In a world overrun by aggressive, virus-born Shells and ruled by lion-bonded aristocrats, survival requires ingenuity. But in the universe of Trotillions, survival is not enough. You also need style. Enter the titular invention: the Trotillion.
What Are Trotillions?
Trotillions are heavily modified combat boots retrofitted with directed explosive charges in the heels. They are arguably the most iconic and absurd invention of the post-White Heat era, perfectly encapsulating the dark humor and lethal pragmatism of the Dead Lands.
The Mechanics of a "Clean Run"
The usage of Trotillions in combat is brutally simple, highly dangerous, and mathematically precise. It requires a team, absolute timing, and a profound disregard for personal safety.
The wearer straps a high-tension parachute line to a reinforced harness. They then physically jump directly into a dense crowd of Shells—a maneuver that would normally mean instant death. Upon heel impact, the Trotillions detonate. The directed explosion vaporizes everything within a three-meter radius, creating a brief, violent pocket of space within the horde.
In that exact millisecond, the parachute line is violently retracted by a winch team operating from a secure position (often the roof of a modified truck). The wearer is pulled backward to safety just as the horde collapses back into the empty space.
The Inventor: Arnie Schwartz
Trotillions were invented by Arnie Schwartz, a three-meter tall llama-bonded mutant and the proprietor of the Trade Court at Schwartz's Ranch. Originally designed as a desperate, utilitarian tool for breaching dense hordes of Shells to secure resources, they quickly evolved into something much more significant.
Violence as Cultural Artifact
What started as a survival tactic became an extreme sport, a spectator event, and a method of conflict resolution among the factions. In the Dead Lands, a clean Trotillions run is not just about survival; it is rated on aesthetics, kinetic impact, and the sheer audacity of the drop.
It represents the ultimate intersection of dark humor and lethal efficiency. When civilization collapses, people do not stop seeking entertainment—they just change the stakes.
Experience the explosive runs firsthand in Trotillions, Book 1 of the series, available now on Amazon.