Deep Thaw (Denver Burning Book 3) by Dennison Algor X

Author:Dennison, Algor X. [Dennison, Algor X.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9: Through the Ruined City

Carson moved as quickly as he dared through the streets of what had once been the largest metropolis in the intermountain area.

It was a deeply disturbing scene, despite his planning, his training, and the obvious realities of what happened when someone hit the reset button.

Beside the hazy sky and vague but pervasive smell of smoke, what most struck him was the way a city could quickly go to seed unless constantly taken care of. In only a matter of weeks, every garbage can or dumpster he passed was filled to overflowing, and it appeared that Dana was not the only citizen to raid the garbage for food. Trash blew and rustled everywhere; the inevitable corollary to a consumer-culture suddenly bereft of its services. Six weeks at the end of summer was enough to cause noticeable vegetation overgrowth. Every lawn was unkempt and spilling onto sidewalks and driveways, verging toward an urban wilderness.

And not just flora. Twice Carson stopped to let large packs of feral dogs scamper by. There were no ratty little lap-things in these packs, no Chihuahuas or Shi-Tzu’s. These were big, ungroomed, slat-ribbed animals. He saw several breeds he recognized, none smaller than a mid-size lab.

Both packs paused when they saw him, and Carson had to brandish his weapon. They understood and loped off, but Carson was under no illusions about his chances had he been unarmed. He had heard news stories, years back, of isolated farming communities in Canada and other places where feral packs of formerly domesticated but abandoned dogs had become severe problems for their communities, attacking lone humans and even killing some people. It wasn’t just humans who could turn primitive and savage when the lights went out, it was man’s best friend as well.

How easy was it, Carson wondered, for a domesticated dog to shed its breeding and training, to revert once more into mere wild canine? Probably about as easy as for a human to shed the vestiges of civilization. Hunger, fear, lack of structure or any higher authority. It wouldn’t take much. Was there a beast lurking in the dark heart of all dogs, simply waiting for the right conditions in which to emerge? Could the same be said of humans?

Carson shook his head. You think too much.

He trudged on, keeping to cover when possible, scouting thoroughly before crossing an intersection or street. Cars were strewn everywhere. Some were parked neatly along the curbs, or in driveways and parking lots, dead where they stood when the EMP hit. But the roads were full of others who had been driving when struck, and these had come to rest in haphazard fashion. Most had coasted to a stop by the side of the road and been abandoned there. But intersections were a nightmare; cars waiting at red lights and stop signs, often backed up five or ten deep, were still there, turning every intersection into a snarl of orphaned steel and glass. Some had burned in place, whether from nearby fires or the victims of firefights, Carson didn’t bother to find out.

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