Free Resurrection by Kevin Collins Page B

to guess.”
    “Well were about to let you add a few more to that tally. Alright boys let’s roll!”
    Darin kicked the door open and drew his knife and stabbed the first few wasters in the head; black liquid spewed out and spattered onto Mark’s shirt. He stood in the doorway stunned while Darrin worked his way forward slashing and stabbing his way through the mob of Wasters.
    He turned to Mark and waved his rifle at him as one of the Wasters was almost on top of him. Mark stuck the barrel of his revolver in the creature’s mouth and a .410 shotgun shell exploded and buckshot ripped through the back of the thing’s head splattering the wall behind with gore.
    “That’s what I’m talking about!” Darin yelled. “Let’s see what else you got!”
    Mark pulled his other firearm and began firing wildly into the crowd of Wasters and they started dropping like flies. Darrin grabbed one and pulled the creature close and slashed its throat and pulled the head from its body.
    One of the creatures grabbed hold of Mark from behind and overpowered him. It grabbed him and held him fast in a bear hug and he could feel his ribs starting to crack. Just then he felt it release its grip on him and turned to see Darrin pulling his knife from its head.
    “Alright, playtimes over time to go full auto on these bastards,” Darrin screamed.
    Suddenly his rifle ripped open the night, flames exploded from the barrel and the Wasters started falling in a spray of coagulated blood and entrails. Darrin looked at Mark who stood silent.
    “Yeeeehhaw!” Darrin yelled as the last of the Waster’s fell to the pavement. He relaxed his grip on the trigger and the sound of his rifle could be heard echoing off the surrounding buildings until it dispersed somewhere in the darkness.
    Darrin lowered his rifle and approached Mark. “That’s what we’re doing here, you asked and I showed you” he said pushing his fist into his hand. “Let’s eat.”
    Nigel passed Mark a can of red beans and rice. “I figured this might have you feeling like you were back home in Louisiana,” he said handing Mark his Ka-bar.
    “So Mark where’d you say you were headed,” Darrin said.
    “I didn’t,” Mark said between mouthfuls.
    “Oh yeah that’s right; so where are you headed.”
    Mark thought about his question for a moment before answering. “New Mexico,” he said after a few mouthfuls of food.
    “New Mexico? What the hells in that graveyard?”
    Nothing special, just thought I’d get out in the desert and mountains and get away from all of this,” he said waving his hand.
    “Sounds like a plan. Look tomorrow we’re gonna take you to meet some folks and let em take a look at your goods but for now we rest, Nigel you take first watch and Pop Bottles you relieve him in two hours.
     

     
    Chapter 18
     
    Mark pulled the Ford truck into a dusty road off the main highway and stopped at the cattle guard. He got out and looked around but all he could see for miles was more of the same; nothing.
    The graveled road led out into the scrub and disappeared around a small hill. The rain had slowed for a change and a small sliver of sunlight shone through the thin clouds.
    He leaned against the window of the truck and Darrin pulled in behind him and got out; the others followed.
    “Someone is going to meet us here?” Mark said.
    “They’ll be along directly,” Darrin said.
    Soon, in the distance a truck rolled around the hill. It came to a stop on the other side of a cattle guard and two men got out. Both were dressed in blue jeans and western shirts with western hats and spurs. Mark did not move but kept his hand on the .45 under his jacket.
    “Howdy Darrin, Nigel, Pop Bottles” the man said shaking hands with each one across the cattle guard.
    “This here’s Mark,” Darrin said. “He’s the one I radioed you about.”
    “I’m Tom and this here’s Foley and in the back of the truck there is Carlos and Two Gun; you can‘t see them for the