Undefeated World: A Post Apocalyptic/Dystopian Survival Fiction Series (The EMP Survivor Series Book 5) (The EMP Survivor Series (5 Book series) 1)

by Chris Pike

  Taking advantage of being downwind, the boar came within yards of Buster, then the pounding of its hooves alerted Buster to its presence.

  The dog once more bolted out of harm’s way, yet this time the boar was intent on chasing and capturing the dog.

  It would run until it died if that was the case.

  Buster’s long legs galloped like a racing greyhound, the boar’s legs like a trampling bull, unfazed by any obstacle it encountered.

  Further they ran until Buster recognized a familiar sign among the grayed trees and hidden animal dens, stock ponds, and pastures of cows.

  Scrambling under a barbed wire fence where a natural depression in the land had formed, Buster’s newfound determination propelled him to top speed and untamed cunning.

  The finish line was within sight.

  * * *

  The survivors sat in a circle around the campfire near the front of Holly’s house. The dancing light cast shadows of flame on their faces. Embers glowed and the fire crackled.

  Reload sat by Kate’s side, Nipper by Amanda. The group was thankful for a rancher returning Cowboy who was pastured nearby. Dillon surmised Cowboy had escaped during the fighting at the compound, wandering around for a while until a friendly face found him.

  The only one missing was Buster, and the group felt his absence.

  Conversation had died down in the evening hour. Without light to prolong the day, bedtime came early.

  Dillon stoked the fire with a long stick. His gaze went to the people he had put his life on the line for. Holly had her arm around Anna, while Cassie sat next to her soon-to-be husband Ryan. Chandler and Amanda, and Nico and Kate were together as well. Uncle Billy and Luke rounded out the group.

  Uncle Billy rose from his chair. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

  “What’s he up to?” Chandler asked Kate.

  “No telling with Uncle Billy,” she replied. “Luke, do you know?”

  “Not a clue,” Luke said, scratching his head.

  “Before we turn in for the night, I’d like to take a moment to thank each of you,” Dillon said. “Although you were not in uniform, you conducted yourselves with utmost bravery. We stood together and we fought together. Be proud of that. We reclaimed our land because of patriots like yourselves. People who put country above themselves, who risked their lives to fight the invading enemy. This is our home. Our land. It’s where Cassie and Ryan will raise their child–my grandchild. It’s where Amanda and Chandler will make a home for their children. It’s where Nico and Kate will establish their own homestead.”

  Cassie cleared her throat and stood. “Dad, can I say something?”

  “Sure.”

  “It’s been some kind of ride, hasn’t it?” Cassie acknowledged her friends with a nod of her head. “There’s not a finer group of people anywhere. We’ve helped each other, loved each other, fought at times, but we stayed together. I’d like to remember a brave man I met in Louisiana who’s been on my mind a lot lately. He told me he lived his life by the three Fs. Here’s to you Garrett wherever you are, and to faith, family, and firearms.”

  “And to a fine bourbon.” Uncle Billy hobbled back to the circle. “Holly, I hope you don’t mind.” He held up a bottle of bourbon. “I found this squirreled away in a top kitchen cabinet.”

  “Not at all.” Holly grinned. “I had forgotten about it. It was my dad’s favorite he used for special occasions.”

  “I think this counts as a special occasion. I even found some old Dixie cups. Who wants a shot?”

  The group answered a collective, “I do,” except for Cassie and Anna.

  As Uncle Billy handed out the Dixie cups, a crackling, humming sound interrupted the silence. Uncle Billy tried to place where the sound was coming from. “Do y’all hear that?”

  “I heard something,” Cassie said. “I think it’s coming from the woods.”

  Uncle Billy dismissed Cassie’s observation. “No, not that. I hear that too. It’s different, like uh, a uh…” Uncle Billy snapped his fingers, “like an electrical current. That’s it! Listen. Shhh.”

  “I still think I hear something running through the woods.”

  A lamp flickered in the house.

  Cassie rose excitedly. “Did you see that! A light came on!”

