Riders of the Apocalypse (Book 5): Royal Roadblock Read online

  Everyone waited.

  Dallas looked deeply into Roper’s questioning eyes. “That they help us find Butcher first. We’re not leaving this country without her. If she wants to fight, then she can damn well fight alongside us. Like always.”

  Roper looked into Dallas’s face and smiled softly. “Like always.”

  When they finished briefing everyone on what had just transpired, Dallas and Roper went to their cell and started packing their gear.

  “You know,” Roper said, kissing Dallas gently, “if she doesn’t want to be found, baby, then she won’t be.”

  “I know, and that’s my greatest fear.” Dallas couldn’t remember the last time she didn’t feel afraid, the last time she didn’t wake up feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. For almost two years, she’d been the leader of a group of survivors who had managed to endure a zombie apocalypse––––man eaters created by a bioweapon unleashed on the United States. These man eaters were genetically programmed to attack a specific DNA strand––––DNA that homosexuals didn’t possess, making them virtually invisible to the hordes of zombies roaming a country that had been cut off from the rest of the world for over eighteen months.

  In that time, they had lost a lot of people they loved. One in particular left the group to strike out on her own. Lost in her own grief, Butcher took her infant and disappeared.

  And Dallas had let her.

  “Where are you, love?” Roper asked, looking hard into Dallas’s face.

  “I was just thinking it’s been almost two years of living like this, yet it feels like twenty-two.”

  “No shit. Just when we thought we might actually travel to a safe haven, there’s this. I don’t really know how we can really say no to the president’s request, baby. There are so many others we need to consider…others we left in Angola.”

  “Others we just let walk away.”

  Roper leaned over and kissed Dallas softly. “You have to stop beating yourself up. Butcher took her daughter someplace safer, someplace where she could raise a little girl away from all this jacked up mess. It wasn’t your fault. She was grieving hard. Nothing you could have done would have changed the outcome. She’s a woman of her own mind. It’s what we love most about her.”

  “I understand that in my head, but my heart wonders if there wasn’t more I could have done. If there wasn’t more I could have said to convince her that taking Egypt on the road was the dumbest idea ever.”

  Roper took Dallas’s face in her hands and kissed her softly. “The only other woman I know who is as stubborn as you is Butcher. I have no doubt she made it to wherever she was heading.”

  “Right. Just Butcher and an infant? I don’t think so. All I know is that nothing has felt right since she left. Einstein hasn’t been right either. We keep putting salves on the gunshot wounds of our spirits and eventually we’re going to get sick.”

  “No one is putting any salves anywhere. We’re all suffering a loss or twelve. That boy...young man, Einstein, will never get over his girlfriend dying that way.”

  Dallas shrugged as she stuffed her duffel bag. “He’ll be fine. We all lose people, love. By now, he’s sorta used to it.”

  “It’s different when you’re a teenager. All those exposed emotional nerve endings, raw and touchy. It hurt him on a cellular level. He’s not okay, baby. We need to help him.”

  Pulling on her leather jacket, Dallas sighed. “I know. I just think Butcher could have helped him get through it.”

  Roper rose and pulled on her sweatshirt. Even in the summer, the air around The Rock was chilly. “She could have but she didn’t. She made her choice. Now, we have to make ours.”

  Dallas had to cinch her belt another notch. “Well, we’re not leaving here until we at least try to find her. Can’t be that hard finding a woman with a baby.”

  “If they are alive.”

  Staring out the window of a cell they called home for only a short while, Dallas gazed at the fractured remains of the Bay Bridge––––the first place she had laid eyes on her lover. Roper had walked across the top beam of the bridge in order to reach Dallas and Einstein. Together, the three of them had just made it off the bridge before the military blew it to hell.

