Jack, Dee, Boss and George raised up their arms and opened their palms, allowing the wind to carry away the crushed flowers.
Dee reached over and slid her hand into Jack’s.
George clung between them, leaning out over the cliff to watch the flowers float towards the sea.
“A fine speech, Jack.” Jack turned around. Frowning, he watched Ben hobble towards them. “A fine speech indeed.”
Ben reached out and grasped them all in a hug.
“Benny!” George squealed.
Ben ruffled George’s hair. Smiling at Jack and Dee, he nodded at each of them. “Sorry I’m late. The colonel’s meetings tend to drag on. But we’ve a heap to do and little manpower to do it with.” He stroked his long bushy beard. “Did you guys mean what you said? About letting me train you?”
“Yes. I’m keen,” Jack said, looking at Dee.
She grinned. “Sure, why not.”
“Good, I’m glad. We need everyone we can get. Especially people like you. You both showed real courage under fire. I think that with some training, you two will be real handy in what’s to come.”
“What is to come?” Jack asked.
“I can’t give details yet, but we’re going to fight back. The colonel’s been on the horn to the Americans. That’s all I can say at the moment.” A pondering look flickered across his face. Jack searched his twinkling brown eyes for anything else, but Ben’s face remained a calm mask.
Ben nudged Boss on the shoulder. “Boss, the colonel has agreed to teach you radio operations. He’s dying to know how you reached the Americans on some amateur ham radio. You begin as soon as Doc gives you the all-clear.”
Boss grinned at him, barking out a laugh. “Did I leave that part out?”
“Yes,” Ben said, raising a thick eyebrow.
“You guys ever heard of a place called Guam?” Boss said. “An island?”
“A Pacific island. Yes,” Ben said.
“That’s where the Americans were, until I lost contact.”
“There is an American base there, so it makes sense,” Ben said.
Jack shifted his weight off his injured leg and chortled. He wasn’t sure if Boss was joking or being serious.
Boss smirked at Dee, glanced at Jack and Ben. “You guys know I’m the hero in this rule of three, eh?”
“Hero? In the rule of three? Boss?” Jack frowned.
“Yeah, you know, teenage guy or girl ripped away from his home, orphaned. Meets old wise man. Gets trained and fights back.”
“Ah, you mean the classical hero’s journey. And it’s twelve steps, I think,” Jack said. He laughed and shook his head.
“Yeah, that’s the one, but whatever.”
“Kid, don’t make me laugh. I’m still healing,” Ben said, holding his side. “And just so you know, the rule of three is a survival guide. Basic guide at best.”
Dee wrapped her arm around Boss and held him close. “You’re a goofball.”
Jack smiled as he turned back to see the last of the sun dip down over his homeland. Despite all the horror and trauma he had been through, he was happy. He had survived. He had escaped the Variant nest. He had saved George. Amongst all the chaos, he had found Dee. He was determined not to let this second chance go to waste. To find his family. To give George, Boss and everyone a world to live in.
He wrapped his arms around Dee, feeling her warmth as they watched the first of the stars appear on the horizon.
Not just my stars, but everyone’s. They belong to everyone. To shine a little light down on this dark new world.
George squealed, the noise bouncing around the cliffs as he chased a cicada.
Jack could be forgiven for thinking everything was normal. It felt as if the last couple of weeks hadn’t happened. As if Dee and he were on a camping trip, enjoying nature. Jack sighed as he looked back at the mainland. It was far from over. It had only just begun.
Three weeks without food, three days without water, three hours without shelter, and three minutes without air.
***
One Eye made his way through the field, his subjects following a short distance behind. He could smell the others approaching from the north, west and east. He stopped in the middle of the field and bellowed. Three bellows sounded out in response. They were close. Soon his plan would be put into motion. Soon the remaining humans would be corralled into nests. They needed to breed again, provide him with food.
A human fragment tugged at him. Didn’t he used to do this with animals?
