Caru looked up toward the source of the sound.
A huge, jagged crack slowly crawled down the upper reaches of a massive, dead oak's trunk.
Her pulse quickened as the thunderous noises grew louder. Widening, the fissure inched lower toward the tree's base.
As the deepening crevice neared the ground, a deafening crackle unnerved her.
The oak split in two and each half crashed to the earth with a tremendous thud.
Broken branches and dust flew in all directions.
Hoot's glare remained fixed on the bigger sections of the tree.
The fractured halves began to shake.
Within a minute, two long, crooked piles of splintered wood marked the location where the split trunks had fallen.
Staring at the shards of timber, Caru pressed the button. "Wicked! You've gotten a lot better."
Hoot panted heavily as Caru peered at her. "Your eyes — they're normal!"
The young girl smiled. "I know. I've been practicing with Pa. He's been teaching me how to control my anger and the amount of force I use."
"What a difference. You don't seem as tired."
"Nah, it's easier now. Pa's also been giving me tips on how to move and pick up things with my mind like Fox used to do."
"Wow!" Proto cheered as he danced in place.
"You're my new best buddy! You just saved me a lot of time!"
Teli scratched his head and chuckled. "You still have to get all that wood to your place."
"That's okay. At least I don't have to do so much chopping. I'll bring my wagon."
Teerha chimed in. "'We'll' bring a wagon" The two lovebirds smiled at each other.
Caru and her friends returned and sat with their parents near the large willow. Mercy glanced around at everybody.
"What do you say? Is it time for our special guest to open her gifts?"
Hoot sprung to her feet. "Yeah! Let's do it now!" She hopped as if her feet were on fire.
Mercy looked at Caru. "Do you want to kick it off?"
Caru had been waiting for this moment since wrapping her present earlier that morning. She stood and reached up in the crook of the tree and retrieved the surprise.
Grinning, she slowly walked toward the birthday girl. Hoot squirmed in place as she reached out.
"Hurry! Don't make me wait!"
Caru extended her arm. "Here, Sweetie. I hope you like it."
"Oh, thank you."
Her eyes glistened with the brilliance of the North Star.
Without hesitation, she untied the beautiful, pink cloth wrapping embroidered, "To my sweet friend, Hoot."
Caru put her arm around her. "This one also comes with lessons from me whenever you have time."
Her cousin's eyes grew to the size of walnuts. "It's a bow!"
Hoot beamed at Caru. "Thank you so much! I love..."
Thundering hooves interrupted the young girl. A horseman, drenched in blood, galloped toward the celebration.
He slid from his saddle as he neared Thoruk. "Help! Come quick! Something killed my herd!"
Thoruk held his palms up. "Whoa. Calm down a little. What got killed?"
Out of breath, the rancher wheezed. "Every last bit of my cattle."
Thoruk scrunched his brow. "Who did it?"
"I have no idea! Whatever killed them, ripped out their organs — just left the bloody carcasses laying all over the back pasture!"
As everyone scrambled to help, Caru briefly closed her eyes. Zo?
The End
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I thank my wife, Bonnie, who read my manuscript over and over again till her eyes blurred. Not once did she push back as she willingly accepted different renditions of each chapter, time and time again.
Because of the help of 64 beta readers who volunteered to read and provide feedback for my book series, the tale within this novel is much improved from what I could have accomplished without their edits, comments, and recommendations. In addition to the great help of the beta readers, I want to point out a few who went the extra mile and spent numerous dedicated hours of reading and provided excellent suggestions throughout the completion of the manuscript. These exceptional helpers include my daughter, Shannon, my sister, Vickie, my good friend, Cindy Hewitt, my longtime friend and high school classmate, Sharon Hastings, and a wonderful savior, Marilyn Goodrich, who with her husband, Blaine, also helped me through a tough time in high school. A heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful beta readers who extended their hands, hearts, and minds to help me!
