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Gunz

Page 46

by William Stacey


  He carefully pulled the cat into his arms, cradling it.

  Cookie purred.

  He remained like that, on his knees, holding the cat, until he heard soft footsteps behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Cassie approaching from the scorched black earth where the Culling Machine had stood, holding something in her hands.

  "Alex, Kargin says we need to go. He thinks it might still be unsafe. That maybe there's some … magical residue. He thinks that's what's driving this storm. He … he doesn't really know what to think, but he's sure it's not safe here."

  "Yeah, okay," he said, finding his throat thick. "I just … I had to…"

  "She's gone, Alex."

  "I know. But it … it breaks my heart that she died all alone. I let her down."

  Cassie stared at him for several moments, her expression unreadable.

  Alex, still cradling the cat, rose on shaky legs. The others are counting on me. I need to be strong. "We'll fly south, back to the MDA. If there are survivors, they'll need help." His eyes narrowed when he saw the black material and the flash of silver in Cassie's hands. "What…"

  "I … I felt mana, so I went to look. I found this—half buried but completely undamaged." She held the Brace and brushed ash from it.

  His vision tunneled in on it. "How is that possible?"

  She shook her head, her blond hair falling in front of her blue eyes, now rimmed with red. "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." Her voice, raw with emotion, broke. "Everything I ever thought I knew, everything I thought I believed, it's all wrong—I was wrong."

  "What are you talking about?"

  She pocketed the Brace then took Cookie from his hands. She kissed the top of the animal's head and stroked her fur. When she spoke, her voice trembled. "I was in and out of consciousness, so maybe ... maybe I was delusional … I don't know, but I think … I think it was real. It felt real."

  "What felt real, Cassie?"

  "When I passed out, after the battle with the dragon, I was still wearing the dwarven crown. I was linked with Elizabeth. I came to again—at the end. I was with her when she … when she died."

  His sorrow hammered at him, threatening to drive him to his knees again. "At least … at least we know for sure now," he said weakly.

  "There's more," she said so softly he barely heard her.

  "More?"

  "She…" Cassie's voice broke, and she hesitated. "She… You were wrong, earlier, what you said. Elizabeth wasn't alone at the end."

  "Cassie," he said haltingly, reaching out and gripping her shoulder. "She sent me back through a gateway."

  Cassie shook her head vehemently, her eyes filled with tears. "No."

  "I don’t—"

  "Clara was with her."

  THE END.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  A former intelligence officer and soldier who served in the Canadian army for more than thirty years, William Stacey is a combat nerd who lives to tell stories. He is a black belt in karate and possesses a somewhat disturbing and unhealthy fascination for all things medieval and violent—especially Vikings. With operational tours in Bosnia and Afghanistan, he combines his military experience with his love for martial arts and sharp objects. He is a husband, father, and fitness nut, whose best friend is a German Shepherd named (naturally) Thor.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Contents

  William Stacey Starter Library

  I. Attack

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  II. Battle of Taylor Bridge

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  III. Pursuit

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  IV. Mobile Defense

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  V. Counter-Attack

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  William Stacey Starter Library

  About the Author

 

 

 


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