He shook the memory away. The anger, the hunger, gnawed at his soul. First, he wanted to find the little one who had taken his eye. He wanted to feel the satisfaction of ripping the flesh from its bones and sucking out its marrow. The humans had escaped his grasp in the thumping beast that sent stinging, burning rain on him. He had lost many of his tribe chasing them.
Finally the others approached, the Alpha leaders towering over their minions. The other three stopped around him. He looked them over. He could smell the blood as it pumped through their veins. Hear their hearts thumping. Air as it escaped their lungs.
Half of him wanted nothing more than to rip out their throats. To lap up the blood as it gushed out. To feast on their flesh until his hunger was satisfied. But he needed them. Needed their cooperation.
“Where?” he grunted, sniffing the air.
The Alpha who had come from the north signalled behind him. Variants pushed two humans, a man and a woman, forwards, shoving them to the ground at the feet of One Eye.
He gazed down at them. The blonde hair of the woman was matted against her head. He fought the urge to sink his teeth into her neck and taste her blood. The last remaining human part of his brain bubbled to the surface. She’s a real beauty.
He bellowed angrily, then grunted, “Where?”
One of the Variants kicked the male. One Eye looked down at the slightly overweight man with his shaved head and beady eyes. He hissed at him, shoving his face closer.
“I…I…I don’t know where they are, please…” mumbled the overweight man.
One Eye sniffed him. He could definitely smell them on him. He lashed out and speared the man through the head with his claw. With a satisfied hiss, he lapped up the spilling blood and brain matter.
One Eye turned to the Alpha that had come from the east. “Where?”
The Alpha pushed a skinny male out onto the ground. Skinny held up his hands in surrender, pleading, “Please…please don’t kill me… I know where they are.”
He pointed east, towards the mountains.
One Eye snarled with satisfaction. His anger barely contained, he let out a deafening bellow.
He hauled on four chains, pulling the terrified prey at the other ends towards him. Four children appeared, covered in filth. They were sobbing.
The Alphas smacked their suckers as the gathered Variants howled into the night. The small ones tasted so much sweeter.
One Eye sniffed the skull of the child in front of him and licked the salt off its flesh.
The child began to sob. With a satisfying crunch, One Eye silenced it forever. He moaned with pleasure as he drank the blood and tore into its flesh. Soon the sounds of the other Alphas feeding filled his ears.
The surrounding packs screeched and howled at the smell of the spilt blood.
END OF BOOK ONE.
THE STORY CONTINUES IN THE FOURTH PHASE. Click here to download!
Ready to continue to Extinction Horizon,
Book 1 of the Extinction Cycle series?
CLICK HERE!
Glossary
Gallipoli: World War One battle fought between the ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corp) and Turkish forces in 1915. The ANZACs suffered heavy losses, but fought with sheer determination for little gain.
Haka: Tribal war dance performed to intimidate an opponent. Famously performed in modern times by New Zealand sports teams. Each tribe has its own version of the dance.
Hongi: Translates to “The breath of
life.” A greeting, where the two greeting each other touch noses and foreheads at the same time. Serves a similar purpose to a handshake.
Iwi: Translates to “people” or “nation”, but it has come to mean tribe. In pre-European times, Maori identified more with a Hapu or sub tribe. Iwi can mean a confederation of tribes.
Kai: Simply translates to “food”.
Kaitiaki: Term used for Guardianship of the Sea and of the Sky. Kaitiaki is a guardian, and the process and practices of looking after the environment.
Kaumatua: Elders in Maori society, held in high esteem. Being the storehouses of tribal knowledge, genealogy and traditions.
Kawakawa: Small tree endemic to New Zealand. Used in medicines and traditional practices.
Kehua: Translates to “ghost”.
Kina: A sea urchin endemic to New Zealand. Considered a delicacy.
Koru: Translates to “loop”. Used to describe the unfurling frond of the silver fern. Signifies new life, growth, strength and peace.
