Hamsikker 2 by Russ Watts Read Free Book Online Page B

traction. The truck was heavy, loaded with supplies, and it gradually began to move slower. Jonas watched as two zombies fell under it, and their bodies helped the rear wheels gain some grip. It lurched forward, and Erik dropped more right in front of Quinn. The dark sky above opened up, and lightning coursed through the clouds again, illuminating the golf course fully. Jonas saw Quinn heading for the TV tower, but he also saw what lay beyond. Further down the fairway, to the south, another stretch of fence had gone down. It might have been the storm, the winds, or even the sheer weight of the dead pressed against it, but whatever had caused it to collapse was irrelevant. The golf course was covered in zombies. Hundreds of them were scattered over it, all walking or running to the sound of the gunfire. Jonas thought there could be a hundred or more. Their numbers were insurmountable, and he knew they had to go. They could fight them back, try and repel them, but eventually they would run out of ammo, and then they would be reduced to fighting by hand. It was too dangerous to stand and fight. The golf course was lost. They had been so close, and now it was gone.
    “Erik, we have to go,” shouted Jonas as he killed a zombie, whirling his axe around him like a baton. As the dead body fell at his feet, Erik stopped firing and looked at him.
    “No way; we can’t lose this place, not now.” Erik resumed firing, picking off the zombies nearest to Quinn. He managed to get off headshots nearly every time, and Jonas was impressed. But Erik was wasting his time and bullets.
    “Erik,” said Jonas pulling on his friend’s arm, “you have to stop. You know what I’m saying. It’s too late.”
    Erik looked at Jonas and the swarming dead around him. His eyes sank to the ground. “But we can’t lose this, we can’t. It isn’t fair. My kids are shattered. Pippa was finally beginning to think we had a future again. I was. I…”
    “I know,” said Jonas, “but we have no choice.”
    Erik looked up. The dead were coming at them from all angles. The wind was tearing up branches and leaves, whirling them around and sending them tearing through the air like darts. The rain hadn’t eased up either, and another boom of thunder rolled across the Kentucky plains.
    “Fuck,” said Erik plainly. “Just…fuck.”
    Jonas began waving at Quinn to stop, but she had already stopped. The truck had become stuck by a sandpit, and the wheels were spinning uselessly, kicking up sand and water.
    “You go back,” shouted Jonas. He had to make sure Erik heard the plan, as the storm was not abating. The zombies were closing in on them, and the sounds of the moaning dead were increasing too. “Get Gabe and Terry, and tell them that we’re evacuating. Gabe said there were two vehicles prepped and ready. A white van and an SUV, I think. Get everyone inside them and ready to go. I assume Gabe will take one, so let him take the van. I want you behind the wheel of the SUV. Come and get me as soon as you can.”
    “What the hell, Hamsikker? We’re not going without you. If you’re off on one of your suicide missions again…”
    “Erik, we don’t have time to argue. For the record, no, I’m not off on a suicide mission. Quinn needs help. There’s no point us both going over there. Make sure your family is okay. I’m counting on you, so get going.” Jonas practically pushed Erik away, and he turned to face the van Quinn was driving.
    Gunshots rang out around him, and Erik ran back toward the clubhouse. Jonas started forward to go and fetch Quinn. She was still trying to get the van free of the sandpit, but the falling rain was only making it harder to get out. Three zombies had surrounded the cab, and he was going to have to take them out before Quinn could get out safely. There were runners coming in, too, and he was going to have to be smart to avoid them. He sliced his axe through a dead woman as he ran to Quinn, and then slipped behind a