Shadowmark (The Shadowmark Trilogy Book 1) by TM Catron

Author:TM Catron [Catron, TM]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Antimatter Books
Published: 2016-06-02T06:00:00+00:00

Mina woke to Doyle shaking her roughly. The moon had set behind the mountains and the campsite was pitch-black.

“Whassa matter?” she asked, heart pounding.

“We have to go.”

“Now?”

“Hurry and find your gear,” he said.

Mina had nothing to pack but the blanket wrapped around her, having gathered everything else before going to sleep. They ate granola in silence. In a few minutes, the predawn light made it possible for her to stumble after Doyle who led the way up the mountain.

“Why are we leaving?”

“Shhh.”

They left the valley and climbed over the ridge. Peaceful green mountains stretched out before them in all directions. Mina could not remember the last time she had felt so secure, even though Doyle seemed to be on edge, taking only one short break the entire day. Once, a whiff of smoke reached them on the wind, but the sky remained clear. Mina looked at Doyle to see his reaction. He ignored her. Tired of his rudeness, Mina didn’t say anything either.

They didn’t encounter anything that day except for a small black bear that ambled away from them, and Mina wondered why more refugees had not sought the protection of the mountains. But as the days wore on, Mina guessed they never encountered other people because Doyle expertly avoided them. A few more times he broke camp or woke her before dawn to leave, never explaining why. Mina learned not to ask about these sudden urges to travel, since he only responded with exasperated silence.

And Mina was hopelessly lost. At first, she tried to keep track of their route by using the sun as a guide, but their hikes through the forest only led them into wilder territory, making the idea of walking in one direction laughable. She had no idea if they were walking toward Atlanta or away from it.

We’re going to be okay, right?

When Dad passed from the same type of cancer as Aunt Julie, Lincoln was in his second year at MIT. He flew with Mina to see Karen and Tom, and arranged for Mina to move in with them, later visiting as often as he could.

The two of them had always struggled on, helping each other when possible.

Guilt returned, reclaiming its heavy place inside her chest, pressing into her heart. Have I abandoned Lincoln? She should suggest to Doyle they walk south.

After the third hastily abandoned campsite, Mina reminded Doyle she wanted to find her brother.

“Yes, I remember.” He shrugged.

I should be able to leave, to take care of myself.

The weight sank deeper into her chest. Mina hated to admit she was fully dependent on Doyle for her survival. Yet the more she observed him, the more she understood how woefully ignorant she was, and she resented him for it.

A new pang of guilt shot through her. Doyle hadn’t requested anything beyond Mina “pulling her weight,” as he had called it. Build the fire, keep watch some nights, and boil water. Doyle found the food. A simple system. Mina should be grateful.

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