The Freeze: Book One: An end of days survivalist thriller by D.W. Ulsterman

Author:D.W. Ulsterman [Ulsterman, D.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-17T23:00:00+00:00

14.

“Yes indeed—that’s the ticket.” Old Buck sat content in his torn and tattered chair next to the fireplace. He gave Grace a twinkly eyed smile. “Are you enjoying yours?”

Grace took a sip of the whiskey. “It sure is nice and warm going down.”

“Bless that bit of liquid warmth as we’re surrounded by this icy tomb.” Old Buck scowled. “Speaking of which, why are you here after I went to all that trouble to drive you a safe enough distance to get away?”

“I don’t think I’m actually here,” Grace answered. “I’m pretty sure this is a dream.”

“A dream? Huh. Imagine that.” Old Buck smiled again. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad for the company.” He reached down and picked up the half-empty bottle from the floor and refilled his glass. “More for you?”

“I’m good.” Grace took another sip, grateful for the blazing fire that barely managed to keep the room temperature above freezing. She looked at Old Buck. “Are you afraid of dying?”

“Sure I am.” He stared down into his glass. “You weren’t expecting that kind of answer, were you? No, when people get to be my age the younger folks like to think we’re ready to go. That we’re tired and used up. Well, guess what? That’s a pile of horseshit. Life is a gift—one that I’m not too keen on returning.”

“Then why didn’t you keep driving the truck and come with me?”

Old Buck shook his head. “It was my duty to get you far enough away that you had a chance. Me coming with you was never a possibility—I would have slowed you down. I can hardly walk my own property let alone miles and miles of frozen abyss. Trying to stay with you would have been damn selfish of me and I wasn’t about to have getting you killed be my final act. Sure, I might fear death but I sure as hell won’t let that fear control me. I’m old-school—I do what needs to be done.”

The house groaned and shook as the fire popped and hissed.

“Won’t be long now,” Old Buck continued. “That ice wall is a hungry sonofabitch.” He tilted his head. “You hear that too, don’t you? I’m half deaf on my best day so I know you must be hearing it as well. It’s like the big standing drum you see at the back of an orchestra—boom, boom, boom. That’s the ice breaking apart and then reforming as it expands, carving through dirt and stone and our little corner of paradise here.” He sighed. “Won’t be long.” He drank, swirled the whiskey, and then looked at Grace with narrowed eyes. “You sure this is just your dream because if it isn’t and you’re really here I’m going to be pissed.”

“I’m dreaming.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s a cave far from here—I’m sleeping inside of it right now.”

“You alone?”

“No,” Grace answered. “I’m with a young man.”

“Can he be trusted?”

“I think so.”

“It’s safe there?”

“It was, sort of, but not anymore. We have to go back to check on his family. He thinks something might have happened to them.

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