Scorched Earth: Book 2 in the Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival Series: (Zero Hour - Book 2) by Justin Bell & Mike Kraus

Author:Justin Bell & Mike Kraus [Bell, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Muonic Press Inc
Published: 2018-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

The narrow shadows of skeleton trees flickered in the flames, the light cast by the small fire making it look like they were surrounded by tall, bony giants. Melinda tucked her knees tighter to her chest and pressed closer to Javier, hugging herself tightly in the cool evening. Night hadn’t yet fallen, they were still a few hours from darkness, but the persistent growing cold drove them to stop and set a fire. Melinda had been shivering to the point of concern.

It had taken Broderick less than ten minutes to get the fire going, and while the surrounding trees with countless bare limbs were intimidating in the low light, they also made for good kindling. They huddled around the growing flames, soaking in the warmth as it battled back the approaching winter winds. Clark and Broderick sat on one side, Javier and Melinda on the other, while Jackson had volunteered to scout ahead, looking for any other signs of civilization.

Clark looked over at Broderick who stared vacantly into the flickering flames. “You doing all right, man?” Clark asked. “Got family you’re worried about?”

Broderick didn’t acknowledge his question, just continued staring into the fire.

“Broderick?” Clark asked.

He finally turned. “Sorry, Clark,” he whispered. “I’m doing all right. I think I’m just still in a bit of shock over the whole thing.”

“Boston?”

“Everything. How quickly it all fell apart. My team. Major Chaboth.”

“She knew the risks,” Clark said. “We all did when we joined up.”

“You don’t understand.”

“So help me understand.”

Broderick closed his eyes, running a hand over the hard scraggle of beard that was starting to fill in.

“Look, man,” Clark continued, “like it or not, we need you. Not just us, but maybe this whole stinking country. You’re the only one left who saw where this all started. We need you intact.”

“I’m intact, all right? I’ll be fine.”

“Bull.”

“Is this what we’re doing here?” Broderick asked, looking at him. “We’re picking the end of civilization to open up ourselves and bare our souls to each other?”

“Hey, I’m the last guy to get all touchy feely,” Clark continued, “that’s Jackson’s gig. He’s the tai chi, Dao sensitive dude. But if we’re going to make it through this, and we need to make it through this, everyone needs to know what’s going on with everyone else. What our strengths are. Our weaknesses. Like it or not, we need to operate as a well-oiled machine.”

There was a quiet sniffle to Clark’s right, and he looked over, seeing Melinda huddled there next to Javier. Immediately a tight pinch of guilt gripped at him, a reminder that they were travelling with a young child.

“Hey, Broderick, let’s table this. We don’t need to rehash shooting deaths and other gruesome details in front of young ears, right?”

“You’re absolutely right,” Broderick replied, also looking over towards Melinda. She looked so small and innocent there next to Javier, a tiny beacon of purity amidst a decidedly ravaged and impure world. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s cool.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, the flames reaching out toward the trees, the approaching dusk settling around them.

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