Boondock Pilgrims by Horton Franklin

Author:Horton, Franklin [Horton, Franklin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | EMP
Amazon: B09P9L75F7
Goodreads: 60150213
Published: 2022-01-18T08:00:00+00:00

19

Holly, Dan, and Bird descended the mountain at a fast clip. They wore light packs and carried rifles. It was still dark, but there was a lightening of the sky that told them dawn was not far off. By the time they crossed the bridge into town, they were able to turn off their headlamps. They burned by the ranger station and were closing on the brewery a few minutes later.

Bird was in the lead, but Holly reached out and took his arm to slow him. "Be alert, Bird. Just because the place looked empty when you left doesn't mean there aren't threats around. Those people you saw could be in the mayor's place or any of the empty houses. Keep your attention broad, not focused. Wide beam, not spotlight."

Bird gave a distracted nod. "Got it."

It was hard for him to focus on her words. His mind was overloaded upon returning to this scene. Although everything leading up to Krin's abduction was replaying in his head, the rest was foggy. He could only remember sparse fragments of waking up and searching for Krin. Even his charge up the mountain to Dan and Holly was a blur that seemed to have taken place days ago.

When they reached the brewery, Dan headed for the front steps.

Bird didn’t even slow and started to circle the building. "They didn't come through that way," he said.

"I'm checking anyway." Dan continued up the steps.

Holly followed Bird and was forced to slow his roll again when they reached the back door. "Careful, Bird. Even if there's not someone inside, there may be clues left behind. There could be something that will tell us who they are or where they've taken Krin."

This time Bird listened. He didn't want to be responsible for doing anything that may delay locating his girlfriend. He waved Holly ahead of him. She crept up the steps and paused outside the open back door. She'd seen hundreds of back doors in this condition over her law enforcement career. The glass was shattered to the inside and the door jamb was splintered. The door itself was damaged alongside the knob.

"I'm guessing this was the result of a foot," Holly said. "Most people don't ram it with their shoulder if there's an upper glass."

"I didn't see it," Bird replied. "I was in our bedroom. Krin went to the kitchen to grab the ravioli we were heating up. That's when it happened."

Holly peered through the back door. She extracted one of Kyle's flashlights from a pocket and played it around inside the kitchen area. "I see the ravioli dumped on the floor. Krin must have had it in her hand when they came through." She stepped inside, glass crunching underfoot.

Bird followed, pushing the door fully open.

Dan came up the steps behind them. "The front door was unlocked."

Bird processed that. "I locked it when they showed up. Some of them must have gone out that way while I was unconscious."

"How many were there again?" Dan asked.

"Maybe a dozen or so.

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