Read Online Orpheus: Homecoming (The Orpheus Trilogy Book 2) by Dan DeWitt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dan DeWitt
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everything. But you're going to have to work for it, first. Let's head up front and enjoy the view.”
Trager led the way. He casually motioned to Holt's requested transportation. “Those Jeeps are nice, but you're gonna love these mobile command centers. You have three. If you absolutely had to, you could organize the whole op from just one of them. They're heavy enough, and they retrofitted those stabilizer things. They won't break any speed records, but you could ride out a pretty big storm in one.”
“Perfect. How much?”
“Even though it's not our money, you don't want to know. Come on. There's a few people I want you to meet.”
Holt saw the camouflaged uniforms, approximately sixty strong, well before he made it to the bow of the ship. Most of the soldiers were leaning over the rail, staring out at the water. The few that were already looking in his direction straightened up as he approached. The movement rippled through the crowd until every set of eyes was upon him. Tino and German stared at him, possibly wondering if there was any residual resentment from the dustup at the gala.
Holt was about to introduce himself, when he was distracted by one particular group of soldiers, which included Ethan and Rachel.
Tim was the first to salute, but the others followed suit.
Trager leaned in and said, “I made some calls.”
O
“You're all idiots.”
Fish responded, “Yeah, but we're your idiots.”
“We weren't going to let you do this alone.”
“Lena,” Holt motioned around, “do I look alone?”
“You know what I mean.”
Despite himself, Holt nodded. “Thanks.”
“I barely had to ask any of them,” Trager said. “I get the feeling they were all just waiting for my call.”
“Imagine that.” They all leaned over the railing and wordlessly enjoyed the trip.
Some time later, Holt saw that they were approaching shore. He thought he could make out several human-sized shapes moving around near the water. He wasn't surprised. After nearly a year without fresh meat, the zombies were probably scattered all over the island. He was immediately all business.
He walked to the center, whistled, and said, “Showtime. Mount up.”
They walked to the vehicles. “Four to a Jeep, the rest in the command centers.” Holt climbed behind the wheel of one of the SUVs. He was joined by Ethan, Rachel, and Fish. Tim, Lena, Tino, and German climbed into another. Everyone else piled into the larger vehicles.
The ferry reached its destination and docked. The large door dropped and Holt wasted no time in leading the convoy off of the boat. He knew that this was a dangerous way to begin the mission, but they had no choice. The zombies noticed the Jeep right away and sprinted right for him. Holt had hoped that time would have torn the zombies down so that they were nothing more than shambling husks, but they could still apparently run a person down.
He gunned the engine and drew them away from the ferry. He was happy to see that no zombies came rushing out of the woods. They wouldn't even have to contend with the handful that were already there yet.
Orpheus kept the Jeep at a crawl and let the zombies come. They pawed ineffectively at the windows. He watched in the rearview mirror as the rest of the vehicles fell in behind him. His passengers were strangely calm. They'd all seen far worse than this.
Orpheus grabbed a handheld radio. “I want everyone to take a good look at these things as you pass them. You're going to be tempted to underestimate their tenacity. Your mind still wants to think they're human. You'll know differently soon enough. I don't want you to get comfortable here. I want you scared, because fear keeps you sharp. You need to be able to comprehend that these are dead people, and if you're not careful, you could end up just like them. Never, never, let your guard down.”
He paused to let it sink in. When he figured his point had been made, he guided the Jeep down the access road.
Trager led the way. He casually motioned to Holt's requested transportation. “Those Jeeps are nice, but you're gonna love these mobile command centers. You have three. If you absolutely had to, you could organize the whole op from just one of them. They're heavy enough, and they retrofitted those stabilizer things. They won't break any speed records, but you could ride out a pretty big storm in one.”
“Perfect. How much?”
“Even though it's not our money, you don't want to know. Come on. There's a few people I want you to meet.”
Holt saw the camouflaged uniforms, approximately sixty strong, well before he made it to the bow of the ship. Most of the soldiers were leaning over the rail, staring out at the water. The few that were already looking in his direction straightened up as he approached. The movement rippled through the crowd until every set of eyes was upon him. Tino and German stared at him, possibly wondering if there was any residual resentment from the dustup at the gala.
Holt was about to introduce himself, when he was distracted by one particular group of soldiers, which included Ethan and Rachel.
Tim was the first to salute, but the others followed suit.
Trager leaned in and said, “I made some calls.”
O
“You're all idiots.”
Fish responded, “Yeah, but we're your idiots.”
“We weren't going to let you do this alone.”
“Lena,” Holt motioned around, “do I look alone?”
“You know what I mean.”
Despite himself, Holt nodded. “Thanks.”
“I barely had to ask any of them,” Trager said. “I get the feeling they were all just waiting for my call.”
“Imagine that.” They all leaned over the railing and wordlessly enjoyed the trip.
Some time later, Holt saw that they were approaching shore. He thought he could make out several human-sized shapes moving around near the water. He wasn't surprised. After nearly a year without fresh meat, the zombies were probably scattered all over the island. He was immediately all business.
He walked to the center, whistled, and said, “Showtime. Mount up.”
They walked to the vehicles. “Four to a Jeep, the rest in the command centers.” Holt climbed behind the wheel of one of the SUVs. He was joined by Ethan, Rachel, and Fish. Tim, Lena, Tino, and German climbed into another. Everyone else piled into the larger vehicles.
The ferry reached its destination and docked. The large door dropped and Holt wasted no time in leading the convoy off of the boat. He knew that this was a dangerous way to begin the mission, but they had no choice. The zombies noticed the Jeep right away and sprinted right for him. Holt had hoped that time would have torn the zombies down so that they were nothing more than shambling husks, but they could still apparently run a person down.
He gunned the engine and drew them away from the ferry. He was happy to see that no zombies came rushing out of the woods. They wouldn't even have to contend with the handful that were already there yet.
Orpheus kept the Jeep at a crawl and let the zombies come. They pawed ineffectively at the windows. He watched in the rearview mirror as the rest of the vehicles fell in behind him. His passengers were strangely calm. They'd all seen far worse than this.
Orpheus grabbed a handheld radio. “I want everyone to take a good look at these things as you pass them. You're going to be tempted to underestimate their tenacity. Your mind still wants to think they're human. You'll know differently soon enough. I don't want you to get comfortable here. I want you scared, because fear keeps you sharp. You need to be able to comprehend that these are dead people, and if you're not careful, you could end up just like them. Never, never, let your guard down.”
He paused to let it sink in. When he figured his point had been made, he guided the Jeep down the access road.
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