  Uncle Billy glanced at the house. “I don’t see anything. It was probably the ghost of the Double H Ranch. You know about that, don’t you?”

  “Uncle Billy, stop kidding. I swear I saw a light. Look. There it is again.”

  Hope rose. A few seconds passed and a humming noise zipped along an electrical line going to the house.

  The faintest of flickering lights clicked on.

  Instantaneously, the mood became joyous.

  Somebody clapped. Another whooped.

  Uncle Billy removed his cap and slapped his leg. “It is coming back on! Halleluiah! Why, dog bite my buttons! Let’s go in and see if the TV works. Then we’ll—”

  At that moment, all seventy pounds of Buster came crashing into the camp. He barreled over a chair and a kerosene lamp, zeroed in on Dillon, and leapt into his lap as if he was a small, fluffy dog. Dillon wrapped his arms around the large dog, trying to control his flailing arms and legs before he too toppled over. Buster pawed and tried to climb higher on Dillon.

  Nico sat stunned.

  Kate had her mouth open.

  Cassie expressed a sound of disbelief.

  Ryan put a hand across Cassie.

  Uncle Billy protected the prized bourbon bottle by holding it close to his chest.

  Luke jumped.

  But it was Holly who got off the shot.

  Stunned by the unexpected events and from emotions changing from surprise to elation to disbelief, the blast of the gunshot reset the group, shocking them back to reality.

  Mere feet from the camp, a boar lay dead on its side, bleeding out the last of its blood pressure.

  To say the friends sitting around the campfire were dumbfounded would have been an understatement, and it took them a while to realize what had happened.

  Dillon was the first to speak. “Holly? How’d you—”

  “When a dog like Buster runs for his life, there’s a reason. I knew something was after him. While everyone was gaping at Buster, I kept my eyes on the woods.”

  “What did you shoot it with?”

  Holly holstered her pistol and patted it. “My trusty Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum.

  “I thought you always carried a Glock.”

  “I normally do, but I wanted to carry something different.” Holly paused for effect. “I was bored.” She gauged the group’s reaction then broke out laughing at her own joke. Giggling, she clutched her stomach. “Bored. Boared. Get it?”

  A chorus of groans followed her lame joke.

  After the groaning and eye rolling ceased, Dillon asked, “What should we do with it? Eat it?”

  “I vote yes,” Uncle Billy said. “I can make sausage.”

  Dillon placed the heavily panting Buster on the ground. The dog stood there shivering, pressing his body against Dillon. At the sight of the boar, he put his paws on Dillon, jumped, and tried to climb up him. Dillon took Buster by the paws and gently placed them on the ground. “It’s dead, Buster. Go on. Go check it out for yourself.”

  Buster wouldn’t budge, so Dillon took him by the collar and led him to the dead boar. Buster held back, stretching his body away from the animal while Dillon held him steady. The dog refused the coaxing, so Dillon straddled Buster, put his hands under his ribcage, and hoisted the dog next to the boar.

  Buster diverted his gaze away from the boar, refusing to look at it. Dillon wouldn’t let Buster run away. Curiosity got the best of Buster, and he took a glance at the beast, stretching his neck as much as possible to get a better sniff of the boar. Instinct and his keen sense of smell alerted the dog the beast was dead and could cause no more harm.

  Dillon released his hold on Buster. The dog tentatively took a step toward the boar and s
niffed it, running his nose along the dead animal.

  Buster untucked his tail and waited for Dillon’s approval. “Good dog,” Dillon said. “You slayed it.” It wasn’t true, but Buster didn’t know that. He only knew he was back with his family where he should be. He wiggled from side to side, slapping his tail against his haunches.

  Dillon led Buster to Holly. “Will you take him in, please, and check him over for injuries? I think it would be a good time to take the other dogs in too.”

  “Sure.”

  “Chandler, get the truck and let’s haul that thing where we can field dress it. I don’t want to do it so close to the house.”

  “I’ll get a lantern,” Chandler said.

