Linda Andrews - Extinction Level Event

Henry rolled around him, before raising his fist into the air. The other men in their group gathered near the bumper of a minivan.

“We’re going to halt our little procession here and find out what’s going on. At least, there’ll be plenty of cover if things go bad.” Reaching over his head, he pulled a blue and black kid’s walkie-talkie from the pouch attached to the back of his wheelchair. Somewhere down the line of people, the oldest Wilson sister had the other one. He pressed the side button and static burst into the silence. “Take your time getting up front.”

The man angled his horse in their direction.

Manny licked his dry lips and wiped his damp palms on his jeans. He hoped the girls remembered the code for danger.

“Falcon.” Henry tossed the walkie-talkie to the black man with the yellow bandanna leaning against a pick-up in front. Clearing his throat, he glanced up at Manny. “Feeling brave, young man?”

Brave? Not unless that meant he’d need a change of underwear soon. “Uh, no.”

“Good.” Henry’s eyes crinkled above his mask. “Because brave people tend to be stupid. This could sour on us real quick and one or both of us might end up shot.”

He pulled out his revolver and slid it across the hood to Falcon. Adjusting his bandanna, he picked up the gun and hung it loosely at his side.

Cowboy lifted his rifle off his lap. His finger flirted with the trigger but didn’t settle on it.

Every muscle in Manny’s body clenched. The eye of the muzzle stared down at him. A change in underwear would definitely be in order if he survived this. “I don’t want to get shot.”

“Then let’s play this smart.” Henry rolled across the cracked asphalt. “Keep your hands in sight. They know that we have weapons but we’re not provoking an attack.”

Manny jogged at his side, keeping his empty hands in view. God, if you’re listening, I’d really like this to go well . He barely felt his feet as they thudded against the blacktop. And if it doesn’t, I’d understand you punishing me, but please protect Rini, the niños , Mildred and Connie .

Henry stopped about five feet from Cowboy. “Howdy.”

Manny flinched. Howdy? What was this a western? He sidestepped the wheelchair, placing himself between the old man and the gunmen peering over the wall. A former soldier would do better at keeping Rini and the niños alive then an excon.

The weak sunlight and the brim of his battered Stetson shaded Cowboy’s face, but not the muzzle of the gun. Fortunately, it no longer aimed at pieces of Manny’s anatomy.

“Morning.” Cowboy leaned forward in his saddle. Leather creaked and the horse shifted. “Looks like you folks are leaving.”

“Yep.” Henry folded his hands in his lap. “We’re heading for the soldiers.”

Cowboy pushed the brim of his hat up. Age etched parallel lines down his nut-brown cheeks. He wore no mask. “Mister, there haven’t been soldiers around here since yesterday.”

Manny twitched. No soldiers. No protection. Fear soured his mouth. And they knew it. His hands crawled up his belly. He caught them, before they dove into his hoody pockets then forced them to his side. He did not want to get shot.

The men on the fence shifted to the clatter metal against brick. Someone coughed.

Henry nodded. “Not where they were , but where they’ve relocated.”

Cowboy tilted his head to the right. “Word on the CB is that Luke Air Force Base is practically deserted. Everyone is sick.”

Manny’s stomach clenched. The soldiers were sick? How could that be? What if they weren’t at the camp? What if they died before he and the niños managed to reach them?

“Not headed to Luke.” Henry shrugged, unclasped his hands to drum his fingers on his knees. “Sergeant Major Dawson told us where to go in an emergency. I think this qualifies.”

“The governor has ordered all able-bodied soldiers to the front line of the fire.” Cowboy jerked his head toward the wall of black and gray smoke billowing in the distance. “Wait long enough, and they should show up here.”

Henry backed his chair over a weed sticking out of the crack before rolling back into place. “The fire will be here first, and the vermin will be ahead of them.”

Vermin? Manny scanned the brick fence. A sloppy red snake marked the wall about thirty feet away. Ah, shit! The Aspero had expanded their territory this far north.

Cowboy sat back in his seat, moving the rifle with him. “We figured that too, just didn’t know which direction to go. The whole city seems to be on fire.”

Manny released a pent-up breath. Cowboy and his posse weren’t going to shoot or rob them? He shook out his clenched muscles.

Henry scratched his chin. “Bound to be a couple of detours because of it. You’re welcome to join us.”

Cowboy glanced at the row of faces visible above the fence. Many of the people nodded. A few even relaxed into a smile. “You sure you know where the soldiers are?”

Manny nodded. How could such a tidbit of information offer so much hope? These people had land, guns, heck, he’d even heard a chicken. They had everything to survive, but they wanted the soldiers.

“I swear it.” Henry rose a little out of his seat and lowered his voice. “What’s more, they’re encamped by the doctor who knows what the hell is going on. And I’m betting you that it’s more than the politicians are letting on.”

“A deaf, blind jackass knows more than a politician and that’s on a good day.” Cowboy swung down from his horse. “How many sick you got?”

“Lots.” Henry folded his arms across his chest. “And we’re taking them with us.”

Manny held his breath. Would that stop the men and their guns from joining their group?

“Good.” Cowboy removed his hat and slapped it against his leg. Dust and ash billowed from his pants. “We, too, have plenty ill so it will take a bit for us to be ready.”

Manny’s knees shook. Thank God. They were going to join them. There’d be more men with guns, more men to protect their food and people from the Aspero.

“We’re going to rest in the parking lot before we hit the Salt River. I’m thinking we’ll be there for about two hours.”

Cowboy settled his hat on his head. “You might want to scout the area first. We heard gunshots there this morning.”

“Gunshots?” Manny zeroed in on the gang tag. Was the Aspero ahead of them? Waiting?

“Three shots.” Cowboy tugged on his ear before pulling down the brim of his hat. “Not rapid fire, more like they were trying to get a bead on the target.”

Henry backed up to stare down the sloping road. “You think it was the gangs?”

Manny eyed the rows of empty cars. After the horse properties, the houses disappeared in favor of businesses and open fields. Could the Aspero have set up down the road?

“It’s a possibility.” Cowboy offered the rifle butt-first to Henry, before fishing out a box of cartridges from his saddle bags. “Two hours. We’ll be there.”

Henry opened it up and checked the chamber “And if you’re a bit delayed, the soldiers are at Thirty-Fifth Avenue and Bell.”

“We’ll meet you at the Salt River.” Cowboy offered his hand. “With the way the gangs have been harassing us, there’s safety in numbers.”

“That’s my way of thinking, too.” Henry shook his hand.

“You may want to check the Mission.” Cowboy offered his hand to Manny. “If we’re abandoning ship, I think it best we fill the life boats to capacity. And they’ll have plenty of extra supplies.”

Manny stared at it for a minute before sliding his palm against the other man’s. The grip was strong and sure. He straightened as they broke away.