The Renewal by Steven Smith

Author:Steven Smith [Smith, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-27T04:00:00+00:00

13

Alex stood in a second-floor window looking across Ward Parkway at the enormous church on the opposite side of the divided boulevard. It's light-colored stone, red tile roof and large stained-glass windows seeming to sparkle in the sun, setting it apart from the trees over which it towered and the houses surrounding it.

They were in the fifth house they had entered so far. They had found bodies in three of the houses but the other one had simply been empty - abandoned but showing no sign of looting or vandalism. Food was still in the cupboards, indicating that the family had left before running out of food and had not returned, and there were no signs of a rushed or frantic departure. It had seemed the same in this one.

Like the houses, the furnishings were expensive and so was the food. The other abandoned house had an undisturbed wine cellar and three had safes they were unable to open. Their next point of interest was the church, which Aaron had suggested as a possible defensible position.

Aaron had returned with his squad at sunrise and had given his report before eating a scout ration bar and hitting the sack in the Country Club clubhouse.

They had diverted their original course when they smelled smoke and headed east from Ward Parkway on 55th Street in order to stay on high ground, finally arriving at a large park where they held up, watching and listening until it was time to head back. They had heard sounds during the night, though none they were able to identify, but they did determine that the smell of smoke grew stronger as they moved farther east.

Now, Alex was watching the area around the church in preparation for their approach.

"All clear, boss," said a scout coming into the room behind him. "There's a cool old motorcycle in the garage and some guns in a wooden cabinet in the den. Some food, too."

Alex turned around to look at the scout. "What kind of guns?"

"Shotguns and rifles that we can see. There are a couple of drawers that are locked."

"What kind of motorcycle?"

The scout shrugged. "It looks like a Harley, but it says Indian."

A smile spread slowly across Alex's face. "No kidding?"

The scout shook his head. "No. Do you know about them?"

Alex nodded, still smiling. "Oh yeah."

"Well, we're clear here. You want us to bring the guns?"

Alex thought for a minute. Leaving guns behind went against their SOP, but they didn't need them and lugging around the extra weight would just make their current task more difficult. He shook his head. "We'll pick them up on the way back. And the Indian."

"Okay. We're ready when you are."

Alex nodded and turned back to the window, hearing the scout leave the room and go down the stairs. He scanned the street again, seeing no movement, then looked back at the church and saw a thin wisp of black smoke in the distance. Looking at the church one last time, he turned and left the room.

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