Walking in the Rain: Surviving the Fall by William Allen Read Free Book Online Page A

that might take me where I needed to go.  That baby never did stop crying as I ghosted off into the treeline skirting the little homestead, reminding me the clock was already ticking.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FIVE
    At the first crack of the little pistol, I dropped my head and waited while Amy slowly emptied the cylinder.  On the third shot, I looked up to the see all three of the home invaders turning their attention to the north.  Since I’d moved in a semi circle around the trees bordering the yard, I was slightly behind the three men sheltering near the truck. 
    As a bonus, I now finally managed to make out what I presumed was the fourth member of their little team.   He was low crawling through the scrubby grass of the back yard, and doing a poor job of it given how much of his body he left exposed.  Four bad guys at least, maybe more if they had posted an overwatch, and I knew this was a bad idea.  But, it was better than letting Amy get herself shot, I told myself.
    With no time to dawdle, I lined up my first shot and gently squeezed the trigger.  I was in a semi prone position, belly down but with my upper body raised just enough to work the lever.  The first raider went down with a bullet in his side, the round catching him right in the armpit at the edge of what I took to be a magazine carrier rig.  I was a little over forty yards away and the 38 Special was not an especially potent caliber but the man still went down with a scream. 
    I worked the lever action, barrel drifting to the side a bit as I fired again, this time my bullet catching the second raider with a hit to his left arm.  Solid, but not a killing wound.  I worked the lever again, and pushed myself into a roll that moved me about three feet from my previous spot. 
    Centering on the wounded raider, I went for a head shot and saw blood spray.  I was a little low, but the bullet seemed to carve a tunnel in the man’s neck, blasting out.  I levered the action, lining up for the third raider, when an incoming round struck the ground inches from my face with a chilling crack.  Crap, I thought.  The backyard sneak was zeroing in on me.
    I rolled again, this time at an angle to gain more separation from the shooter.  I dared not pause to even look up until I was crouched down behind a nearby tree trunk.  I took a quick peek and dropped flat on my belly. The good news was both the raiders I shot appeared to be down for good, but unfortunately, I now had two more angry, rifle wielding thugs gunning for me.  And they had me caught in a crossfire unless I bailed quick.
    Deciding a retreat was in order, I began to crawl away even as high caliber bullets began to rain down around me.  I was outnumbered and outgunned, and I needed to get out of here.  I could hear yelling but the words sounded failed to make an impression except that I thought they were advancing on me in a leapfrog fashion. 
    Crap.  That meant they probably knew what they are doing.   One would fire and the other would dash forward ten or twelve yards, then drop.  By alternating this pattern, one would be shooting while the other covered the distance.  Soon they would have me.
    The grass was tall enough to give some cover but I feared once they got closer they would be able to catch the ripple of my movement in the sea of green.  Pausing to take stock, I realized there was really no other option except to hold and fight.  No way would I retreat back to Amy, not while these men lived.  After saving her, I could not risk her life that way.
    With one on the right and the other my left, I waited for the left hand attacker to jump up, then shot him center mass.   As my barrel skewed right I knew I would be too late, but still worked the lever frantically and squeezed the trigger.  I couldn’t see the last raider’s face, but the man’s rifle was already coming to bear on me from barely