by David Rhodes
BLOOD TRAIL
Written In Stone Book 2
David Rhodes
www.severedpress.com
Copyright 2019 by David Rhodes
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to Linda for all of her encouragement.
Thanks to Tristy for her encouragement and some very good suggestions.
Thanks to Indiana University Professor, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, P. David Polly for meeting with me and providing some very important information.
And special thanks to my wife Sarah for all of her support and understanding.
CHAPTER ONE
THE MENU
Skate looked up slowly and met the eyes that were staring at him. He didn’t move. He didn’t want to let him know what he was thinking, what he was about to do. Then he took a slow breath and moved his hand down as he spread the cards on the table. “Three tens,” he said confidently. The others threw their cards down as he knew they would, but not Brownie. He got that look in his eyes and then he smiled, and Skate knew he had been suckered in again.
“Sorry, Skate,” Brownie laughed as he threw his cards down. “Full boat, three aces and two eights, Bud. Looks like I win again.”
As Brownie raked in the scattered dollars and candy bars, Hood slapped the table and complained, “That’s five hands in a row, Brownie. If we weren’t passing the deal, I’d think you were cheating.”
Brownie just laughed again and replied, “Actually Hoodie that’s eight in a row and about seventeen out of twenty. Sorry guys, I’m just on a lucky streak. You know you’ll get a chance to win it all back and probably will. But today, I am king of the cards.” He held up the deck as he riffed the cards and asked, “Another hand?”
Everyone was quiet for a second then Hood sniffed and said, “Yeah. Why not? What else are we going to do, and I need my money back to buy Christmas presents.”
TexMex shook his head and told everyone, “I don’t know amigos, I’ve lost too much money and I’m bored with this game. Brownie is too lucky today.”
Skate dropped his head and bit his lip as he thought, “amigos”? From the day they met he had decided that TexMex wasn’t as much Texas or Mexico as he liked to let on. But that was okay, none of them were what they wanted everyone to think they were. Brownie never talked about himself but sometimes when he drank too much it was obvious that he had been dodging someone, the law or a gang, before he was recruited. He had two tear drops tattooed at the corner of his right eye and though Skate knew the tattoo had different meanings, he never asked Brownie what they meant to him.
Brownie had also been a Walker the longest and sometimes his talk wasn’t about moving around and staying low, it was about the “bad old days”. He had seen a lot of people die when things first started, and he could describe every grisly and stomach-turning death in minute detail. That was good, it kept everyone from making mistakes. It had been over six months since a person died…so they joked about putting up a sign: 180 Days Without A Chomp.
Hood talked a lot about himself which made everyone else figure that he was lying. Some days he was from Louisiana and on others from somewhere in Maine. He had either been a car salesman, computer hacker or he was an out of work actor. Take your pick among those and another dozen possibilities. There was only one thing everyone agreed on about Hood, he always had money to lose, and it was always someone else’s.
Though he didn’t talk about death as much as Brownie did, he had seen a few. He seemed to take some pride in the fact that some of his modification suggestions for the shells and bubbles had been used. And he always told everyone before a Walk that this was his last one. At least he had been saying it for the three months that Skate and been on board. But it was just talk.
And Skate knew that no one actually knew that much about him either. Son of a wealthy businessman who was always working, he doubted if anyone on the outside was even concerned about his disappearance. It had been almost three years since he had just left. Of course, he had taken a lot of money when he disappeared, but he had wasted all of it. Then life got rough. But that didn’t seem to matter now that he was a Walker. They were tight and where else could you get the adrenaline rush they did?
So, if Brownie had his secrets, they all did. Were they all square pegs driven into the same round hole…or was it the other way around? It didn’t really matter, it was always the same; do your job, stay alive, get the rush, collect your money and then wait for the next call. It wasn’t too bad.
Of course, he hadn’t seen anyone die yet.
Skate watched closely as Hood dealt the cards but really didn’t know what to look for even if someone was cheating. As the last card settled in front of him he picked up his hand and almost shouted. Four jacks. He took a slow breath and did his best not to give away his hand. As he looked up Brownie was looking at him and asked, “How many?”
Skate was quiet for a moment then shook his head and replied, “Just one I guess.”
Everyone laughed as Hood threw him a card and Brownie said, “Never try for an inside straight, Skate, never.”
“Well, you got to try sometime don’t you?” Skate asked, and everyone just shook their heads.
As Skate started thinking about how he was going to bet the hand, Paycheck came over the intercom, “Alright guys, we’re almost ready. Start getting dressed and I’ll brief you in a minute. Let’s get this Rex bite then go home.”
Skate folded his cards as Brownie said, “Leave your cards where they are boys, when we get back something tells me I’m going to win again.”
“Maybe I got that straight,” Skate said. He smiled as everyone laughed loudly and Brownie slapped him on the back.
They quickly pulled on what Skate called their long underwear. Thin stretchy material that kept them a little cooler when the bubble went up and that was all that counted. As Skate stretched his underwear into place, TexMex snorted, “Hood, why don’t you lose some weight. The rest of us make this stuff look good, I mean we could be underwear models, but man you have one bad body.” Hood just snorted as everyone else said, “he’s right”.
