by David Peters
“Erica is really pretty and super smart. Travis is a lot like Neil but I guess he blows a lot of stuff up.”
“Sounds like an interesting group of people.”
“Yeah. It’s cool here. Do you got any friends here yet?”
“Not really. I still tend to keep to myself.”
Alex ran beside Charles as they walked down the trail toward town, “You got me, though, right?”
“I certainly do.”
Epilogue
Dylan pushed the heavy gate closed behind him and walked a short distance away from the outpost. He turned around and looked at what amounted to several hundred hours of labor. Heavy double-layer logs made up the tall fence that went all the way around the top of the hill and enclosed the entire outpost. The tower climbed sixty feet into the sky, two Dust Cannons mounted on the heavy railing gave the watchers a three-hundred and sixty degree coverage. Above the tower, a large military-grade whip antenna gave them the ability to talk to Paradise Falls six miles away.
He turned and looked out over the bluff. A fairly steep drop led to the highway below. He could just make out the smoke from Paradise Falls. Even at this distance he could easily make out a tan colored balloon as it strained in the slight breeze hundreds of feet over the hilltops.
“Paradise Falls, this is Lookout Three.”
“Lookout Three, we read you loud and clear. Good job, Cowboy.”
“Thanks, Coco. Three down, six to go.”
He turned back around and called up to the tower, “You guys are now live!”
“Thanks, Boss. You out of here?”
“Yeah. Heading over to Lookout Four and see what Caperson has going on.”
“I heard they were behind but they had some steep terrain to deal with.”
“Yeah. Doesn’t mean I can’t ride him for coming in second,” Dylan replied with a broad smile.
“See you in two weeks.”
“Take care, guys. Be sure and radio if you need anything we might have forgotten.”
“Will do. Take it easy, Boss.”
He climbed onto Buck and took the winding trail down to the road. His rifle was in the saddle holster as he made his way down the highway and north, across the burned out homes west of the old town of Sumter.
He could just make out the tower on the far side of the valley. Caperson would no doubt be in the top of the lookout and trying to pick out Dylan from the rubble in town. He prided himself on seeing riders approaching from a long distance.
Two more nights then home for a week. He was looking forward to the break. His back had just about had enough heavy lifting.
Two more nights then another week of routine maintenance around home. A home that was safe.
Acknowledgments
Thank you for taking the time out to read the fifth book in the End World series. I plan to continue this series, not only with the further adventures of Dylan, Niccole, Caperson and Jen, but to also relay the tales of other characters that came and went. Characters that I feel need to have their stories told. If you enjoyed the story, please take a few minutes to review the book online at your point of purchase. If you didn’t like it drop me an email at [email protected] and tell me what I could do better or to simply say ‘howdy’. I try to respond promptly to all emails. I also enjoy hearing what people want to know more about. The story of Caperson was done specifically at several readers’ request.
Thank you for joining me in the world of the Corrupted and I hope to see you around Paradise Falls in the future.
Special Note:
To those of you that have served aboard a carrier and shook your head at various times in the story, you have my apologies. I dove neck deep into research in order to provide what I hoped was a realistic turn in the End World tale while trying to remain accurate to how things actually work. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t be surprised if I get a phone call about my Google search history. I know I made mistakes and for that I am sorry. I took many ‘artistic liberties’ with the nature of naval life and the realities of the complex workings of both crew and hardware. I would love to be able to make it more realistic but amazingly enough, you Navy guys get pretty tight lipped when someone starts asking questions about how the reactor on your ship works and what I could do to realistically make it not work. It is my hope that you were able to pull some enjoyment out of the novel. If not, know that my next airplane flight will probably involve extra ‘voluntary’ screening.
About the Author
David Peters was born in Spokane Washington. His mother moved him to Seattle when he was only one but he spent nearly every summer in the golden hills of Colfax or the mountain lakes of Northern Idaho.
He left his career as an IT professional to pursue a writing full-time and being a stay-at-home father.
He enjoys fishing, camping and online gaming.
David currently lives with his wife and two children in Auburn, Washington.
Other Books by David Peters:
Solvi
In a future world where technology has been frozen after a war that nearly brought an end to mankind, Solvi, a molecular forgesmith works his craft in the small western town of Jefferson. His daily life is interrupted when his talents gain the attention of the local Magistrate. Attention from the government could force long dead secrets to the surface, bringing the past he thought he had left behind back to the present.
Solvi can see the storm brewing, but can he stop it?
A Darkness
Adam Carter lives in a world of swirling Darkness. He is cursed with the ability to see the life essence that swirls and storms around all living beings. He has spent his life living under the curse, alone, until the fateful day he meets another with the same abilities. Another that wants nothing more than to consume him and send his life essence floating on the winds of nothingness.
His only hope is to master his own Darkness, confront the fears and protections he has put in place after a lifetime of dealing with the curse. In a world filled with swirling Darkness, he is desperate for the light of hope.
The Uneasy Rest, A Darkness Book Two
Adam Carter lives in a world of swirling Darkness. His ability to see and manipulate the life essence around a person has grown beyond his wildest imagination.
He now knows his calling in life, his purpose, is to help, to make a difference.
When his closest friend commits suicide, it is Adam’s duty to find out why and how this could have happened. His only fear is that the ability that has cursed him his entire life may ultimately consume him.
There is a hunger inside of him that has been awakened and will not rest.
End World: Dawn of the Corrupted (End World Book One)
On a sunny day in rural Eastern Washington, Dylan Murphy looked to his neighbor’s home in the distance and saw smoke rising toward the horizon. Little did he know this was the first sign his world was about to change. Spreading across the planet was an infection that challenged humankind as the dominant life form. He was soon to be set on a path that would force he and his wife Niccole to use every resource possible in a struggle for their lives and for the survival of what was left of the human race.
End World: Ultimate Corruption (End World Book Two)
The story continues for Dylan and Niccole Murphy as they fight to carve out a life in the small community of Paradise Falls and continue the defense against the neighboring threat known as the Corrupted. The evil growing in the nearby town has also begun their next phase of life and continue their attempts to become the dominant life form of the world. But for Paradise Falls, not all enemies come from outside the walls of the small fortress town.
End World: The Captain’s Tale (End World Book Three)
In this, the third book in the End World series tells the tale of Chris 'Cap-Cap' Caperson and Jen 'Whiskey' Valder. With nothing but vague reports and rumors, the National Guard is called in to restore order in Boise, Idaho. It doesn't take long before 'Cap-Cap' realizes they are
n't fighting a simple uprising and that something far more sinister is growing. An enemy unlike anything he has ever had to fight. An enemy he may not be able to kill.
End World: Corruption Undone (End World Book Four)
Dylan and Niccole Murphy continue their daily fight for survival in a world crushed by the arrival of the Corrupted. Sumter is once again under attack and an evil moves toward Paradise Falls from the East. The township has developed a new weapon for their arsenal, but will it be enough? Can they save Paradise Falls from this new threat?
End World: Horizons (End World Book Five)
Paradise Falls has grown into a stronghold, a fortress protecting survivors in the aftermath of the mankind’s destruction. People can live their lives in relative safety knowing the Corrupted pose little threat.
When a call for help comes from an unexpected direction, the time to reach out is near. Paradise Falls must come to the rescue or thousands will die.
End World: Horizons
© 2015, David Peters
[email protected]
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
