“Sir, yes, sir. Army Green Beret out of—”
“Yes, particulars don’t concern me, captain.” Vickers tossed the folder across to Hollis. “We have a mission for you, if you’re up to it.”
Hollis gave the colonel a curious glance. “A mission, sir? I thought the laboratory protocols were our first priority?”
“This is part of it.” Vickers nodded to the file. “Didn’t LaRue say we needed the original virus? Unmutated?”
“Yes, sir, but I don’t—”
“Then we need this man to escort you and a team into the hot zone to collect that sample, captain.” Vickers gave him a knowing smile. “Again, if you think you are up to it.” He knew the young captain would snap at a chance to prove himself. Especially if he thought it would make him a ‘hero.’
“Sir, from what I understand, the hot zone is inside Yellowstone, correct?”
“You are correct.” Vickers leaned back in his chair and observed the young officer connect the dots.
“A small team and myself could be in and out in no time. Minimal casualties.”
“Negative, captain.” Vickers sat forward and stared hard at the man. “Yellowstone is ground zero and crawling with Zeds. I had top shelf spec op warriors on the ground there and they all were overrun by them. Your best chance of getting to the collection site and back out in one piece is that man right there.”
“He’s a civilian, sir.” Hollis was shaking his head as he thumbed through the redacted file.
“He was the lead Park Ranger for that area. He knows every game trail, mountain pass, mouse house, doghouse, outhouse, you name it, he knows it like the back of his hand.” Vickers stood and walked from behind his desk. “This one man not only was able to skirt every Zed on the mountain, he bypassed or snuck past every one of my men. He knows that park better than you know your own junk.”
Captain Hollis met the colonel’s eyes and nodded. “Very well, sir.”
“Your best chance for finding him would be to start with his hometown. He has a sister that still lives there.” Vickers caught himself. “Rather, she did still live there before the Zeds.”
“Very well, sir. I’ll get a team assembled and we’ll leave in the morning.”
“Good man.” Vickers clapped him on the shoulder. “Make sure you stay in radio contact at all times. Once you have Hatcher, stay outside the buffer zone to prevent contamination.”
“Affirmative, sir.” Hollis snapped the folder shut and stood at attention. “Anything else, sir?”
“Yes, there is.” Vickers turned a steely gaze on the man. “Do not fail.”
“Wally, you got my ride ready?” Hatcher tossed his pack at the ground beside the old military truck and looked up at the flat green monster inside the warehouse.
Denny Wallace slipped his head out from under the hood and nodded. “Just about. Just checking all of the fluids before you take her out.” He stepped down from the tall bumper and pulled the hood down with a reverberating clang, then hooked the side latches, locking the hood in place. “Remember, she’ll run on diesel, fuel oil, jet fuel, kerosene…just about anything so long as it’s clean.”
“And if it isn’t clean?” Jason asked as he fell in behind Hatcher.
Denny smiled and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Then you’ll clog the fuel filters and you won’t be going anywhere. Fast.”
Jason moaned, “Great.”
“Hey, kid, it beats walking the whole way.” Hatcher tossed his gear in the back and opened the door. “How many gallons of fuel do we have with us?”
Denny patted the metal jerry cans in the flatbed. “Ten five-gallon cans. I have no idea the mileage this thing gets, so try to go easy on it. I shoved a hand pump behind the seat, so if you have to siphon fuel you won’t have to suck on the hose or anything.”
“A prince among men.” Hatcher turned the key and waited for the yellow light to glow. Hitting the starter button, the big diesel engine roared to life. “Music to my ears.”
“And to those things out there.” Jason added as he held the door open for Bren. He climbed in after and slammed the door shut.
Henry Willis handed up two sawed off shotguns and a half-case of shells looted from the local sporting goods shop. “You’re going to attract a lot of attention.” He gave Hatcher a knowing look as he handed him spare magazines for his pistol and another box of ammunition. “Are you sure you don’t want an extra set of eyes for the trip?”
“Nope. We’ll move faster the fewer of us there are.” Hatcher pushed in the clutch and shoved the monster into gear. Nodding toward the large double doors, he announced, “Let’s do this.”
Henry motioned to Candy who pulled on one door while Wallace pulled on the other. Hatcher had the huge truck rolling toward the opening before daylight broke the seam. As he passed Candy, she yelled, “Good luck!”
Daniel’s face was tight with focus as he pushed the accelerator down and shifted through the gears. Jason sat nervously in the passenger seat, shotgun at the ready.
As the large truck rushed out into the dwindling light, Hatcher was surprised that the Zulus weren’t already on them. He pulled the lever bringing the lights on and instantly switched them to high beam. “I’m not seeing any company.”
Jason shook his head. “Me neither, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there.”
Bren pointed ahead, through the windshield. “There.”
Both men’s eyes followed her slender hand and saw three Zulus standing to the side of another building observing their departure. As soon as Hatcher turned for the main road, the three figures took off at a dead run on an intercept course. Hatcher couldn’t hear them over the roar of the engine, but seeing their mouths opening and closing, he was certain they were screaming for reinforcements.
Hatcher could feel the adrenaline begin to rush through his
