The Survivors: Book One

Hearing it only made Angela a bit sadder than she'd already been. That world was gone, and eventually they (she) would stop watching for its return. Angela got another duffle bag from the back seat and disappeared behind a tree, liking it that he waved the wolf after her. This was why she needed him. He would teach her to be strong, and look out for her while she learned.

"And what happens when he runs out of things to teach?" the Witch asked ominously, but Angela wasn't in any state to look that far ahead, and she didn't answer.

They were quickly back inside the tepid warmth of the faded, drafty farmhouse, both of them avoiding looking at the happy faces of the family who had lived here, smiling from the walls around them.

"How much gas do you have?" He pushed the heater closer to the window so the draft would carry it farther into the room.

"Only a quarter tank, but I have two full, ten gallon cans in the back."

"Great. I've got about the same. We should be good for a few days." Marc spent a minute looking out the window at the landscape around their vehicles. He had chosen this room because it was the closest one to their wheels that had a window for a quick escape, and he wondered if he should point that out to her. How much did she want to learn while they traveled?

"Have you seen anyone rebuilding? Any place for people to go?" Angela asked, suddenly wondering if his home had included a wife. The pain was almost staggering.

"No, and I've been looking. It's always the same. Things are bad and getting worse."

Not surprised, she didn't say anything. After ten days out in this horrible new world, she had seen too much to believe that this was the normal recovery time after a global tragedy, that eventually help would come. Clearly, the government was gone and its people were on their own.

"So, he's a HAC-RAM?"

Angela smiled at the thought of how good her son had turned out, and the beauty of it made Marc stare. Enough of those could blind a man from even seeing other women.

"He has been for three years. Have a child, raise a Marine, was one of Kenny's better ideas. They were in New Mexico at an annual competition when the War came. They never miss it; usually bring home a box of trophies. From the outside, he's the perfect dad."