“Fair enough. I’ll remember that when a T-rex attacks your half of the camp tonight,” Ric replied with a grin.
“We’ll see about that,” Callum muttered.
He peered over the edge of the boat as they crossed, still rubbing his foot. The water was deep green and tranquil, the current swift. He wondered what its cool depths hid until he remembered Paul’s story about the Spinosaurus attack.
With a shudder, he turned away from the river. He hadn’t known Brittany very well, but her loss was still a tragedy. Plus, the mere idea that a beast like the Spinosaurus could lurk in the surrounding water was enough to give him nightmares. Maybe the trip wasn’t such a good idea, after all. Though they needed the supplies, he’d be no good to Kat or their child if he was dead.
Yet, how could he hide behind the walls of Prime while others like Ric risked their lives? Being a leader meant doing whatever it took to keep the people under his care safe from harm. No matter how dangerous it was.
Once the boat reached the opposite side, he led the mule onto solid ground. O’ Neill followed with his roan, three more mules, and a wagon. Once unloaded, Callum beckoned to a couple of gunmen and soldiers who’d crossed with him. “Yer to stand guard on this side of the river, along with Ric’s men. If ye see something, sound the alarm. Nothing comes near these wagons or any of the wee beasties. Got it?”
“Yes, Sir!”
Leaving them behind, he crossed over on the next raft. O’ Neill and a couple of drivers loaded the rest of the animals. Goliath went last, and Callum took care to give the stallion plenty of space.
It was an uphill battle. Goliath snorted when they stepped onto the shaky boat. When it moved, he pulled back, refusing to take another step.
“Come on, boy. I know ye can do it,” Callum coaxed in a soothing voice.
Goliath tossed his head, his eyes rolling.
Callum tried the handkerchief trick again, but the horse would have none of it. Dancing backward, he fought every attempt to get him to move forward. His hooves clattered across the wooden deck, and his strident neighs spooked the other animals.
Soon, every driver had a fight on his or her hands as the rest of the mules and horses threatened to stampede. Ric’s bellowed curses in the background didn’t help much either, and the scene became chaotic.
Throwing his hands in the air, Callum glared at the horse. “Come on, ye silly beast. Ye have to go onto the boat. The roan did it, and he’s no braver than you.”
“Maybe that’s the ticket,” O’ Neill said.
“What do you mean?” Callum said with a quizzical look.
“Just wait right there. I have an idea,” O’ Neill said.
“Fine, but hurry. We haven’t got all day.”
Taking one of the smaller rafts, his second-in-command quickly crossed the river. Meanwhile, Callum stroked Goliath’s neck in a rhythmic pattern to calm him. “Tis alright. Tis nothing to be afraid of.”
The rest got their animals under control as well, and the ruckus died down. Still, Ric wasn’t happy and watched the entire fiasco with his arms akimbo. His smooth head and bulging muscles reminded Callum of an avenging Egyptian god, and he bit back a snort of laughter. All he needs is some eyeliner and a loincloth.
Finally, O’ Neill showed up again, leading his roan toward the edge of the water. “Hey, Goliath. Look who I’ve got!”
Goliath’s head lifted, and his ears pricked. His nostrils flared with anger when he spotted the roan, and he danced around with impatience.
“Try again, Sir!”
This time, Goliath allowed Callum to lead him onto the deck of the boat. There he stood with his legs splayed and his head hanging down. The poor thing looked miserable, but he was determined to get to the other side and resume his rightful spot as the king of his castle. “There, there. Tis a good boy. We’re almost to the other side.”
Suddenly, a loud bump sounded, and the boat dipped in the water. One cart rolled to the side, and its wheel slipped off the deck. Unbalanced, the entire craft listed sideways. With a terrified squeal, Goliath tore free from Callum’s grip and plunged into the water.
“Goliath, no!” Callum cried.
The horse landed with a splash and swam back the way they’d come. The scared animal had only one goal in mind. Home.
