One of Us Will Be Dead by Morning (The Final War) by David Moody

Author:David Moody [Moody, David]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2017-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

18

Three people need to get off the beach with only two climbing ropes. Matt takes the long way around. The narrow footpath is no less precarious. The rocks are craggy with plenty of foot- and handholds, but the constant rain and the spray from the crashing waves leave every surface feeling unnaturally slippery, like they’re covered with grease.

It’s a lot easier to spot the route from the bottom looking up than it was from the top looking down. Matt’s passed the fork in the path, but while the route around to the main beach and the jetty appears relatively gentle and clear, the option he’s taken feels almost as steep as the rock-face climb he came this way to avoid. He’s barely halfway up, and a hell of a drop is already to his left. The narrow footway curls and weaves around the edge of the headland, constantly climbing, but never direct. There’s barely enough room to put one foot in front of the other in places, but he can’t go back. The way ahead is largely hidden by the mist and the swollen bulge of the rock face, but his only option is to keep climbing.

The other two are waiting impatiently when he finally reaches the top. He drags himself over to them on his hands and knees, thankful, and not a little surprised, that he’s made it in one piece. “I hate heights,” he says, but there’s no chance of any sympathy. One look at Natalie immediately focuses him on the task at hand. She has her bow and arrow ready.

The three of them march across the island in silence, grouped together against the tireless wind and rain. They’re in full view of the base because there’s nowhere to hide and no way of approaching unseen. “Stay close,” Natalie tells them. “United front and all that shite.”

Panting with effort. Racked with nerves.

The buildings look just as they left them yesterday, and that’s a relief. Lights are on and they can hear the steady chugging of the generator in it’s shedlike outbuilding. “Reckon they’ll let us back in?” Matt asks, genuinely unsure.

“Who knows,” Natalie replies. “Anyway, it’s not them we need to worry about.”

The door to the main building is shut. They approach it with caution. Matt reaches for the door handle, then stops and looks to the others for reassurance. Paul nods at him, urging him on, but Matt changes tack and decides to knock first. He hammers with his fist. “We don’t want them freaking out and going off at us half-cocked.”

When there’s no immediate reply, he does try the handle. That the door’s not locked catches him off guard. Opening it takes a fraction of the effort he expected, and he grunts with surprise, losing his balance and almost falling into the building. He picks himself up and goes inside.

“Hello…?”

Nothing.

His eyes adjust to the harsh lighting. He takes a few steps forward, then stops.

“Oh, Christ.”

He finds Frank first.

He looks like he’s been in one hell of a fight.

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