The Post-Apocalyptic Tourist's Guide to the Mojave Desert: A Novella by Sean Hazlett

Author:Sean Hazlett [Hazlett, Sean]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Promethium Press
Published: 2017-12-13T05:00:00+00:00

IV. Desert Devils

The scorching heat was taking its toll on the crew. Tony was thirsty as hell. He had a throbbing headache, a telltale symptom of dehydration. Milkshake was already beet red and fading. To his credit, Joey seemed to be the only mook with enough juice to last another day.

The three men wandered through a desolate desert forest of bayonet-leaved yucca, gnarled-branched Joshua trees with dagger-shaped leaves, and hardy, dark green creosote.

Tony supposed it could’ve been worse. The People of the Sun had left them alone thus far. But he was realistic enough to know he shouldn’t let down his guard. With horses, the cultists could easily catch up with them. Tony prayed they didn’t.

Milkshake was in real bad shape. By sunset, the temperature had dropped precipitously, but the cold wasn’t going to save him. He was vomiting and could barely walk. Tony and Joey had had to support him for about a third of the time they’d been staggering through the desert. If he were a betting man, Tony would’ve given the kid a fifty-fifty shot of survival.

To the west, the sky ranged from light blue to vibrant pink, and then deepened to dark orange as the sun sank beneath the horizon. A steady rumble punctuated the low hum of the desert wind. Riders closed in from the west, their black silhouettes obscuring whether they were friend or foe.

Joey pointed to a clump of creosote. Weary, Tony dipped his head in agreement. The three shambled over to the bushes and collapsed behind them.

The ground quaked.

Tony said, “They’ve spotted us.”

Milkshake wheezed.

“Hang in there, kid,” Tony said. “In about five minutes, you’ll either get some relief or you’ll die.”

Milkshake responded with a weak nod.

The horsemen fanned out to Tony’s left and right, then slowly closed in toward the trio.

“Careful, boys. They could be hostiles. Approach slowly,” Captain Fitzhugh said.

Tony smiled. He’d never been more relieved in his life. “Captain Fitzhugh!” he rasped, “It’s Tony, Joey, and Milkshake. We’re gonna get up slowly, so don’t shoot.”

When they rose, Tony was thankful to be surrounded by the soldiers of Alpha Troop. Tony and Joey brought Milkshake over to the captain.

“Water,” Tony croaked.

Fitzhugh gestured to a trooper who brought over three canteens. Tony lapped up as much water as his stomach could hold.

Fitzhugh took one glance at Milkshake. “That boy’s a heat casualty if I ever saw one. Sergeant Marks, set up an aid station and cool that kid down. He’s also gonna need an I-V.”

Sergeant Marks, a chubby medic with a mustache, rushed over with two soldiers in tow. They eased Milkshake onto a stretcher and set up an aid station around him.

Fitzhugh shifted his attention to Tony and Joey. “What the hell happened? All the evidence pointed to a massacre. Have any of my boys survived?”

Tony lowered his head.

“That’s what I was afraid of,” Fitzhugh said. “Tell me everything.”

Tony gave Fitzhugh an account of the platoon’s battle with the People of the Sun, the trio’s capture, the sadistic ritual, and their encounter with the giant spider.

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