After a second’s hesitation, Callum jumped into the water and swam after the stallion. “Goliath, ye silly beastie. Come back!”
Pushing his body to the limits, he reached Goliath and grabbed onto the saddle. With a grunt, he hauled himself into the seat and clutched the reins. “Tis the way, silly beastie.”
With much pulling and kicking and pleading, he managed to turn the horse around. Together, they swam for the opposite bank. Callum tried not to think of the creature that had bumped the boat and caused Goliath to panic. Whatever it was, it had been big, and it probably had teeth. Please, don’t let it attack. Not my horse. Not Goliath.
The stallion could be difficult. He needed an experienced hand on the reins and had a volatile temper. Still, the animal was strong and brave. It had guts. The kind that let it run all day long and still have enough spirit left to defy its handlers. “Come on, boy. We can do this.”
With the bank mere feet away, Callum urged Goliath onward. They were almost there. Just a bit farther. The soldiers and drivers stood at the water’s edge, urging them on. Their cheers gave man and horse renewed vigor, and they reached the shallows within seconds.
Callum leaned forward to pat Goliath’s neck. “Ye’ve got heart. No doubt about it.”
Suddenly, the water exploded around them, and a reptilian creature snapped at Goliath with serrated teeth. The stallion reared, and Callum was thrown from the saddle. He landed in the shallows with a terrific splash, his mind in a daze. “Goliath!”
But the stallion was not about to become prey to some mystery creature. With a scream, Goliath lashed out at his attacker. His hooves connected with a dull thud, each blow hard enough to break a bone. Unable to face such a terrific onslaught, the snake-like creature retreated to the depths of the river. With a flash of its pale belly, it disappeared into the green depths. Within seconds, not a single sign of its passing remained, and a thick silence fell across the assembled men and animals.
It was O’ Neill who broke the stalemate. He dropped the roan’s reins and ran toward Callum. “Sir! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Callum said, picking himself out of the water with a muttered curse. “What about Goliath?”
“He seems unharmed, Sir,” O’ Neill said, checking out the stallion. He scooped up the reins and handed them to his commander. “What was that thing?”
“I don’t know. Tis a mystery,” Callum said, eyeing the river with caution. “The water holds many secrets.”
“Well, I sure hope it doesn’t come back,” O’ Neill said with a shudder.
“Me neither.”
Callum took a few moments to calm the spooked horse while the rest of the boats unloaded their cargo. “There’s a good boy. That’ll teach some nasty creature to mess with ye.”
Goliath nuzzled Callum’s collar and blew out a breath of warm air. Man and horse had a strong bond, and the stallion trusted Callum. It took little for balance to be restored once more.
Once all the wagons, supplies, animals, and soldiers were safe across the river, Ric approached. “I suggest we travel a couple of miles inland and make camp for the night. The crossing was difficult, and we need to be fresh for the rest of the journey.”
“Agreed,” Callum said with a brisk nod. “Let’s move out.”
Ric was right. Their mission was off to a rough start, and they didn’t need to push their luck. They needed to be at their best if they wished to survive whatever the prehistoric world threw at them. Failure was not an option. Not today, and not tomorrow.
Chapter 4 - Sandi
Sandi picked her way through the crowded hallway, careful not to step on any of the patients that lined the walls. The sound of hacking
coughs and soft cries filled the cramped space. It echoed through her head until she couldn’t focus on anything else. The Red Flux was everywhere, and there was no avoiding it.
People cried out for help, reaching out to her with beseeching hands, but she had no help to give. No remedy or cure. Nothing except a few pouches of dried herbs she’d gotten from an old medicine woman. Well, it worked for Kat. It eased her breathing and helped clear the phlegm from her lungs.
That knowledge gave Sandi renewed hope that she could save Kat’s life even without antibiotics. The thought of losing another friend, another loved one was too much. Especially after the recent loss of Brittany, her childhood friend.
At a swift pace, she made her way to Kat’s office. It took about an hour to work through the supply lists, allocating linen, protective clothing, cleaning supplies, and medicine to the correct departments.
