TYRANT: The Rise by L. Douglas Hogan Page B

tell was a large town. She did not hear the sounds of children playing, nor the sounds of bustling traffic. She saw no people on the street, save those she’d seen running earlier. However, there were signs of life. She observed clotheslines hanging from building to building and potted vegetable plants that looked maintained but had no bloom.
    Jess knew her luck would eventually run out if she didn’t find a place to hide until she could move under cover of darkness. She saw several vehicles sitting stationary along every roadway. She opened one door, unfolded the rear seat, and climbed into the trunk. She had determined to wait for night before doing anything else.

CHAPTER XV
    The Posse had followed the bus’s last known direction along the train track headed northeast, through potentially hazardous woodland and past small settlements. The Posse knew the horses would be a good meal for anybody trying to live free of the governments control. Nathan and Denny, in particular, knew this area well. Nathan used to play on these tracks as a child and he knew where they led, and that put an uneasy feeling in his gullet. Denny knew the route because he took it regularly with a small band, by night, to fetch beef. They had passed that juncture now and Denny was in unfamiliar territory.
    “Hold up here a second, guys,” Nathan said, and the Posse came to a stop.
    “I need every one of you to be especially watchful in these parts. These tracks head straight toward the old town of Murphysboro. It used to be a thriving subdivision for college kids that attended Carbondale’s college university. But now, there’s no telling what it’s become. I’ve heard tales of cannibalism and raiding bands.”
    “Perhaps we should hitch the horses and proceed on foot,” Denny opted to advise.
    “I agree,” said Warren, a twenty-nine-year-old Posse member.
    Warren had served in the Navy as an electrical engineer, but now, he served with the Posse as a veteran experienced with rifles and pistols.
    As the group neared Murphysboro, they approached from the southwest side of town. They moved through the woods, towards town, until they located an old farmhouse. It was apparent that it had been ransacked previously. The group searched the house and didn’t find anything of much use. Denny did take notice of some spray-painted walls with graffiti that read “Southside Raiders.”
    “That’s what I was afraid of,” Denny said.
    “What’s that?” Warren said from the other room, as everybody rallied up on Denny.
    They looked at the graffiti and wondered if they were going to have a problem with the band of raiders.
    “We need to keep moving,” Nathan said.
    They continued on alongside the railroad tracks. Warren saw the bus first. It was parked up ahead on the tracks. “Guys, look ahead.”
    Nathan immediately gave the hand/arm signals to disperse left and right. The group scattered to the tree line on either side of the tracks and advanced forward until they reached the bus. Nathan gave the hand signal to remain still. He moved toward the bus, looking over the sights of his rifle. Once he had reached the bus, he carefully approached its side, where he entered the doorway and climbed the steps. There was no sign of Jessica or the weapons. Nathan exited the bus and gave the hand sign for rally on me.
    The group joined Nathan inside the tree line and formed a circle, as if huddled to listen for instructions.
    “Guys, whoever took this bus has our weapons and possibly Jessica. That means they’re armed and probably a large group.”
    “What’s the plan, boss?” Denny asked, willing to follow Nathan anywhere he would lead.
    “I’m going to move ahead, by myself, and scope out the area.”
    “I don’t like that,” Warren said.
    “It’s not your call,” Denny barked back. “I’ve been through the wringer with Nathan before, and he knows what he’s doing.”
    “Whatever. I meant no disrespect, just concerned for his