Apocalypse Asunder by David Rogers Read Free Book Online Page A

she could go.  She curved around the last tree in the way, then cut hard right and braked to stop behind the bushes, just short of a trio of closely spaced trees.  The driver’s side mirror ripped off as she skated past the trees on her left, and she heard the bushes scraping down the passenger side in a series of screeching scratches that told of a lot of damage to the paint.
    She didn’t care about any of that though.  She was looking right, at Austin and at the bushes, and at the road beyond them.  What concerned her was what happened next.
    Austin had the MP5 in his hands.  “You remember the last three houses we’ve slept in?” he asked as he pulled on the handle to rack the bolt back, loading the weapon.
    “Yes.” Jessica nodded.  She was reasonably confident she’d be able to find them if necessary.
    “Okay.  If anything happens, and we get separated, get to any of them that you can.  I’ll find you at one in no more than three days.  If you change to one of the others, leave a note under the big bedroom mattress.  Three days.  I’ll find you.”
    “What?  Where are you going?” she said, unable to help the rising alarm in her voice as he opened his door.
    “I’m going to lose myself nearby as a surprise in case they spot the car.” he answered, using his foot to force the door open against the bushes as he felt in his pockets, making sure he had extra ammo for the MP5.  “Turn the engine off, so the exhaust doesn’t draw attention.”
    “Austin!”
    “Trust me.” he said, giving her a very serious look.  “If they come in here after us, stay in the car as long as you can.  Whatever you do, don’t shoot at them until I do, or you have no other choice.  If you do have to fight, treat them like zombies if it gets that far.”
    Jessica nodded, feeling sick, and watched unhappily as he stepped out of the vehicle.  She twisted in the seat as he closed the door and went back the way they’d come until the big stand of bushes ended.  He was moving quickly, bent over with the submachine gun clasped before him, but she saw the stagger in his normally graceful movements.  His injuries were still bothering him.
    “What’s Austin doing?” Candice asked timidly.
    “He’s going to try to help.” Jessica answered as she watched him plunge into the undergrowth past where she’d driven in, and then she couldn’t see him anymore.  It was an impressive trick, especially for someone as big as he was; one moment she saw his broad back, and the next he had just vanished out of sight like an illusionist wowing an audience.
    “How?”
    Jessica had an idea, and she didn’t like it.  Two SUVs could easily mean eight or ten people, even if they were on a scavenging run and planned on hauling things back with them.  Eight to ten men who were likely to be trained and dangerous, with the skills and weapons to cause a lot of trouble.
    “I think he’s going to try and be the cavalry in case there’s trouble.” Jessica said as she tried to convince herself there was no need to panic.  Her pulse was thudding loudly in her ears, and she could feel a swirl of terrified concern urging it on.  She had to stay calm.  “Candy Bear, take your seat belt off.  Get down on the floorboard back there.  Stay still, stay quiet.  Can you do that for me, please?”
    Candice unlatched the buckle and slid down off the seat.  Jessica drew the Taurus and worked the slide, then checked the safety before laying it on the passenger seat.  The leather there was still warm from Austin’s body.  She reached behind her and pulled the Shield out, loading and re-safing it as well before replacing the nine millimeter pistol in the holster at the small of her back.  Picking the Taurus back up, she checked the safety three more times, then made herself hold it in her lap.
    The waiting was horrible.  As the seconds became a minute, then two, she felt like they should have stayed on the road.  The SUV was a big