Read Online The Survivors of Bastion (Fall of Earth Book 1) by Will Hawthorne - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Will Hawthorne
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Hayley stood up from where she sat, making her way to the ladder and setting off down it.
‘And this isn’t me walking away pissed with you. I’m serious. I like everybody in Bastion, but you’ve got something else to you. See you later, anyway.’
I told her goodbye and stood up on the lookout post, watching her walk back into town where I could hear the bustles of sound.
‘And stop looking at my ass, you fucking pervert,’ she shouted back, a smile on her voice as she turned the corner and headed out of sight without looking back at me.
For the record, I wasn’t. Seriously, I wasn’t.
I looked out over the fields once again, the sun having descended considerably since Hayley had come and gone.
I took a deep breath before smacking the flat of my palm against my head.
‘Stupid, stupid, stupid…’ I muttered. Why I hadn’t asked her out months ago was beyond me. Dating in the new world might have changed, but everybody needed somebody, and right then I knew that I needed Hayley. I felt the same way as she did about me – she was a small saving grace in this world, a laughing retreat from the stresses and the worries of everything else.
Looking out towards the patch of forest, I remembered the treehouse we had built a few years ago with Robbie. It would still be there, maybe a little less sturdy, but standing.
Speaking of stresses, though, I remembered another thing.
The body was still in the patch of forest next to the farm.
Chapter Seven
Night Work
‘Didn’t think that you were Robbie.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment, Rudy.’
‘How the fuck did I end up pulling the night shift, anyway?’
‘Everybody gets fair distribution of shifts. It’s on a cycle, you know this.’
‘True.’
I jumped down from the lookout post to the ground below, checking the safety on the rifle and handing it over to Rudy. He felt the weight of the gun in his hand and a smile appeared on his weathered face.
‘Still a damn good meal you threw there, Tommy.’
‘Don’t worry about it. How’s everybody doing?’
‘Most are headed to bed. Gettin’ late.’
‘Think I’ll join them,’ I said, faking a yawn. ‘Glad you had a good night, buddy.’
‘Night, Tommy.’
I made my way back through the streets, wishing goodnight to Sam through the Kitchen as he tidied up, Leah as she headed inside, and every other one of Bastion’s citizens that I passed. The tables were still set up in the street leading up to my house – they could be sorted out tomorrow. Tonight had been a night for celebration and feasting, not for more work, except for those who were already scheduled to do so at the lookout posts.
They were going to be my biggest obstacle that night.
Darkness had almost completely fallen over Bastion by the time I got inside. I checked on Robbie and my mother – both were fast asleep after the festivities, getting a good night’s sleep for yet another day tomorrow. I had something in the way of that right now.
Such was the price of keeping so many people safe and away from worry.
Quietly, I stepped outside into the garden and back around to the shed. One of the many practices we had kept the same since the downfall was where we kept our manual work equipment – every shovel, trowel and pitchfork was in there, and I
‘And this isn’t me walking away pissed with you. I’m serious. I like everybody in Bastion, but you’ve got something else to you. See you later, anyway.’
I told her goodbye and stood up on the lookout post, watching her walk back into town where I could hear the bustles of sound.
‘And stop looking at my ass, you fucking pervert,’ she shouted back, a smile on her voice as she turned the corner and headed out of sight without looking back at me.
For the record, I wasn’t. Seriously, I wasn’t.
I looked out over the fields once again, the sun having descended considerably since Hayley had come and gone.
I took a deep breath before smacking the flat of my palm against my head.
‘Stupid, stupid, stupid…’ I muttered. Why I hadn’t asked her out months ago was beyond me. Dating in the new world might have changed, but everybody needed somebody, and right then I knew that I needed Hayley. I felt the same way as she did about me – she was a small saving grace in this world, a laughing retreat from the stresses and the worries of everything else.
Looking out towards the patch of forest, I remembered the treehouse we had built a few years ago with Robbie. It would still be there, maybe a little less sturdy, but standing.
Speaking of stresses, though, I remembered another thing.
The body was still in the patch of forest next to the farm.
Chapter Seven
Night Work
‘Didn’t think that you were Robbie.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment, Rudy.’
‘How the fuck did I end up pulling the night shift, anyway?’
‘Everybody gets fair distribution of shifts. It’s on a cycle, you know this.’
‘True.’
I jumped down from the lookout post to the ground below, checking the safety on the rifle and handing it over to Rudy. He felt the weight of the gun in his hand and a smile appeared on his weathered face.
‘Still a damn good meal you threw there, Tommy.’
‘Don’t worry about it. How’s everybody doing?’
‘Most are headed to bed. Gettin’ late.’
‘Think I’ll join them,’ I said, faking a yawn. ‘Glad you had a good night, buddy.’
‘Night, Tommy.’
I made my way back through the streets, wishing goodnight to Sam through the Kitchen as he tidied up, Leah as she headed inside, and every other one of Bastion’s citizens that I passed. The tables were still set up in the street leading up to my house – they could be sorted out tomorrow. Tonight had been a night for celebration and feasting, not for more work, except for those who were already scheduled to do so at the lookout posts.
They were going to be my biggest obstacle that night.
Darkness had almost completely fallen over Bastion by the time I got inside. I checked on Robbie and my mother – both were fast asleep after the festivities, getting a good night’s sleep for yet another day tomorrow. I had something in the way of that right now.
Such was the price of keeping so many people safe and away from worry.
Quietly, I stepped outside into the garden and back around to the shed. One of the many practices we had kept the same since the downfall was where we kept our manual work equipment – every shovel, trowel and pitchfork was in there, and I
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