Pulse: When Gravity Fails (Pulse Science Fiction Series Book 1) (11 page)

23

Michael Strove and Roman Nikitin – Russia

Michael opened his eyes and drew in a long, painful breath full of dust. He rose up dizzy with every bone in his body aching. The station was flattened and they would be dead had they gotten inside.

Roman wasn’t moving. Michael shook him and Roman opened his eyes. Michael helped him back up to kneeling.

Roman said, “I don’t suppose we can hope that was the last one, can we?”

“Who knows?”

Roman looked back at the flattened forest in the night. “Those tanks won’t be bothering us anymore.”

Michael looked back. The tanks in the downed forest and the jeeps on the road were a folded mess. He heard people screaming in pain.

“We need to help them,” Michael said.

Roman groaned. “Because that is what Brother Carter would do.”

“I think so, yes.”

“They might shoot you for your trouble, you know.”

“You didn’t,” Michael said.

“I didn’t have my gun, but I see your point, Captain Michael.” Roman nodded and tottered to his feet. Michael helped him. Roman continued. “The prisons are probably flattened.”

Michael led Roman down the hill toward the tanks and the crying voices. He said, “Good point. I’m sure with all this going on, the world has bigger concerns than old, Cold War rivalries.”

Roman said, “Yes, maybe, man. Or they might have you rebuild the prison yourself.”

“Let’s hope for peace and trust.” Michael said.

24

Sean, Carter, and family – Black Fork, Arkansas

Carter used his knife to cut the ropes. Sean dug with his hands. Together they pulled out Tabitha, Jenny, Holden, and Grant. The boys coughed and spit. Grant cried, but everyone was whole.

They climbed up onto the rock and looked out across the land. Most of the trees were uprooted or tilting. The lake was half full of water and debris floated over its surface in a dirty sludge. Smoke from what must have been distant fires rose black into the sky.

Holden pointed. “Dad, Uncle Carter, are you going to put those out?”

“Someone needs to,” Sean said.

“Can we ride the truck?” Grant asked and coughed shaking dust and twigs out of his hair.

“Maybe after your dad and I clean up a little, Buddy.” Carter jumped down and walked across the debris field. He swept straw and dirt away from the back of the car on its side until he could read the plate. Carter groaned. “I almost had it paid off too. No chance you are parked close by, is there, Sean?”

Sean shrugged. “I saw Jenny’s jeep go up in the air with yours. I’m not sure where it landed.”

“Maybe we should keep an eye on the sky,” Holden said.

Sean rubbed his hand over Holden’s head. Dust sprinkled out of it and Holden sneezed. Sean knelt down and hugged both boys. Jenny put her arm around Sean’s shoulder. Tabitha jumped down and fell into Carter’s arms. No one said anything for a while.

“What now?” Jenny asked.

Carter said, “We need to hike out. Find people.”

“You think anyone else survived?” Tabitha asked.

“People made it,” Sean said. “A lot of them need help, but that’s what we do, right?”

Holden took his father’s hand. “All of us. That’s what we all do.”

Carter looked at the sun and then pointed. “This is east and the direction of home. Let’s see what we can find.”

They all walked out of the wilderness together.

***

About the author:
John Freitas is an author of speculative fiction that lives in Southeast Texas. He has a background in electronics and computer science.

Other works:

The Quantum Brain
Oh Hell No!
The Quantum Brain Maximum Speed
On the web scifibookseries.com