Refuge - Shock Point Book 8: A Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series by DC Layton & Mike Kraus

Author:DC Layton & Mike Kraus [Layton, DC & Kraus, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Muonic Press Inc
Published: 2023-03-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Alma Garcia. Harmony Ranch, Arizona

Matias burst into the tent. The light from the wind-up flashlight offered a weak yellow glow. His cheeks were rosy and a sheen of sweat covered his forehead. He beamed.

“It’s working?” Alma left the tarpaulin she’d been packing in her bag.

Matias nodded. “We had it charging up the batteries on Kit’s fire radios. And before that, Nora’s phone.”

“It’s no use charging a phone. There’s no signal.” Eric’s stolen phone was tossed in the corner of her sleeping pod somewhere.

“She had a special satellite one. It’s still working.” His eyes were wide and excited.

“What?” Alma abandoned the bag and shoved her feet into her sneakers. Her heart thundered.

“Taylor used it to ring a reporter. Probably a friend of Nora’s.”

Emelia poked her head out from her sleeping compartment. “And are more people coming to help us?”

“I don’t know.” Matias slumped to the groundsheet.

Alma pushed aside the tent flap. “Where’s the phone now?”

“It was on the bench in the barn. I can show you.”

“No, stay here.” Alma pointed to the half-empty bag. “I want you to pack up everything we have.”

Emelia crawled out of her pod. “Stop. Tell us what’s going on!”

Alma stepped out of the tent. The moonlight cast a wide but weak glow through the clouds. A few adults were moving around like misty ghosts and a child cried. The whoosh of the heavy plastic yurt doors and muffled conversations drifted in the night air. The groundsheet crackled, the green glow through the fabric extinguished and Emelia rushed out, forcing her foot into the laced-up sneaker with Matias close behind.

“Get over yourself, Alma. We’re coming with you.” Emelia grabbed Alma’s hand and dropped the flashlight into it.

Emelia’s jutting chin was unmistakable. Alma shrugged. “Fine.”

They half jogged to the gate near the back of the barn. Hiding in the shadowed light and being mere children, they were easily ignored. Alma rounded the barn and walked through the tall, open door. She wound the flashlight and switched it on. “Where is it, Mati?”

Matias pushed past her and his bike on the stand. The machine was a thing of beauty made out of junk. What wasn’t beautiful was her bike, with the back tire removed. “Mati, what did you do to my bike?”

He turned to face her, his lower lip trembling. “My bike is too small for the adults, and me and Robin can’t pedal very long. We needed a bigger bike and yours is broken anyway.”

Alma clamped her lips shut to keep from yelling at him. She hadn’t explained that they needed the bikes to leave, because—per Kit’s instructions—she hadn’t wanted to worry them. “Where is the phone?”

He shrugged. “They must have taken it into the house. It’s valuable, maybe?”

“Can I try?” Alma turned. Emelia was standing by the bike with her hand on the handlebars.

“Sure. Robin already had a go.” Matias’ face glowed with what Alma considered pride, as it should. He had created something worthwhile. If the community got through the next day, if by some miracle Michael and his crew were overthrown, they would all benefit from it.

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