Tempest of Tennessee (Episode 3): Tempest of Tennessee by McDonald Terry

Author:McDonald, Terry [McDonald, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalypse | Dystopian
Published: 2018-05-09T04:00:00+00:00

“Lower the barrel on your rifle and I will.”

“Sorry.” I lowered the barrel. I hadn’t meant to keep the rifle pointed in his direction.

He stopped ten feet away and said, “Thank you for running the dogs off. I’m lucky they came when I was close to a tree to climb.”

Confused about one point, I asked, “Where are your weapons?”

“I don’t have any. My father says an armed black man in these times is a dead black man. It’s easy enough to stay out of sight when I’m out for food.”

I didn’t mince words “That’s the damnedest, stupidest survival tactic I’ve ever heard told.”

He didn’t take offense. With a slight smile, he said, “I agree, but that’s my father’s rule.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m fourteen. How old are you?”

I almost said sixteen, but it dawned on me that the chaos of the apocalypse had let Christmas and my birthday slide by unnoticed.

“I’m seventeen.”

“You don’t look seventeen.”

Sharp toned, I said, “Well I am. How many are in your family?”

“My father told me not to answer any questions from strangers.”

“What instruction did he give for if the stranger threatened to kill you if you didn’t answer?”

“In that case, I could answer.”

“Okay, pretend like I’m going to kill you.”

He gave me another half-smile. “Since you made it clear, there are seven of us, Mother, Father, my sister, three years older, a brother a year younger, and two more girls, twelve and ten.”

“Thanks for making me not kill you.”

This time it was a full smile. “You’re weird. What are you doing out? If I were you, I wouldn’t keep going the way you’re going. Jackson is dangerous… it’s a good place to be killed. They might not kill you though. They’d want you for other things.”

“Yeah, I can guess what those ‘other things’ are. How far do you live from here?”

“Not far.”

“If I were to visit your place, would I be safe?”

“Mom and dad wouldn’t hurt a flea if it was biting them. Why?”

“Most people aren’t a danger to you, but sooner or later, you or all of you all are going to run into the wrong people and they’ll kill you just because.”

He didn’t contradict me. “I know it’s only a matter of time. So do my parents.”

“Well, let’s go see em. If we hurry, there may be enough time for you all to join up with my friends. You’ll be safer with us.”

In a doubtful tone he asked, “Your friends won’t mind us joining with you?”

Semi-joking, I said, “If they do, it’ll be them lined up in my sights. No, there won’t be any objections.”

“Where will we be moving to?”

“To a ranch on the other side of Finger.”

Puzzled, he asked, “What is Finger?”

“Yeah, that’s a weird name for a town.”

“Do you have horses?”

“Not yet, but they’re on our ‘get’ list.”

“You can talk to my parents, but I don’t know if they’ll agree to move in with a group of strangers.”

“It won’t hurt to ask though, will it? What’s your name?”

“Melvin Freeman. Everyone calls me Mel.

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