figured
having my weight off her would make it easier for her to catch her
breath. “No, Dillon. Stay up here with me for now.”
“ What about Fred?”
“ She’ll be fine. It’s not the first time she’s galloped under a
heavy load.”
Fred’s breathing began to slow. I put a hand down to her flank
and gave her an affectionate pat. She really was quite a
horse.
“ Where are they?” Sawyer called to the window.
Craig poked his head out and looked down at us. He held a pair
of field glasses in his hand. “About a mile and half out. Where is
everybody?”
I explained to him about Chane being missing and how everyone
was so spread out.
“ They better get here quick. If this band is as bloodthirsty as
yesterday’s we’re in a lot of trouble.”
“ How many?” Sawyer asked from the saddle.
“ It’s hard to say for sure, they’re all grouped together. I’d
guess around eighty or so. It’s kinda strange. They’re just all
standing around like they’re waiting for something.”
“ Good,” I said. “The longer they wait the better.”
“ Normally I’d agree with you, but Scavengers don’t usually mill
around when they’re this close to a town. Something’s off.” Sawyer
cupped his chin with his right hand.
I hated to disagree with Sawyer, but I was glad they were
standing around. It gave our defenders more time to
arrive.
“ Can you tell what kind of weapons and horses they have?”
Sawyer asked.
“ They’re too far out to see much, but I can definitely make out
a few rifles,” Craig replied. “Most of the horses are pulling
trailers. There are a few with riders, but most everybody’s on
foot.”
“ Uh Sawyer, can I borrow your bow again?” I asked
“ Let’s hold off on that for a bit. I’m not sure this is an
attack.”
Attack or not, I wanted to be armed. Eighty Scavengers with
rifles made me more than a little nervous.
A few townsfolk drifted in, including the mayor. I was glad to
see them and their weapons. The shotgun the mayor carried yesterday
was gone. In its place he had a military assault rifle. I didn’t
blame him. The shotgun was devastating at close range, but I didn’t
want any Scavenger getting that close to me. He saw Sawyer and me
on the horse but chose not to speak to us. Instead, he shouted up
to Craig and asked him the same questions Sawyer had.
Time crawled while we waited. I was worried about the
impending attack, but with nothing to see or do, my thoughts
wandered. Where was Chane? Was she all right? But even my anxiety
couldn’t hold back the flood of thoughts I had about tomorrow’s
Foraging expedition.
From listening to some of the older townsfolk, I knew there
weren’t a lot of houses out there. Sometimes there might only be
one house and its outbuildings in an entire mile section. Usually,
though, there were at least three or four. I hoped to get lucky and
find the right harvester early in the search. But what if I didn’t find one at all? I wasn’t one of the mayor’s favorite
people right now. If I came back empty-handed…I wasn’t sure what
the mayor would do.
“ Pay attention, Dillon,” Sawyer said. “Quit
woolgathering.”
How did he do that? Every time my mind wandered from our
current task, he knew it without even having to look at
me.
“ I was a kid once too, Dillon. It isn’t hard to imagine what
you’re thinking. Quit worrying about finding that alternator.
You’ll either find it or you won’t.”
Easy for him to say. His hide wasn’t on the line. I needed to
prove to this town, to the mayor, and to myself that I could be
more than just a lookout. I needed to find that
alternator.
About twenty defenders had gathered to hold off the impending
attack. Their restless wandering and quick backward glances spoke
loudly about the need for reinforcements.
Despite what Sawyer said, Scavengers always raided. I wasn’t
putting a lot of faith in this being anything other than an
attack.
Craig called from the window,
having my weight off her would make it easier for her to catch her
breath. “No, Dillon. Stay up here with me for now.”
“ What about Fred?”
“ She’ll be fine. It’s not the first time she’s galloped under a
heavy load.”
Fred’s breathing began to slow. I put a hand down to her flank
and gave her an affectionate pat. She really was quite a
horse.
“ Where are they?” Sawyer called to the window.
Craig poked his head out and looked down at us. He held a pair
of field glasses in his hand. “About a mile and half out. Where is
everybody?”
I explained to him about Chane being missing and how everyone
was so spread out.
“ They better get here quick. If this band is as bloodthirsty as
yesterday’s we’re in a lot of trouble.”
“ How many?” Sawyer asked from the saddle.
“ It’s hard to say for sure, they’re all grouped together. I’d
guess around eighty or so. It’s kinda strange. They’re just all
standing around like they’re waiting for something.”
“ Good,” I said. “The longer they wait the better.”
“ Normally I’d agree with you, but Scavengers don’t usually mill
around when they’re this close to a town. Something’s off.” Sawyer
cupped his chin with his right hand.
I hated to disagree with Sawyer, but I was glad they were
standing around. It gave our defenders more time to
arrive.
“ Can you tell what kind of weapons and horses they have?”
Sawyer asked.
“ They’re too far out to see much, but I can definitely make out
a few rifles,” Craig replied. “Most of the horses are pulling
trailers. There are a few with riders, but most everybody’s on
foot.”
“ Uh Sawyer, can I borrow your bow again?” I asked
“ Let’s hold off on that for a bit. I’m not sure this is an
attack.”
Attack or not, I wanted to be armed. Eighty Scavengers with
rifles made me more than a little nervous.
A few townsfolk drifted in, including the mayor. I was glad to
see them and their weapons. The shotgun the mayor carried yesterday
was gone. In its place he had a military assault rifle. I didn’t
blame him. The shotgun was devastating at close range, but I didn’t
want any Scavenger getting that close to me. He saw Sawyer and me
on the horse but chose not to speak to us. Instead, he shouted up
to Craig and asked him the same questions Sawyer had.
Time crawled while we waited. I was worried about the
impending attack, but with nothing to see or do, my thoughts
wandered. Where was Chane? Was she all right? But even my anxiety
couldn’t hold back the flood of thoughts I had about tomorrow’s
Foraging expedition.
From listening to some of the older townsfolk, I knew there
weren’t a lot of houses out there. Sometimes there might only be
one house and its outbuildings in an entire mile section. Usually,
though, there were at least three or four. I hoped to get lucky and
find the right harvester early in the search. But what if I didn’t find one at all? I wasn’t one of the mayor’s favorite
people right now. If I came back empty-handed…I wasn’t sure what
the mayor would do.
“ Pay attention, Dillon,” Sawyer said. “Quit
woolgathering.”
How did he do that? Every time my mind wandered from our
current task, he knew it without even having to look at
me.
“ I was a kid once too, Dillon. It isn’t hard to imagine what
you’re thinking. Quit worrying about finding that alternator.
You’ll either find it or you won’t.”
Easy for him to say. His hide wasn’t on the line. I needed to
prove to this town, to the mayor, and to myself that I could be
more than just a lookout. I needed to find that
alternator.
About twenty defenders had gathered to hold off the impending
attack. Their restless wandering and quick backward glances spoke
loudly about the need for reinforcements.
Despite what Sawyer said, Scavengers always raided. I wasn’t
putting a lot of faith in this being anything other than an
attack.
Craig called from the window,
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