Hatcher couldn’t remember seeing Buck smile since they’d encountered each other, but he wore an ear to ear grin as he carried the box to the lead Humvee. “Technically, I think it’s a helicopter.”
Hollis rounded the front of the vehicle and waved at the pair. “We can’t raise them on the radio.” His face was a mix of emotions as he walked them to the back. “We’re heading back to the LZs and see if we can get their attention.”
Hatcher slid the boxes deeper into the rear of the truck and pulled the slant-back top shut. “They should be monitoring the same bands, shouldn’t they?”
Hollis gave him a look that confirmed his suspicion. “Which is why we’re going back.” He pulled Hatcher aside and lowered his voice. “If this craft isn’t friendly, we’re hitting the road. I know I told you we’d wait, but considering the attacks last night, I don’t think we can risk it.”
Hatcher glanced to Buck and nodded. “Agreed.”
“Load up! We’re moving out!” Hollis pulled the door open and hopped into the cab. He pulled the strap on his helmet snug and turned to the driver. “Don’t waste any time. We need to be at that LZ now!”
“Roger that, sir.”
Humvees aren’t built for speed, but they are built for rough terrain. The drivers pushed the vehicles for all they were worth while trying to stay on the goat paths that passed for roads.
Hollis pointed to the turn they needed and was about to state the obvious when his coms chirped. “Sir, we have the pilot. They’re headed to the primary LZ.”
“Thank god,” Hollis muttered. He keyed his coms. “Inform the pilot of what happened to the last chopper. Have him circle the LZ, and if he has the capability, he needs to run a thermal on the surrounding area before attempting to land.”
“He reports that the craft has a sonic generator, sir.”
Hollis raised a brow upon hearing that. “Those things tend to attract the Zeds. You might remind him of that since we still have to meet them and there’s no telling how many may be between us.”
“Copy that, sir.”
Hollis turned to Hatcher and Buck. “Looks like that craft is our ride, gentlemen. We’ve made contact with the pilots and we’ll be meeting them shortly.”
“You said something about attracting the zombies.” Buck glared suspiciously.
Hollis nodded. “They have a sonic generator onboard.” He tried to think of a simple way to explain the device. “It emits sound waves at a specific frequency that…tames the wild in the Zeds.”
Hatcher nodded. “I’ve seen one in action. It works. Makes them docile as a kitten.”
Buck shook his head. “Even cats can scratch.” He pulled his knife and held it tightly. “Forgive me if I don’t put all of my trust in some kind of miracle box.”
Hatcher patted his arm. “It’s alright, bud. If you feel safer holding that, you go right ahead.”
“Just keep it in a safe position.” Hollis barked as the Humvee bounced over a rut in the road. “I don’t want to try to explain to the medic how you stabbed me in the back because you insisted on holding that thing.”
Buck turned the blade so that it pointed back and away from Hollis, but refused to lighten his grip. “Don’t worry, captain. It isn’t for you.”
Savage watched the sunlight creep through the dirty windows of his RV and felt Stella stir beside him. She rolled over slightly and curled tighter to his body. He adjusted his arm and tucked her in closer.
The thoughts that raced through his mind refused to allow him to sleep. He kept seeing the ragers spin, their attention behind them as gunfire tore through the rear of their ranks.
Who could it have been that saved him? Some local do-gooder? A guardian angel? How did they even know that he was under attack? Were they watching? Him or the ragers?
He pulled his arm out from under Stella and slid from the mattress. He sat on the edge of the bed and stared out of the window. Nobody was up and around yet other than the few sentries that were assigned this shift.
He walked into the living room of the RV and pulled his riding clothes back on. He had some investigating to do and he wasn’t going to ask Simon for permission. Better to pretend you were sorry than to be told no.
He shut the door as quietly as he could and made his way across the campground. He could still smell the fires from the night before and there was a thin layer of smoke that seemed to hang on the still air.
He mounted his Harley and hit the ignition. The big V-twin engine roared to life and he kicked it into gear. Just as he was about to pull away, one of the sentries stepped into his path, a shotgun propped across his shoulder.
“Where you headed Savage?”
He eyed the man and for a moment thought about lying. Instead, he simply eased out on the clutch and let the bike lope forward. The man stepped back and tossed a hand out to brace against the handlebars.
“Hey, man, I’m not busting your chops. But you know Simon will ask. I gotta tell him something.” The look of despair in his eyes caused Savage to sigh.
“I’m going back to the ambush sight. I have a feeling I’m missing something.” He revved the engine and glared at the man.
The sentry nodded and stepped aside. “Be careful out there, man. Those things are vicious.”
Savage bit back the desire to shoot him a smart-assed remark. Instead, he goosed the bike and hopped the curb onto the pavement.
The feel of the wind in his hair was better than a hot cup of coffee. His head instantly cleared, and he felt vibrant again. He twisted the throttle and shot the motorcycle through the abandoned traffic, leaning into the curves
