Omega Pathogen: Despair by J. G. Hicks Jr, Scarlett Algee Page A
Authors: J. G. Hicks Jr, Scarlett Algee
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dig.
Jim vomited the water, coffee, and the small amount of energy bar he’d consumed earlier. Jeremy took over for him and gagged several times until he had flung away his father’s vomit. Everyone but Judith took a turn; she had offered, but there were too many people that were half her age to lend a hand. Each time a shovel full of the mud was thrown away from the bumper, more oozed back in and covered the snatch hooks.
Chris and Jeremy were finally able to thread the thick chain they’d brought with them from Texas through the rings on the bumper. Most everyone was now covered with mud, but those two and Royce were the worst. Royce attached the hook from the tow truck’s cable to the chain to complete the preparation.
Royce had already positioned the semi directly behind the MRAP on the opposite side of the road, both pointed away from each other. Kathy volunteered to steer the MRAP while Royce controlled the tow truck.
Royce assisted everyone into the airboat while Kathy made sure the MRAP would start. All breathed a sigh of relief when its engine rumbled to life. Before he got in the airboat, Jeremy grabbed a couple of radios so Royce and Kathy could communicate more easily.
Everyone was directed to a safe distance away in case the tow cable snapped. Jim noticed his younger children had seen the dead lying about, and regretted not hiding them before he had went to the MRAP. Unfortunately, he realized, he couldn’t hide all of the death from them. As much as he wanted to shield them, it was nearly impossible.
Royce and Kathy did an expert job of extracting the MRAP. Royce pulled it backwards with the tow truck’s cable while Kathy maintained straight front tires and used enough of the MRAP’s four-wheel drive to keep up momentum.
Jim approached his mother once the recovery of the multi-ton armored vehicle was completed. “Will the Queen of Peace Catholic church be okay, Mom?” Jim asked. It was the closest Catholic Church he found on the map he had.
“I like that church. That’ll be a good place for him, Jimmy,” Judith said.
Jim touched his mother’s shoulder and turned to go speak with the rest of the family.
Their plan was decided: they’d head to Hank and Jen’s farm, take them up on their invitation to rest and resupply. They would be someplace safer while they considered their options. On the way to Yates’ farm in Chiefland, they would stop and have John’s burial at the church.
Royce decided he wasn’t going to leave his pickup. He hooked it up to the tow truck. Jim asked Chris or Jeremy to ride along with Royce; Jeremy spoke up and said he’d ride shotgun and collected some water, snacks and ammunition. “Thanks, Jeremy,” Jim said and enlisted Chris’ help to carry the homemade propane flamethrower that had been used to attack his family. Chris had no problem with the task but it took some effort for his father to help get it secured side of the MRAP. Chris and the others noticed. They had all been keeping a close eye on Jim; they could tell he was weak and uncoordinated.
Chapter 6
It was all Jim could do to keep upright while he took his turn digging his brother’s grave. He willed himself not to pass out and not to vomit during the exertion. After Judith prayed and said some parting words, Jim wanted to say something in remembrance and respect. He couldn’t think straight and when he began to speak, his words were slurred and his thoughts lost. One minute he’d been standing in the cooling early afternoon air near the grave, the next he was laying on the fold-down seats in the back of the MRAP as Linda drove it down the road.
When Jim would open his eye periodically, Arzu was there. She sat on the floor of the vehicle near his head. She’d smile when he’d open his eye, but even in his altered mental state, he could see the concern through the exhaustion on her face.
Jim awoke again and found he was lying in a bed. He heard the distant sounds of voices that
Jim vomited the water, coffee, and the small amount of energy bar he’d consumed earlier. Jeremy took over for him and gagged several times until he had flung away his father’s vomit. Everyone but Judith took a turn; she had offered, but there were too many people that were half her age to lend a hand. Each time a shovel full of the mud was thrown away from the bumper, more oozed back in and covered the snatch hooks.
Chris and Jeremy were finally able to thread the thick chain they’d brought with them from Texas through the rings on the bumper. Most everyone was now covered with mud, but those two and Royce were the worst. Royce attached the hook from the tow truck’s cable to the chain to complete the preparation.
Royce had already positioned the semi directly behind the MRAP on the opposite side of the road, both pointed away from each other. Kathy volunteered to steer the MRAP while Royce controlled the tow truck.
Royce assisted everyone into the airboat while Kathy made sure the MRAP would start. All breathed a sigh of relief when its engine rumbled to life. Before he got in the airboat, Jeremy grabbed a couple of radios so Royce and Kathy could communicate more easily.
Everyone was directed to a safe distance away in case the tow cable snapped. Jim noticed his younger children had seen the dead lying about, and regretted not hiding them before he had went to the MRAP. Unfortunately, he realized, he couldn’t hide all of the death from them. As much as he wanted to shield them, it was nearly impossible.
Royce and Kathy did an expert job of extracting the MRAP. Royce pulled it backwards with the tow truck’s cable while Kathy maintained straight front tires and used enough of the MRAP’s four-wheel drive to keep up momentum.
Jim approached his mother once the recovery of the multi-ton armored vehicle was completed. “Will the Queen of Peace Catholic church be okay, Mom?” Jim asked. It was the closest Catholic Church he found on the map he had.
“I like that church. That’ll be a good place for him, Jimmy,” Judith said.
Jim touched his mother’s shoulder and turned to go speak with the rest of the family.
Their plan was decided: they’d head to Hank and Jen’s farm, take them up on their invitation to rest and resupply. They would be someplace safer while they considered their options. On the way to Yates’ farm in Chiefland, they would stop and have John’s burial at the church.
Royce decided he wasn’t going to leave his pickup. He hooked it up to the tow truck. Jim asked Chris or Jeremy to ride along with Royce; Jeremy spoke up and said he’d ride shotgun and collected some water, snacks and ammunition. “Thanks, Jeremy,” Jim said and enlisted Chris’ help to carry the homemade propane flamethrower that had been used to attack his family. Chris had no problem with the task but it took some effort for his father to help get it secured side of the MRAP. Chris and the others noticed. They had all been keeping a close eye on Jim; they could tell he was weak and uncoordinated.
Chapter 6
It was all Jim could do to keep upright while he took his turn digging his brother’s grave. He willed himself not to pass out and not to vomit during the exertion. After Judith prayed and said some parting words, Jim wanted to say something in remembrance and respect. He couldn’t think straight and when he began to speak, his words were slurred and his thoughts lost. One minute he’d been standing in the cooling early afternoon air near the grave, the next he was laying on the fold-down seats in the back of the MRAP as Linda drove it down the road.
When Jim would open his eye periodically, Arzu was there. She sat on the floor of the vehicle near his head. She’d smile when he’d open his eye, but even in his altered mental state, he could see the concern through the exhaustion on her face.
Jim awoke again and found he was lying in a bed. He heard the distant sounds of voices that
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