by Ryan King
Sam pulled the blankets up over the heads of both bodies. He then went out to the shed and selected a shovel off a hook on the wall. There was only one thought of where to bury them. The garden was Rachel's favorite place and Barbara would want to be close to her mother. He dug one deep grave for both of them, taking his time and resting frequently while drinking some instant tea he'd found in the kitchen cabinet.
When the grave was finished he went upstairs and, wrapping the blanket around the bodies, brought first Barbara and then Rachel down, laying them carefully in the open grave. He picked up the shovel and thought to say something, but he had already said it and wherever they were, they certainly knew what was in his heart. He shoveled dirt over his family and patted it down flat.
He had a morbid urge to stay the night in his house, then was afraid he wouldn't be able to leave, would stay there and die, calling up resting spirits to haunt him for his own need. No, he would let the dead rest and move on himself. There was nothing more to do or see in this place. It was no longer his home and never would be again.
*******
They camped out that night at Yorktown overlooking the river and the next morning crossed the giant bridge going north again. Summer was nearly upon them, and Sam paused in the middle of the bridge to look up and down the river. It was beautiful and peaceful.
At the other end of the bridge, Sam was excited to find another jeep that worked. He rolled the plastic sides down, loaded up his gear and the dogs before he got going.
They had only been driving an hour or so before Sam saw smoke far to the west. He stopped and pulled out his binoculars but couldn't really see anything. West was away from the ocean, he thought. Probably nothing more than another barn on fire, or a brushfire set off by lightning, or his wishful thinking.
Sam deliberated for a moment and then smiled. He looked at the map and turned the jeep around to backtrack to a western road. It was probably nothing, but who knew, it might be someone else. It might be another person, and he might not be the last man after all.
He put in a random CD from the jeep's visor case, turned the music up loud and headed off down the road singing and hopeful.
###
Thank you for reading The Last Man. If you enjoyed this work, please go to the site below and write a review or like a review that best summarizes your opinion of the work.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Man-Ryan-King/dp/1479235490
If you wish to read more work by this author, consider the following titles:
Glimmer of Hope. A post apocalyptic saga and the first book in the Land of Tomorrow Series.
http://www.amazon.com/Glimmer-Hope-Ryan-King/dp/147931207X
The Hanging of Hard Barnes. An historical fiction suspense short novel set in depression era Los Angeles.
http://www.amazon.com/Hanging-Hard-Barnes-Ryan-King/dp/1479235296
Best Interests. A suspense story about what lengths a father will go to seek revenge.
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Interests-ebook/dp/B007X7WOPM
No Kinda Life. A post-apocalyptic western short novel.
http://www.amazon.com/No-Kinda-Life-Ryan-King/dp/1479235067
My Brilliant Husband. A short story about how one man's fateful decision could cost the lives of him and his family.
http://www.amazon.com/My-Brilliant-Husband-ebook/dp/B007OBUXA0
The Burden. A short story about one old woman's dark past and how she draws her son into the aftermath.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Burden-ebook/dp/B0073YAT6Q
The Race of My Life. A suspenseful murder short story which is the first in a series called On The Run.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Race-Life-Run-ebook/dp/B006X51FPU
A Dangerous Race. The second short story in the On The Run series.
http://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Race-The-Run-ebook/dp/B00AVP8TWA
Creative Minds. A psychological suspense short story.
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Minds-ebook/dp/B00AG6YKI6
The Tenant. A short story about what ends a young girls is forced to resort to protect her family.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Tenant-ebook/dp/B00BAKOK6E
Guilty Knowledge. A psychological suspense short story.
http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Knowledge-ebook/dp/B009456BRI
Yancey Briggs Has a Drink. A short story about one young man's decisions and how they fatefully intersect with those of another.
http://www.amazon.com/Yancey-Briggs-Has-Drink-ebook/dp/B008QR6F26
Ride the Wind. A short story about a unique type of serial killer.
http://www.amazon.com/Ride-the-Wind-ebook/dp/B00A13OJBW
The Darkside of Down Home. Seven of the above stories collected into one book, all with a little bit of down home.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Darkside-Down-Home-Secret/dp/1479319694
About the Author
Ryan King is a career army officer with multiple combat tours who continues to serve in the military. He has lived, worked, and traveled throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. King is married to fellow author Kristin King and they have four young and energetic boys who keep them constantly busy. Ryan King writes post-apocalyptic, dystopian, thriller, horror, and action short stories, short novels, and novels..
http://www.amazon.com/Ryan-King/e/B0070D7BFW