  “I’ll come with y’all,” Ryan said. “Cassie, I think you should head on into the house. There’s been enough excitement for the day.”

  “Okay,” Cassie replied, following the others inside. “I’ll try the TV to see if it works. I’d like to watch the news.” Uncle Billy and Luke followed her inside.

  The night had become darker, and a cool breeze brushed the land. Kate shivered. It was quiet now that everyone was gone.

  Rising from the chair, she stretched and yawned. “Nico, we should go on in too. I’m tired, and I need a good night’s sleep.”

  Kate reached for Nico’s hand and tugged him to join her, but he hesitated.

  “Let’s sit here for a while longer. It’s peaceful. Just you and me…like on Padre Island.”

  Kate laughed. “Don’t tell me I’ll have to save your life again.”

  “Nothing like that.” For a while he studied her face, and the way her mouth curved when she smiled. Nothing was said, and the seriousness of the situation suddenly struck Nico. He shifted in his chair, scratched his chin, cleared his throat, then again. His eyes darted around.

  “What’s going on?” Kate asked. “I’ve never seen you so nervous.”

  “There’s something I want to ask you.”

  “What?”

  “This isn’t easy for me. Give me a minute.”

  Seconds ticked by and Kate waited, then a moment of clarity came to her. Her eyes twinkled. “Yes.”

  “Huh?” Nico said. He scratched the side of his head and shifted his weight then came back to her.

  “The answer is yes.”

  “You don’t even know what the question is.”

  “Yes, I do. The answer is still yes.”

  “You’ll marry me?”

  “I’ve already said yes several times. How many more do you want me to say?”

  “How did you know what I was going to ask?” Nico was quite puzzled.

  “Remember when you were talking to my mom at the dinner table the night before we left?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s how I knew.”

  “But we were speaking in Russian.”

  “I understand Russian.”

  “What? You never told me that.” He was somewhere between irritation and relief.

  “You never asked.”

  “Oh. So all this time you knew what we talked about?”

  Kate nodded.

  “I can’t believe it. I thought you only knew a few words and phrases.”

  “After Ben died, I filled up my time with night classes. One of them was Russian. The language came easily to me because I grew up listening to the words being spoken although I never paid any attention to the meanings.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “There was one thing you said that I didn’t understand.”

  “What was that?” Nico asked.

  “My mom said something about praying we would have a long and happy life. Then she said something about fruit. What was she talking about?”

  Nico rose from his chair, and reached for Kate’s hand. She stood. He brought her close and wrapped his arms around her. He leaned in and ran his thumb across her lips, inviting her to—

  Luke came running up.

  “What the—” Nico’s expression of loving tenderness morphed into one of sheer exasperation. “What the hell is the matter with you, Luke? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

  Kate leaned back from Nico and put her hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh about the bad timing her brother was known for.

  “What I’d do? Bad timing again?” Luke put his hands in the air in an apologetic gesture.

  “What do you want?” Nico growled.

  “Uncle Billy sent me out here to tell you the TV works. Reports are coming in from all over the place about what’s been going on. It’s incredible! He said you’d want to see it too.”

  “Oh, he did, did he?” Kate glanced at the house. “Luke, do me a favor.”

  “What?”

  “Tell Uncle Billy if he interrupts me again, I’m going to hotwire his Gran Torino just like how he taught me and steal it. Then tell him I’m going to strip it down and sell it for parts. Let’s see how fast he shuts those curtains he’s trying to hide behind.” Kate waved at the window where Uncle Billy was hiding. A shadowy figure disappeared behind the ruffling curtains.

  “Okay,” Luke said. “I have no idea what’s going on, but I can’t guarantee he won’t come out and have a talk with you.”

  After Luke left, Kate said, “I think we’ll be telling our kids about this someday.”

  Nico cracked a wry smile and lifted his eyebrows twice in quick succession. He leaned into Kate, whispering in her ear, “Still want to know what fruitful means?”

  “I think I know but tell me anyway.”

  “It means we won’t be getting any sleep tonight.”