  “I can’t consider the alternative. I have to believe she made it north.” Dallas turned back to Roper. At five feet ten, Dallas rarely looked at other women eye-to-eye. Roper was a rare exception in so many ways. “It’s hard enough to watch the man eaters taking over, but the Asian Nation? I hate those fuckers most of all for swooping down here and taking advantage of our tragedy. If helping England gives our country a fighting chance, then I say we have an obligation to do so….but only if they help us find her.”

  “Well, we know she’s heading to Canada. I imagine it is a much easier border to get across than Mexico.”

  After the initial contamination, the rest of the world had come together to seal off two of the longest borders in the world. Once Americans were locked in, the international community splintered in regards to whom should get what when the virus had finished decimating the United States. Like twelve dogs snarling over one bone––one very meaty, very tasty bone––the powerhouses played tug of war with American resources completely disregarding the human pain and suffering of those fighting to stay alive.

  The newly formed Asian Nation won the rock, paper, scissors, and had sent people over to start the cleanup process so they could take over.

  “They won’t give up, you know. Just because their stupid nerve gas idea was blown to bits doesn’t mean they don’t have five other plans up their sleeves.” Roper joined her at the window in front of their cell, her arm reaching around her lover’s waist.

  “And that, my little cowgirl, is why I don’t relax.” Dallas kissed Roper’s forehead before zipping up her jacket. “If we can get Butcher back and then help England, we might be the only ones capable of giving our country a fighting chance against those vermin.”

  Roper leaned her head on Dallas’s shoulder. “Are you speaking of the man eaters or the Asian Nation?”

  “Both.”

  Six Days Ago

  “Never thought the almighty president would contact you for anything.” Sean Olsen, the only surviving member of the president’s cabinet sat on a long leather sofa aboard Air Force One, a flying hotel untouched by the apocalypse.

  Dallas and the rest entered the plane. “Not after the last time we spoke,” she said. “I thought I’d made it clear we wanted nothing to do with him or his military.”

  “He is a desperate man, Dallas Barkley, and we know what desperation brings.”

  “Well, we did hand his military their asses on a silver platter,” Zoe tossed out, grabbing a bag of peanuts sitting on the table. “We don’t cotton to folks telling us what to do.”

  “Kicked them into next week,” Einstein added.

  Everyone chuckled at the memory.

  The interior of this particular plane resembled someone’s living room. There were two long, white couches facing each other, a Rembrandt hanging on one wall, a sixty inch television set on another wall, and plush gray carpeting that made you want to kick your shoes off so your toes could wriggle in it.

  “Please, have a seat. We have bottled water if any of you are so inclined.”

  “We’re good,” Dallas said, sitting on the butter leather sofa. She briefly wondered how much of her tax dollars had supported this lavish plane.

  “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water,” Roper muttered, sitting next to Dallas.

  Zoe and Hunter exchanged questioning glances as they sat next to each other. The luxury was almost discomforting.

  Sean straightened his clothes after he reached for his bottled water. “I thought Angola was a brilliant choice, Ms. Barkley, but Alcatraz? Even better. My hat is off to you for this one.”

  “That letter certainly sounded ominous.”

  “Or melodramatic,” Einstein added, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Why we would help a nation that turned its back on us is beyond me.”

  “Actually, it’s both.” Sean sat across from Dallas and folded his hands on the table. “Because the safety of our nation could very well rest on all of your shoulders.”

  Inhaling deeply, Dallas said, “I read the letter. We get it. Go in, clean up the man eaters, choose wherever the hell we want to live, and the United States government will get the military and medical aid it needs to recover from this mess.”

  Sean set the bottle back on a glass table. “Actually, there’s more to it than that.”

  Roper and Zoe both jumped to their feet. “Oh hell no, you motherfucker,” Roper said. “You can’t lure us here with false promises and then say, ‘oh, and by the way, there’s more.’ Fuck you.”

  Dallas reached for her hand. “We’re here, babe. Let’s hear him out. It won’t cost us anything to listen.”

  Roper slowly returned to her seat. Zoe did not.

