Rise of the Huskers (The Raven Falconer Chronicles) by Dennis Larsen Page A
Authors: Dennis Larsen
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too. I have no idea how many or how far but with the warmer weather they may venture out, especially when their food supplies diminish.”
Hannah gave Raven a final hug, then turned to face the RCMP officer. “What if we don’t have a choice? What if one of our neighbors decides we’re next on the menu? Do we have the right to . . . you know? Do we have the right to shoot them?”
“You do what you have to do,” he said, thinking back to the couple they’d been forced to kill earlier in the day. “As far as I see it, there are no laws governing our actions but those of good people trying to survive in unrealistic circumstances. Let your conscience be your guide and shoot straight.”
“We hear you and thanks for coming,” Mick concluded, extending her hand and warmly taking his in a strong embrace. “Will we see you again?”
“I sure as hell hope so!”
“Oh, I didn’t mean that. Will you be coming this way again anytime soon?”
“Likely. I don’t know when but if you get lonely for some male companionship you know where to find me.”
The three roommates followed Nowicki onto the front porch and said their goodbyes. Raven listened from her spot near the fire, summoning the courage to express her own thanks and farewell. From where she sat, the faintest of dialogue reached her ears, the young man offering his best and his parting thoughts for her. She leapt to her feet, wiped her face with the bottom of her shirt and bolted for the door. The sudden movement and rush startled everyone, including Ziggy, who turned and caught Raven as she embraced him and kissed his cheek.
She was never an impulsive woman nor was she forward, in any sense of the word, but times were changing and so must she. “Zygmunt, thank you.”
“For what?” he questioned, enjoying the softness of her curves, which she pressed against him.
“For helping to take the hurt away. It’ll take time but I appreciate you being there for us. I won’t forget it.”
The lie suddenly seemed much larger than it had a few minutes ago. He pushed it away: down into the recesses of his mind, hoping he’d never have to explain his actions further but only time would tell. “Glad I could be of help. Good night,” he said, as she pulled herself away and waved a gentle adieu.
The hug and softness of her lips clouded his thoughts. An overwhelming call of duty drove the cruiser back down the Norquay trail but his wants and desires longed to be encircled in the warmth and friendship he’d felt while surrounded by the beauties in the remote cabin. His mind propelled him back to long nights in Afghanistan where he yearned for the touch of a loving woman and the understanding call of her voice. He’d shared intimate moments and known love but it had been too long and too little, and now with the world disintegrating all around them, he wondered if he’d ever know it again. Perhaps , he thought, if I play my cards right and can manage to stay alive.
A smile slowly lifted the corners of his mouth as he rounded a steep, angular curve in the road, lifting his headlights away from the pavement for just a moment only to bring them back again, illuminating a horde of Huskers tramping steadily up the roadway. Without a second thought, he executed a panicked three-point turn and gunned the engine for the cabin. Huskers rushed to beat at the windows, some hurling stones and sticks but all falling short as the cruiser fishtailed ahead.
Minutes later, with the siren wailing and the lights flashing, he skidded to an abrupt stop in front of the cabin. The girls rushed outside to see what had caused the unexpected, outlandish return. Officer Zygmunt Nowicki rushed towards them, his face white and a tremor to his voice, “You can’t stay here! Get your things. They’re coming, dozens of them, they’re coming! You’ve got to go.”
Chapter 5
Nathan Edwards, one time Canadian Olympian and
Hannah gave Raven a final hug, then turned to face the RCMP officer. “What if we don’t have a choice? What if one of our neighbors decides we’re next on the menu? Do we have the right to . . . you know? Do we have the right to shoot them?”
“You do what you have to do,” he said, thinking back to the couple they’d been forced to kill earlier in the day. “As far as I see it, there are no laws governing our actions but those of good people trying to survive in unrealistic circumstances. Let your conscience be your guide and shoot straight.”
“We hear you and thanks for coming,” Mick concluded, extending her hand and warmly taking his in a strong embrace. “Will we see you again?”
“I sure as hell hope so!”
“Oh, I didn’t mean that. Will you be coming this way again anytime soon?”
“Likely. I don’t know when but if you get lonely for some male companionship you know where to find me.”
The three roommates followed Nowicki onto the front porch and said their goodbyes. Raven listened from her spot near the fire, summoning the courage to express her own thanks and farewell. From where she sat, the faintest of dialogue reached her ears, the young man offering his best and his parting thoughts for her. She leapt to her feet, wiped her face with the bottom of her shirt and bolted for the door. The sudden movement and rush startled everyone, including Ziggy, who turned and caught Raven as she embraced him and kissed his cheek.
She was never an impulsive woman nor was she forward, in any sense of the word, but times were changing and so must she. “Zygmunt, thank you.”
“For what?” he questioned, enjoying the softness of her curves, which she pressed against him.
“For helping to take the hurt away. It’ll take time but I appreciate you being there for us. I won’t forget it.”
The lie suddenly seemed much larger than it had a few minutes ago. He pushed it away: down into the recesses of his mind, hoping he’d never have to explain his actions further but only time would tell. “Glad I could be of help. Good night,” he said, as she pulled herself away and waved a gentle adieu.
The hug and softness of her lips clouded his thoughts. An overwhelming call of duty drove the cruiser back down the Norquay trail but his wants and desires longed to be encircled in the warmth and friendship he’d felt while surrounded by the beauties in the remote cabin. His mind propelled him back to long nights in Afghanistan where he yearned for the touch of a loving woman and the understanding call of her voice. He’d shared intimate moments and known love but it had been too long and too little, and now with the world disintegrating all around them, he wondered if he’d ever know it again. Perhaps , he thought, if I play my cards right and can manage to stay alive.
A smile slowly lifted the corners of his mouth as he rounded a steep, angular curve in the road, lifting his headlights away from the pavement for just a moment only to bring them back again, illuminating a horde of Huskers tramping steadily up the roadway. Without a second thought, he executed a panicked three-point turn and gunned the engine for the cabin. Huskers rushed to beat at the windows, some hurling stones and sticks but all falling short as the cruiser fishtailed ahead.
Minutes later, with the siren wailing and the lights flashing, he skidded to an abrupt stop in front of the cabin. The girls rushed outside to see what had caused the unexpected, outlandish return. Officer Zygmunt Nowicki rushed towards them, his face white and a tremor to his voice, “You can’t stay here! Get your things. They’re coming, dozens of them, they’re coming! You’ve got to go.”
Chapter 5
Nathan Edwards, one time Canadian Olympian and
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