Fireteam Delta J. Halpin (top 10 books of all time TXT) 📖

had learned some in her language. Though, the few that Asle could relay were a little disturbing, with a lot of focus on bones and hides. It was painting a picture of a culture that was not known for its peaceful ways.

“All right,” Adams relented. “No trading guns. Got it. Message clear.”

They’d been setting up the Humvee and the wagon for the road that morning. Summers popped open the driver’s side door as they started to load up; everyone had more or less agreed that he was back to normal, so he was once again the team’s designated driver.

Summers had failed to mention his newly augmented sense of smell, aggression, and the disturbing change of appetite, however, for which he felt an immense amount of guilt. He of course had a good reason for keeping those details to himself. He was a coward and didn’t want them to think he was a freak. And, he was holding on to the hope that it would wear off like the other effects of the fog.

Nowak tossed a bag of something that resembled coins into the back of the Humvee. There were a few of its like in the back of the wagon, so they assumed it was the local currency. They only had an assumption to work from because Asle, in her usual form, had no idea what they were. Apparently, being so far from home and in a different “land” as Asle called it, meant they used different currency. And without any information of the denominations they were carrying, or how much spending power they’d have, they were happy to have the merchants’ passes. At least they could avoid being fleeced by a couple of perceptive guards.

“So, tell me again why I’m the one doing this?” Adams asked from atop the wagon.

“You said your family owned a farm,” Nowak called back.

“That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing.” Adams held a set of reins in each hand, trying to will the cow forward.

“Well then, because you’re the private and it’s your God-given duty to do the things no one else wants to,” Cortez answered.

“Besides, you still have more experience with animals than the rest of us,” Summers added.

“We had chickens,” Adams responded.

The cow paid him little heed as he continually flipped the reins. As far as cows went, it was a little frightening. It stood about twice as wide as the cows of their world, with toned muscle in its legs, back, and well, pretty much everywhere. Suffice to say, they were happy to let it work at its own pace.

“You’ll figure it out.” Summers climbed into the Humvee, and they started off. Sure enough, the cow took that as its cue to start walking. Adams still held on to the reins in the hopes it would do some good.

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Creatures that looked like mottled green deer crisscrossed in front of the road as they drove. They were moving slower than their usual pace, so they wouldn’t leave Adams and the wagon behind. Summers guessed these were this world’s version of herbivores. He almost hit a group of the more curious ones, but managed to avoid them with only minimal bitching from the back of the Humvee. His fine motor skills still weren’t up to what they used to be, but he was making do—although, he’d avoided trying anything like handwriting up to this point and wasn’t optimistic about the results.

“Pull over, here,” Nowak instructed, tapping the dash for emphasis.

“You are not going to kill those things, are you?” Adams asked from the wagon, more tension in his voice than Summers would have expected.

“Why do you care?” Nowak responded.

“They’re fucking adorable.” Adams pointed to three of the deer, standing a good distance away. “There’s a family over there with a little green Bambi.”

Summers stepped out, looking at the scattered herd on the hill beside them.

“That’s a buck bed over there.” Nowak indicated a small bed of leaves beneath a larger horned deer. “Usually, it means there’s water nearby, and we need to resupply.”

“All right, Wild Man, which way?” Cortez asked.

Nowak took a moment to look over the herd. “Summers, think you can hit one of them from here?”

Summers hefted his rifle, then looked through the scope at the relaxing buck.

“Sure can.”

“Aw, come on, guys. Bambi!” Adams protested.

“Just need to wing it, any of them. Thigh shot would be best. Hunted enough to know the little bastards always head to water when they’re hit. These things are probably the same,” Nowak responded.

Adams made a strained noise beside Summers.

“It’s all right. I’ll hit one of the old and weak ones. See? That one’s already limping.” Summers fired as he said this. “Well, it is now, anyway.”

Adams watched the deer scatter, Summers’ target scrambling away in a mad panic.

“You people are monsters.”

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They ate deer by the river that night, cooking over a fire that was well away from the Humvee. A landmark a few hours before signaled that they’d soon be inside the red area of their map. Nowak had decided they should stock up on water, food, and make a game plan before heading into a place that even the locals thought was dangerous.

“At least it tastes the same as what we have back home,” Nowak said, tearing a chunk of cooked meat from the bone.

“Didn’t know you were a big game hunter,” Summers responded, tentatively chewing on a piece of flank.

“My family did this kind of shit every Christmas. Said we were going out to find Santa’s reindeer.”

“Guey, seriously? That’s a little fucked up, even for me,” Cortez said. The rest of the group gave various noises of agreement.

“It was fun! You didn’t do some crazy shit with your folks?”

“Nope.” Cortez shook her head. “Not opening that Pandora’s box. Me and my family