  “That’s what I thought. We have a big trip tomorrow, and we still need to pack for it,” she reminded him.

  “We do, but first things first.” Nico flicked his eyes in the direction of an upstairs bedroom.

  Kate wrinkled her nose. “No way.”

  “Where then?”

  Kate glanced at the Gran Torino, back to the house, then to the car. “I have an idea.”

  “What?”

  “I’m going to steal it anyway.”

  “That’s a V-8 engine, Kate. Do you know what to do with it?”

  “I know exactly what to do with a big engine. Wanna find out?”

  “You don’t need to ask me twice.”

  Kate took Nico’s hand and led him to the car. He slid into the passenger seat, trying out the seats in the old car.

  “Check the glove compartment for 8-tracks.”

  Nico opened the glove compartment to find it stuffed with dinosaur sized tapes. “I can’t believe people used to listen to these.” He picked up an 8-track tape, inspected it, and shrugged.

  “According to Uncle Billy, an 8-track player was the hottest thing there was back in the 70s.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “All the cool dudes had 8-track players in their cars.”

  “Let me guess. Uncle Billy used to be a cool dude.”

  “Hey, he still is. Buckle up, and I’ll get this baby started.”

  While Kate worked her magic under the steering column, fiddling with wires, Nico perused the selection of tapes. He found one he recognized.

  The car’s engine roared to life, and Kate tossed Nico a mischievous smile. “Ready?”

  “Just a moment. Let me pop this in.” He got the 8-track to work and turned up the volume. After a few moments, he drummed his thumbs to the beat of an old Peter Frampton song. Nico leaned to Kate and whispered the lyrics, “Baby, I love your way.”

  Kate grinned. “I love your way too. Hold on.” She put the car in gear, gassed it, tires spinning and throwing dust and gravel in the air. She sped off down the dirt road, leaving a trail of dust. When she got out to the blacktop, she floored the pedal. The windows were down, her hair blowing in the wind. Music blared.

  Nico had an arm propped on the window ledge, and his thoughts went to what was ahead for them in this new and undefeated world.

  Tomorrow would be a new day, with a new set of challenges, but the survivors were togethe
r. They had survived by using their wits, by being prepared, and by never, ever giving up in the face of unrelenting adversity.

  They were winners, and they would live their lives not by how society dictated they should, but by how they were meant to live. Marriages would take place, children would be born, schools would reopen, store shelves restocked, some would go back to work, some wouldn’t. Yet it wouldn’t quite be the same, because nothing ever stayed the same.

  Time didn’t stop for anyone or anything, yet they would all live a long and fulfilling life because…

  They believed in faith.

  They believed in family.

  They believed in firearms.

  Forever.

  The End

  Behind the Scenes

  A Note from the Author

  Hi readers, this is Chris. Well, we finally reached the end of the series with all the major characters surviving. Halleluiah! I wasn’t sure who was going to live or die, and had thought about what would happen if one of the good ones were killed. In real life, good people do die, but since this is a fictional world, I like the good guys to win and to come out ahead, and for the bad guys to get their comeuppance. Even in fiction, sometimes the plot and characters have a life of their own and don’t always behave themselves and end up doing something entirely different than what was planned.

  For this series, everyone behaved. Well, most everybody. Uncle Billy didn’t because he never conformed to society’s standards. He didn’t care about how much money was in the bank, or how he dressed, but he sure was a stand-up kind of guy.

  The more I wrote about Uncle Billy, the more I liked him. He reminds me of Uncle Buck of the High Chaparral series. If you’ve ever seen the show, you might see some similarities between the characters.

  Thanks for staying with the EMP Survivor series! I hope everyone has enjoyed the ride. I know I have. The characters became like friends, and I’m sad to see them ride off into the sunset like Kate and Nico did. But weren’t they great characters? I’ve received some mail about having a spinoff series with Kate and Nico, so if you’re interested in what happens next after the grid boots back up, write me and let me know.

  The world they knew before would not exist anymore. It would be replaced by a new world with a different set of challenges other than surviving the initial fallout from the EMP.