Last, but certainly not least, my writing improved tremendously over the past 24 months because of the help of three writers groups: Red River Writers in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, The Whyte Dove in Quitman, Texas, and The Hacks in Winnsboro, Texas. The Read & Critique sessions of each were immensely beneficial.
God bless you all!
First Book of the Series
The New World: A Step Backward
Book Series' Website: http://www.andyskrzynski.com/
If you enjoy this sequel, The New World: Blue Moon Generation, you'll love the first book of the series, The New World: A Step Backward!
I’ve provide three chapters for your preview below. But first, here's a sampling of excerpts from some of the Five-Star Reviews of the first book.
The New World: A Step Backward is outstanding! ... The author was able to change the plot in ways that I didn't even think of. Yes, I even cried because the characters were so real because their lives had meaning, purpose, and tenderness. ... The reader becomes part of the story, for example when they were building the wall, I wanted to help!
— Betty Santo
If you enjoy creative post-apocalyptic storylines — especially stories that seem plausible based on the world of today — this book is for you. ... The New World: A Step Backward is the hero's journey, with three feisty characters — Thoruk, Stormulka, and Mercivil — who are gravely tested and evolve into true leaders. They protect their community and way of life, while battling horrible mutant creatures and an army of marauders led by the mad scientist Zolokt. The story has it all: action, horror, romance, humor, and a crazy twist or two. Escape for a few hours to the world of Ukkiville and the Lake of Dreams; you won't regret it!
— Cindy Hewitt
I have been addicted from the first paragraph. I have found myself on pins and needles as I read and can't wait till the next page. I find myself at times holding my breath to see if a hero will survive. There is a good balance of drama, action, and romance all under one cover and that is very different.
— Vickie Kraemer
This rollicking story is a rip-roaring good read. Written for young readers of heroic spirit, this tale delivers the goods and is sure to delight both young and mature adventurers. The characters are appealing, and one can only hope that there is a second book already in the works. I was particularly delighted with the "creatures."
— Candace York
I'm a busy mom with not much time to read or rest, but this book had me hooked! I can't put it down! The author's vivid descriptions have my imagination running wild. If you're ready for an adventure, this book is for you.
— Julie from Michigan
See for yourself what nature and science have wrought. Be moved by the enduring love of family and friends as a small town pulls together and fights for survival! Be prepared for a little blood and guts! No one but God knows the future, but it could happen just as Mister Skrzynski has imagined in this clean action-adventure, Sci-Fi thriller! A great read for all ages!
— GramiLovesBooks
The New World: A Step Backward
Preview of the First Book of the Series
CHAPTER ONE
Farewell to the Old World
Easter Sunday, 2019
A blaring alarm reverberated through Tyler Luca's ears, jolting him from his peaceful slumber. His heart pounded like a booming drum while he scrambled to his feet and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. The large, b
lue numbers flashed 1:47 am. Shaking his head to orient himself, Tyler realized what was happening. This is it!
The nerve-wracking shrill continued from two large, oak-encased speakers in his make-shift office. Triggered by a coded message from his former college friend, Cassie, who worked at the Pentagon, the alert was a warning that Internet chatter by Iran, Russia, and China had spiked like never before. This meant only one thing to Tyler and his two closest friends. What they had feared for months — a concerted global strike against the Western world — would soon be at hand.
Slight but wiry, the young man grabbed a fistful of clothes and started dressing on the fly, as he sprinted to his computer. While tying his shoes, he read the decoded messages streaming across the screen: "Attack imminent! Leave NOW!"
Tyler's chest tightened, knowing Cassie's ominous and final advisory left little time to react. His dear friend in D.C. had only the remotest chance of surviving, and he'd likely never see her again. Get out of there, Cassie! A fist-sized knot in his gut swelled and churned.
Clenching his teeth, he snatched his phone from a blue, glass bowl and called the number atop his contact list. It rang six times. Come on, Jacob — answer the phone! Finally, the scratchy voice of his buddy broke through. "Is that you, Tyler?"
