Edge of Fear: An EMP Post-Apocalyptic Survival Prepper Series (American Fallout Book 3) Alex Gunwick (free reads .txt) 📖

“What do you think we’re doing?” Luke asked.

“I want to hear what Edwin has to say.” Liz turned her back on Luke and faced Edwin. “Go on.”

“I know something you don’t know,” Edwin began.

“Are you going to tell us about it or not?” Luke snapped.

“Easy, man.” Derek arched an eyebrow at him. “Edwin is on our side, and we all know he has a penchant for dragging things out.”

“Penchant?” Edwin’s brow furrowed. “Anyway, this lake,” he tapped the large blue blob, representing the body of water near the compound, “hasn’t always been here. It’s manmade. It was stocked with fish by the National Park Association. They plowed up a series of tight, narrow caves to put it in. But not all of those were destroyed.”

Edwin pointed at the copse of trees.

“The reason they planted trees in that spot was to hide one of the old cave entrances back when spelunking was huge in the 1970s. They used it for cold storage before they got their generators going. I happen to know how to enter that cave system, and it lets out right here by the trees.”

Luke looked at Derek, who shrugged.

“It’s worth a try,” Derek said.

“You said the caves were tight and narrow.” Luke stood up to his full height and considered stooping around underground. He did not like the prospect one bit. “How tight and narrow?”

“Well, let me think.” Edwin cocked his head. “It’s been about twenty years since I was in them. There were some tight spots where I had to slither through on my belly, but even back then, I was a bit chunky.” He patted his belly and laughed. “For two young, fit guys like you, it shouldn’t be a problem. There’s water, though. With all of the snowfall, some of it might be flooded.”

Luke nodded, deep in thought. He glanced over at Edwin. “You seem pretty familiar with their setup. Any chance you know where the generator room is?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.” Edwin tapped the north edge of the structure. “I stopped to take a piss break in their station once. Their restroom is right next to the generator room. I could hear it humming through the wall.”

“Then this is going to be easier than we thought.” Derek patted the map and grinned. “We sneak in through the cave, infiltrate their compound, and then cut the power. If we attack at night, no one will be able to see us, and we can pick them off one by one.”

“Won’t the darkness be a problem for you too?” Edwin asked.

“I picked up night-vision goggles from the cabin before those assholes shot it up.” Luke pursed his lips. He stared down at the map. “I think we can pull this off. I think we can win.”

“Are you sure?” Edwin asked. When Derek and Luke glared at him, he spread his hands in supplication. “I’m not trying to discourage you. I’ve personally seen both of you in action, and I’m impressed. Believe me. But you’re only two men against at least fifty members of the Children of the Bomb. It’s not a fair fight.”

“He’s right, you know. It’s not a fair fight.” Derek snickered.

“Yes.” Luke nodded in agreement. “We have them vastly out-skilled.”

“You have a point.” Edwin smiled. “They’re just ordinary men, albeit bloodthirsty ones.”

“And we,” Luke gestured to himself and Derek, “have waded into bad situations before, and we’ve come out the other side. We can do it.”

Derek considered the map, brow furrowed in concentration. “Obviously, we’re going to need to be able to put as many bullets downrange as quickly as possible, so we’re taking the AR-15s. But until we take out that generator, we need stealth more than firepower.”

Luke nodded. “We’re going to need silenced weapons, but I don’t think we have any on hand.”

“I can rig up a homemade silencer or two. They’ll decrease accuracy, though. We might want to rely on up close and personal wet work,” Derek said.

“Wet work?” Edwin asked.

“It’s when you get so close to the enemy you get their blood on you when you kill them.” Luke stared at him grimly.

“Ah, I see. Wet work.” Edwin swallowed, visibly shaken.

“How good are you with that knife?” Luke gestured toward Derek’s weapon, still pinning the map to the table.

“Good enough.” Derek glanced at Luke. “How about you, old man? Ready to get your hands dirty?”

“Old man?” Luke laughed. “I kicked your ass once already, didn’t I?”

“Hey, I’d been shot the day before. I wasn’t at full strength.”

“And I was? They kicked my ass pretty good, too. You think that—”

“Okay, boys. There’s no need for a pissing contest. It’s a good thing both of you are major-league badasses, isn’t it?”

“You’re right.” Luke nodded apologetically at Derek. “Sorry, kid.”

“Don’t worry about it, old-timer.” Derek winked back. “Maybe after all the cultists are dead, we can scrounge up some boxing gloves and see once and for all who’s better?”

“I’ll take you up on that. First, we destroy the Children of the Bomb. Then, I get to kick your ass.” Luke grinned.

“We leave at dark,” Derek said.

Luke and Derek clasped hands over the map. The Children of the Bomb wouldn’t even know what hit them.

Luke stood just inside the cave exit of the fallout shelter. He was busying fastening knives, guns, rope, extra flashlights to his backpack. They were all items he’d need for the assault. When Liz walked out from deeper in the bunker, he stopped cold. She wore dark camouflage fatigues, had grease paint on her face, and held one of the spare AR-15s in her hands.

“Liz, what’s going on?” he asked in a tone far more patient than he felt.

“I’m going with you.” She lifted her chin.

“No.” He yanked the zipper on the pack closed.

“I’m. Going. With. You.” Liz glared at him. “I’m not in the mood to let my husband die.”

“We could use another gun,” Derek said, joining them.

“You’re not helping.” Luke glared at Derek before turning to