Read Online Broken Roads: A Tale of Survival in a Powerless World (Broken Lines Book 2) by James Hunt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Hunt
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Fay asked.
“Sure,” Mike said.
Fay put the earpieces on and Mike grabbed the rifle from Clarence. He showed her how to hold it and gave her the same advice he’d given to Clarence.
Fay brought the rifle up to her eyes. She kept the stock snug against her shoulder. Her finger hovered until she finally rested it gently over the trigger. The sights along the end of the rifle shook slightly as she tried to balance the gun. Once the gun felt steady she lined up her shot, squeezed the trigger, and the can went flying.
“Shit,” Clarence said.
“Nice shot. You’re a natural,” Mike said.
“What?” Fay screamed.
Mike patted her on the shoulder and gave her a thumb up. She smiled and then noticed the crowd behind her. Everyone had gathered outside. They were all looking at her and cheering. Fay’s smile slowly faded. She handed the rifle back to Mike and took her ear protection off.
“Where are you going’?” Clarence asked.
Fay ignored him. She ran between Jung and Jenna and headed for the side door, which led her to the food court. Once she was inside she sat on her cot, her shoulder feeling the strain from the recoil of the rifle.
Clarence walked in behind her, panting from the short jog he made running after her.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“Do we have any more Ibuprofen?” Fay asked.
“I think so, but, Fay, why’d you leave like that?”
“Where is it? I don’t want my shoulder to be too sore.”
“Fay.”
“What?”
Fay’s voice was harsh, accusing. She saw the open look of apology across Clarence’s face. He held his hands out and sat down on the cot next to her.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.”
“It was a lucky shot. That’s all.”
“That’s why you ran? Because you hit the can?”
“No.”
“Then why’d you take off like that?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fay…”
“I don’t want to talk about it!”
Fay bolted from the cot, leaving Clarence by himself. She ran through the food court and past the check-in desks by the front entrance of the airport, her feet carrying her to the other side of the airport. She ran around security ropes and jumped over fallen displays until there wasn’t anywhere left to run. She leaned her hands up against the wall, her chest heaving, trying to catch her breath.
She spun around and slammed her back against the wall and slid down. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and rested her head against her knees.
***
Mike dropped small amounts of oil along the tip of the barrel, then wiped it down with a rag. Nelson watched Mike’s movements. They were precise, rhythmic.
“What do we do now?” Nelson asked.
“We leave tomorrow. I can’t afford to stay here another day,” Mike said.
“But what about these people?”
“Nelson, the cabin was built for me and my family. It can hold five people at the most. Bringing you and Sean along with me is already pushing it. I can’t show up with another seven people.”
“These people helped us. They fed us. Took us in.”
“These people stayed here and hoarded as much food as they could.”
“But they said they’re leaving soon too. Why don’t we ask where they’re going? Maybe it’s better than the cabin?”
“My family isn’t wherever it is they’re going. My family is at the cabin. If you want to go with them you’re more than welcome, but tomorrow morning I’m leaving with or without you and Sean. End of discussion.”
Mike finished wiping down the rifle and slung it over his shoulder. He walked back into the food court through the side door. Jung and Jenna To were watching their two children play when he walked in. Jung saw him and made a beeline for him.
“Mike,” he
“Sure,” Mike said.
Fay put the earpieces on and Mike grabbed the rifle from Clarence. He showed her how to hold it and gave her the same advice he’d given to Clarence.
Fay brought the rifle up to her eyes. She kept the stock snug against her shoulder. Her finger hovered until she finally rested it gently over the trigger. The sights along the end of the rifle shook slightly as she tried to balance the gun. Once the gun felt steady she lined up her shot, squeezed the trigger, and the can went flying.
“Shit,” Clarence said.
“Nice shot. You’re a natural,” Mike said.
“What?” Fay screamed.
Mike patted her on the shoulder and gave her a thumb up. She smiled and then noticed the crowd behind her. Everyone had gathered outside. They were all looking at her and cheering. Fay’s smile slowly faded. She handed the rifle back to Mike and took her ear protection off.
“Where are you going’?” Clarence asked.
Fay ignored him. She ran between Jung and Jenna and headed for the side door, which led her to the food court. Once she was inside she sat on her cot, her shoulder feeling the strain from the recoil of the rifle.
Clarence walked in behind her, panting from the short jog he made running after her.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“Do we have any more Ibuprofen?” Fay asked.
“I think so, but, Fay, why’d you leave like that?”
“Where is it? I don’t want my shoulder to be too sore.”
“Fay.”
“What?”
Fay’s voice was harsh, accusing. She saw the open look of apology across Clarence’s face. He held his hands out and sat down on the cot next to her.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.”
“It was a lucky shot. That’s all.”
“That’s why you ran? Because you hit the can?”
“No.”
“Then why’d you take off like that?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fay…”
“I don’t want to talk about it!”
Fay bolted from the cot, leaving Clarence by himself. She ran through the food court and past the check-in desks by the front entrance of the airport, her feet carrying her to the other side of the airport. She ran around security ropes and jumped over fallen displays until there wasn’t anywhere left to run. She leaned her hands up against the wall, her chest heaving, trying to catch her breath.
She spun around and slammed her back against the wall and slid down. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and rested her head against her knees.
***
Mike dropped small amounts of oil along the tip of the barrel, then wiped it down with a rag. Nelson watched Mike’s movements. They were precise, rhythmic.
“What do we do now?” Nelson asked.
“We leave tomorrow. I can’t afford to stay here another day,” Mike said.
“But what about these people?”
“Nelson, the cabin was built for me and my family. It can hold five people at the most. Bringing you and Sean along with me is already pushing it. I can’t show up with another seven people.”
“These people helped us. They fed us. Took us in.”
“These people stayed here and hoarded as much food as they could.”
“But they said they’re leaving soon too. Why don’t we ask where they’re going? Maybe it’s better than the cabin?”
“My family isn’t wherever it is they’re going. My family is at the cabin. If you want to go with them you’re more than welcome, but tomorrow morning I’m leaving with or without you and Sean. End of discussion.”
Mike finished wiping down the rifle and slung it over his shoulder. He walked back into the food court through the side door. Jung and Jenna To were watching their two children play when he walked in. Jung saw him and made a beeline for him.
“Mike,” he
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