Read Online V Plague (Book 11): Merciless by Dirk Patton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dirk Patton
Tags: Zombies
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the cargo area of the small, off-road vehicle, he added several jugs of water. Going into the back yard, he paused when Dog emitted a low growl. Igor followed his eyes and saw movement at the edge of the tree line. Thinking it was an infected, he drew his knife with a sigh and began to step forward. He froze in his tracks when an animal emerged from the forest.
It was a large cat. Mountain Lion, he believed the Americans called it. Very big and strong. At least 100 kilos. The animal stood fifty meters away and stared at the man and dog. It was a tawny color with a tuft of black fur at the tip of its long tail. Its eyes glowed yellow in the moonlight as it calmly observed them.
Halfway between them was the tree where Igor had hung the plastic bags of fresh venison from the deer he had killed earlier in the day. Had the big cat smelled the raw meat? Or was it just exploring territory that no longer teemed with humans?
Igor moved slowly, not wanting to startle the beast. Pulling the slung AKMS rifle around his body, he raised it to his shoulder and aimed at the intruder. He didn’t particularly want to kill it, but if it charged he would fire.
They remained frozen in place for several long moments. The man with the rifle, a dog standing close by his side, facing a silent terror of the night. Igor couldn’t help but chuckle when he realized that nothing had changed since the dawn of man. There were still monsters with long teeth and sharp claws roaming the dark forests.
Growing tired of waiting, Igor shifted aim slightly and fired two rounds into the ground next to the cat’s feet. Impossibly fast, the animal spun and disappeared into the trees. Igor blinked, surprised at how swiftly and silently it had vanished into the forest.
Keeping the rifle up and scanning the tree line, he moved to the base of the tree where the meat was secured. A small, red puddle was in the snow a few feet from its base. One of the bags must have leaked before the blood froze solid. That’s what had drawn the cat. Igor recognized how lucky he was to have made the trek home without being attacked by the animal.
Cutting the rope, the large collection of plastic bags dropped to the ground in front of him. Making another careful scan of the area, Igor grasped the rope and dragged the heavy bundle to the house. Dog stayed close as he moved, head turned to watch the forest, nose constantly twitching.
Igor breathed a sigh of relief when they were safely inside. Russia had its share of big cats in Siberia, and they sometimes ranged as far west as the Ural Mountains. He had encountered them occasionally when he was growing up. Wherever they lived, they were a top level predator. More than a match for a man or dog if caught by surprise.
Going through the packaged meat, Igor found the bag that had leaked the blood. The plastic zipper hadn’t been completely sealed. Pinching it tight, he hefted the now frozen meat onto his shoulder and carried it to the garage where he loaded it into the UTV. The garage was cold, only slightly warmer than outside, and the meat would stay frozen.
“We have food for our trip,” he said to Dog in Russian.
Dog’s tail thumped against the wall when Igor spoke to him. Getting an ear scratch, he led the way inside. They made the rounds, ensuring the house was secure, then both were in bed asleep five minutes later.
Igor rose early the next morning, darkness still blanketing the house. The temperature had plummeted during the night. As Igor moved about by the light of a small candle, his breath fogged in the frigid air.
“Up!” Igor shouted.
Dog was still on the bed, curled into a tight ball with his nose tucked under the fur on his tail. He watched Igor for a moment, then slowly stretched to his full length and yawned.
“You are getting soft,” Igor said, smiling.
Dog ignored him and jumped off the bed. He headed down the stairs as
It was a large cat. Mountain Lion, he believed the Americans called it. Very big and strong. At least 100 kilos. The animal stood fifty meters away and stared at the man and dog. It was a tawny color with a tuft of black fur at the tip of its long tail. Its eyes glowed yellow in the moonlight as it calmly observed them.
Halfway between them was the tree where Igor had hung the plastic bags of fresh venison from the deer he had killed earlier in the day. Had the big cat smelled the raw meat? Or was it just exploring territory that no longer teemed with humans?
Igor moved slowly, not wanting to startle the beast. Pulling the slung AKMS rifle around his body, he raised it to his shoulder and aimed at the intruder. He didn’t particularly want to kill it, but if it charged he would fire.
They remained frozen in place for several long moments. The man with the rifle, a dog standing close by his side, facing a silent terror of the night. Igor couldn’t help but chuckle when he realized that nothing had changed since the dawn of man. There were still monsters with long teeth and sharp claws roaming the dark forests.
Growing tired of waiting, Igor shifted aim slightly and fired two rounds into the ground next to the cat’s feet. Impossibly fast, the animal spun and disappeared into the trees. Igor blinked, surprised at how swiftly and silently it had vanished into the forest.
Keeping the rifle up and scanning the tree line, he moved to the base of the tree where the meat was secured. A small, red puddle was in the snow a few feet from its base. One of the bags must have leaked before the blood froze solid. That’s what had drawn the cat. Igor recognized how lucky he was to have made the trek home without being attacked by the animal.
Cutting the rope, the large collection of plastic bags dropped to the ground in front of him. Making another careful scan of the area, Igor grasped the rope and dragged the heavy bundle to the house. Dog stayed close as he moved, head turned to watch the forest, nose constantly twitching.
Igor breathed a sigh of relief when they were safely inside. Russia had its share of big cats in Siberia, and they sometimes ranged as far west as the Ural Mountains. He had encountered them occasionally when he was growing up. Wherever they lived, they were a top level predator. More than a match for a man or dog if caught by surprise.
Going through the packaged meat, Igor found the bag that had leaked the blood. The plastic zipper hadn’t been completely sealed. Pinching it tight, he hefted the now frozen meat onto his shoulder and carried it to the garage where he loaded it into the UTV. The garage was cold, only slightly warmer than outside, and the meat would stay frozen.
“We have food for our trip,” he said to Dog in Russian.
Dog’s tail thumped against the wall when Igor spoke to him. Getting an ear scratch, he led the way inside. They made the rounds, ensuring the house was secure, then both were in bed asleep five minutes later.
Igor rose early the next morning, darkness still blanketing the house. The temperature had plummeted during the night. As Igor moved about by the light of a small candle, his breath fogged in the frigid air.
“Up!” Igor shouted.
Dog was still on the bed, curled into a tight ball with his nose tucked under the fur on his tail. He watched Igor for a moment, then slowly stretched to his full length and yawned.
“You are getting soft,” Igor said, smiling.
Dog ignored him and jumped off the bed. He headed down the stairs as
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