It only took a second to slide the earpiece in which was all they needed for hearing and speaking. Worked on some type of bone vibration or conduction or something like that. Then the helmet with the cameras, the utility belt and finally the thick-soled hiking boots. There was only one more piece of equipment then, the DOPE. Skate was always amazed by it. The DOPE just looked like a piece of thin, clear plastic that was as wide as your back. It ran from the waist up to just above the neck. Its real name was Dorsal Protection Equipment, so of course it was called DOPE by everyone.
Skate looked around at Hood, Brownie and TexMex, and wondered what they were thinking about as they put on their DOPE. The Rex that was supposed to be out there? If they were coming back? Or how silly four men looked when the DOPE deployed, and it looked like they were hiding inside a piece of bubble gum?
Brownie started in on Hood again but before Hood could reply, Paycheck entered the room and asked, “Everybody doing okay?”
Everyone liked Paycheck and quickly answered “Yeah”. Brownie added, “I’m feeling lucky today, man, tell me this is going to be good.”
“Well, it’s good and bad.”
“How’s that?” Brownie asked. “Tell us the bad first.”
Paycheck quickly replied, “Well, like we told everyone earlier, there’s a big Rex out there floating in and out of tracking range. We haven’t had an attack by a Rex yet so we’re hoping it keeps coming this way. We did a drone check and it’s about two hundred yards away and if it starts to turn away we’re going to make some noise to lure it in. So, one of you is going to get chomped by a Rex. That’s got to be bad somehow.”
Everyone became silent as they s
lowly checked and then rechecked how tight the straps of their DOPE was. Paycheck looked from one to the other then said, “Guys, it will be okay. A Rex can’t get through your DOPE.”
“How big is it?” Hood asked.
“About sixteen feet tall, maybe forty feet or so long.”
TexMex whistled and said nervously, “That’s big, man, that’s big. Nothing smaller to warm up with?”
“Guys, it’s going to be okay. Really. We know its bite strength and your DOPE has it covered.”
“You left out the good part,” Hood told Paycheck.
“I talked with my brother and whoever takes the attack gets a bonus. We know it’s tough on you physically and mentally too. That’s good isn’t it?”
Brownie snapped his fingers and said, “Then let’s get this done. I’ve been lucky all day and I know it’s not going to stop now. Bring it on.”
Paycheck smiled and said, “Go get him,” and walked upstairs. Skate stuck some candy bars in his utility belt and as they started down the ramp that led to the outside Hood suddenly stopped and asked, “Wait a minute. Brownie. What did you win that last hand with?”
“Full house,” Brownie replied.
“I know that, but what were your cards?”
“Three aces and two eights.”
TexMex quietly said, “The dead man’s hand.”
Hood shook his head as he looked at Brownie and agreed, “Dead man’s hand, aces and eights. Brownie you need to stay inside.”
Brownie told them, “I see what’s going on. And let you take the bonus? Not today, Hoodie, not today.”
Hood shook his head and replied, “It’s on you. Dead man’s hand, that’s all I’m saying.”
Paycheck cut in through the earpiece, “Gentlemen, if you are finished discussing Wild Bill Hickok’s last card game, let’s move out. There’s a Rex out there waiting for lunch and one of you is on the menu.”
Hood laughed and replied, “You know, I like that. The Menu. Instead of Walkers call us ‘The Menu’ from now on.”
“We’ll get called something else if we don’t get out there,” TexMex said. “Come on, let’s go.”
As they continued down the ramp an opening appeared in the grey wall in front of them. Not a door or a gate, part of the wall just disappeared. Paycheck called the wall a curtain and it was the bubble that encased the Unit and kept them safe. It didn’t have to be grey though; it could be any color or even clear. It was just like a giant DOPE and just one more thing that Skate always marveled at. But he didn’t marvel much now, there was a Rex out there and it was getting closer. And they weren’t running away from it, they were going to walk right up to it and see which one of them took the bite.
Skate was always nervous just before they walked through the wall. He thought about the candy bars he was carrying for a second and realized he wasn’t hungry anymore. Then just before he stepped through the opening he paused and took a deep breath. He always thought about the first time three months ago, when he still couldn’t quite believe they were going to time travel and face off against dinosaurs. Didn’t take long before he found out it was true.
He could still see the teeth, the size of the mouth, how unbelievably fast it was. But it hadn’t gotten through the shell. The DOPE didn’t look like a bubble back then; it was more like a turtle shell. None of the ‘saurs had ever gotten through the turtle shell. Sure, there had been a few bumps and bruises but nothing he couldn’t live with. Plus, he had joined the club that day. The ‘I survived a dinosaur attack’ club. But still, he always worried. It was a small club and not a lot of members were still alive. Only four.
Brownie had all those stories about the beginning of the testing, when it really was “let’s just see what happens”. The turtle shells hadn’t stopped the teeth in the beginning. And when they got that part right, someone tried on an Ankylosaurus and that clubbed tail. The big ones were the problem. They couldn’t break through the shells with their strikes but anyone inside had their internal organs turned to jelly as the shock wave passed through them. And someone had been in a shell when one of the big ones with the long necks had laid down on top of him. Hood said it had weighed a hundred tons and there was nothing left of the shell or the guy that had been in it. Skate didn’t quite believe that, but you never knew.
