Thirst by Jill Williamson

Author:Jill Williamson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thirst, jill williamson, fiction, books for boys, young adult, apocalyptic
Publisher: Novel Teen Press
Published: 2018-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

13

My heart lurched. I had my right fist around the barrel of my gun, my left hand on the handle above the door. I let go of the handle, hoping to get my hands into position on my rifle, but I lost my balance and slid out of the truck. My hiking boots thwapped on the pavement.

“Don’t do it, boy!” Beardo yelled. “It ain’t worth it. Leave the rifle in the cab and walk away.”

“I can’t do that,” I said.

“You’d better.”

I just stood there, staring, daring myself to move my rifle into position. Come on, McShane, you gutless coward!

I knew we shouldn’t have stopped at Target. I knew it! I was the worst surveillance man to ever grace the planet Earth. Where had this guy come from, anyway?

Beardo whistled, and the brown lab came running, pink tongue flapping in the breeze. Stupid dog! What did I care about a dog, anyway?

“Come away from that truck, now,” Beardo said, jerking the gun toward the bed.

I took a small side step toward the road, unsure what to do. I couldn’t let him take the truck. Besides, Shyla was in there!

I had the keys, at least. I could run into the store. Beardo was likely bluffing about shooting me. Maybe with Zach’s help, the two of us could scare him off. Except the entrance was the opposite direction, and to get there, I’d be putting my back to this guy.

I took another teensy step toward the back of the truck, thinking that maybe if I could get behind it, I’d have a chance to lift my gun.

Two months’ worth of water in the back of my truck. Two months’ worth that we wouldn’t have if I messed this up. Which I already had. That stupid brown lab that would be lapping up my share.

And who knew what they’d do with Shyla.

I inched another step to the left. My hands were shaking.

Lord help me, Lord help me, Lord help me, Lord help me.

“A little faster, will ya?” Beardo said. “And drop that gun.”

I shook my head, and in one quick breath, I lifted my rifle, trained it on my adversary, and flipped off the safety.

“Hey, hey, hey!” Beardo yelled, fixing his shotgun on me. “Let’s not do this, boy!”

“Get out of here!” I yelled back, my pulse pounding in my ears.

“You don’t have the guts!”

“Neither do you!”

We faced off between the van and the truck. The brown lab came alongside me, sniffed my leg and panted, oblivious to the tension around him. I could feel him watching me, though I didn’t dare look.

A dozen scenarios flashed in my mind. I could try and shoot Beardo in the arm or leg. I could run around to the other side of the truck. Run inside the store. Jump in the passenger’s side and hit the locks. Drive away. Shoot the dog. Cry.

I did none of that. I just stood there, trembling and praying Beardo wouldn’t shoot me, wishing I were smarter and could think of some way to get myself out of this.

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