Badlands Trilogy (Book 2): Beyond the Badlands Read Online Free Page A

practicing had been as real as this.
    While guardsmen continued to lay down fire, Ed searched for a way out. As he scanned the southern fence line another explosion ripped through the air, this time further away. More guardsmen poured out from behind him, sprinting toward the oncoming mass of the infected to strengthen the line of defense.
    Behind them the train lurched, the sound of engaging couplers ringing down the track in an audible domino effect. The attached railcars jerked before slowly rolling forward, heading away from the station.
    Ed knew the train was their only salvation. “Boys,” he said, redirecting their attention away from the oncoming infected. “Get to the train.”
    The four of them pushed their way through the tumultuous crowd of people, away from the oncoming carriers and toward the train. It picked up speed as it rolled out of the station, the railcars traveling along obediently behind.
    Ed ran more quickly, ushering the boys along. They were running out of time. Others now chased after the escaping train, jumping onto empty cars wherever they could. Ed ran after the train, gaining on it, until a flatcar full of people was within reach. Running alongside the moving train, he grasped the handrail and reached out to help Jeremy aboard.
    A foot connected hard with Ed’s shoulder, forcing him to release his grip on the handrail. “No more room!” a large, bearded man bellowed from the flatcar. He blocked the steps with his body.
    Determined to get his children on the train, Ed took hold of the railing again. He took Jeremy’s hand and attempted again to guide the boy onto the flatcar’s steps. The bearded man reached down and shoved them both away.
    Ed lost his footing, falling hard on the platform. Jeremy landed next to him, dangerously close to the platform’s edge. Ed quickly pulled his son away from the moving train. Lying prone on the platform, Ed watched the flatcar roll away, the bearded man staring at them with his arms crossed.
    “You okay?” Ed asked, lifting Jeremy to his feet.
    “Yeah.”
    Eyeing the end of the train fast approaching, Ed and his family ran toward the closest car they could find. This time there was no one to stop them. Trish hopped aboard the passenger car, reaching out a hand through its open door. Zach made it to her first. She pulled him on board and reached out her hand for Jeremy.
    Shorter than his brother, Jeremy needed Ed’s help to reach her. Ed picked him up and shoved him toward her. Locking hands with the boy, she hauled him aboard, ushering him in behind her.
    By now the train had begun to pick up significant speed. Ed attempted to run faster, but he began lagging behind. He pushed himself harder, taking two long steps before jumping toward the open door. His right foot made it onto the step, but his left foot missed, sending him flailing backward.
    Trish reached out and gripped Ed by his shirt collar, arresting his fall. He gripped the handrail and pulled himself aboard as the train left the platform behind.

Chapter Seven

    After nearly an hour in the attic, Dave peered through a small window at the front of the house, surveying the scene below. Dozens of carriers wandered the streets, some ambling about randomly, others running in circles as if searching for anything on which to release their fury.
    Beside him Annette crouched on all fours, looking through the same small window. “Does it look like they’re thinning out?”
    Dave shook his head. “Not really.”
    “They’ll eventually leave, won’t they?”
    “Maybe.”
    “How long can we stay up here? The only water we have is what we have in our packs. And there’s no bathroom.”
    “We have plastic bags,” Dave reminded her.
    “Well, there’s that,” she said, flashing a weak smile. She paused. “I just hate sitting here doing nothing.”
    Dave placed a hand on her shoulder. “I know, babe. There’s not much else we can do for now.” He went back to staring out the window again,