The Sixth Extinction: America – Part One: The Black Spores.

By Glen Johnson

Mankind is no longer at the top of the food chain.

The Sixth Extinction: America – Part One: The Black Spores is set in America. Now for the first time we jump from England to the United States and see how the Americans are dealing with the end of the world.

The Sixth Extinction is an apocalyptic tale about a pandemic that sweeps the globe, decimating the human race, leaving humanity struggling to survive. Within three weeks, everything has changed. Social structure has collapsed as the government locks itself away with a select portion of its vast army in deep bunkers, leaving the civilians to their own fate and the infected that stalks the streets.

The Story follows a group of fourteen strangers, who lived in an apartment building in the Fordham Heights area of New York City; they decide to band together, seeking shelter in a shipping container, on the back of a truck heading towards Pennsylvania and the promise of safety.

There’s Alexander Frazier, a twenty-four-year-old, who, before the outbreak, worked in the mail department of a large law firm. The King Brothers, Lindell, who’s thirty-seven and used to be a bouncer for a nightclub, and his thirty-one-year-old little brother, who was once an amateur boxer. The fifty-one-year-old alcoholic Reverend Frank Clark, who harbours a dark secret, and is looking for redemption from a broken world. The second generation Mexican seventeen-year-old twins, Juan and Bonnie Sanchez. The twenty-six-year-old Cody Tanner who used to be a soil conservationist, and his twenty-five-year-old wife Abigail Tanner, who used to be a wine taster. The twenty-two-year-old all-American girl Jessica Scott, who used to be a waitress. The seventy-one-year-old Phyllis Washington, who isn’t even aware of what’s going on around her. The thirty-three-year-old Gothic lesbian, Naomi Ford who used to work as a chef, and has a dangerous addiction. The twenty-year-old Tierra Ouellette who used to be a stripper to pay the bills, and her three-year-old son Dante, who never stops crying. And finally, the driver of the truck, the forty-six-year-old Troy Cobb, who even ten years later is still trying to get over the death of his wife. Altogether, they are struggling to survive and come to terms with their new situation. However, they’re a large group of people now living in close proximity. Tempers flare, and emotions run high as one disastrous situating leads to another.

There is also Doctor Nathan Bachman, a scientist working in Groom Lake, in the secret base often referred to as Area 51. However, it doesn’t contain UFOs and little green men; its sole purpose is much more disturbing. It contains one of the seven pods – living artefact that our ancient forefathers buried beneath vast structures of stone, to save the world from their deadly, infectious black spores. When the base is compromised Bachman is airlifted to the secret Quirauk Mountain, Pennsylvania bunker. There an even more disturbing secret comes to light that makes everything before it pale in comparison.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glen Johnson
• Release date: Sep 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310242267

