Dark New World (Book 2): EMP Exodus Read Online Free Page B

for “stop whatever you’re doing, be quiet and stay still,” Michael had explained, along with a couple other hand signals. Cassy had almost missed it by wandering in her thoughts.
    She watched now as Michael crouched low behind some scrub brush. She was certain it couldn’t hide a person, yet somehow their scout managed to get smaller than she thought possible. He sat stone-still for several minutes and the kids got fidgety, but they stayed silent. The adults had their rifles at the low-ready, alternating between scanning their surroundings and looking to Michael for instructions. Then Michael slinked backwards away from his concealment, moving toward the group.
    Once there, he briefly and quietly spoke to Frank, then used one of the other hand signals he’d taught them, the one for “gather around” or Rally, as Michael called it. The clan quietly gathered around Michael, and he nodded at each in turn, apparently approving.
    “Okay, clan, here’s what’s up,” Michael said almost in a whisper. “Ahead is about two hundred yards of open ground, running between an occupied auto body shop on the left and a large house on the right that I think is also occupied. Our task is to get across that open terrain quickly and silently. We’ll stay low, crouching as we go. Cassy, you’re injured. Can you run bent over without killing yourself or crying out in pain?”
    Cassy noted how Michael asked this without apparent emotion. He was all business at the moment. If she said she couldn’t do it then he’d think of another way around, she was sure, but it would be something even more dangerous than traversing open terrain between two groups of people with unknown intent. The thought scared her.
    “I’ll make it,” Cassy said, her face expressionless. This was going to hurt like a bitch, but there was no help for it.
    Ten minutes later, Michael had explained the plan, and the route he thought was best and drilled into them several times that if someone started shooting at them, they had to reach that cover before any other consideration. Getting caught in the open in a crossfire would mean death. He looked hard at them and didn’t pull any punches as he spoke. No one had any doubts about their situation.
    “Now,” Michael continued, “listen up. Each child needs to go with an adult. If a kid gets shot, carry them. If an adult gets shot, keep fuckin’ running . Better one down than all. I’ll go after anyone down later if they’re alive. If you get shot, lie still and wait until the firing stops, then look ahead for me. I won’t willingly leave one of our clan behind, I promise you all. While you cross, I’ll stay in position on overwatch and then follow and regroup with you once you’re in the trees across the field. If the enemy fires on us, I’ll be right here to take them out. Jed, you’ll have to take two of the kids with you. Too dangerous for me to take one. Are we clear, and are we ready to move out?”
    Silent nods all around, and the others picked the child they would move out with. Five kids. Six adults, including Cassy’s daughter, Brianna. Though only thirteen, she’d have to be an adult for now because Cassy wasn’t well enough to carry even Michael’s five-year-old son, Nick. The task of leading Nick would fall to Jed, who would have two kids with him.
    “Alright then. You all know the plan. It’s time to move out. You can do this, folks. This is our clan. These are our kids and our people. We will make it . Don’t be scared—save your fear for later. For now, it’s time to man up, take a deep breath and do this.”
    Cassy nodded and offered up a silent prayer to a God she wasn’t sure she believed in. Please, God, let us get through this and if anything goes wrong, let the kids be safe.

- 4 -

    2100 HOURS - ZERO DAY +6

    THE CLAN MOVED north to the strip of trees that ran east-to-west, separating the occupied garage from the house. Now creeping westward among the trees, they stayed