Read Online Z-Minus (Book 4) by Perrin Briar - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Perrin Briar
Tags: Zombies
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said. “I’m an unthinking, unflinching monster! I must kill. The only possible way of stopping me is to-”
John pulled the trigger. There was a pop like pulling a stubborn cork from a bottle, followed by a solid thud as the paintball struck the back of the man’s head.
“Now you’re dead,” John said.
The man bent over and rubbed his head, as if the heat would help.
“Ow!” he said. “That hurt!”
“It was meant to,” John said.
“What kind of virus is this supposed to be?” Mark said.
The man scowled at John. He reached into his pocket and took out a card.
“Here,” he said, handing it to Mark. “You’re supposed to take this after killing me.”
Mark read the card out loud:
“Congratulations! You have killed an infected. If you or a member of your team were scratched, you/they are out of the game. Please send the infected person(s) to the drop off point. They will be brought back to base.”
Jacob threw up his hands.
“We barely even got started!” he said.
“Name of the game, I’m afraid,” the man said.
“What’s your name?” Mark said.
“Alf,” the man said. “Alfred.”
“Is there any way we can change your mind, Alf?” Mark said. “Convince you that you didn’t scratch my friend here?”
Alfred shook his head.
“Sorry, man,” he said. “No can do. The major warned us you would try something like this. He said not to give in. If we do, and he finds out, I won’t get paid.”
“How much are you paid?” Mark said.
“That’s private,” Alf said, pursing his lips.
“We’ll cover the cost, should anyone find out,” Mark said.
“We will?” John said.
“Yeah, we will?” Daoud said.
“Yes,” Mark said. “We will.”
John grumbled.
“What do you say?” Mark said to Alf. “We’re the little guy against the world. The underdog. Can’t you cut us a little slack this one time?”
“Look, guys,” Alf said, raising his hands. “I’ve got nothing but respect for you. Honestly. The way you defend our country. Wow. And the cool gear you guys have. Awesome. But I need this gig. It could be regular money. But hey, if you ever need a performer at your kid’s birthday party, just give me a call. I’ll make it up to you. I do the best Elvis impression you’ve ever heard. Your kids will go nuts.”
He opened his mouth in the shape of the famous crooner’s lip and drew a deep breath.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mark said. “Jacob, you’re out.”
“I’m out of the game already?” Jacob said.
“Afraid so,” Mark said.
“Can’t I come with you anyway?” Jacob said. “No one will know. And he barely even touched me.”
“You heard the rules,” Mark said.
“Oh, man,” Jacob said. “They’re gonna rip the piss out of me when I get back. Must be some kind of record, out of the game within half an hour!”
“It’ll prepare us for next time,” Mark said. “To be more vigilant.”
“Glad I could be of use,” Jacob said petulantly. “Fine. Good luck, guys. You take care of yourselves.”
He turned and headed back the way they had come, slapping Alf on the back and leading him away.
“And then there were three,” Daoud said.
John glared at Daoud and weighed the rifle in his hands as if he was seriously considering reducing their number to two.
Z-MINUS: 6 hours 57 minutes
Three men. One he couldn’t trust. Versus Major Edwards and God knew how many Special Forces teams, plus these ‘infected’ characters. There was being an underdog and there was being a dead dog. It would take a miracle to win. But Mark wouldn’t quit. It wasn’t in his nature. Frankly, he was grateful to have something distract him from Tabitha and Roach.
Mark pushed the foliage apart and peered at the road. A jeep sat across it, blocking it. A pair of armed guards stood before it. One was Eddie – the team leader they’d run into at Fort Bragg. The other man was one of his lackeys. Mark thought his name was Tex.
“Just the guy we want
John pulled the trigger. There was a pop like pulling a stubborn cork from a bottle, followed by a solid thud as the paintball struck the back of the man’s head.
“Now you’re dead,” John said.
The man bent over and rubbed his head, as if the heat would help.
“Ow!” he said. “That hurt!”
“It was meant to,” John said.
“What kind of virus is this supposed to be?” Mark said.
The man scowled at John. He reached into his pocket and took out a card.
“Here,” he said, handing it to Mark. “You’re supposed to take this after killing me.”
Mark read the card out loud:
“Congratulations! You have killed an infected. If you or a member of your team were scratched, you/they are out of the game. Please send the infected person(s) to the drop off point. They will be brought back to base.”
Jacob threw up his hands.
“We barely even got started!” he said.
“Name of the game, I’m afraid,” the man said.
“What’s your name?” Mark said.
“Alf,” the man said. “Alfred.”
“Is there any way we can change your mind, Alf?” Mark said. “Convince you that you didn’t scratch my friend here?”
Alfred shook his head.
“Sorry, man,” he said. “No can do. The major warned us you would try something like this. He said not to give in. If we do, and he finds out, I won’t get paid.”
“How much are you paid?” Mark said.
“That’s private,” Alf said, pursing his lips.
“We’ll cover the cost, should anyone find out,” Mark said.
“We will?” John said.
“Yeah, we will?” Daoud said.
“Yes,” Mark said. “We will.”
John grumbled.
“What do you say?” Mark said to Alf. “We’re the little guy against the world. The underdog. Can’t you cut us a little slack this one time?”
“Look, guys,” Alf said, raising his hands. “I’ve got nothing but respect for you. Honestly. The way you defend our country. Wow. And the cool gear you guys have. Awesome. But I need this gig. It could be regular money. But hey, if you ever need a performer at your kid’s birthday party, just give me a call. I’ll make it up to you. I do the best Elvis impression you’ve ever heard. Your kids will go nuts.”
He opened his mouth in the shape of the famous crooner’s lip and drew a deep breath.
“That won’t be necessary,” Mark said. “Jacob, you’re out.”
“I’m out of the game already?” Jacob said.
“Afraid so,” Mark said.
“Can’t I come with you anyway?” Jacob said. “No one will know. And he barely even touched me.”
“You heard the rules,” Mark said.
“Oh, man,” Jacob said. “They’re gonna rip the piss out of me when I get back. Must be some kind of record, out of the game within half an hour!”
“It’ll prepare us for next time,” Mark said. “To be more vigilant.”
“Glad I could be of use,” Jacob said petulantly. “Fine. Good luck, guys. You take care of yourselves.”
He turned and headed back the way they had come, slapping Alf on the back and leading him away.
“And then there were three,” Daoud said.
John glared at Daoud and weighed the rifle in his hands as if he was seriously considering reducing their number to two.
Z-MINUS: 6 hours 57 minutes
Three men. One he couldn’t trust. Versus Major Edwards and God knew how many Special Forces teams, plus these ‘infected’ characters. There was being an underdog and there was being a dead dog. It would take a miracle to win. But Mark wouldn’t quit. It wasn’t in his nature. Frankly, he was grateful to have something distract him from Tabitha and Roach.
Mark pushed the foliage apart and peered at the road. A jeep sat across it, blocking it. A pair of armed guards stood before it. One was Eddie – the team leader they’d run into at Fort Bragg. The other man was one of his lackeys. Mark thought his name was Tex.
“Just the guy we want
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