The Reckoning Series Box Set [Books 1-3] by West Lee

Author:West, Lee [West, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | Dystopian | EMP | Thriller
Published: 2019-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

— 25 —

Nancy stood back and let Frank hack away at the dense undergrowth of the forest with his hand ax. She couldn’t tell if they had reached the boundary of the state park or if this was a thick cluster of undergrowth common to the area. She hoped it was the former. Once inside the park, they should be able to find a trail that would allow them to make solid progress home. The slow pace felt agonizing, especially after seeing the poor dog left behind by its owners. She worried about Rudy, their aging little mutt.

They had left Rudy at home with Nancy’s mom when they departed on the cruise, thinking they’d be gone for a week—not more than three weeks. If her mother had been taken by the soldiers, Rudy might have been left behind without food or water.

“You okay?” asked Brett as he took her hand.

“Barely. That really freaked me out.”

“Me too. But we don’t know what happened. For all we know the people who lived there might have left their dog behind under any circumstances. Or the dog could have been dead before they left. We just don’t know what happened. I’m trying not to jump to conclusions about Rudy’s fate.”

“You’re right. I’ll try to do the same. With any luck, we should be home soon and can see for ourselves what happened.”

Joe approached Frank and said, “How about if I take over for a little while? You’ve been cutting our path for a while now.”

Frank straightened up and handed Joe the ax. “Be my guest. I never realized how hard making a trail could be. My shoulder and arm are killing me.”

Nancy didn’t want to vocalize her other concerns. Seeing the caravan headed in the general direction of their home had brought up a new host of worries. They assumed their home would provide safety to the group. The caravan’s presence had eroded her confidence in their plan, causing her mind to spin with dread.

“Hey, look at that! I think we’re almost through!” shouted Joe as he pointed ahead through the trees.

A well-worn trail was visible through the remains of the thick forest. When they broke through the bushes and reached the trail, Frank stopped to consult the compass. After quick consideration, he confirmed that the trail should take them westward toward Brett and Nancy’s house. They walked the path with renewed vigor, finally getting close to what they hoped would be a sanctuary for them.

They followed the trail to the front gate, where a small number of cars sat abandoned in the parking lot.

“You know where to go from here?” asked Frank.

“Sure do! We live just ahead,” said Brett.

They walked out of the state park and down the connecting road for a short distance before Nancy stopped.

“This is it!” said Nancy before disappearing into a curtain of foliage.

Years ago Brett and Nancy had made a slight hole in the trees for their convenience. The opening allowed them to access the park without giving the public the impression that their backyard was also part of the public space.

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