Aftermath by Keith McArdle

Author:Keith McArdle [McArdle, Keith]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Action & Adventure, Apocalyptic, Australian, Dystopia, Epic, Fiction, Invasion, Science Fiction, War
Publisher: Keith McArdle
Published: 2017-10-04T23:00:00+00:00

KOOKABURRAS LAUGHED in piercing voices, welcoming the dawn as shards of pink speared across the eastern sky and illuminated the sparse clouds, making them glow salmon. Eventually the sun peeked over the horizon, slowly defeating night and throwing a blanket of light and warmth across the land. Before the sun could rise fully above the treetops, Mick was up, padding quietly around the house so as not to wake anyone else. Filling a glass of water, he self-administered his morning medications. There weren’t many, only three small tablets—one for blood pressure, an Aspirin, and another to keep his cholesterol down. He took them religiously. Mick did have another medication, a nitro-glycerine spray that went under his tongue, but that was only when he had chest pain. He had not used it in years.

Stretching, he rubbed his face and yawned. After making himself a coffee, he walked outside and sat on the veranda, looking out at the distant forest. Sipping the warm drink, he closed his eyes, savouring the taste. The first brew of the day was always the best.

A mob of kangaroos, nothing more than tiny blobs amongst the knee-high grass of a distant paddock, ate their morning fill. One of them, a large animal, probably an older buck, was alerted to something. Whether it was something it saw or heard, Mick could not be sure. Pausing with the cup of coffee half way to his lips, Mick watched the animal. It stood tall on its hind legs, looking towards the forest, ears forward, fight or flight instinct engaged. The entire mob was now up on their hind legs, all looking in the same direction.

Mick sipped his brew, thinking it might have been nothing more than a fox returning to its den after a successful night of hunting. The gunshots came in quick succession. Mick almost dropped his cup on the wooden floor.

“Fuck me!” he swore, recovering from the initial shock.

The kangaroos were in full flight, bounding fast away from the shots. Although the homestead itself was not immediately in danger, Mick knew whoever was shooting was on his land. With mounting anger, he knew the direction from which the continuing shots resounded was originating from the five hundred acre paddock into which Ben and he had mustered the cattle. For close to three weeks the four of them had enjoyed a quiet existence at Hi Barra. Some days it was difficult to imagine a war was still being waged out there. The piercing shots had been an unwelcome reminder that all was still not well.

Finn was the first to appear, dressed in clothes borrowed from Mick and holding his rifle in one hand. Mick saw that his eyes spoke two things; one was fear, the other was anger. Finn had a score to settle, and Mick knew the young Royal Marine would be an asset if things went south.

“Are we on?” Finn asked, approaching Mick.

The older man shrugged, finishing his coffee with one last gulp before placing the cup down beside him.

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