Glen Johnson

Glen Johnson was born in Devon, England in 1973. He is the author of 55 fiction and non-fiction books. In August 2014, he gave away all his belongings and bought a backpack and he started travelling around Southeast Asia. While he travels, he helps charitable organizations, writing and releasing books about their foundations, leaving them with all the royalties. His first charity book is called Soi Dog: The Story Behind Asia’s Largest Animal Welfare Shelter and it’s available in ebook and paperback worldwide. He has also started to release a series of books about his travel adventures as they unfold, and Living the Dream: Part One – Khaosan Road, Thailand, and Part Two – Krabi, Thailand is available from all good ebook retailers. He also loves to travel and has spent over eleven years living and travelling around the world – so far, he has explored forty-three different countries. At present, he lives in Bangkok, Thailand, but he has also lived in Mexico, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore. He is also the lead writer on the development team for a new computer game called The Seed (2018), from the creators of the award-winning S.T.A.L.K.E.R Misery mod.Why not add Glen as a friend on Facebook. From his author’s page, you can keep up to date with all his new releases and when his kindle books are free on Amazon. He checks it daily, so pop on and say hello. Don’t be shy, he’s friendly and accepts friend requests.www.facebook.com/GlenJohnsonAuthorwww.facebook.com/RedSkullPublishing and all good ebook retailers.Glen has published 174 books worldwide (via two publishing companies he owns). 55 are his own work; the other 119 are modern-classic-fiction books that can be found on all good eBook and paperback retailers.Books Released by Sinuous Mind Books, and Coming Soon –Books released under his real name Glen JohnsonNON-FICTION BOOKS –CHARITY BOOKS (with Gary Johnson)Soi Dog – The Story Behind Asia’s Largest Animal Welfare Shelter (2015)BEES Elephants Sanctuary: A Haven for Old and Retired Elephants (Coming Soon)TRAVEL BOOKS (with Gary Johnson)Living the Dream 1 – Khaosan Road – Thailand (2015)Living the Dream 2 – Krabi – Thailand (2019)Living the Dream 3 – Penang – Malaysia (Coming Soon)FICTION BOOKS –APOCALYPTIC/DYSTOPIAN/HORRORTHE SIXTH EXTINCTION SERIES (A #1 Best Seller on Amazon UK Horror Short Stories)The Sixth Extinction 1 – Outbreak (2013)The Sixth Extinction 2 – Ruin (2013)The Sixth Extinction 3 – Infested (2013)The Sixth Extinction 4 – The Ark (2013)The Sixth Extinction 1-4 – Omnibus Edition (2013)THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: THE FIRST THREE WEEKS SERIES (A #1 Best Seller on Amazon UK Horror Short stories)The Sixth Extinction Series: The First Three Weeks 1 – Noah’s Story (2013)The Sixth Extinction Series: The First Three Weeks 2 – Red’s Story (2013)The Sixth Extinction Series: The First Three Weeks 3 – Betty and Lennie’s Story (2013)The Sixth Extinction Series: The First Three Weeks 4 – Doctor Lazaro’s Story (2013)The First Three Weeks 1-4 – Omnibus Edition (2013)THE SIXTH EXTINCTION & THE FIRST THREE WEEKS SERIES OMNIBUS (A #1 Best Seller on Amazon UK Horror Short stories)The Sixth Extinction & The First Three Weeks 1-8 – Omnibus Edition (2013)The Sixth Extinction & The First Three Weeks & The Sixth Extinction America 1-12 – Omnibus Edition (2014)The Sixth Extinction & The First Three Weeks & The First Three Weeks The Squads Stories & The Sixth Extinction America & The Seven Seeds of the Gods 1-23 – Omnibus Edition (2017)THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: THE FIRST THREE WEEKS – THE SQUADThe Sixth Extinction Series: The First Three Weeks – The Squad – Echo’s Story (2014)The Sixth Extinction Series: The First Three Weeks – The Squad – Coco’s Story (2014)THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: AMERICA SERIES (A #1 Best Seller on Amazon UK Horror Short stories)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part One: The Black Spores (2014)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Two: False Hope (2014)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Three: The Pods (2014)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Four: