Meteorite Strike by A. G. Taylor Read Free Book Online

Dad!”
    Robert’s shout made the man jerk the gun round in shock, but it was Daniel and Sarah who were the most surprised. Without warning, Robert slipped from Sarah’s grasp and ran between Daniel and the gun.
    â€œRobert!” Sarah cried above the sound of the wind.
    â€œStop pointing the gun at my dad!” he shouted at the man in the doorway, backing towards Daniel.
    The man immediately lowered his weapon and pulled down the towel, revealing a bearded, sun-reddened face. He looked tired and confused.
    â€œIs that your son?” the man demanded, waving the end of the shotgun in Robert’s direction.
    â€œUh… yeah,” Daniel said, as if getting used to the idea himself.
    The man looked round at Sarah.
    â€œMy daughter,” Daniel explained, placing a hand on Robert’s shoulder. “We just want to shelter from the rain for a while. Please, for the kids.”
    Huge drops of rain were starting to splatter into the dirt all around them, creating muddy blotches all around. With a nod the man lowered the gun and led them quickly inside the house.
    â€œThanks,” Sarah told the man as she joined Robert in the darkened kitchen. Looking around she saw four plates of half-eaten food laid out on the table, as if they had been abandoned mid-meal. The air had a musty smell to it.
    The man leaned the gun against the door frame and motioned to the table. They sat as the rain hit. And what rain! It was as if a massive cauldron of water was being tipped out onto the house. Sarah looked through the window at the torrent pouring over the gutters and was thankful they weren’t caught out in it.
    â€œThe name’s Tom Barker,” the man said, pulling the towel from around his neck and throwing it down on the floor. He slumped into a kitchen chair as if exhausted.
    â€œI’m sorry about the gun,” he continued. “I saw people coming and got worried. What with the bombs and everything.”
    Daniel looked at him in confusion. “The bombs?”
    Barker nodded his head towards the window.
    â€œThe bombs in the desert,” he explained. “There was the massive one that kicked up all the dust – we felt it. It almost shook the house down. Then we saw the explosion in the night. Who are we at war with?”
    Daniel let out a little laugh and winked at Robert, who was sitting on his hands next to him.
    â€œThe big one wasn’t a bomb, it was a meteorite. After that, you must have seen our plane come down. That’s how we got here. Haven’t you been watching the news?”
    The man shook his head. “The TV’s not working. Neither are the phones. Haven’t been since last night. All the electricity’s out.”
    â€œThe EMP,” Robert said and Daniel nodded.
    Sarah looked around the room once more, her eyes falling on a series of pictures on the wall, photographs showing the man with his family: a woman and two teenagers. Daniel noticed them too and touched the edge of one of the dinner plates.
    Barker must have guessed what they were thinking because he looked back to the door that led into the house.
    â€œMy family are sleeping,” he said. “Otherwise you’d be able to meet my wife and kids. I’ll see if I can get them up in a minute.”
    There was uncertainty in his tone. The rain hammered on the roof. There was a flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder seconds later.
    â€œHow long have they been sleeping?” Sarah asked.
    â€œSince last night,” Barker replied. “They just fell asleep at the table and now I can’t wake them up. I can’t…”
    His voice cracked and Daniel stood. He laid a hand on Barker’s shoulder.
    â€œIt’s okay.”
    Daniel and Sarah found them laid out, still dressed, in each of their bedrooms. Barker must have carried them there from the kitchen. Sarah stood in the doorway of the son’s bedroom while Daniel went inside and checked