In Harm's Way Read Online Free Page B

is very pertinent,” Brook explained.
    “You helped me. No, I take that back. You helped everyone inside of this base by stepping out of your comfort zone and going up into that tower, picking up a rifle--and using it very effectively, I might add, against the Z’s.” Shrill gazed down at Raven whose eyes were bugging out of her head. “And then there’s the whole sneaking into a helicopter full of Rangers and going along on the hospital assault thing,” Shrill said, finishing with a barely perceptible wink at the petite woman.
    Brook was almost speechless and more than a little bit embarrassed from the accolades that Shrill had just heaped on her. “Colonel, all I need is a small caliber rifle and some ammunition. I want to teach my daughter how to shoot so she can protect herself when the need arises. I didn’t know who to ask... and since you’re the base commander...”
    Shrill cut her off before she could finish. “Your husband is going on an important operation today... is that why?”
    “No Sir. She’s eleven and in these times eleven might as well be twenty. There are so many things I need to teach her...” Brook sighed. “She won’t always have her Dad and me to protect her and I just want the little peace of mind knowing that she at least has a grasp of the basics. That’s all.”
    “Let’s go see what we can beg, borrow or steal from the armorer,” the Colonel said with a little gleam in his eye.  
    ***
    Just inside of the East fence
    “Hold it firm against your shoulder and look down the sights,” Brook said as she hovered behind Raven. “Do you see how the two pieces of metal line up?”
    “Yeah... sort of,” Raven answered. “Should I shoot now?”
    “Yes. Once you’re sure the target is in your sights... gently squeeeeze the trigger,” Brook instructed her daughter.
    POW!
    The report from the Ruger 10/22 wasn’t as loud as the other gunfire she had been exposed to, yet she still jumped. “Gross...” Raven exclaimed, remembering to engage the safety before putting the gun down. Then she covered her face with both dainty hands and commenced pacing back and forth.
    “Raven, get back on the horse... you can do it. Pick up the rifle. There’s a round in the chamber so wait until the target is in the sights and follow the same routine... but this time aim a little higher.”
    Raven retrieved the gun. “Do I have to?” she asked even as she was aligning the rifle with her shoulder.
    Brook didn’t answer.
    Unfazed by the wound, the creature still clutched the fence with both alabaster hands, working thin bony fingers against the wire. Raven’s shot had entered the male zombie in the neck area, where black fluid from a dime-sized hole steadily seeped onto its soiled tee shirt. She had been aiming for the thing’s nose, but this time she shifted her bead to the walker’s forehead.
      POW!
    The zombie’s right eye disappeared as the lead from the small .22 entered and then tumbled around inside of its skull, destroying the brain in the process, and causing the twice-dead creature to collapse on the ground.
    “Put the safety on and keep your eyes open,” Brook ordered. She hefted the M4, double checked that the selector was on single shot, and then closed the distance to the fence. While steadily firing, Brook swept the carbine left to right, methodically dropping the amassed walkers with accurate head shots. She stopped advancing only when the magazine was empty and the bolt locked open. “They’re not human anymore... don’t you forget it,” Brook said with an icy tone to her voice.
    “Want me to finish the last two?” Raven asked.
    “I want you to enjoy finishing the last two.” There goes the Parent of the Year Award , Brook thought while she watched Raven concentrate on the task at hand.
    After six shots mixed in with a fair amount of hesitation, the remaining walkers were felled by the diminutive eleven-year-old.
    Raven turned around and gazed into her mom’s