Read Online Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four) by Kennedy Layne - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kennedy Layne
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underwriting a passion he’d developed during his years in the Corps. As it was, the place was absolutely perfect for a survivalist, or what they call preppers nowadays—which was right up Tank’s alley considering he wanted to convert the old silver mine into a bunker. Over the years, he has built on to this place, one project after another until it has become a self-sustaining facility that is perfect for what’s coming.”
“So this Tank is one of these preppers?” Maxie wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the term or of the people who claimed that title. Texas had quite a collection of preppers as well and she had images floating through her mind of what the silver mine and bunker must look like. She became somewhat restless at the thought she would be taking provisions from someone else, but then she thought of Jacob. She would do whatever was needed for him to get through this. “How many are in your unit? Do you think that Tank has enough supplies for everyone?”
“There are four other men in our tight knit group,” Berke divulged, slowing down for something Maxie couldn’t see. She scanned the area, but by that time, he’d already had them going around sixty miles per hour—which was pretty fast considering they were traveling a back road. “Mav Beckett, Owen Quade, Mason Sykes, and Van Overton. Mav is already up in Lost Summit, helping Ernie with the residents. From his calculations, a handful will try to either cross the Canadian border or head south for the border into Mexico.”
“Leaving how many people to fit into his bunker?” Maxie asked warily, already sensing Berke was going to tell her the majority of the town was going to hole up in a bunker that most likely was made for no more than six. This wasn’t good and she understood firsthand in her line of work what happened when folks became desperate. “Are you saying—”
“I’m saying that the fishing lodge is located in a valley, in such a way that it might be protected from the worst of the elements. The main lodge and the surrounding cabins can hold whoever decides to stay behind of the fifty or so residents.” It was now pitch black with the exception of their headlights and the dashboard. Maxie figured Berke hadn’t put on his brights to cut down the chance of anyone seeing them, but she could admit to being drawn into a sense of false security. Yes, they’d seen some looting, but nothing on the scale that she would have thought. “We’ll make do, because that’s who we are. The rations Tank has on hand will last for years. Combine that with what can be scrounged in the next few days and we’ll have plenty for everyone in our group.”
Berke hadn’t said that in a sense of arrogance, but more so in stating fact. Maxie imagined that the residents of Lost Summit were as close to family as one could get, seeing as how the population was so small. She could only hope they would be welcoming in adding two more strangers with mouths to feed, clothes to wear, and a place to sleep.
“Where are your other teammates located?” Maxie wondered if it were possible to meet up with the other men from Berke’s old unit. He’d been right about traveling in groups…it was safer than being out here on their own.
“Owen is in Florida, Mason is in Nebraska, and Van is in New York,” Berke replied, looking at the clock on the radio. He’d been doing that a lot, but he continued to talk before she could ask why. “I spoke with them and they are all headed to Washington over various routes. Van will have the toughest time considering he’ll be moving against the wave of people driving toward his starting location. Owen has his Harley, so I’m not so worried about him. He can slit lanes with the best of them.”
Maxie would have asked why Van would even try to cross the country heading for the northwest, but she already knew the answer. They were a team and they stuck together. Nothing had changed. She thought about her father and
“So this Tank is one of these preppers?” Maxie wasn’t completely unfamiliar with the term or of the people who claimed that title. Texas had quite a collection of preppers as well and she had images floating through her mind of what the silver mine and bunker must look like. She became somewhat restless at the thought she would be taking provisions from someone else, but then she thought of Jacob. She would do whatever was needed for him to get through this. “How many are in your unit? Do you think that Tank has enough supplies for everyone?”
“There are four other men in our tight knit group,” Berke divulged, slowing down for something Maxie couldn’t see. She scanned the area, but by that time, he’d already had them going around sixty miles per hour—which was pretty fast considering they were traveling a back road. “Mav Beckett, Owen Quade, Mason Sykes, and Van Overton. Mav is already up in Lost Summit, helping Ernie with the residents. From his calculations, a handful will try to either cross the Canadian border or head south for the border into Mexico.”
“Leaving how many people to fit into his bunker?” Maxie asked warily, already sensing Berke was going to tell her the majority of the town was going to hole up in a bunker that most likely was made for no more than six. This wasn’t good and she understood firsthand in her line of work what happened when folks became desperate. “Are you saying—”
“I’m saying that the fishing lodge is located in a valley, in such a way that it might be protected from the worst of the elements. The main lodge and the surrounding cabins can hold whoever decides to stay behind of the fifty or so residents.” It was now pitch black with the exception of their headlights and the dashboard. Maxie figured Berke hadn’t put on his brights to cut down the chance of anyone seeing them, but she could admit to being drawn into a sense of false security. Yes, they’d seen some looting, but nothing on the scale that she would have thought. “We’ll make do, because that’s who we are. The rations Tank has on hand will last for years. Combine that with what can be scrounged in the next few days and we’ll have plenty for everyone in our group.”
Berke hadn’t said that in a sense of arrogance, but more so in stating fact. Maxie imagined that the residents of Lost Summit were as close to family as one could get, seeing as how the population was so small. She could only hope they would be welcoming in adding two more strangers with mouths to feed, clothes to wear, and a place to sleep.
“Where are your other teammates located?” Maxie wondered if it were possible to meet up with the other men from Berke’s old unit. He’d been right about traveling in groups…it was safer than being out here on their own.
“Owen is in Florida, Mason is in Nebraska, and Van is in New York,” Berke replied, looking at the clock on the radio. He’d been doing that a lot, but he continued to talk before she could ask why. “I spoke with them and they are all headed to Washington over various routes. Van will have the toughest time considering he’ll be moving against the wave of people driving toward his starting location. Owen has his Harley, so I’m not so worried about him. He can slit lanes with the best of them.”
Maxie would have asked why Van would even try to cross the country heading for the northwest, but she already knew the answer. They were a team and they stuck together. Nothing had changed. She thought about her father and
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