had a pulse, which immediately caused Isabella to smile and turn to Chapman.

  “I will be right—” she began until Levi suddenly responded.

  His eyes began to flutter and then slowly opened. “Chapman? Are we dead?”

  Chapman began laughing uncontrollably. “No, man. We’re not dead, but you smell like ass. Seriously, were you raised by wolves or something?”

  Levi managed a smile. “Yeah. I heard an angel. She’s French.”

  Chapman and Isabella began to cry as they held each other and then smothered Levi’s hairy cheeks with kisses.

  “She’s not an angel,” began Chapman.

  “Yes, I am an angel, mon ami. Just not that kind. It is very nice to meet you, Levi.”

  Levi began to cough and tried to roll over, but he grimaced in pain. “Damn, I feel like shit all over.”

  “We’re gonna try to take care of that,” said Chapman. “Damn, brother, it’s good to see you. Everyone’s been worried.”

  Levi held his arm up. “Where am I?”

  “A hospital in Fort Wayne,” Chapman replied. “Do you remember anything about how you got here?”

  “Nah, but thanks for coming to pick me up.”

  Chapman looked to Isabella, who shrugged. Now was not the time to concern his brother with their father’s illness. He wanted to focus on getting him treated.

  “No problem. We’re gonna find a quiet place to get you cleaned up and then see what can be done about the pain you’re havin’.”

  “Carly?” asked Levi.

  “She’s home with Mom and the kids. They’re all fine.”

  Levi craned his neck to look around the hallway. “Did Dad come with you? I’ve gotta tell him about—”

  Screams filled the hospital as the lights flickered and then went dark. The steady hum of equipment stopped. The fizzle of the fluorescents ended. The sound of the air handlers abruptly halted.

  And in an operating room directly above the Boone brothers, their father lay on a stainless-steel table with his gut splayed open and two surgeons holding his bowels in their hands.

  In complete darkness.

  THANK YOU FOR READING GEOSTORM: THE COLLAPSE!

  If you enjoyed it, I’d be grateful if you’d take a moment to write a short review (just a few words are needed) and post it on Amazon. Amazon uses complicated algorithms to determine what books are recommended to readers. Sales are, of course, a factor, but so are the quantities of reviews my books get. By taking a few seconds to leave a review, you help me out and also help new readers learn about my work.

  And before you go …

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  VISIT Amazon.com/BobbyAkart for more information on the Geostorm series, the Asteroid series, the Doomsday series, the Yellowstone series, the Lone Star series, the Pandemic series, the Blackout series, the Boston Brahmin series and the Prepping for Tomorrow series, totaling forty-plus novels, including over thirty Amazon #1 Bestsellers in forty-plus fiction and nonfiction genres.

  AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: GEOSTORM: THE FLOOD, book four in the Geostorm series.

  Copyright Information

  © 2019 Crown Publishers Inc. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Crown Publishers Inc.

  Table of Contents

  Dedications

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author, Bobby Akart

  Author’s Introduction to the Geostorm Series

  Real-World News Excerpts

  Epigraph

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

&nb
sp; Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Copyright Information

 

 

 


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