Toward the Brink (Book 3) by Craig A. McDonough Page A

needed, and that might mean another day here. But with their futures at stake, there was no choice.
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    “ W hat are we doing , Elliot?” Allan caught up.
    “We have to check the weapons and ammo stocks. The president—Bob—and his group were headed for an island off the coast from Vancouver. Chuck and Aunt Kath, even Mulhaven, are excited about the possibility.” Elliot opened the door of the motor home then halted to answer his friend.
    Was it three or four months ago we sat and talked about our future and what it would bring?
    Fatigue had set in; memories, old and not so old, played on Elliot’s mind more as the days passed. Since this outbreak, he’d witnessed things nobody would easily forget.
    But hasn’t it built to this over the last few years? Elliot knew this to be a fact.
    “But you’re not?”
    “Well, I’m kinda of two minds. The proposal of using an island as a natural obstruction is a good one. But I’m not sure if an island will support us, y’know?”
    “How do you mean ‘support us,’ Elliot?”
    “Food, Allan. Food. I don’t know if we can grow food on the island.”
    “Do any of us know how to grow food?” Cindy asked. She knew as much about gardening as nuclear fusion.
    “Sure, Aunt Kath has grown vegetables ever since she came here.”
    “Well, that settles it. We’ll just help Kath to grow the vegetables and stuff.”
    “I wish it were that simple, Allan. We’ll probably have to build a hothouse and set the windmill thing up … and all this will take time. Chuck doesn’t want to spend another night here, but we’ll have to in order to gather the necessary supplies, which is why I’m of two minds. We already have the ability to grow food here, right now.” Elliot pointed to the glass hothouse toward the back of the property.
    “But the foamers, Elliot. You know we can’t stay here with so many foamers around.”
    “Yeah,” Elliot conceded. “It’s just this constant running is getting to me—to us all!”
    In the short time they had been here at his aunt’s, Elliot had taken note of her setup. His aunt was well versed in the art of self-sufficiency. She’d always been regarded as the strange one of the family, Elliot’s dad, James, had explained. Elliot couldn’t help but wonder what their family would have to say now.
    If they were still alive.
    “Well, you’re just as important to this group as Chuck is, Elliot. If you believe we have to stay another night to gather what we need, you’ll just have to tell him—and don’t take no for an answer!” Cindy told him. She had faith in Elliot, maybe more than he had in himself. She would bring out his confidence in time.
    “And with just the motor home and the Hummer, Elliot, I don’t see how we could fit everyone. Where is this island, anyway?”
    “I’m not sure, Allan, but I have a fair idea it might be in the ocean.” Elliot looked over at his younger friend and raised a single eyebrow.
    “Smart ass!” Allan retorted before all three fell into laughter. Just like old times back in high school. They’d laughed a lot back then. Back when they thought the world was a mess and needed to be changed. How they missed that world now.
    “So, what’s the count?” The Tall Man had come outside to check on them.
    “Err, we haven’t started, Chuck, we—”
    “What? What the fuck have you been doing out here?”
    “Just who in the—” Cindy stopped, Elliot’s hand on her shoulder calming her.
    “You have no right to speak to any of us like that, Mr. Black! ” Elliot had never addressed him as such before, and it had the desired effect.
    The Tall Man took a step back. “You’re right, of course. Forgive me.” The Tall Man took a deep breath.
    “We do, Chuck, and we understand,” Elliot responded. “Now that you’re out here, you can help us with the count.”
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    W hile they checked on the weapons, back inside the house maps were brought out to determine the distance and travel time to Graham