The Long Road (2014)The Sixth Extinction: America – 1-4 Omnibus Edition (2014)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Five: No Turning Back (2015)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Six: A Friend in Need (2015)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Seven: All Aboard (2015)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Eight: New Hope (2015)The Sixth Extinction: America – 1-8 Omnibus Edition (2015)The Sixth Extinction: America – 1-20 Omnibus Edition (2016)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Nine: Keep Running (2016)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Ten: Don’t Look Back (2016)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Eleven: Resurrection (2016)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Twelve: Alliance (2018)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Thirteen: Abandon (2019)The Sixth Extinction: America – Part Fourteen: Burn (Coming Soon)THE SIXTH EXTINCTION: BOOK EXTRASThe Sixth Extinction: The Seven Seeds of the Gods. Book One – Ancient Egypt (2016)The Sixth Extinction: The Seven Seeds of the Gods. Book Two – Ancient Mayan (Coming Soon)The Sixth Extinction: One Year On (England) (Coming Soon)The Sixth Extinction: Clarkson’s Discovery (Coming Soon)THE ENDLESS SERIESEndless: Part One – Sorrow (2019)Endless: Part Two – Fear (Coming Soon)Endless: Part Three - Anger (Coming Soon)THE EVENT SERIESThe Event: Part One – The Last Hope (2019)The Event: Part Two – Crashing Down (Coming Soon)THE HUMAN NATURE SERIES (A #1 Best Seller on Amazon UK Horror Short Stories)Lamb Chops and Chainsaws – Vol.1 (2012)Lobsters and Landmines – Vol.2 (2012)French Fries and Flamethrowers – Vol.3 (2014)The Human Nature Series 1-3 – Omnibus Edition (2014)Backpacks and Body Bags – Vol.4 (Coming Soon)THE EXTREME HUMAN NATURE SERIES (Extreme Horror Short Stories)Condoms and Cabbages (2015)GHOST (Short Stories)Sea of Trees (2017)Child Angels (2018)Tall Ghosts (2020)The Lost Cat (2023)HORROR (Short Stories)Quarantine (2020)Laugh Out Loud (2021)Secrets and Lies (2021)Blood Lotus (With Hathairat Phuekhiran – 2023)HORRORThe Watchers (2014)THE WAR OF THE GOD’S SERIESWar of the Gods 1 – The Devil’s Tarots (2012)War of the Gods 2 – Lilith’s Revenge (Coming Soon)THE SEVEN WORLDS SERIES (with Gary Johnson)The Gateway – World One (2014)The Keystone – World Two (2015)Even Jewel – World Three (2017)The Sleeping Gods – World Four (Coming Soon)The Turquoise Abyss – World Five (Coming Soon)Oceans of Fire – World Six (Coming Soon)Journeys End – World Seven (Coming Soon)THE SPELL OF BINDING SERIESThe Spell of Binding – Part One (2012)The Spell of Binding – Part Two (Coming Soon)THE PARKINGDOM SERIESParkingdom – Book One (2012)Parkingdom – Book Two (Coming Soon)OTHER BOOKSTales from the Lake Vol.2. Short Story: Prime Cuts (A mixed horror anthology with 18 other writers – published by Crystal Lake Publishing. 2016)Books released under the pseudonym J.G. NewtonEROTIC PLEASURES SERIES (#1 Best Seller on Amazon USA and UK Erotic/Suspense)Guilty Pleasures: Erotic Pleasures Series (2014)Dirty Pleasures: Erotic Pleasures Series (2014)Secret Pleasures: Erotic Pleasures Series (2014)Kinky Pleasures: Erotic Pleasures Series (2014)Erotic Pleasures Series 1-4 – Omnibus Edition (2014)EROTIC MONSTERS SERIES (#1 Best Seller on Amazon USA and UK Erotic/Suspense/Horror/Humorous)Frankenstein’s Monster: Erotic Monsters Series (2014)Dracula’s Lover: Erotic Monsters Series (2014)Mummy’s Desire: Erotic Monsters Series (Coming Soon)Werewolf’s Lust: Erotic Monsters Series (Coming Soon)COMPUTER GAMETHE SEEDGlen Johnson is on the development team as the lead writer (eight writers) for a new computer game series called The Seed. The Seed is a story-driven post-apocalyptic video game set in Eastern Europe in 2026. It’s a single-player 2D interactive novel, deeply rooted in HEXACO psychology – it showcases the gravity of choice. It’s by the same team that created the award-winning game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Misery mod.The Seed: Act 1 (2018)The Seed: Act 2 (Coming Soon)The Seed: Act 3 (Coming Soon)If you need to get hold of Glen Johnson, email him on: [e-mail]

