Read Online A New World: Return by John O'Brien - Free Book Online Page A

say.   “Judging from the looks of things, I would say someone smashed the glass with the rock to get in.   The fact that the rock is so close to the door tells me that whoever it was held it in their hand. If the rock were thrown, it would be further inside, closer to the outer edge of where the glass is on the floor inside.   Unless it was kicked I guess.”
    I also note very faint, bloody and partial foot imprints on the concrete outside leading into the building and on the linoleum inside.
    “Given that the blood smears are faint and the remains on the glass shards are mostly flesh and clothing, I would also say that something was dragged in through the broken door and that they were already dead.   The smears are most likely from the blood-soaked clothing.   If they were still alive, there would be more blood prevalent and drips of it down the glass still in the door.   The foot prints leading in and the fact that the torn clothing and flesh is on the outside of the shards indicates that whatever was dragged across here was dragged in.”
    All of this has chilling ramifications to me.   If the night runners have adapted to the point of being able to use tools to gain entrance, then our security of being dependent on just using closed doors is seriously threatened.   We may not be safe even just staying locked up in the aircraft.   Even if they couldn’t bash their way in, they could cause crippling damage stranding us wherever we happen to find ourselves.   I sincerely hope they have not been able to adapt or progress their capabilities to this point.   I’ll have to take this into consideration , I think.   We can’t afford to ever underestimate them or their capabilities .   I radio Lynn with our findings.   She responds back with an affirmative and that they are arriving at the armory.
    “All of this indicates that something was or is inside and I’m guessing there are night runners in there.   We can’t afford to ever think otherwise.   The last thing I want us to do is saunter in like we’re on a beer run only to run into a hornets nest without at least being prepared for it.   There’s nothing worse than expecting beer and being stung instead.”
    I call Corporal Horace over and bring her up to speed on our findings.   “I want you to post two outside here to cover the parking lot.   When we go in, position the other four inside the door.   When we get into a position to cover the store, I want you to then begin hauling goods out.   Stack them outside the door without blocking it and stay in twos,” I say.
    “Yes, sir,” she responds.
    “I’ll tell you when to start gathering things.   And have someone go into the crew vans and gather all of the flashlights.   There’s also a roll of duct tape in front.”   I noticed the flashlights mounted on the wall of the crew bus.   These were for use by crews or other personnel if needed.   The duct tape was a nice surprise.
    “Will do, sir,” Horace says detailing two of her team to pick up the items.
    Looking inside, the sunlight extends about twenty feet into the building before fading into darkness.   I continue to squat there listening intently for anything inside or out of the ordinary.   Complete silence.   I continue to have the sense that the silence and darkness is holding back and biding its time; waiting.   It has the feel that something is lurking inside.   It’s a feeling I have had on many other occasions and one that I have come to trust.   It has never led me astray and has saved me and my team several times.   It is the feeling of something watching.
    One of the things I learned from the field is that eye contact or the focus of watching something keys in a response and a feeling.   We all put forth energy and that energy we put forth is felt by others.   The more intense the focus and concentration, the more it is felt.   It’s the feeling we have when we feel something is watching.   So, we never