"Yes — we have to go — NOW! Meet me where we store the truck in 15 minutes!"
An Hour Later
Still angered by Cassie's looming fate, Tyler squeezed the shift stick and slammed through the gears of the red 18-wheeler kept just for this occasion. The engine of the old, weathered rig roared. Rumbling along Interstate 94 near Madison, Wisconsin, he and Jacob traveled west.
While the bright glow of the cab's headlights bounced along the expressway, Tyler turned to his friend. "Just as we expected — a Christian holiday." Easter was one of a few critical dates circled on his calendar as a potential day for an attack.
Mesmerized by the road's white center lines, Tyler ticked through his mental list of items in the rig as it hurtled down the highway: food and other essentials, pipes, solar panels, small-sized windmills, and five prototypes of an invention he and Jacob created.
A bluish-green flash from the rear-view mirrors blinded Tyler, causing him to swerve to the shoulder. Blinking and squinting to erase the intense glare imprinted on his retina, he reached for his pal's hand. "That must have been Chicago! We've got to get away from here fast!" If they hit Chicago, that means New York, D.C., and the other strategic spots are nuked as well.
He continued the hasty retreat westerly on I-94 through Minneapolis to Fargo, then turned north on I-29. Barreling through Grand Forks toward Canada, he drove the fastest speed possible with the load behind him.
Given the attacks that were surely underway across the United States and Canada, his mind raced. It's only a matter of time before the electrical grid and communications get knocked out. We can't afford any delays!
Saying little to his partner, Tyler drove on as a constant blur of vehicle lights streamed by from the other side of the interstate. Tormented visions of the devastation unfolding across the country he loved invaded his thoughts. Tyler shook his head, whipping his long, jet-black hair to and fro as a scorching burn torched his heart. Now is not the time to think about this!
He focused his attention on their destination: a valley of forests and lakes northwest of the Riding Mountain National Park, a relatively safe distance from Winnipeg. I sure hope they didn't hit that area.
CHAPTER TWO
The New World
56 Years Later:
Monday ~ August 5 ~ 8:30 am
On a summer day in 2075, a chorus of songbirds awakened the settlement of Ukkiville, nestled in a resource-rich valley northwest of an area previously known as the Riding Mountain National Park. Under a sprawling oak tree, three inseparable friends, Thoruk, Mercivil, and Stormulka, carried out their daily stretching routine. As usual, Mercivil's creamy white polar bear, Fluf, accompanied her loving master.
The trio, who had declared themselves blood siblings in their teens with a vow to protect the townspeople, regularly exercised and sparred to keep their muscles and reflexes tuned for battle. With an unrelenting bond formed from numerous journeys and skirmishes, Mercivil and Stormulka staunchly supported Thoruk. The honorable, young man was entrusted as the leader of their community when his father, Odinuk, was assassinated four years earlier.
Their favorite gathering spot to train lay just outside the village walls, constructed of pine logs to protect 80 cabins from menacing marauders. Ukkiville had survived several attacks by its most detested enemy, the Skalags, for many years after the Old World collapsed during the World Annihilation Period of 2019 to 2025. Like the rest of Earth's remaining inhabitants, settlers of the surrounding area suffered through 50 years of transformation following that time.
Relying on basic amenities typical of the pioneering days of the 1800s, Ukkiville's families lived like many primitive communities dotting territories across the globe. Most of them had no electricity, retrieved water from wells, used candles or lamps for light, and visited outhouses when nature called. Such was life in the "New World" — an existence spiked with occasional danger and peculiar challenges but accepted with pride by most villagers.
On this particular day, while the morning's shadows melted under the glow of the yellow-gold sun, the trio and their four-legged guardian prepared for a jog to the Lake of Dreams, southeast of Ukkiville.
Leaning forward against the trunk of the shade tree, Thoruk arched his back. "Blazes, my muscles feel stiff."
Mercivil, a local school teacher, relished any opportunity to poke at her buddies. "That's funny because I don't remember you taking so long to limber up before you reached the ripe old age of 26."
