1. Future Perfect - Chapter One


    Date: 11/14/2015, Categories: Novels, Author: BrassRing

    ... couple of years. When I needed lumber or hardware, I kept to the main roads, got what I needed, and got out. I wasn't exactly hiding, but I wasn't advertising my presence either. After ten years, survival was second nature. I had raided the libraries for field guides, anything on nature, gardening, or survival. I was good at it now and barely missed having human companionship. I had decided that I needed a new computer. I kept an electronic journal, and wanted to make sure that I kept everything backed up. I had learned how to pick locks my second year. When I could do that, I left the doors unlocked. Nature was taking over, but not as quickly as if I had broken windows in the stores that I used the most. As I was leaving the computer store, my dog, Biscuit, became nervous. Biscuit wasn't the Alpha in my pack, but he was my companion. He usually came with me when I left the house. He slept at the foot of my bed. I could see him listening to something as we approached the door. I was very cautious as I approached. I looked outside but saw nothing. I unsnapped the holster of my .357 Magnum and rested my hand on the butt of the gun. Biscuit woofed quietly, his head tilted to the side. He wasn't scared, just cautious. I pushed open the door as quietly as I could and held it until it closed quietly after we went through. "Quiet now," I said to Biscuit. I saw no other cars, heard nothing at all. And then...laughter. A child's laughter. A sound I hadn't thought to ever hear ...
    ... again. A sound that made me smile, just to hear it. The first voice was joined by another, and then, suddenly, gone. I looked around, but still saw nothing. Biscuit and I headed to the truck. I put the computer in the bed of the truck and decided to see if I could find the source of the laughter. I refastened the holster on the .357 and took my cane from the cab. I didn’t slam the door closed, but just pushed it, making as little noise as possible. There were some clothing stores in a shopping area behind the Best Buy where I was. I headed that way, staying close to the building, both to avoid the long grass, and to stay hidden. The drainage ditch behind the store had become a swamp, offering a habitat for all kinds of wildlife, including poisonous snakes. I wanted to avoid them. As I reached the corner of the store, I knelt down so that my head was just above the height of the grass. I peeked around the corner, but saw only empty parking lots. I decided that I would have to use the road to avoid the ditch. If I stayed low, I should still be able to avoid being seen. Suddenly, there it was again! Two children laughing. Biscuit perked his ears up and snapped his head to the left, looking at something that I couldn't see. Without a glance in my direction, Biscuit bounded away through the grass. “Biscuit!” I hissed. “Heel!” No good. Stupid dog. I should have brought Duke. He was an instinctive protector. Biscuit was an instinctive goofball. I looked at the truck. I could get in and ...
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