The Path of Ashes [Omnibus Edition] by Parker Brian

Author:Parker, Brian [Parker, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | Dystopian
Publisher: Muddy Boots Press
Published: 2016-04-23T04:00:00+00:00

TEN

“The little girl, Anna, that’s Grandma, right?” Tanya asked with wide eyes.

Aiden adjusted the pillow under his arm and used his good hand to pull it in closer to his side. “Yes, child. Kayla, was the little girl that Aeric and Tyler rescued when they went to Missouri to find Aeric’s family. She grew up and had Anna, whom I married years later, after the fall of the city.”

“Are you making all of this up, Grandad?”

He chuckled and accidentally swallowed a little bit of saliva, causing him to choke. Tanya backed away, frightened that he was going to be sick. He raised his hand to let her know that he was fine. “I’m okay. I’m okay, just swallowed some spit.”

He gestured weakly and said, “Come back over here. I promise that I’m not making this up. It really happened.”

“What about Kate’s sister, uh…”

“Julie.”

“Yeah. What about Julie, is she in this story too?”

“No, I’m sorry, child. Julie died of the flu or dysentery or one of the other godawful diseases that hit the city after her sister died. So many people died between when Aeric first came to the city and when I was born. It’s a miracle that most of our family survived.”

Tanya’s eyes fell to her lap. Aiden had to strain to hear her tiny voice, “Grandad, why does everyone die?”

“It’s a part of life, sweetheart. Everyone—and everything—dies at some point. There’s nothing we can do about it. The real measure of a life is how you choose to live it.”

“Like you and Aeric?”

“Yes, like all of our ancestors. I’ll die one day—no, not today,” he smiled at her expression. “When I do, I want you and your cousins and all of the family to say that I lived an honorable life. That you are proud to be related to me.”

“Of course I am, Grandad,” she said and hugged his neck a little too roughly.

“Then I can die a happy man, and know that I did my duty for our family.”

*****

Aeric waved at the trucks as they headed back towards San Angelo on the old road. He’d gone to Lorelei and asked for a lift to the edge of the renewed patrolling area. He hadn’t wanted to risk going any closer to Austin in the Shooters’ loud, steam-powered trucks, so he figured the town of Eden would be fine. That way, the city’s defenders could make a loop through the outer defensive perimeter and it would save him about thirty miles of riding.

Of course, Lorelei had insisted on coming with him, which he’d refused. Her place was leading the defense of the city and ensuring that all of the residents there were safe. She eventually relented. It didn’t stop her from trying to load him down with more weapons than he could feasibly handle. He’d taken a 30.06 rifle with a high-powered scope and silencer, instead of the 30-30 that he’d had forever, because he needed the stopping power at a distance that the larger caliber would give him.

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