Dead Six

DEAD

SIX

Larry Correia

& Mike Kupari

Books

by Larry Correia

Monster Hunter International

Monster Hunter Vendetta

Monster Hunter Alpha

The Grimnoir Chronicles

Hard Magic

Spellbound

DEAD SIX

Acknowledgements

Far more people help in the creation of a novel than just the authors. The story that would become DEAD SIX began as an online serial at www.thehighroad.org titled Welcome Back, Mr. Nightcrawler. Thank you to the good folks of THR for letting us play in their yard. We would like to thank Chris Byrne and the Gun Counter for fixing the “computer situation.” Their generosity is much appreciated. Special thanks go to Marcus Custer for his technical/tactical advice, he’s like having your own personal Jack Bauer, only without all the yelling and whispering. John Shirley helped out big time on knives as did Ogre Rettinger on information security and Jeff More on the border. Once again, Reader Force Alpha rode to the rescue with their proofing, critiques, and vast stores of useful knowledge. Thank you all.

DEAD SIX

“And by thy sword shalt thou live . . .”

Genesis 27:40

Prologue: Cold Open

VALENTINE

Sierra Vista Resort Hotel

Cancun, Quintana Roo

Southern Mexico

February 17

There was an angel standing over me when I opened my eyes. She was speaking but I could barely hear her. Every sound was muffled, as if I were underwater, except for the rapid pounding of my heart. Am I dreaming? Am I dead?

“On your feet, damn it!” the angel said as she grabbed my load-bearing vest and hauled me from my seat. My head was swimming, and every bone in my body ached. I wasn’t sure where I was at first, but reality quickly came screaming back to me. We were still in the chopper. We’d crashed. The angel was pulling me toward the door. “Can you walk? Come on.”

“Wait,” I protested, steadying myself against the hull. “The others.” I turned to where my teammates were sitting. Several of them were still strapped into their seats, but they weren’t moving. Dim light poured through a gaping hole in the hull. Smoke and dust moved in the light, but behind that there was blood everywhere. My heart dropped into my stomach. I’d worked with these men for years.

“They’re dead, bro,” Tailor said, suddenly appearing in the door frame. At least one of my friends had made