Dux Bellorum (Future History of America Book 3) by Marcus Richardson Page A
Authors: Marcus Richardson
Ads: Link
back at bad guys. Two cars means more of a chance that we'll get split up…"
"Let me see what's out there first," said Erik. "If I can't find any gas it doesn't matter, anyway."
"I'll leave it running and be ready to light up the .50." Ted gripped Erik's shoulder. "Be quick, be quiet, stay low. If you see me turn the lights on, we're compromised—you need to get your ass back here, like fast."
Brin handed Erik his pack. "I put enough supplies in here for a few days in the woods.”
“Don't stick around on my account,” Erik replied. “If we run into another group like back at that strip mall, just clear on out of here." Erik cinched his vest tight. "I'll slip away into the woods and meet up with you. Five miles north?"
Ted thought for a moment staring out the window. "If we can get away fast enough, five miles might be good. Stay in touch. These radios only have a 20 mile range in the best terrain."
"Got it." Erik looked back at Brin. She stared at him and for a second he thought she was going to open her mouth and say something—at least that's what her eyes suggested. In the dim light, she looked ready to cry, scream, or even fight. Brin dropped her eyes to the floor and turned away.
Erik's heart sank. He sighed, took one last look outside, then opened the door and stepped out into the chilly dawn. Ted saw the exchange and shook his head.
"Good luck."
Erik flashed a thumbs-up sign and shut the door as quietly as possible. A deep breath settled his nerves and focused him on the task at hand. He took a quick glance around. Not seeing any movement, he scurried across the gravel driveway to a pair of cars blocking the way into the dealership. He crouched down behind the bumper of one of them—a crumpled Ford Escape—and checked the straps on his pack.
Erik marveled at the way the world and changed in the past six months. Halloween was only a week behind them. If things had stayed on track in his life—if the power had stayed on and the Russians hadn't invaded, he might have been a teacher by now.
I’d be looking ahead to Thanksgiving break.
A dog barked in the distance, the sound faint. A robin welcomed the dawn. Erik snapped back into the present and peered quickly around the corner like Ted taught him. No movement.
He shuffled around the ruined Escape and sprinted ten yards to the first line of parked vehicles. Sliding in the gravel to a stop with his back against the passenger side of a used Toyota 4Runner, he paused. Erik waited for the beating of his heart to slow back to normal. Still no movement. The only sound he heard came from the roughly idling M-ATV.
Damn that thing’s loud.
He held his breath and looked around. Still no movement. The place was empty. He pulled the radio off his vest and clicked the transmit button. "I don't see anything…this place is deserted."
“Make sure you clear the building."
Erik nodded at Ted's statement and put the radio back on his vest. He was three rows back from the main building, approaching from angle. No windows on his side meant he could approach with impunity. Erik gathered his courage and sprinted across the first row of cars, coming to a stop and hiding behind a Ford Expedition. He looked at the sheer size of the vehicle.
"This thing might work…" he muttered to himself. He took a quick glance inside the window and noticed three rows of seating.
If we drop that third row there might be enough space to store all our supplies back there. The kids and one adult can sit in the middle row and the rest up front.
Erik filed that thought away and sprinted across the gravel to the next row of cars. He stopped alongside a Ford F150. The truck had been fitted with a 4x4 lift kit. His legs felt exposed next to the jacked up truck. This thing would certainly get us through rough terrain…but
"Let me see what's out there first," said Erik. "If I can't find any gas it doesn't matter, anyway."
"I'll leave it running and be ready to light up the .50." Ted gripped Erik's shoulder. "Be quick, be quiet, stay low. If you see me turn the lights on, we're compromised—you need to get your ass back here, like fast."
Brin handed Erik his pack. "I put enough supplies in here for a few days in the woods.”
“Don't stick around on my account,” Erik replied. “If we run into another group like back at that strip mall, just clear on out of here." Erik cinched his vest tight. "I'll slip away into the woods and meet up with you. Five miles north?"
Ted thought for a moment staring out the window. "If we can get away fast enough, five miles might be good. Stay in touch. These radios only have a 20 mile range in the best terrain."
"Got it." Erik looked back at Brin. She stared at him and for a second he thought she was going to open her mouth and say something—at least that's what her eyes suggested. In the dim light, she looked ready to cry, scream, or even fight. Brin dropped her eyes to the floor and turned away.
Erik's heart sank. He sighed, took one last look outside, then opened the door and stepped out into the chilly dawn. Ted saw the exchange and shook his head.
"Good luck."
Erik flashed a thumbs-up sign and shut the door as quietly as possible. A deep breath settled his nerves and focused him on the task at hand. He took a quick glance around. Not seeing any movement, he scurried across the gravel driveway to a pair of cars blocking the way into the dealership. He crouched down behind the bumper of one of them—a crumpled Ford Escape—and checked the straps on his pack.
Erik marveled at the way the world and changed in the past six months. Halloween was only a week behind them. If things had stayed on track in his life—if the power had stayed on and the Russians hadn't invaded, he might have been a teacher by now.
I’d be looking ahead to Thanksgiving break.
A dog barked in the distance, the sound faint. A robin welcomed the dawn. Erik snapped back into the present and peered quickly around the corner like Ted taught him. No movement.
He shuffled around the ruined Escape and sprinted ten yards to the first line of parked vehicles. Sliding in the gravel to a stop with his back against the passenger side of a used Toyota 4Runner, he paused. Erik waited for the beating of his heart to slow back to normal. Still no movement. The only sound he heard came from the roughly idling M-ATV.
Damn that thing’s loud.
He held his breath and looked around. Still no movement. The place was empty. He pulled the radio off his vest and clicked the transmit button. "I don't see anything…this place is deserted."
“Make sure you clear the building."
Erik nodded at Ted's statement and put the radio back on his vest. He was three rows back from the main building, approaching from angle. No windows on his side meant he could approach with impunity. Erik gathered his courage and sprinted across the first row of cars, coming to a stop and hiding behind a Ford Expedition. He looked at the sheer size of the vehicle.
"This thing might work…" he muttered to himself. He took a quick glance inside the window and noticed three rows of seating.
If we drop that third row there might be enough space to store all our supplies back there. The kids and one adult can sit in the middle row and the rest up front.
Erik filed that thought away and sprinted across the gravel to the next row of cars. He stopped alongside a Ford F150. The truck had been fitted with a 4x4 lift kit. His legs felt exposed next to the jacked up truck. This thing would certainly get us through rough terrain…but
Similar Books