That was a long time ago though, before he was hired. Everything worked the way it was supposed to now. No problems. Still, before stepping through the wall he paused, this was the moment that he always had to get past, that first step outside the safety of the Unit. Into the open and whatever lay in front of them. After all, it wasn’t if they got attacked, it was when. He got his breath under control and kept up with the others. He knew they paused at the wall too. He kept telling himself, “No problems”.
Well, there was one problem, the heat. As he walked outside it swept over him like lava was being poured on him. Today they were in a jungle and it was hot. Very hot. Or maybe it was the humidity. He was already sweating uncontrollably. Better than not sweating though, then you had to worry about heat stroke. And the DOPE was worse. They needed some airflow in the bubbles and he heard they were working on it, some type of ventilation or something, but the system wasn’t ready yet. But how would you do that without giving the ‘saurs something to get a good bite on? He decided he’d rather be hot and sweaty.
Paycheck came across loudly, “Okay, move forward and keep a look out. We’ll tell you when the Rex is close, but it might decide to come in fast. Remember, once you anchor down you’ll be okay, but if you are slow and it gets to you before you’re in the ground…well, we’ll need some new Walkers won’t we? Or a new Menu.” There was a short chuckle then the radio went silent as they fought their way through a tangle of giant leaves.
Skate thought it had to be worse than anything in Africa. He couldn’t see three feet in front of him. And sometimes the sound was deafening. Not roaring or growling from animals, it was the insects and the little chirps and yelps from all the smaller saurs that you couldn’t see. He liked to see them, at least he knew where they were and what they looked like then.
The only good part was he knew the area was being scanned and if there was anything close by, Paycheck would let them know. Nothing was going to ambush them. He paused for a second to look at a giant red flower and got caught on a thorn. By the time he pulled himself free the others were several yards ahead. Brownie was in front followed by TexMex and Hood.
Paycheck came over the radio and said, “Keep up with them, Skate. All of you, keep close. You’re almost to the target area.”
Of course, that set everyone loose. “Yeah, c’mon Skate, quit hanging back,” Hood said. “You have to earn your money here, not get it from Daddy. It’s not Christmas yet either.”
“It’s not Christmas anywhere around here,” TexMex chimed in as he swatted at the thick heavy leaves they were walking through. “And Santa couldn’t get through here.”
“Santa and his reindeer would all get eaten,” Brownie laughed nervously.
“Better them than us,” Hood cut in. “How much farther, Paycheck? Will it be Paradise this time?”
“You tell me,” Paycheck answered. “You’re there. Keep a sharp lookout.”
Skate guessed they had walked about a hundred feet from the Unit when they broke through some taller brush and short trees and moved into an open space. It wasn’t Paradise. In front of them was a small, dirty beach which was about as long as a football field and maybe one hundred feet wide. There was a dark forest surrounding it on three sides and everyone wondered which part the big Rex was in. And, if it liked to check the beach. That was probably where everything came to get a drink and Skate had seen enough wildlife specials to know what that meant.
Skate looked to his left at the water and wondered why any animal would come to this spot. It was just a little inlet off of a nice-looking lake, or was it an ocean, with blue water he could see farther down the beach. But the water here was black with dark brown swirls and was
covered in places with some type of greenish mossy looking stuff. The water was kept in constant shade by the long heavily leafed branches of some surrounding tall trees. There were insects flying and crawling everywhere and the whole place smelled bad, rotten. This was not where Skate would have come for a swim. It wasn’t Paradise.
Then Skate had a thought, why would the Rex or any other animal come here? If this was an ocean it was salt water and dinosaurs didn’t drink salt water. Then he paused and wondered if they did.
He looked up and the sky was blue and there were a few clouds floating slowly across it. He could have been back home but the Pteranodons flying overhead told him he wasn’t. Pteranodons, not Pterodactyls like they saw last time. And though there were birds, they didn’t look like the birds Skate was used to looking at.
Then Paycheck was back in their ears and he sounded excited, “I think our Rex is about to come through the trees, maybe a hundred feet to the right of you.”
“I got some movement in the trees right in front of me,” Brownie said excitedly a few seconds later and everyone immediately fanned out. You didn’t need to have anyone bumping into you while you were trying to set your DOPE. Skate looked down and made sure it was dirt or sand he was on. The DOPE would not drive into rock.
Then there it was and they all froze for a moment as it came out of the tree line. Each of them thought it was the biggest thing they had ever seen. “Look at the size of its head,” Hood said quietly. Skate thought it looked just like he imagined, mean and hungry.
No one moved, and the Rex didn’t pay any attention to them as it looked from side to side. Its mosaic patterned skin was mostly brown and tan but on both sides of its jaw and running down its back there was a red and green splotchy pattern. Slowly it started to turn back into the forest.
“Someone better move,” Paycheck called out and Brownie started running forward. The Rex spun around and took one step forward then stopped.