Read Designated (Book 1): Designated Infected for Free Online Page B

rivulet of blood running from his
over taxed nostrils as his sinuses gave in under the deluge of dust
and grit. 'You thought, I was deaf' Baker laughed hacking up a lump
of grit infused phlegm, spitting it into the dirt beneath his boots
he carried on.
    'I thought I was fucking dead.'
    His blood stained teeth detracted slightly from the coy
and cocky grin he plastered on his face to assuage the look of guilty
concern on Kingsley's face.
    'Don't worry about it Solomon; it's all good; I am in
one piece, ain't I?'
    Kingsley rubbed subconsciously at the back of his neck.
    'Uh, not quite, mate.'
    Kingsley lifted his hand and tapped at his left ear.
Gingerly Baker raised his fingers and felt around the slowly bleeding
gash on the side of his head. Tracing the line with his fingers, he
slowly drew them over the gristle covered remains of his left ear.
    'Ah, bollocks, Janet's going to fucking kill me.'
    Kingsley roared with laughter.
    'Cherry, if an AC130 can't do it, then I doubt a London
nurse who weighs a buck ten when wet will be able to.'
    Baker smirked as a medic sprinted over and slid to a
stop. Slowly Baker eased himself down on to a small jutting outcrop
of rock and patiently waited for the young Corporal to finish his
ministrations. Afterwards, leaning heavily on Kingsley; Baker limped
away up the now rubble strewn slope.
    'Solomon.'
    The onyx-black skinned man stopped letting Baker rest
his full weight on his already weary frame.
    'Yeah, mate?'
    'Janet's a doctor, not a nurse.'
    Kingsley smirked pulling Baker sharply making the man
wince slightly.
    'Watch it, ya fuck.'
    Kingsley grinned once more showing sparkling white
teeth.
    'Don't be a pedantic prick and I will.'
    Baker chuckled, shifting some of his weight from his
friend's shoulder as he made ready to climb into the Land Rover ahead
of them.

    ****

    Bakers eyes snapped open as the plane dropped in
altitude, his head bounced off the outer skin as the wheels struck
the runway.
    'Okay wake up, pack up and stack up; we've got a job to
do gentlemen, and that job starts now.'
    Pottergate's voice boomed through the now eerily silent
plane, the rolling echo was cut through as the semi rhythmic tapping
of feet on metal echoed up from the front of the plane.
    Heads turned as one, eyes fixing on the figure making
his way towards them. His feet rung against the bare metal hull of
the plane as he made his way towards the small group of soldiers, his
wide muscular frame seemingly gaining in mass the closer he drew to
them.
    A wide grin broke across his features as he neared
Baker, the dark thatch of his beard parting like the red sea to
reveal a set of tobacco stained teeth.
    'Derek Baker, you weak piece of English shit; how are
you, my friend?'
    His thick east Russian accent twisted the words slightly
as he spoke, his spade like hand shooting forwards and grasping
Derek's in a tight, almost bone shattering grip.
    'Fadei, you turnip munching piss head, you know I'm
Welsh.'
    Baker smiled tightly as he carried on.
    'Anyway how are you? Pottergate said you'd be helping
out with transport not flying this shit heap. Why didn't you say
something sooner.'
    Fadei's grin remained strong as he draped one heavy arm
across Bakers shoulders.
    'Because, you simpleton, I was flying the damned thing.
Now how about we go and get drunk.'
    Baker laughed out loud for what was to him the first
time in a very long period, laughter had been a rare commodity for
the unit and was a welcome relief to them all.
    Their laughter died off slowly as Baker glanced at the
slightly confused faces of the men around him.
    'Boys, this is my Russian counterpart Fadei Bogatir. He
is leader of Unit One in our Russian brother, the rather crudely
named Red Directorate.'
    Fadei thumped Baker on the back sending him staggering
slightly from the force.
    'Always taking the piss, hey, little man? Need I remind
you that we are helping you in the clear up of this mess?'
    Baker whirled on the balls of his feet the mirth