Clouds Before Rain by Marco Etheridge

Author:Marco Etheridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic Survival, Zombie, Zombie Apocalypse, Zombie Fiction, Loreth Anne White, A.G. Riddle, Pat Frank, Alexander Elliott, Angela Pepper, Anne Rice, Bella Forrest, D.W.Hawkins, David Beers, David Brin, Peter Heller, Ellis Storm, Harley Tate, Ilsa J. Black, Hugh Howey, Max Brooks, Nicholas Bella, J.L. Bourne, Jeremy Dyson, K.A. Merikan, Keegan Long, Nora Roberts, Philip K. Dick, Christa Wick, Christopher Moore, M. L. Spencer, Manuel Loureiro, Marc Elsberg, Matthew Mather, Maya Rose, Paul Anthony Jones, Richard Matheson, Roger Zelazny, Ryan Westfield, Samuel Butler, Soren Summers, Steve Reed, Steven Konkoly, Tony Grice, Veronica Roth, Walter M. Miller, Jr.
Publisher: Marco Etheridge
Published: 2018-11-17T16:00:00+00:00

ED BUKOWSKI MOVED UP the line of rental vans, his feet scrunching in the gravel of the parking lot. He held the butt of the rifle to his shoulder, barrel angled down. Dammit, I should have just shot the little bugger. Okay, let’s get this over with. His voice rang out across the quiet lot.

“Hey Kid, you hear me?”

There was no answer. He looked behind the vans, saw Jake moving on the other side. Ed raised a hand to Jake, motioning him forward. The man nodded. A shotgun held at the ready, Jake disappeared behind the row of vehicles.

“Listen Kid, we know you’re in there, okay? We just want to talk to you, that’s all. Don’t do anything stupid with that goose gun, you hear me?”

There was the faintest sound of feet crunching against gravel, then nothing. Ed edged toward the kid’s hiding place, keeping the front of the van between them.

“Hey Kid, listen, it’s cold out here. I don’t feel much like playing hide-and-seek. And I damn sure don’t want to shoot you. What do you say we just have ourselves a conversation, civilized like, no shooting?”

Ed saw Jake slide into view, creeping into position behind the van. He looked back to Ed, nodded, then raised the shotgun to his shoulder.

“Dammit, Son, there’s a guy behind you with a shotgun, and I’ve got a rifle on you. Let’s just stop this foolishness and talk a bit, how’s that? Otherwise, we just shoot you and go back where it’s warm.”

A disheveled figure rose from the side of the van. His face was smeared with dirt. A filthy watch cap was pulled low on his head. A long, double-barreled shotgun dangled from one of his grimy hands. Ed took in the sorry sight, easing the rifle down a bit.

“Why don’t you set that goose gun up there on the hood of that van? Damn thing must weigh a ton.”

The young man shrugged. The shotgun made a hollow thump against the sheet metal of the hood.

“Don’t even know if the damn thing works.”

The boy’s voice sounded thick in his throat.

“What’s that?”

“I said I don’t even know if the damn thing works. I’ve been lugging that heavy bastard around for weeks.”

“Is it loaded?”

“Yeah, but it’s old, the damn shells are old, probably wet, too. I never even shot the thing. Just been hiding.”

“I see. What’s your name, Son?”

“I’m Bobby.”

The young man reached up to wipe at his nose. He looked down at the ground, then raised his eyes to face the man with the rifle.

“It’s good to meet you, Bobby. I’m Ed, and the fella standing behind you is Jake.”

The pale figure half-turned, raised a hand towards the man behind him, then dropped his hand to his side.

Ed shook his head, then slung the rifle over his shoulder. Jesus Wept, the poor kid is scared to death. How the hell did he manage to survive at all. Then he heard Jake’s voice.

“Hey Bobby, you like hot chocolate?”

The young man blinked his eyes, looking confused.

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