Seven Days To Brooklyn: A Sara Robinson Adventure by Christopher Westley Read Free Book Online

steps forward, one foot in front of the other. Half the distance to go. Snap .
    “Dammit.” Carefully stepping backward, removing her foot from a broken piece of tree branch—too late! The man hears her and immediately stands straight up, looking right at her. Snarling, he lets out a low growl through rotted teeth and oozing slime that is coming from every orifice. He runs to her at lightning speed. Sara braces herself, her right hand at her side, concealing the fourteen-inch polished steel blade of what could only be considered a bowie knife. Sara squeezes the handle of the knife tighter, her fingers pulsating. Five feet away, he reaches out to grab her throat with his right hand. Sara swings the knife, cutting off the attacker’s hand. This has no effect on stopping his advance. Now angrier and more determined, he lunges forward to tackle her. She swings again as she sidesteps his advance, sending the blade deep into his neck, severing his spinal cord. His motion stops immediately, legs wobbling; then he crumples to the floor of the culvert.
    “Let’s go; we’re clear now. Come on.”
      “Okay, I was just wondering if you were going to need my help, but clearly I see you’ve got it handled.” Mac wonders what other surprises she has.  
    Sara walks out of the tunnel and into the waning sunlight where the tunnel opens up to the highway they were just on minutes earlier. Large city buildings are visible to the north. Sara pulls out a pair of binoculars and looks down the road. The buildings are two to three story brick and mortar, with overhanging storefronts that cover the sidewalks. The town appears to be deserted, but it is hard to tell because of the hazy post-dusk conditions and the heat of the roadway shimmering up in front of her, distorting the image in her binoculars. She estimates that they are only a mile or so away and starts running toward the buildings.
    “Hey, wait up.” Mac exits the tunnel and sees her running to the buildings. “Damn, this kid has a mind of her own.” He starts running to catch up with her and is quickly alongside, jogging at her pace. “What’s the hurry?”
    “Sundown, they come out more at night, and I’m not going to spend it outside if we can stay inside.”  
    Sara does not even break pace nor has her breathing changed. She is in top physical condition, akin to an Olympic athlete. Mac’s breathing increases as he begins to sweat from the exertion.  
    Upon reaching the first building, Sara moves over to the side of the road and slows her pace to a walk. Looking down the deserted street, she sees a burned-out car on the left side, and trash is littered everywhere. She walks down the left sidewalk and up to the first store entrance. Reaching for the doorknob, she turns it, but with no luck.
    “Is it locked?”
    “Not for long.” Sara drops her pack off her shoulder and pulls out a small makeup case that has her name embroidered in pink across its black fabric. Unzipping the case and sorting through the contents, she pulls out two lock picks and steps up to the lock. She inserts the two picks, her small hands working the lock back and forth for a few seconds before the door pops open.
    “Done. You first; I took point last time.”  
      Mac steps inside the dimly lighted building and strains his eyes to see in the pre-dusk darkness that has encompassed the room. The windows are all boarded up as well as the door, resulting from the looting that must have happened right after the solar flare. Sara steps in after him and closes the door behind her, locking it. Turning on her headlamp, she peers around the room and recognizes it was once a ladies clothing store. Most racks are empty, except for a few mannequins that still stand partially clothed in negligees and suggestively styled corsets. Sara sees a panel of light switches and goes over to switch them on. Moving the switches one by one, she looks around to see whether any of the lights work.
    “Power is out