With a clipboard in hand, she did the rounds in the infirmary and checked in on the staff. Most were overworked, which was nothing new. What bothered her more was the news that two nurses, an orderly, and a student doctor had gone down with the Red Flux.
“What do we do now?” Julia, one of the matrons, asked. “We’re short-staffed already.”
“I’m not sure. I’ll try to jimmy the schedule, but it’s getting harder every day,” Sandi said.
“I know what you mean,” Julia said, dragging a hand across her eyes.
“I’ll let you know what I figure out,” Sandi said.
Once the supplies were dispatched, she checked the remaining stock levels. The news wasn’t encouraging. They were running low on everything. A brief meeting with the head of maintenance wasn’t very encouraging either, and she wondered how they’d make it through the cold months.
Along the way, she ran into Paul. He looked as tired and harassed as the rest of them. Nobody in the entire hotel, heck the city, had slept well in days. There was simply too much work and not enough people to do it. Already, a tenth of the population had passed away due to the Red Flux, and the numbers were growing by the day.
Still, Paul managed to smile when he spotted her, and he planted a kiss on her cheek. “How’s my favorite girl in the entire world doing?”
“Busy, busy,” Sandi said, nodding at the clipboard. “I’m allocating supplies and counting the rest.”
“Let me guess. It’s not looking good,” Paul said with a grim look.
“No, it’s not.”
“I hope Callum and Ric return with full wagons,” Paul said.
“Yes, and I hope Rogue and Seth’s mission is a success,” Sandi added.
“Yeah, the uncertainty is killing me. I wonder every day how far they’ve gotten, or if they’ve made it to Vancouver yet.”
“I’m sure they did. It’s not that far,” Sandi said.
“Yes, but it’s a dangerous journey, and anything could happen.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Sandi said. “If anyone can make it, they can.”
Paul sighed and drew her into his arms. “I know. I just worry. They’re our friends, you know? And we already lost Brittany.”
“How can I forget?” Sandi said with a hitch in her throat. Losing her best friend had hit her hard, and not a day went by without something reminding her of it.
“I’m just glad we still have each other,” Paul said.
“Me too.” Sandi laid her head against Paul’s shoulder and closed her eyes. For a moment, the rest of the world faded away. It brought every sore muscle and tired bone in her body to the forefront, and she realized how exhausted she was. “Ugh. I’m beat.”
“What do you say we have an early night for a change?” Paul murmured against her hair.
“Sounds like heaven,” Sandi said. “But how?”
“We slip away and meet up back home for an early supper and a proper night’s sleep.”
Sandi groaned. “You sure know how to sweet talk a girl. That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
“So it’s a date?” Paul asked, leaning back to look at her.
“It’s a date,” Sandi agreed. “But right now, we have work to do.”
“Thanks for reminding me,” Paul said. He pressed a kiss to her lips, though it wasn’t quite the same with a mask on their faces. “See you later, sweetheart.”
“See you,” Sandi said, seeing him off.
Once Paul left, she checked her watch. It was getting late, and she needed to get a move on. After overseeing the last distribution of supplies, she met with a messenger from Patti.
“Patti and Moran wanted you to know that everything is holding steady. The Watch is keeping order, and the citizens are calm. For the moment, at least,” the youngster announced.
“Thanks,” Sandi said, eyeing the teen boy. He was typical of Prime. A product of the poor foster system and an upbringing on the streets. His eyes darted around, looking for victims, and she guessed he was a pickpocket by profession.
“The council is meeting tomorrow afternoon, and you are welcome to attend in Kat’s place,” the boy added.
“I’ll see if I can make it,” Sandi said.
“Is that a yes or a no?” he asked, rolling his eyes.
“It’s a maybe,” Sandi said.
“Fine. I’ll pass on the message,” the boy said as he turned away.
“Hold on,” Sandi said, and he stopped. “Empty your pockets.”
He threw her a sulky look. “Seriously?”
