Broken Lives: A Tale of Survival in a Powerless World (Broken Lines Book 4) by James Hunt Page B
Authors: James Hunt
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replied.
Bram flipped through the pages.
“They arrived in vehicles?” Bram asked.
“Yes, their vehicles predated the use of microprocessors in engines.”
“Smart. Weapons?”
“A few automatic rifles, handguns, and shotguns. No heavy artillery.”
Bram snapped the file shut and handed it back to Cadogan.
“Any troublemakers?” Bram asked.
“Not yet, but we’re keeping a close eye on them, per protocol with new citizens.”
“Where are we at with recruitment?”
“The only recruiter we’re still waiting to check in is Cain, but he shouldn’t be much longer. Our other scouts have been scouring the north and we’ve already received word that units from Indianapolis and Columbus are trained and ready to join us.”
“Good.”
“Anything else, sir?”
“This Mike Grant that came in today. I’d like to meet him. Set up a meeting for us sometime this week.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That will be all. Thank you, Colonel.”
Day 23 (Carrollton)
The stacked cans of food and water seemed to be shrinking. It was all Fay could stare at. She knew she was thinking about it too much, but it was something she couldn’t get out of her mind.
There wasn’t another town for miles. She spent all day yesterday gathering as many supplies as she could and storing them in her and Jung’s rooms, but the bikers had picked over pretty much everything when they arrived, and what they hadn’t eaten was already spoiled.
The stress creeping into her mind was intensified by the knowledge that she wasn’t just responsible for herself anymore. Jung was useless. If she was going to keep him and his children alive she was going to have to do it herself.
They still had enough food to last them for some time, but there was no guarantee of it lasting until the power came back on.
She would catch herself looking down the road at night, toward Cincinnati, hoping to see some light in the distance letting her know that help would be coming, but she knew it was ridiculous.
If they ran out of food before the power came back on there was only one place left for her to go, but she refused to go back there. The last time she saw the Murth family they tried to kill her.
Still, she had to face the reality of what could happen, and she needed to start preparing for it now.
Fay picked up her rifle and walked outside. It was already midafternoon, and she knew the kids were probably hungry. She made her way down to Jung’s room and knocked on the door.
She didn’t know why she knocked. There was never an answer from Jung. She was just waiting for the day she walked in and found Jung dead with his kids crying over his body.
Jung was lying on the bed with his back turned to the door when Fay entered. Jung Jr. and Claire were sitting on the floor, playing with some toys that Fay managed to find to keep them entertained while their father was… nonresponsive.
“Hey, guys!” Fay said.
Both of them looked up at her and smiled. They were both young enough not to grasp the gravity of what was happening around them, but old enough to recognize that their mother wasn’t there anymore, and that something was wrong with their dad.
“Hi,” Jung Jr. said.
Fay was always amazed at how much Jung Jr. looked like his dad. Claire still couldn’t speak, at least not in terms of anything that Fay could understand. She put her arms out, wanting Fay to pick her up. Fay reached down and grabbed her, swinging the rifle out of the way and positioning Claire on her hip.
“You guys hungry?” Fay asked.
She tickled Claire and Jung Jr. threw his arms up in the air, waving.
“Let’s get something to eat. Do you guys like Brussels sprouts?” Fay asked.
“EEEWWWWWWW!” Jung Jr. said, sticking his tongue out and scrunching his nose up.
Fay laughed and Jung Jr. grabbed her hand.
“Jung, you want
Bram flipped through the pages.
“They arrived in vehicles?” Bram asked.
“Yes, their vehicles predated the use of microprocessors in engines.”
“Smart. Weapons?”
“A few automatic rifles, handguns, and shotguns. No heavy artillery.”
Bram snapped the file shut and handed it back to Cadogan.
“Any troublemakers?” Bram asked.
“Not yet, but we’re keeping a close eye on them, per protocol with new citizens.”
“Where are we at with recruitment?”
“The only recruiter we’re still waiting to check in is Cain, but he shouldn’t be much longer. Our other scouts have been scouring the north and we’ve already received word that units from Indianapolis and Columbus are trained and ready to join us.”
“Good.”
“Anything else, sir?”
“This Mike Grant that came in today. I’d like to meet him. Set up a meeting for us sometime this week.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That will be all. Thank you, Colonel.”
Day 23 (Carrollton)
The stacked cans of food and water seemed to be shrinking. It was all Fay could stare at. She knew she was thinking about it too much, but it was something she couldn’t get out of her mind.
There wasn’t another town for miles. She spent all day yesterday gathering as many supplies as she could and storing them in her and Jung’s rooms, but the bikers had picked over pretty much everything when they arrived, and what they hadn’t eaten was already spoiled.
The stress creeping into her mind was intensified by the knowledge that she wasn’t just responsible for herself anymore. Jung was useless. If she was going to keep him and his children alive she was going to have to do it herself.
They still had enough food to last them for some time, but there was no guarantee of it lasting until the power came back on.
She would catch herself looking down the road at night, toward Cincinnati, hoping to see some light in the distance letting her know that help would be coming, but she knew it was ridiculous.
If they ran out of food before the power came back on there was only one place left for her to go, but she refused to go back there. The last time she saw the Murth family they tried to kill her.
Still, she had to face the reality of what could happen, and she needed to start preparing for it now.
Fay picked up her rifle and walked outside. It was already midafternoon, and she knew the kids were probably hungry. She made her way down to Jung’s room and knocked on the door.
She didn’t know why she knocked. There was never an answer from Jung. She was just waiting for the day she walked in and found Jung dead with his kids crying over his body.
Jung was lying on the bed with his back turned to the door when Fay entered. Jung Jr. and Claire were sitting on the floor, playing with some toys that Fay managed to find to keep them entertained while their father was… nonresponsive.
“Hey, guys!” Fay said.
Both of them looked up at her and smiled. They were both young enough not to grasp the gravity of what was happening around them, but old enough to recognize that their mother wasn’t there anymore, and that something was wrong with their dad.
“Hi,” Jung Jr. said.
Fay was always amazed at how much Jung Jr. looked like his dad. Claire still couldn’t speak, at least not in terms of anything that Fay could understand. She put her arms out, wanting Fay to pick her up. Fay reached down and grabbed her, swinging the rifle out of the way and positioning Claire on her hip.
“You guys hungry?” Fay asked.
She tickled Claire and Jung Jr. threw his arms up in the air, waving.
“Let’s get something to eat. Do you guys like Brussels sprouts?” Fay asked.
“EEEWWWWWWW!” Jung Jr. said, sticking his tongue out and scrunching his nose up.
Fay laughed and Jung Jr. grabbed her hand.
“Jung, you want
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