Hunting Grounds by Shawn Keys

Author:Shawn Keys [Keys, Shawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ISBN Canada
Published: 2024-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

When the sisters reappeared, Tyson approved of their packing choices. None of them were overladen, carrying packs that suited their various sizes and strengths. Two water bottles were hitched to each, a good sign they were thinking about hydration and long-term endurance. I shouldn’t be so surprised, Tyson thought. Their mother has a practical side and probably taught them well. Not to mention, they’ve come through all the other challenges so far. They wouldn’t be alive if they didn’t have good heads on their shoulders.

He ticked two pointed fingers toward the river. “I want to cut across here. That first hunting pair already swept through without picking up a scent. They might suppose the area is clear and give us an opening to slip through.”

“Not sure I’m ready to get soaked. There are things in my pack that might get ruined if the waterproofing fails,” Naomi said.

“Hm, yeah,” Tyson agreed. The California sun was shining again, now that the alien acid-rain clouds had done their evil work. But it would take a few hours for the heat to dry them out again, and he wasn’t looking forward to marching those hours with squelching boots. His own pack had a water-resistant layer, but if it got immersed in the water, he doubted that would be enough to protect the contents. “The next bridge isn’t until Vacaville proper. The canal does sweep north, so we could follow it along, but that keeps us on the same bank as where those hunters might pick up our trail.”

“There’s a way,” Kara interjected, climbing the eastern side of the hollow. They all followed, and she led down the trail to what looked like an abandoned equipment depot. Much of it was modern enough to be plastic, and thus most was eaten away to nothing. But there was a wooden rowboat, upside down and on struts as if for repairs.

“That’s fifty years old,” Suann complained, circling around it. “I can see through some of the slats. The rain must have chewed away whatever sealed it up.”

“It only has to get us to the other side,” Kara said.

“Might be better if it sinks after that,” Amber noted. “Unless you saw these monsters carrying their own boat with them.”

“They might not be afraid of swimming,” Suann retorted, arguing the other side.

Tyson had his own fears that the strange invaders might have supernatural powers to call on for help, but he kept his suspicions to himself. No sense fearing magical monsters who can walk on water until we know more. Giving the rowboat a critical eye, he said, “I’m not sure this will make it all sixty feet across.”

Kara thunked her pack onto the ground and tugged open a pouch. “Then we give it some help. Best kind of help there is.” She pulled out a roll of duct tape. If exposed to the rain, it surely would have melted, but she had apparently found some stashed under the shelter of the caves.

“The right tool for the apocalypse,” Tyson huffed, appreciating the small bit of humor.

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