In The End: a pre-apocalypse novel by Edward M Wolfe Read Free Book Online

more suffering along the way. But what we need to be concerned with is the
survivors. Most folks don’t have but a few days to a week’s worth of food in
their homes at any given time. When they run out, they’ll have to forage. Only
the fools will forage in town. The smart ones will look on the outskirts.
Someone really smart is gonna think of the cabins up here that are empty most
of the year, and this resort, which was fully stocked for the season.”
    “So the boarded windows are to keep
people out?” Angela wasn’t sure she understood.
    “Well, I’m hoping that if people
see the place boarded up, they’ll think the resort wasn’t going to open this
year and therefore doesn’t have any supplies. I know that’s a long-shot that’s
only likely to fool people not from around here, but the second purpose is to
help keep people out who are intent on getting in no
matter what.”
    “If someone was lucky enough to survive
in the first place, why wouldn’t we just welcome them in? I understand why we
have to raid, but I’m not going to be a hoarder and a shut-in too.”
    “Survival, Anj ,”
Jim said and flicked his cigarette into the fire. “We can’t take in anyone and
everyone who comes along. The more people we have, the quicker we run out of
food.”
    “But we have way more than enough
for three people to get through the winter. That means we have plenty to share
too.”
    “We’re looking at more than just
the winter, sweetheart. Once that food’s gone, there’s a chance that there
won’t be any more.” Terry looked at them for a few seconds, hesitant to bring
up his next topic. “We haven’t talked about this yet, and I wouldn’t be
surprised if you two haven’t even thought about it, but if we decide to stay
together come spring, we’ll need to find a place to grow food. And we’ll need
something to eat between planting and harvesting seasons. I don’t think we have
near enough food to take us that far – if we decide to stick together.”
    Angela looked at Jim. “If we have
to be all survivalist and live like this from now on, we’d all do it together,
right? It doesn’t make sense for us to split up.”
    “Sure. I hate people in general,
but you guys are cool with me.”
    Angela shook her head in mild dismay
at Jim’s standard line about not liking people. He had always talked as if
people were a blight on the planet and she never did
understand what his issue was. She knew he’d had a rough childhood, but she
didn’t think the whole world should be indicted because of a few bad people.
    “I think we definitely stand a
better chance of surviving well as a group than we do as individuals, and I’d
be honored to be part of a continued group with you youngsters.”
    “Good,” Angela said. “Then that’s
settled. We’ll stick together until surviving isn’t an issue.”
    “And that brings us back to the
topic of other survivors who might not be as civilized as our small group is,”
Terry said, bringing them back to the unsettled issue of defense. “You guys
brought back plenty of guns and ammo from the houses that you searched for
supplies. Do you have any experience with guns?”
    Jim lowered his eyelids and said in
a baritone voice, “I shot a man in Reno.”
    Terry asked, “Just to watch him
die?”
    “Yep,” Jim replied, hooking his
thumbs into his belt loops.
    “This isn’t funny, you guys.
    “You’re right, Angela. This is a
dead-serious topic. I’m sorry,” Terry said. “Jim’s a real bad influence.” He
tried not to smile.
    “I’ve never shot a gun before, and
I don’t want to now. You guys can be the sheriffs and I’ll be your dispatcher,
or whatever. I’m not learning to shoot.”
    “I’ll teach her,” Jim said.
    Angela responded non-verbally,
pursing her lips and shaking her head defiantly.

Ten
     
    Three days earlier
     
    Tori and her three year old daughter Elizabeth were heading
back to Denver after visiting Tori’s sister, Kelly in