  “What that letter said was the truth. Every bit of it. What the president left out was that we’ve received a communication from the British Prime Minister that the Asian Nation is very close to creating a bioweapon that will destroy the zombie infestation.”

  “Excellent! Then you no longer require our services.”

  Sean shook his head, and tiny dots of perspiration on his forehead jiggled. “The weapon, according to British intelligence, would destroy human life as well.”

  Dallas instinctively reached for Roper’s hand. “Wait. They want to exterminate the whole lot of us? Kill everyone and everything in here?”

  “Makes sense to me.”

  Everyone turned to stare at Einstein.

  “It’s no secret the United States, even crippled as we are, is the brass ring. Our natural resources will be worth the human casualty cost. The only problem is that to snag this brass ring you have to be willing to put your hand in a tank of piranhas with a few goldfish. Best way to get the ring?”

  “Kill all the fish.”

  Einstein nodded. “All of them.”

  Dallas returned her attention to Sean Olson. “What does this have to do with us? If that fear exists, why don’t our allies come to our aid without all of these backdoor deals?”

  “We’re hoping to beat the Asian Nation back, but we are woefully outnumbered. We need outside help.”

  Roper chuffed. “Dude, the outside is the reason we’re trapped here with eaters. The outside disdains us on a level that could rival the world’s hatred of Hitler. No one is coming to our rescue.”

  The plane became deathly silent.

  “The world isn’t so black and white anymore,” Sean said softly. “Everyone is looking out for themselves. Nobody has the resources to send here because they are all scared to death that the infected will reach them.”

  “Like in England.”

  He sighed. Again, the no one said a word.

  “Christ,” Dallas uttered, running her hand through her hair. “So we’re on the clock with this little mission of yours.”

  Sean and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Yes. The British have managed to barricade a seventy mile stretch of area in this part of England.” He pulled a map out and slid it over to Dallas. “They’ve managed to cordon the infected off. After you arrive, the Prime Minister wants you to train their people how to fight them.”

  “Simple,” Zoe replied. “Shoot ‘em in the head. That’s all they need to know. If you’re shooting fish in a barrel, you don’t need us.”

  Dallas barely shook her head at Zoe. “There’s more to it than that.” She leveled her gaze at Sean Olson. “Isn’t there?”

  He stared at his folded hands. “A lot more. This isn’t just about training.” He sighed. “And I wish the President would have been more forthright. This…well…it’s an extraction mission.”

  “This is such bullshit!” Zoe groused. “That entire letter was just a fucking ruse to get us here, and now you’re saying there’s more to it than that? An extraction mission? What the fuck?”

  Dallas waited for Zoe to finish, knowing full well she wasn’t the only one feeling that way. “Who are we extracting?”

  “Somewhere in the southwest region of England is the king’s daughter. She and her friends were on a field trip in the country when the zombies began spreading.”

  “Why doesn’t he just send his men in and get her out himself? Tell them to send in their gays. They’ll be fine.”

  “The world has changed much since we’ve been cut off. Apparently there are rebel factions in the United Kingdom who have already claimed the life of the king’s son.”

  “Jesus,” Roper muttered.

  “The economic collapse the day after the outbreak devastated many nations. It’s not like they’ve all been sitting around eating bon bons while we’ve suffered. The entire world has paid a price for our absence.”

  “Tough shit, I say,” Zoe said. “everyone has lost someone. Boo fucking hoo.”

  Sean ignored her. “As you can well imagine, the king trusts no one.”

  Dallas leaned forward. “What are his people rebelling against?”

  “After the collapse, the Scots wanted their freedom from England. They have rebelled against the measures England has taken to protect itself.”

  “Measures? What kind of measures?”

  “I don’t have all the facts, Dallas. I wish I did, but even the President is working on minimal information. What I can tell you is that Scotland and Wales are joining forces and are threatening to march on London. Their people are starving. Londoners are not.”

