The Mark by John E. Rock

Author:John E. Rock [Rock, John E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

26

Armed men were everywhere. Shawn’s heart beat like a drum. Somebody racked the slide of a shotgun.

Jessie was right, this was a bad idea.

then he watched a man as tall as a tree walking into the clearing.

“Lose the gun,” The giant nodded.

A gigantic man with long, curly blond hair, full beard and a shotgun came straight at him. Fierce blue eyes locked onto his. He wore a red flannel shirt, logger’s pants and a pair of orange suspenders. His biceps bulged against the flannel. His Remington 870 was leveled straight at Shawn. This man had to be 10 feet tall.

Shawn pointed his AR’s barrel down and took a step back.

“Nice bandage.” The giant motioned his shotgun at Shawn’s shoulder. “Drop the gun, then back away from it. Go on. We don’t like strangers with guns. Makes us twitchy. Come on out boys.” He glanced at the woods.

More men stepped out of the forest all around him and formed a semi-circle.

Shawn, at a loss for words, lowered his rifle.

The giant spat a stream of brown tobacco juice without taking his icy blue eyes off Shawn.

“Maybe you don’t hear too well. Drop the rifle. Right now!” A breeze ruffled Goliath’s ample mane. Shawn’s rifle clattered to the ground.

“Anybody following this dude?”

“No sir, General. Nobody down trail.”

“Good.” The giant’s eyes stayed locked on Shawn.

More men clustered around him. Shawn looked around and held up his hands.

“Okay, alright, I did what you wanted.”

The giant smiled a little.

So the army wasn’t lying about the militia after all.

“Now back away from your gun.” The shotgun motioned towards the trees. Shawn obeyed.

“Good. Good. If you happen to have a pistol on you, now’s time take it out and drop it.” Another stream of tobacco juice hit the ground.

Shawn tossed his Glock 17 beside the AR.

“Keep going, little man. You got a knife, or a ‘hawk, or pepper spray? Ya better toss ‘em, too.”

The shotgun wagged again.

Men began to murmur.

Shawn tossed his hunting knife on the ground.

“Nice. Anything else?”

Shawn shook his head.

“Nope,” he lied. The little Walther PPK in his ankle holster would stay put. He had no intention of giving it up.

“Search him.” The giant stuffed a fresh wad of chew in his cheek.

Oh no, Lord, please don’t let them find the Walther. I’m sorry I lied.

Two men patted him down and walked away.

“He’s alright.” A skinny man with a long mustache shrugged indifferently.

Thank you, Jesus.

The giant looked him over. “So, whatcha doin sneaking around our campsite?”

“I saw some lights last night.”

“You saw lights? Hmm.” The giant pointed at Shawn’s gear. “Don’t you know you ain’t allowed to have guns and all that whatnot anymore? The new rulers outlawed it.”

The giant looked at his friends. “So, gentlemen, do you think he should tell us about himself?”

“Yes sir General, and tell him to hurry up, we’re hungry!” The long mustache guy nodded.

Shawn noticed movement back in the woods and wondered how many more people were with this guy.

A hawk-faced man leveled his rifle at Shawn and pursed his lips.

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