Read Online LZR-1143 (Book 4): Desolation by Bryan James - Free Book Online Page A

for about five miles before we have a shot at turning north again.”  
    I slowed to watch for any signs that had survived and was considering turning around to search for a missed turn when Kate pointed.  
    “There,” she said, pulling my eyes to a crooked sign that could barely be read, its white lettering on green background faded and sun-worn. I pulled the truck into the gentle curve and breathed a small sigh of relief that I hoped was not audible to Ky—or Kate for that matter—as we began to slowly move uphill, and away from the lower land behind us. The tires crunched as we moved from broken pavement and shattered asphalt to a graded road, barely wide enough for two vehicles.  
    The road wound gently through several small hills, trees mostly set back from the road by twenty feet or so, likely a product of the need to move agricultural material through the area. After three miles, I slowed the truck as we came across the first downed tree across the path. We had been able to skirt several others that had come down over the highway by angling around, but this one was squarely in the way, its full foliage spread over the ground like a cloak.  
    “Can we move it?” Kate asked doubtfully.  
    “We can try to push it from one side—probably there,” I pointed at the upended root structure that had pulled large clods of soil up into the air. “We won’t have to fight against the limbs as much, and we only need about seven feet on the shoulder. It looks pretty clear.”
    I turned off the engine and dimmed the lights—our night vision was very good, but the extra help, especially after the surprise on the hill near the river, was appreciated.  
    Ky jumped out to help, but Kate lifted a single finger, pointing to the truck. Romeo flashed past her and into the woods, tail up and nose to the ground.
    “What? I can help!”  
    “Stay in the truck. We’ll take care of it. You watch our backs.” Kate shot me a glance and I winked at her, knowing the subterfuge for what it was.
    Ky glared for a moment, and turned on her heel, climbing back into the large crew cab and standing on the doorframe, head swiveling to watch the different approaches.  
    I found a handhold near the roots as Kate joined me, her M-4 slung across her back.  
    “Come here often?” I joked, as I set my legs.  
    “I come frequently, but not here,” she joked back with a wry smile.  
    It took me a minute to realize she had made a dirty joke.  
    I wasn’t too bright, after all.
    The tree was only a couple feet thick and although it was heavy, it was doable to folks with our special advantages. The wood protested against the graded road, and rocks shot up from underneath the passing branches. After a full minute of ponderously manhandling it, we were able to guarantee a passage to the right of the tree and turned back to the truck.
    “Romeo, let’s go!” I shouted. “Pinch it off. If you’re not done now, you can try later.”  
    The only answer was a single bark, sounding as if it was coming from well within the trees on the right side of the parked vehicle.
    “What the hell, man?” I yelled out, wary of the noise we were making and glancing back at Kate. She shrugged.
    “He doesn’t sound like he’s in trouble,” she said quietly, eyes scanning the tree line and moving her rifle to ready position.  
    Another single bark echoed back to us, and I could interpret this one: Come see what I found! It’s awesome! Wag! Wag! Seriously! Come! Now! Stupid humans.
    “All right, I’ll check it out. Use the horn if I need to come back. No! You stay here!” Ky was jumping out of the cab again, crossbow up and ready.  
    “He’s my dog as much as yours!” she yelled.
    “We’re not doing this teenager bullshit today, okay? We need to keep moving, and I don’t want to have to look out for you—“
    “I look out for myself just fine—“
    “—So sit your ass in the truck so we can get out of here!”  
    Kate moved around the