Book preview

PART ONE: THE BLACK SPORES

By Glen Johnson

www.sinuousmindbooks.com

Published by Sinuous Mind Books Publishing at Smashwords

www.sinuousmindbooks.com

Smashwords Edition

Copyright Glen Johnson 2013

Cover image: Shutterstock

Glen Johnson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead or undead is entirely coincidental.

Typeset: Times New Roman Std/Italic

For –

My family and friends that I left behind when I disappeared to go traveling.

And to everyone who has been following The Sixth Extinction Series.

Thank you for supporting my work via my Facebook authors page and Sinuous Mind Books Facebook page.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank my older brother, Gary Johnson who went over the raw manuscript with many read-throughs, editorial help, and suggestions. And for willing to travel around Asia with me, so I don’t do something I might regret. Also to my older brother Steven for allowing us to crash at his place before we left. It was great spending time with you bud.

Also to Matthew and Kate Chilcott, Anthony Pike, Victoria Tamkin, Sarah Shapter, and Rachel Shapter, all of whom I will miss immensely, and I take with me in my heart (because they all wouldn’t fit in my backpack).

If you are new to The Sixth Extinction, and have not read the original four part Series (set in England), Outbreak, RuinInfested, and The Ark, or The First Three Weeks Series, Noah’s Story, Red’s Story, Betty and Lennie’s Story, and Doctor Lazaro’s Story, I would also recommend the complete eight-part series.

As a bonus, it is less than half price.

Also The Squads First Three Weeks Series, Echo’s Story, which runs parallel with The First Three Weeks Series (England), and is intertwined with Coco’s Story.

"When there are too many deer in the forest or too many cats in the barn, nature restores the balance by the introduction of an infectious disease or virus."

Rusty James

"Human life is as fleeting as the morning dew or a flash of lightning."

Samuel Butler

"The world began without man, and it will end without him."

Claude Lévi-Strauss

Please note that I am an English author, so I use English spelling throughout. You will see doubled letters (cancelled), ou’s (colour), ‘re’ (centre) ce’s (licence), ise’s (realise), yse’s (paralyse) as well as a few other slight variations from American spelling.

The locations in this book are a fusion of real and imagined, but the events and characters are merely a fabrication of my overactive imagination.

Glen Johnson

The Sixth Extinction: America runs parallel with

THE SIXTH EXTINCTION

Part One – Outbreak

(Set in England)

And also

THE SIXTH EXTINCTION

THE FIRST THREE WEEKS SERIES

(Set in England)

and

THE SQUADS FIRST THREE WEEKS SERIES

Echo’s Story

(Set in England)

Prologue

A mass extinction, or scientifically named The Sixth Extinction, is also referred to as the Holocene Extinction – the Holocene epoch is a period of time from present to around 10,000 BCE – where a large number of extinctions span numerous plants and animals, including birds, amphibians, arthropods, and mammals.

Four hundred biologists were interviewed in 1998 by New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Seventy percent believe that the world is in the grip of a human-caused mass extinction. They believe that if left unchecked twenty percent of all living things could become extinct by 2028. One famous biologist, E. O Wilson believes that if humans continue to destroy the biosphere, then half of all species on the planet will be extinct within one hundred years.

Almost nine hundred extinctions have been recorded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources since the 1500s. However, that is just a drop in the ocean, according to the scientific species-area theory; it estimates that one hundred and forty thousand species are becoming extinct every year.

The main reason for the hundreds of thousands of extinctions, which is speeding the sixth extinction along, is due to one mammal – the homosapien. Without intervention, the human race will cause the next mass extinction.

However, it would seem that Mother Nature has a way of making sure that one species does not overpopulate and dominate her planet at the expense of everything else. Viruses and plagues are her way of culling and controlling.

Part One – The Black Spores

1

Week Three of the Infection

Alexander Frazier

Inside a shipping container, on a truck

Interstate 95 Express

New York City Metropolitan Area

Friday 5th January

Alexander Frazier was tired, cold and hungry. He checked his watch; it was just after four o’clock. He sat in the corner covered with a musty smelling blanket, with his aching back leaning up against the galvanized metal wall of the twenty-foot shipping container. His body slowly rocked from side to side with the movement of the truck. Every now and then, he would jolt as the truck pushed an abandoned vehicle or debris out of the way.

It was made even more tense due to the fact there are no windows in the container to see what is happening outside – it was just too impractical to cut the strong metal and replace it with glass, no matter how thick.

Do we really want to see what is out there, what was charging at the vehicle as it passed?

With each shunt of another vehicle, and the sound of metal on metal, the mind always thinks the worst.

Alex was lean but not skinny; he had more of a jogger’s body. Not that he ever exercised, he never used to have the time. However, he was doing a lot of running now. If you couldn’t find a secure hiding place, it was run or die. And of course, due to the lack of food and sleep and the constant stress of trying to survive from one day to the next.

At twenty-four years of age, he used to spend his days trying to