Then Came War Read Online Free Page B

for?” Harry asked.
    Tyler nodded. “That lady and guy came out.”
    “And you’re right. You don’t know who else may emerge.”
    “But what if he’s hurt and can’t.” Tyler looked up at Harry. “What if he’s hurt?”
    “Tell ya' what.” Harry crouched down to Tyler’s level and did so with a grunt. “Do you remember what your dad was wearing?”
    Tyler shook his head ‘no,’ and then stopped and nodded excitedly. “Yes. Yes. I do.”
    “What was it?”
    “He was wearing a blue shirt. I teased him that he looked like he worked at Best Buy .”
    “Good. Good.” Harry squeezed his shoulder. “What kind of shirt was it? Was it long sleeved or short, business, tee shirt?”
    Tyler shook his head. “Short sleeve, like the guys at Best Buy wear. Has a collar.”
    “That helps. And what’s his name? Do you know his name?”
    “It’s TJ.”
    “Good.” Harry peered around and then he spotted him. After a short piercing whistle, he called out, “Foster.”
    Foster came to an immediate halt. He was carrying what looked like two purses and a backpack. He set them down near a small pile of belongings.
    “Yes sir?” Foster said.
    “Can you help an old man up?” Harry raised his eyebrows.
    “Sure.” Foster braced Harry’s elbow and aided him in standing.
    “Thank you. I forget I just can’t get down and back up like I used to. What uh, what is that you’re up to?” Harry nodded his head to the pile.
    “I’m not stealing or anything.”
    “I didn’t say you were. I was just asking.”
    “Well, kind of you know, grabbing what I can that’s lying around and seeing if we can find some food, water. Maybe stuff we can use for bandages. I originally went for my bag, but then I started thinking.”
    “And that’s good thinking.”
    Foster nodded. “It was embedded in me by my fifth foster father. He was one of those survivalist guys.”
    “Well, Mr. Survival guy. How strong is your stomach?”
    “Pretty strong, I guess. Why?”
    “Somewhere in one of these twisted cars ….” Harry pointed. “My guess near the middle or end is the coffee car. Why don’t you take this little fella over there? Have him wait outside and you hand him water. Bet there’s some bottled water in that car and other stuff I suppose that ain’t so pretty. You may have to be pretty nimble.”
    “Don’t know what that is.” Foster said.
    “Wiry. Agile,” Harry explained.
    “Oh, I can be that. Is that why you asked about the strong stomach?”
    “That’s why I asked.”
    “I’ll look.” Foster took hold of Tyler’s hand. “Come with me.”
    “And Foster …” Harry called before he moved away. “Good thinking again on the purses and such. You may want to get some people to help finish that.”
    “Yeah, it’ll be something to do until help arrives.”
    Harry only nodded. As Foster and Tyler moved to the cars, Harry mumbled, “Yeah, until help arrives.” Then he turned to car two.
     
     
     
    Ben found Lana a nice spot against the wall. He sat her next to an older woman who clutched her purse for dear life. The woman’s grey hair was dashed with red, her face dirty and her expression was shock.
    Lana adjusted the way she sat.
    “Comfortable?” Ben asked.
    “I’m fine, thank you. How are you? Are you hurt?” she asked.
    “Not at all. A scratch here and there, but that’s it. Look.” He set down the small green and yellow duffle bag. “That boy found your gym bag.”
    She released an ‘oh’ as if the news of the bag was the greatest thing she had heard.
    “I figured . . .” Ben opened it. “You may have something in here.”
    “I do.” She reached in and grabbed a bottle of water. “I have two of these.”
    Ben smiled. He reached inside and pulled out a sock.
    “Oh, Ben, that’s dirty.”
    “Who cares?” He poured some water on the sock and placed it on her head to wipe it clean.
    Lana took a huge drink of the water and extended the bottle to Ben.
    “No,” he said. “I’m