The Predator by Christopher Golden

Author:Christopher Golden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

16

The RV revved onto the street between the baseball field and the school. McKenna had lost track of who was behind the wheel now. All he could think to do was get to the vehicle. The Loonies ran in formation, boots pounding dirt, weapons clanking. They were following his orders now, but he didn’t have to order them to withdraw. There was no telling how many of those Predator dogs might be prowling around the neighborhood in search of Rory—or rather, in search of the helmet and gauntlet that, as far as McKenna knew, were still in his possession.

“Dad?” Rory said.

He glanced down, satisfied himself that Rory was running alongside him. Casey had put the kid down. She’d shot at the creatures herself, had carried Rory, helped to save his life. She might be a scientist, but she had proven to be just as formidable as he’d suspected from the moment he’d seen her chasing the Predator.

“You’re okay, kid,” Casey said now, speaking up when McKenna failed to.

“I’ve got you, Rory,” he added belatedly.

“What are they?” Rory asked, as they all crowded through the broken fence and raced toward the RV.

McKenna began to answer, but then he heard Lynch start in on a string of terrified profanities. The Loonies all pulled up short, bringing their weapons to bear. McKenna looked up to see the Predator itself, standing on top of the RV, waiting for them.

Casey said McKenna’s name, very quietly.

Rory took a step backward.

McKenna took aim. But the Predator was all business. It fired a single shot that obliterated a lamppost at the edge of the ball field, purely to show them all what it could do to them if it chose to. The lamppost melted and exploded, all at the same time. Whatever the weapon was, nobody wanted it aimed at them.

The Predator signaled to them, gesturing for them all to lower their weapons. Several of the men glanced at McKenna, ready to follow his lead. If he started shooting, or gave the order, they would open fire. They had seen what the Predator’s weaponry could do, but they had all had their chance to opt out of this fight and instead they had committed themselves to combat. None of these men were backing out now.

McKenna opened his mouth to issue an order—

Rory bolted for the school, the only shelter nearby.

“Kid, go!” Casey called, urging him on.

McKenna followed on his son’s heels. He felt the target on his back. If the Predator wanted him dead it would take only one shot, right now, and he’d be just as much wreckage as that lamppost. He wanted to scream to Rory to run a serpentine pattern, but the school was just ahead, and he knew that as long as he could keep himself between the Predator and his son, Rory would have a head start. The Loonies would buy them even more time. The only thing that mattered in that moment was his boy.

He glanced back and saw the Predator leap down from atop the RV.

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