Scavenger by David Morrell

Author:David Morrell [Morrell, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Suspense fiction, General, Time capsules, Science Fiction, Suspense, Adventure, Thrillers, Men's Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9781593154417
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Published: 2007-03-12T00:00:00+00:00

LEVEL SIX

AVATAR

1

The clouds thickened, darkening the valley.

“We don’t have much time. Do what I tell you.” Viv swung to survey the ruins. Her gaze lingered over her husband’s body and his crushed, bloody face. Then she roused herself into motion again. “There.” She pointed toward a fallen building where the walls and roof had landed in a crisscross pattern that resembled a pyramid.

Amanda hurried with her.

“Help me pull the boards from the middle,” Viv said. “We need to make a hollow.”

Amanda tugged the boards out, splinters jabbing her fingers.

“Put the boards on top. Overlay them so they cover gaps. We’re trying to make a roof.”

A cold wind pushed Amanda. Shivering, she glanced over her shoulder at the angry clouds roiling across the valley.

“Quickly.” Viv layered more boards.

Amanda worked harder. A cavity formed. As the wind nearly blew her cap away, she pulled and stacked.

Grunting with effort, Viv deepened the hollow. “Do you know what hypothermia is?”

“A drop in body temperature.”

“In the mountains, weather changes rapidly. Feel how cold that wind is.” Viv crisscrossed more boards. “If we get wet and chilled, we’ve got three hours before our core temperature drops so low that we’ll die. Basically, we’ll shiver to death.”

Amanda looked over her shoulder again, but this time not toward the storm: instead toward Ray. She saw him in an open area beyond the ruins, his green jumpsuit vivid against the dark sky. He stared down at something, obviously disturbed by it, but she couldn’t see what it was.

Viv whirled toward the wreckage. “That door. Help me with it.”

The door lay under part of a roof. It looked flimsy, three boards secured by cross boards. When they freed and lifted it, Amanda thought it might fall apart. The wind almost blew it from their hands. Struggling, Amanda glanced toward the open area two blocks away where Ray now faced the storm. He seemed so disturbed by what he’d found that only now was he reacting to the approaching weather.

They reached the shelter. Amanda saw Ray hurry toward the ruins. Then flying dust obscured him. Rain pelted the ground. Chunks of wood sped past her.

Amanda set the door flat. More rain hit the ground. She felt drops strike her back while she and Viv squirmed into the hollow. It smelled of mold and dust. She and Viv reached out and dragged the door in their direction, tilting it sideways against the opening. They left a gap on each end where they clung to the door’s edges.

The wind whistled against the gaps. Cold rain struck Amanda’s fingers.

“Don’t let go!” Viv’s shout was amplified by the small enclosure. Even so, the wind was so loud that Amanda barely heard. “Whatever happens, don’t let go!”

A hand grabbed the door and tugged.

“Let me in!” Ray yelled.

“No room!” Viv screamed.

“You’ve got to let me in!”

“Go to hell!”

Another hand grabbed the door. Ray yanked so furiously that he opened a gap at the top. His face leaned toward them: gaunt, beard-stubbled, eyes filled with rage. Rain streaked at him.

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