The Day After Never - Nemesis_Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Thriller by Russell Blake

Author:Russell Blake [Blake, Russell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

East of Provo, Utah

Humidity hung over the valley where the army had made camp following four grueling days of nearly constant rain. With a half hour of light left, the latrine and mess crew were toiling furiously to prep the area so the men could be fed and attend to their necessities in a sanitary fashion. Coils of black smoke from cooking fires spiraled into the dusk sky, the only sounds those of picks and shovels working the soil and of horses whinnying and snorting as their minders watered them.

His flannel shirt damp from sweat, Eddy scooped a shovelful of moist dirt aside and took a small step to the right to continue the latrine trench he’d been tasked to dig. He’d been assigned to the mess crew when he’d joined up in Provo, which had meant being chartered with every unpleasant, backbreaking job involved with feeding and caring for the camp. Although he hated it, he’d done the work without complaint, playing the role of grateful survivor to the best of his abilities and biting back the anger he felt whenever his supervisor, a particularly nasty piece of business named Jerry, berated him for the slightest error.

The latrine trenches were the worst part of the duty, and Eddy cursed under his breath at the end of every day’s march when, exhausted, he knew he’d have to expend what little energy he had left digging in miserable conditions. It was only the thought of the gold that kept him in place, or he’d have abandoned the army by the second day and lit off on his own when it had been obvious he wouldn’t be allowed into Provo to use the radio and report on the army’s plans.

“No time for daydreaming, ladies,” Jerry’s voice called out. “Eddy! You planning to keep working till midnight? It’ll take that long to finish at the rate you’re going.”

Eddy fought to keep his tone even. “Hit some rocks, boss. Took a while to get ’em out of the way.”

“It’s always something with you, isn’t it? Speed up or you’ll go hungry tonight.”

“I’m on it.”

Eddy wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and drove the shovel into the dirt with his boot. He would have to work faster, but not for the reason Jerry believed. Whenever he had a chance, he’d been taking notes on the army’s equipment so he could transmit them to the preacher whenever he found a radio, and he was only halfway done. It was easier to do so in the fading light of dusk when he could do so unobserved while everyone was preparing to eat, but the stubborn terrain was delaying him, and he’d lose the chance if he couldn’t make up the time.

His stomach rumbled to remind him of the stingy rations he was receiving, and he muttered another oath as he willed his arms to scoop faster. He couldn’t afford to miss a meal, and knew Jerry’s threat wasn’t an empty one – he’d

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