Deadrise 2: Deadwar by Steven R. Gardner Read Free Book Online Page A

base?”
“Yes sir! Bravo Two is on their way right now.”
“Wilcox! Any more hostiles?”
“I don’t see any sir! We winged that last bastard. We should confirm the kill.”
“Negative.” Larsen snapped. “You stand guard while Law and I try to stabilize Potter."
“Yes sir!” Wilcox snapped back.
“Law! Get your ass over here and help me! Bring your first aid kit!” Larsen turned his attention back to Potter.
“G-Ghk-K-K-K-Ghyk-“ He was still trying to speak.
    “Stay quiet Potter! Stay quiet!” He continued to hold Potter down. Pvt. Law knelt beside him, a first aid kit in his hand. But there was little they could do for him except pack his wound until help arrived. After a few breaths he lapsed into unconsciousness, and for that Larsen was grateful.
    And that was how they held him until Bravo Two arrived, all four of them on quad off-road vehicles. Doc Norris rode with Pvt. Stuart Corbett, and Pvt. Evans quad pulled a small trailer to transport Potter. Norris went to work on his patient, aided by Pvt. Evans. The rest of the men gathered around the dead lions corpse.
    “A lion! Can you believe this shit?” Sgt. George Henry asked. He was the squad leader for Bravo Two. He was a short, muscular man with dark hair and missing one of his front teeth. The tone of his voice indicated the he could in fact not believe it, despite the dead carcass at his feet.
“It’s a female.” Wilcox said, prodding it with his combat boot.
“How the hell do you know?” demanded Pvt. Olaf Lake of Bravo Two.
“No mane. No balls.”
“What about the other one?” Sgt. Henry asked.
"Female." Wilcox answered. "We winged the cocksucker, but it made it into the trees over there.” he pointed.
    “Let’s go take a look.” Sgt. Henry said, looking to Lt. Larsen for approval. Larsen nodded his head, and most of the men sauntered off to search for the wounded lion.
    Larsen watched as Doc Norris and Pvt. Evans worked on Potter. Norris really wasn’t a Doctor, but they called him Doc because he had gained so much experience helping Dr. Reilly treat refugees as they arrived at Rainbow Lake, so much so that he could diagnose and treat injury and sickness, as well as prescribe medicine. They had packed the shoulder wound with coagulant powder and gauze then wrapped it tightly with pads of field bandages.
    Doc Norris rose to his feet. “If he’s not back at the hospital and on the operating table in a few minutes he isn’t going to make it.” As they busied strapping him to the portable stretcher and securing him to the trailer the rest of the men returned from the woods.
“Did you find it?” Larsen asked.
“No sir.” Cpl. Wilcox answered. “We spotted a blood trail, but there was no sign of the lion.”
“Ok he’s ready to travel.” Doc Norris said. “Try and take it easy Evans. Quick, but easy.”
    “I got you Doc.” Pvt. Evans started his ATV while the Doc hopped aboard, and they headed home for the Hospital. Sgt. Henry followed on his quad. The other two members of Bravo Two helped Larsen and his men round up their horses, and once they saddled up, they all headed back for home. As they did Larsen bowed his head and said a silent prayer for Pvt. Potter…
     

 
    CHAPTER 9
     
     
    Saturday, July 14, 2001
    Rainbow Lake, UT
    6:03 PM
     
     
    It was a tense group that stood in the lobby of the Hospitals surgical wing when Patty Marshall first entered… General Jenkins, Captain Clint Turner and Lt. Larsen. All Military, all worried about a fellow soldier who had gone down in the line of duty.
    “I heard about the attack.” She said.
    “I’m sure you did.” Jenkins said off handedly. Patty may have taken offense had his comment not rang of truth. News, and rumor and gossip spread around the Rainbow Lake community like a communicable disease. Patty, Matt and Susan all spent a considerable portion of their time quelling false rumors about massing hordes of zombies, or the return of Mordecai’s white cloaked