  “And we give a shit, why?” Zoe crossed her arms.

  “The king has troops ready to send into the red zone, but they need to be trained and organized. That’s all he’s asking. In return for your help, the Prime Minister has promised to do everything in his power to protect us against the Asian Nation and their bioweapon. I don’t need to tell you what it means if they drop that on us.”

  “No pressure,” Hunter mumbled.

  Dallas sighed and ran her hand through her hair. “Let me get this straight. If we go in and extract––––”

  “Adeline.”

  “Extract Adeline and dispose of their zombie issue, the Brits will help us send the Asian Nation packing.”

  “That’s the size of it, yes. We’ve been given clearance to land in Calais. The French and British prime ministers have okayed a French landing since nothing is getting in or out of England.”

  “Jesus H. on a raft,” Zoe said. “If the Frenchies and the Brits are getting along, the world really has turned upside down.”

  Sean barely grinned. “A brief history of the blood between the Scots and the French will show you it’s almost as bad as it is between the Brits and the French. The last thing the French want right now is to get caught up in a pissing contest between Scotland and England.”

  “Not to mention having to deal with a potential viral spread in a country they are connected to,” Dallas said.

  Sean nodded. “The French closed their side of the Chunnel for fear the zombie infection could spread. You can well imagine how well that went over.”

  Dallas slowly rose. “Well, that was smart. So we train and then take British soldiers in, find the girl, kill the zombies, and come back with enough help to drive the Asian Nation back to hell.”

  “Correct. The British Parliament has already agreed to sending troops to our borders, ships to the coast, and diplomats to the table. Everyone wants to see this thing ended as quickly as possible.”

  “I can’t imagine the Canadians are none too thrilled by the idea of a bioweapon being launched near them,” Einstein said.

  Roper held her hand up. “We’re good fighters, Mr. Olson. Better than average. But you know we’re alive because the eaters won’t attack gays and lesbians. I think the British Prime Minister can risk his own people for this mission. He really doesn’t need us.”

  “He might not, but your country does. The Asian Nation is preparing to make a big move, Dallas. A big, big move, and we can’t fight them off with our limited resources. There’s not a lot of time.”

  “I get that,” Dallas said. “Would you mind giving me a moment with my people?”

  Sean rose. “Certainly.”

  When he went up a spiral staircase, everyone looked at each other. Finally, Zoe said, “Sounds like a lot of bullshit to me. There’s no guarantee the Brits will do jackshit to help us. What if we get over there and can’t get back?”

  The room went still.

  “Fine. I’ll say it,” Einstein said. “Why would we want to come back?”

  Hunter draped his arm across Einstein’s shoulder. “As always, the little dude has a good point. If they will let us go live anywhere…”

  “They don’t have that power,” Fletcher said. “I agree with Z. There’s a lot of bullshit we need to wade through to come to the truth of what’s in it for us.”

  Dallas and Roper locked eyes. “Babe?”

  Roper inhaled deeply, carefully choosing her words. “I can only speak for myself. I don’t mind going over to help find and extract his kid if it means keeping those bastards from using that bioweapon. We can’t turn our backs on Wendell and the rest of the good people we left in Angola, no matter how much we might want to. I can’t do it. Even if they get a cruise ship, this weapon would probably kill them as well.”

  “You guys are nuts,” Einstein said. “This is our chance. Our chance to have real lives. To eat real food, take real showers, and you’re willing to pass that up on some skewed notion of country loyalty?” He shook his head. “If we go, I say those who want to stay in the U.K. can stay. Those who want to return to this graveyard can come back. We each get to make whatever choice works for each of us.”

  “Seems fair to me,” Dallas said. “No one said we all have to make the same decision.”

  There was a slight pause before Hunter said, “I’m with the kid. When is the last time you even dreamt of a hot shower and three squares a day? There’s real life going on outside these walls and we would be stupid to pass it up. I for one could get used to speaking with a British accent.”