Better Late: An EMP Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series (The Crusader Book 4) by Tom Abrahams

Author:Tom Abrahams [Abrahams, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Piton Press LLC
Published: 2022-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

D-DAY + 4 YEARS, 7 MONTHS, 7 DAYS

FLORENCE, KENTUCKY

Beck counted the eyes. Eight of them. No, ten. Ten eyes meant five pairs. Five pairs meant five animals.

He and Regina were the northernmost watch. They were prone on the shoulder of the highway on the side opposite the camp. They were next to each other, using packs to pad their forearms, keeping a lookout for any coming threats.

Beck guessed it was close to dawn, which was typically the darkest part of the night. It was also the coldest, and Regina had her body pressed next to his. Neither of them had slept, and though other scout teams had traded out and gone to bed for a few hours of rest, Beck refused. Regina would not leave his side, so she too kept watch all night.

Beck looked away from his rifle scope, blinked to clear his vision, and looked again through the glass. They were there. All five sets of eyes glowed in the distance. They were on the highway, standing sentry or awaiting the right moment to advance.

Despite seeing their eyes, Beck was unsure to what they belonged, other than being positive they were not human. These were animals. They were low to the ground, and though he could not be sure, it appeared to him that at least two pairs of eyes stalked back and forth along the highway.

He whispered to Regina, “You see that?”

“What?”

“The eyes.”

Regina lifted her rifle and looked through the scope. She swept the weapon from left to right, scanning the distance. “I see them.”

“How many do you count?”

She mouthed the numbers as she took another pass with the rifle scope. “Five. Five sets. How long do you think they’ve been there?”

“No telling. I just now saw them, but it’s possible they’ve been there a while. They’re probably one hundred yards out. If it weren’t the pitch black, I don’t think we’d see them at all.”

“How far? One hundred yards? Really?”

“Maybe they’re not that far,” Beck said, “and whatever they are, they’re looking at us. You think they’re big cats?”

“Only if they’re lions.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Lions are the only big cats to hunt in packs, or prides. Everything else tends to be solitary predators.”

“Then dogs?”

“You mean, like, wolves?”

“Yes.”

“It’s possible. I hope not. Wolves are incredibly smart predators.”

“How do you know this?”

“I like to read, remember?”

“How could I forget? You’re always reminding me.”

Regina nudged him with her shoulder. “Funny, but now probably isn’t the best time for your sarcasm. Chances are they’re not the only ones around. Like I said, they’re apex predators. Typically, we wouldn’t have to worry about them. Normally, they wouldn’t attack humans.”

“But things are not normal.”

“Exactly,” Regina said. “I think we should warn the others.”

“What if I just took a shot and scared them off?”

“You could do that,” she said, “but that might cause more problems than it solves. They’re probably not the only pack watching us right now, and if they’re hunting humans, they probably wouldn’t be deterred by the sounds of gunshots.

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