Caldera Book 4Countdown To Oblivion
Heath Stallcup
Copyright © 2017 by Heath Stallcup
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Edited by Rob M. Miller
Cover by Jeffrey Kosh
Created with Vellum
To both of my girls.
You both love zombie stories and this is a different twist on the genre for you.
It may not be what you’re used to, but if the ‘zombie apocalypse’ ever really does come, it most likely will be some kind of rage virus versus the slow, shambling, walking dead.
Rule #1: Cardio…
Contents
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
Caldera The Series
About the Author
Also by Heath Stallcup
Also From DevilDog Press
Chapter 1
Hatcher leaned forward and took in the force ahead of them. “Fuck me…”
Hollis nodded slowly. “You can say that again.”
Hatcher groaned as he stared at the Zulus coming up the mountain toward them. “You have got to be shitting me.”
Hollis spun in his seat and eyed Hatcher. “Tell me there’s a way around them.”
Hatcher’s mind spun as he tried to remember the other trails in the area. “I…don’t know if they’re clear.”
Buck sat up and pointed to their left. “There’s a trail we can get through over there. It’s a long way around, but it was passable yesterday.”
Hatcher nodded. “Yeah, it takes you back past the lake, but once we’re past the fishing area there’s a dozen different ways back to the center.”
“We only need one.” Hollis grabbed his radio and announced the change in plans. All three Humvees suddenly turned and drove off the trail. The Zeds blocking their path seemed confused at first, then broke formation and began chasing the trio of trucks.
“If you don’t step on it, they’ll gain on us,” Hollis barked.
The driver tried to respond through clenched teeth. “The terrain is too rocky, sir.”
“Step on it!” Hollis reached for the radio again. “Fire up that .50. Change their minds about following us!”
The gun turret operator in the second Humvee did his best to hang on as the rear truck shot past on their right. He tried to target the lead runners, but the sights were everywhere. “Sir, I can’t get a bead on them.”
“Spray and pray, dammit!” Hollis’ voice sounded frantic over the radio. The turret operator began firing backward into the crowd and wasn’t surprised that most of his rounds went wild. The one round that hit barely scratched the Zed’s shoulder and didn’t slow him down.
“I thought if we missed, the wind off these things would knock ’em down,” the operator muttered.
His sergeant ordered, “Hold the chatter on the coms and keep shooting.”
The gunner stopped firing and keyed his coms again. “Sir, they’ve broken off the chase.”
Hatcher leaned out the window and groaned. “Son of a…if they keep on through that stand of trees, they’ll reach the lake before we do.” He turned to Hollis and shook his head. “They’ll intercept and have plenty of time to set up a gauntlet.”
“Stop!” Hollis barked. He turned in his seat and watched as the Zeds ran off at high speed to his right, not slowing as they hit the tree line. “Turn us around. Now!”
“What are you doing?” Hatcher asked, leaning up closer to the captain. “There’s probably more back on that hill.”
“We’ll run them down if they are. An army of Zeds I won’t mess with, but a small handful? Bugs on a windshield.”
The three Humvees bounced back to the original trail they were on, all the while the occupants watched the trees to ensure that the enraged cannibals didn’t double-back. As soon as they crested the hill, the occupants of the lead car breathed a sigh of relief. The trail was clear for as far as they could see.
Hollis turned to face Buck. “Are there any more clans between us and the Visitor Center?”
Buck shook his head. “I can’t know which clan that was. If it’s the group I’m thinking of, this is their turf. There shouldn’t be any more.”
Hollis visibly relaxed and sat back in the seat. “I’ll radio the chopper and let them know we’ll be late.”
“Are you sure they can’t just pick us up?” Hatcher asked, still looking behind him.
Hollis shook his head. “Terrain is too rough and the trees too close.”
Hatcher groaned and gripped the M4 tighter. He continued to stare out the windows and watch. The truck took a sharp curve and he snapped his head around to see where they were. He actually sighed with relief as he recognized the landmarks. “Should be just over that rise.”
The driver slowed again and paled. “Sir?”
Hollis turned his attention to the front and ground his teeth together. “Go through them!” He leaned out of the open window and leveled his 9mm at the Zeds hovering just outside the edge of the parking area. They turned when they heard the engine approaching and began running in different directions as it drew closer.
Hollis tracked one with his pistol, but didn’t pull the trigger. “Looks like they aren’t trying to stop us.”
Hatcher pointed to one of the creatures as it scrambled up a short embankment. “Is he carrying a rifle?”
Hollis squinted in the midday sun and followed the creature up the slope. “Looks like it.” He leaned back and gave Hatcher a wary look. “I could have sworn one of the Zeds that first blocked our path was carrying a rifle, too.”
Hatcher nodded. “I saw that, but…I just assumed he was using it as a club.”
Buck turned back to the pair. “What are the odds that two of them would carry rifles?”
Hollis gave him a look he understood. “You lived here with them. You ever see something like that before?”
Buck shook his head. “Not that
