Page 27 of Hero

I jerk to a stop when I see a man standing there, leaning over to look in my bags. His back is to me, but I know he’s a stranger. He’s as big as Zed but has longer, darker hair. There’s a rifle strapped to his back.

I grab for my gun and aim it at him as I say in as authoritative a voice as I can muster. “Back away. Right now.”

The man jerks in surprise and makes a sudden turn toward me. I’m not sure how he manages it since I’ve got my gun aimed directly at him, but he’s able to draw his rifle as he makes the turn.

So we’re aiming guns at each other.

I probably could have shot him. I’m not sure why I didn’t. Just that I don’t know for sure he’s a threat. He could simply be a traveler passing through who was curious about the bags of supplies in the middle of the street.

But now that I see his face, I know my mistake. He’s got a full beard and a sharp, calculating gaze. His whole presence conveys toughness. Strength. Skill. Competence.

This is a man who knows what he’s doing and isn’t afraid to kill.

I’m not afraid to kill either. My hand on the trigger doesn’t waver. “That’s mine. Back away from it.”

He could kill me just like I could kill him, but clearly neither of us has a death wish. We stare at each other over the barrels of our guns. Buddy growls softly at my heel.

“Please don’t kill him.” The female voice comes from the left side of me, and it takes me by surprise. I react to it immediately, shifting my aim toward the newcomer instead of the big man.

It’s another mistake. The young woman who’s approaching isn’t nearly the threat the man is. She’s small and slim and absurdly pretty with long dark hair pulled in one long braid and eyes of such a vivid green I can see them even from my distance.

She’s got both hands in the air. She’s taking one slow step after another. “We’re not going to hurt you. We’re just passing through. Please don’t kill him.”

“I don’t want to kill either one of you, but he’s still got that rifle aimed at me.” Buddy growls again, turning from the man to the woman. The dog clearly doesn’t know exactly what’s happening, but he’s reacting instinctively to my defensive stance.

“Cal,” the woman says. She’s younger than I thought at first. Maybe even younger than me.

“I’ll stop aimin’ at her when she stops aimin’ at you.” The man’s voice is low. Rough. It rumbles.

I take that opportunity to move my gun so it’s pointed at the man instead.

This is evidently what he wanted. He lowers his weapon although he keeps holding it in one hand. He extends his other hand in a gesture of surrender.

He’s not surrendering. This man probably doesn’t know the meaning of the word. His eyes are as unyielding as ever. If I make a wrong move, he’ll shoot me dead without a qualm.

Of course, I’ll kill him too. I don’t want to, but I will.

“Please don’t shoot him,” the woman says, walking over so she’s standing beside him. “I promise we won’t hurt you. We’re just passing through.”

I believe her. She’s in good shape for her small size, and she looks like she knows what she’s doing with the pistol on her hip. But her eyes are earnest. Whoever this man is to her, she cares about him.

She’s more worried for him than she is for herself.

I lower my gun, although I keep it in my hand the way he’s doing with his rifle.

“Thank you,” the woman says with a visible exhale. “I’m Rachel, and this is Cal. I’m sorry we startled you. We’ve been traveling, and we stopped in town to look around and see if there’s anything useful to find.”

“There’s not much left here. I’ve pretty much cleaned it out over the past few years.” I don’t mention the basement of the mayor’s house I just uncovered. These people are strangers, and I’m not going to offer them such a haul. Not when Zed, Rina, and I need it so badly.

“So you live in the area?” Rachel asks.

“Yes.”

“On your own?”

“Not on my own.” I don’t offer more information. It’s none of these people’s business who I live with.

“Is there a community roundabout here?” Rachel asks. It looks like she’s relaxing, but Cal is definitely not. “We live farther east, but we’re taking a trip to the west to see what’s out here. We’d like to make connections to any communities we find. Extend our network and such.”

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