Earthbound Read Online Free Page A

it
didn’t happen. Not for the next hundred years. Or two hundred,
whatever the math of it is from then to now. And for the million or
so who stayed behind, they had a hard time dealing with what was
left. Only settlements like ours had a chance. And eventually,
people like us stopped looking up into the sky, wondering when it
was gonna blow up. It just wasn’t gonna happen. And if it ever did,
mind you, I’m okay with it. What can I do about it anyway.
    We reached the part of the city where the
streets were flooded. First couple times I got to the flood I used
to turn back. Still water’s got alotta disease in it, and that’s
not the way I wanna go out. But eventually I figured out a path to
ride around the flood, which led to an area that was worth the
risk. Buildings ceded their territory to a thick forest, seemingly
sprung up out of nowhere. Nature has a way of reclaiming what’s
hers, I guess.
    There was an old rusted sign mounted
alongside overgrown brush. I never could read the words. I could
say it was because of the overgrowth of vines and weeds blocking
the letters, but in actuality it was cause I can’t really read
much. Never understood why I needed to really.
    Becca read the sign aloud. “Riverside Park.
Sounds nice enough.”
    I rode up alongside Pace, close enough to
whisper in his ear. “Keep an eye out for wolves.” I did that to eff
with him, although there were plenty of wolf packs in the Old City.
Never saw them up close though. Only times I did was when I was
working out on the ranch. Those were the only times anyone ever put
a shotgun in my hands, so I could protect the herd. They had good
reason for keeping a shotgun out of my hands the rest of the time.
Not sure how I’d get one on my own anyway. I’m not even wholly sure
where the armory is. They keep it a secret, so guys like me don’t
break into it I gather.
    Anyway, I went in first to the forest, since
I knew the way. I knew exactly the spot I wanted to show Becca. But
this part was probably the most dangerous of all the Old City.
Worth it though. She was probably spooked, I reckon. Pace too. He
was bringing up the rear, and he had to know that wolves tend to
like to follow their prey. He’d draw their first attack.
    I admit, this part of the Old City was
unsettling, but it was almost soothing when we started to hear the
sounds of nature we were accustomed to. Birds, owls, crickets, that
sort of thing. I could see thick spider webs pretty much
everywhere, and every few moments I thought I saw the scurry of
rats near our horses’ hooves. This was the kind of life that owned
the Old City now. That and the wolves – or worse.
    Pretty quickly I could hear the familiar
sound of rushing water, getting louder and louder. I led us to a
clearing, and was happy to get us through that forest without
incident. In front of us was a little patch of land that sloped
slightly downward, right alongside the bank of the Missouri River.
We dismounted, gave the horses some water, and gave ourselves some
whiskey from a flask I kept in my saddlebag. We tamped down some
weeds and sat among them, staring out at the flowing water.
    “Nice spot, right?” I asked.
    Becca nodded. I couldn’t tell if she was
still excited or now just plain scared. She’s a smart girl. She
knows about wolf packs.
    “Puts a new perspective on our tiny little
existence, doesn’t it?” Pace said. “There’s more than just the
Great Falls settlement, that’s for sure.”
    “But none of it’s as safe,” Becca reasoned.
And she was right about that.
    “I’m up to my ass in safe,” Pace replied. In
that moment I couldn’t tell if he was boasting or being truthful,
but as I later learned it was a little of both.
    “Haven’t seen you at movie night in a few
months.” I thought Becca was talking to Pace, but I glanced up and
saw she was looking at me.
    “What’s the point?” I said.
    “I never miss movie night,” Pace said
cheerfully.
    “I know,” Becca replied.