Kumara: A species of sweet potato grown in New Zealand. Traditionally a staple food.
Maori: Indigenous population of New Zealand.
Manuka: Small flowering tree. Famed for its oily timber and, in more recent times, for the honey produced from its flowers. The honey has many beneficial properties.
Mere: Traditional Maori weapon best described as a club. Could be made from a variety of materials. Chiefs had mere made from a hard semi-precious gemstone called “pounamu”.
Moriori: A peaceful indigenous people of the Chatham Islands to the west of New Zealand. Thought to have populated parts of the South Island as well.
New Zealand Flax: Endemic grass plant found throughout the country. Used for variety of reasons. Mainly for weaving traditional Maori objects. Europeans used it as a source of fibre to make ropes, etc.
Pakeha: White or fair skinned New Zealander. Specifically of European descent.
Paua: Endemic species of abalone found around the New Zealand coast.
Pohutukawa: Species of large coast dwelling tree. Often found clinging to cracks and to the side of cliffs. Called New Zealand’s “Christmas tree” because its red flowers bloom in abundance during December.
Powhiri: A Maori welcoming ceremony involving, singing, dancing and finally the hongi.
Paka: An expression of annoyance or anger. Can be used in reference to a person as seen in the film Whale Rider.
Taiaha: A traditional Maori weapon. A close-quarters staff. Made from wood or whale bone. Used for quick, stabbing thrusts and strikes, with fast footwork by the wielder. Often found to have intricate carvings near its tip.
Tangi: A traditional funeral held on a marae (meeting place)
Ta Moko: Traditional tattoos of the Maori.
Tekoteko: Maori term for a carved human figure or head. Sometimes attached to the gable of a house.
Te Reo: The Maori language.
Whanau: An extended family or related community who live together in the same area.
About the Authors
Adrian J Smith is the author of the Extinction NZ trilogy; The Rule of Three and its sequels, The Fourth Phase and The Five Pillars.
He has had a couple of careers, He started his working life as a Painter before switching to Landscape design and construction. He switched back again, and for the last decade he has run his own successful Painting and decorating business.
Adrian lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. A self-confessed book and movie geek. He admits that he is obsessed with Star Wars, Aliens, Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, Studio Ghibli, and Game of Thrones.
When he isn’t working his day job or writing, Adrian can be found wandering the mountains, hiking, swimming, quizzing, watching movies and of course reading.
You can contact him on:
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=555762524
Join his group.
Guardians of the Apocalypse facebook.com/groups/1228963827222088
Email: [email protected]
Website: adrianjonsmith.com
Nicholas Sansbury Smith is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Hell Divers series. His other work includes the Extinction Cycle series, the Trackers series, and the Orbs series. He worked for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in disaster planning and mitigation before switching careers to focus on his one true passion—writing. When he isn't writing or daydreaming about the apocalypse, he enjoys running, biking, spending time with his family, and traveling the world. He is an Ironman triathlete and lives in Iowa with his wife, their dogs, and a house full of books.
Are you a Nicholas Sansbury Smith fan? Join him on social media. He would love to hear from you!
Facebook Fan Club: Join the NSS army!
Facebook Author Page: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Twitter: @GreatWaveInk
Website: NicholasSansburySmith.com
Instagram: instagram.com/author_sansbury
Email: [email protected]
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Prologue
— 1 —
— 2 —
— 3 —
— 4 —
— 5 —
— 6 —
— 7 —
— 8 —
— 9 —
— 10 —
— 11 —
— 12 —
— 13 —
— 14 —
— 15 —
— 16 —
— 17 —
— 18 —
— 19 —
— 20 —
— 21 —
— 22 —
— 23 —
— 24 —
— 25 —
— 26 —
— 27 —
— 28 —
— 29 —
— 30 —
— 31 —
Epilogue
Glossary
About the Authors
The Rule of Three (Extinction New Zealand Book 1) Page 18
