In the grey over cast sky, that barely allowed light, the horse plodded the edge of the river.
It is a keen eye and ear that kept you safe from harm, the thought rolled through his
brain as he rode. He watched the horses ears for any sign trouble, it had saved him before.
Evan was thinking of the start up of the radio station and getting a network of electricity
to a few of the locals. A couple with children in an old "Preppers" bunker 6 miles west.
A few others in a rock quarry to the south, kind of a man made box canyon with a narrow
entrance fortified with a wall of war vehicles. And his cousin Mike in the buried airstream trailer
miles east. He was the sort of guy that could pet your dog, then pick up a rock and crush it's skull,
so it wouldn't give him away. A product of the Chinese hordes. A good cook though he once made
a very tender roast from a very old horse.
He approached the river bridge marked with 3 crosses in black paint, his directions, were to
head 2 clicks east on the road, but to stay in the south tree line. An old county highway sign
said H-34, as he rose out of the river bed, the horse's ears twitched and turned back behind them,
he knew he was being followed, but could see no one.
Riding at a gait he turned into a row of cedar trees and stopped, dismounted quickly and unsheathed his sword. Evan held the reigns tight and pulled the mare close to the tree.
Crisp leaves gave away the following spy, he walked into the tree line, and was affronted by
a thick forearm and the butt of a sword.
"Geezus!, My Da said you were coming , but I didn't know I would be killed!"
Evan pulled the boy to his feet, and held him fast with his sword.
"Your father got the radio?", "Take me there, and no fast moves."
"You come with medicine for my sister?", the young boy asked.
" What's wrong with her? She got the Pox?", Evan quizzed.
"No the fever from dirty water", the boy stated.
The boy was forced to walk ahead of the horse a few paces,
and Evan sheathed the sword.
"Your Pa, he fought the Hordes?"
"Ya, who didn't?", the boy said.
" You're too young to remember the Hordes."
" My Da told me about 'em and I'd a killed as many as I coulda'"
" Well we're here", The young boy removed a few tree branches and a camo
tarp, to reveal an old Preppers steel entrance.
" God bless those old Preppers", Evan said, "Saved half the nation in the
Hordes wars."
Evan carried his kit down a steel ladder along with an old 9mm, He didn't want
to be someone's last supper.
Instead he was greeted by a lanky man with sunken chest, worn face, and brown eyes
that at one time were trusting, but now jumped about.
" Are you the man I radioed?" Evan took his hand shook it and said "Yes. Where's the
girl?"
"Down here, she cant shake the fever."
" I don't have much for meds, some anti- diarrheal and Tylenol and 10 tabs of antibiotics",
" Oh and my wife sent chicken soup."
"You have chickens?"
"Well not really, but I have trapped a few prairie chickens."
The conversation continued late into the night and it was good to laugh and
take stock in another.
They spoke of the radio and Evans plan for a broadcast and to get the electricity
to others.
"Hell, maybe one day we could string wire down here to you all.", Evan bragged.
"You sleep here by the stove and ride out tomorrow. I can never repay you enough
for your help, and the meds for my daughter."
He slept under an old blanket on the floor, his 9mm, under his pack next to him.
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