“Now,” she said, placing both hands on her hips.
With a sigh, he removed a bunch of stuff from his pockets and placed it on the table. “That’s it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Off with you then,” Sandi said. “And no more stealing.”
Once the kid was gone, she turned the pilfered items over to an orderly. “Can you get these to Lost and Found, please?”
Another look at her watch got her on the run. It was time for Kat’s next round of medication. There were a hundred and one other things that needed attention as well, but Kat took priority. I will not let anything happen to her or the baby.
Sandi hurried toward the kitchen and put a kettle of water on to boil. From a couple of pouches, she measured out a few pinches of dried herbs. She added the water and carried the bowl to Kat’s room on the upper floor of the hotel.
She entered after a soft knock on the door. The light inside was dim, and the curtains were drawn, but she knew her way around. “Kat, are you up?”
“Mm, sort of,” Kat mumbled from underneath her blankets.
“Ready for your next round of medicine?” Sandi asked.
“I’m really tired, actually.”
“I know, but you need to take your meds,” Sandi insisted.
“Slave driver,” Kat said with a low laugh, but she quickly broke down into a fit of coughing.
Sandi hurried over and lit the candle on the bedside table. As the golden glow filled the room, she gazed at her friend’s pale face. “Are you okay? You’re not getting worse, are you?”
“I’m alright,” Kat said once she’d caught her breath.
“Really? It sounded like you were hacking up a lung there.”
“It sure feels like it,” Kat said, still wheezing. “But I feel better, honestly. That stuff you’ve got over there is helping.”
“Then there’s no time to lose,” Sandi said, handing over the bowl of steaming liquid. “Get it while it’s hot.”
While Kat was busy medicating herself, Sandi set about tidying up the room. She made a mental note to bring up some clean linen and towels in the morning. It didn’t take long for her to notice the lack of empty plates or bowls, however. With a frown, she looked around. “When was the last time you ate?”
“I don’t know. I’m not hungry,” Kat said from underneath the cloth over her head.
“What happened to the soup I sent up?”
“I sent it back. I’m sure someone else needs it more than I do,” Kat said.
“No, they
don’t. You need it, Kat. You and the baby,” Sandi said, grinding her teeth with frustration. “You need to keep up your strength.”
“I’m sorry,” Kat said, lifting one corner of the cloth. She shot Sandi a guilty look. “I’ll eat it next time. Promise.”
“No, no more promises,” Sandi declared. “I’m fetching you something to eat right now.”
“That’s unnecessary,” Kat protested.
“No more excuses,” Sandi said. “I’m going and that’s final.”
“Sandi,” Kat said with a groan.
“You have to eat,” Sandi insisted. “Even if I have to pour it down your throat myself.”
“Fine,” Kat grumbled. “But don’t complain if I hurl all over you.”
“We’ll see about that,” Sandi said, marching toward the door. “When I get back, I expect to see you sitting over that bowl like the Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
“Haha, very funny,” Kat said, but she lowered her head once more.
Sandi left the room and hurried toward the kitchen. If she wanted to have that early night with Paul, she had to get a move on. She really looked forward to having a little alone time with him. The period they’d spent apart had been hard on them, and they were only now getting back on track again.
As she jogged down the stairs, Sandi heard an odd noise and paused. Cocking her head, she listened hard. It was impossible to ignore, a deep rumble that rapidly grew louder until it crescendoed in a high-pitched roar that passed overhead. What the hell?
She ducked down low and pressed her back to the wall. The vibrations traveled through the concrete and brick until her entire body shook like a leaf in the wind. Fear sizzled through her veins, and she pressed both hands to her ears.
As quickly as it began, it was over, and she rose on trembling legs. With her heart in her throat, she exited the stairwell and found the hospital in chaos. People ran around like headless chickens, and panic reigned supreme.
“What was that?” a young nurse called out, her eyes wide.
“That was a plane,” an older patient shouted from his spot on a mattress.
The Extinction Series | Book 7 | Primordial Earth 7 Page 3