The Hungry (Book 2): The Wrath of God Read Online Free PDF

arms out and turned, indicating everywhere all at once. "Look around you, Sheriff. We're in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip, and there isn't a soul in sight. Your home state of Nevada has been quarantined, and most of its population is either dead or undead. So I think it's safe to say that things have most definitely gone very wrong."
    Miller shook her head. "Look, we got off on the wrong foot. No offense, Major, but you don't have a fucking clue what you're in for out there."
    "Then please enlighten me," said Rat, evenly.
    "There were only two things that saved our asses when we were hip deep in zombies," Miller said. "The first one was pure dumb luck. Truth is we all should have been zombie chow a hundred times over. I'm serious, Major. If we weren't luckier than a horseshoe-shaped four-leafed rabbit's foot, we'd all have been deader than Hitler's nut sack." She paused for dramatic effect.
    Rat took the bait. "What's the other thing?"
    "We had me," Miller said simply.
    Rat waited for Miller to continue, and when she didn't, Rat said, "I see."
    "No, I'm not sure you do." Miller frowned. She tried to form a brief and coherent explanation of their adventures together. She couldn't.
    Rat nodded thoughtfully. "I read your file, Sheriff. I know you got infected by the zombie virus, which somehow made you a superhero for a time. I know Sheppard gave you a risky antidote that seems to be working for now, but left you unstable. You've got brass, I'll give you that."
    "I'm not bragging," Miller said. "You're reading me wrong."
    "Actually, I don't think I am." Major Francine Hanratty looked at Sheriff Penny Miller. "I just have one question. If you're so goddamned special, how come you're too afraid to come along with us?"
    Miller stopped short. She looked at the others. Not one of them would meet her eyes. Did they really think she was just too afraid to go along? Damn. Her own men had deserted her, even Sheppard, who seemed to have his own agenda. The mercenary soldiers had almost completely loaded the helicopter. Miller sagged. They were going to do it. Trudge back into the contaminated zone. She'd lost.
    Rat turned her back on Miller. "All right, listen up!" She instantly had everyone's attention, especially Sheppard, Scratch, and Terrill Lee. "We're on the clock here. Mission time is currently twenty-six hours and twenty-seven minutes. Get on board, get your gear stowed, and strap yourselves in. Ripper, tell the pilot to wind this bird up. Dale, show our guests where to sit. We're wheels up in five."
    Everyone jumped into action. Dale escorted Scratch, Terrill Lee, and Sheppard up the rear loading ramp of the CH-53E. In a moment, they were gone. Miller thought she saw Sheppard turn his head and look back at her as if to say something. His eyes bulged with that I've got a secret look again. She almost called out, but in the blink of an eye, Rat yanked on his arm and he was inside the helicopter, out of sight.
    The rest of the Magnificent Seven moved with a renewed sense of purpose. The remaining pieces of gear were quickly swallowed by the increasingly noisy, vibrating chopper, and soon it ate the soldiers themselves.
    Penny Miller found herself standing alone in the corner of the parking lot, being pushed back by the steadily growing rotor wash. She felt mighty lonesome. Well, ain't this a fine damned howdy do?
    The loading ramp began to lift up and away.
    Miller muttered to herself, "Shit."
    She ran forward, stretched out her body and dove on board. Scratch grabbed her arms and pulled her into the chopper. The biker wasn't at all surprised. He'd saved the seat next to him. The others cheered and pumped their fists in the air. Miller felt pissed that they'd all read her mind so easily. Hanratty was the only one who seemed at all surprised.
    "Nice of you to grace us with your presence, Sheriff," Rat shouted. "Now we're sure to succeed."
    "Just keep me in the loop," Miller said.
    Dale got up from his place on the long bench. He