Thoruk shook his head. "Speaking of getting older, didn't we just attend your birthday party a month ago?"
She peered at him with her deep sky-blue eyes. "Yea, but I'm a couple years younger than you two. It only takes me a few minutes to loosen up — unlike you old men."
Putting both hands on his hips, Stormulka squinted his dark amber eyes. "Hey Princess, don't include me with him. I don't turn 26 until October."
Thoruk rubbed his wavy, bronze-red hair. "Alright, let's change the subject. We're lucky today; the temperature's pretty cool for August. Let's run further and enjoy this weather while we can. I'm sure it's going to get a lot hotter."
"Sounds great to me, but Mercy might have trouble keeping up." Stormulka, whose playful antagonism and mischievous nature were rarely suppressed, winked then spun toward Mercivil.
Her nostrils flared, and before he squared around, she punched him so hard he almost tripped over a fallen branch. "I'm not the one who trails wherever we go."
She mocked him with a sassy tone. "Oh Stormy, I sure hope you don't choke on my dust when you cross the finish line." Her hair, the color of honey, shimmered when she pivoted toward Thoruk. "He may not even be that close. We'll probably have to send a search party to find him."
Thoruk badgered him further. "It won't be hard. All they'll have to do is listen for his whimpering."
Stormulka grunted as he bent over to tighten the laces of the thick-soled moccasins he wore for jogging. "Yea, we'll see who's waiting on who in the end." Lumbering over, Fluf goosed him with her nose, almost knocking him over. After regaining his balance, he wheeled toward Mercivil, shaking his head. "Dearie, I've seen what you can do with animals. I know you can control her better than that. Your ball of fur gooses me every time we meet."
She laughed. "What makes you believe Fluf isn't doing exactly what I want her to do, Stormy boy? You know how it is — she knows what I'm thinking." She twirled gracefully and flipped her long ponytail in his direction.
Stormulka grinned. "Just because Powderpuff thinks it strange that your friends don't always circle and sniff each other's behinds doesn't mean she needs to go around nosing mine all the time."
Jerking her head in his direction, Fluf growled.
Thoruk chuckl
ed. "You better stop messing with her or she may eat you for breakfast. Come on, let's get going."
Pulling up his saggy, sheepskin shorts, Stormulka took off down a worn trail they used for a shortcut to the lake.
Within a few seconds, Thoruk zoomed by him with Mercivil and Fluf trotting behind them. Thoruk slowed to a medium pace and deeply inhaled a long drag of air through his nose. I love the smell of pines.
His eyes darted back and forth as they passed a cluster of high weeds along the path. Something twisted and slithered through the ferns, causing him to careen from the rustling leaves. An icy shudder shot across his body. Shivers, I hate snakes!
After regaining his stride, he glanced toward the sky. He whizzed by the swaying pines, enjoying the billowy, white clouds against the morning's light blue haze.
Soon they were jogging down a steep hill, passing beneath a lush canopy of ash, poplar, and birch trees as they neared a trickling brook. Thoruk savored the soothing aura, enhanced by the chirping of birds swooping from one tree to another.
A few minutes later, a plump cotton-tail scampered across their trail, weaving and dodging as if being chased by a wolf seeking a snack. Spooked by the bunny's frantic retreat, a huge stag snorted and bolted into the thicket.
Sliding across the leaf-strewn gravel, Thoruk and his running buddies skidded to a halt. His broad, rock-hard chest expanded as he sucked a quick breath. Whew, so much for a peaceful jaunt.
Stormulka's eyes widened as he turned to his friends. "That was a gigantic buck. I'll be back to check out this area when I need venison."
Mercivil snickered. "You'll have to get the beast before I do."
After continuing their jog for a while longer, they neared the opening overlooking the Lake of Dreams. Thoruk pointed to a weeping willow on the shore. "Let's go sit over there."
The New World: Blue Moon Generatoin Page 24
