Part 1 (1/2)

DARK t.i.tAN.

JOURNEY:.

Wilderness Travel.

By Thomas A. Watson.

Prologue.

Six days ago, the modern world had come to an end as a ma.s.sive coronal ma.s.s ejection, or CME, hit the earth. If that alone wasn't bad enough, several satellites had mysteriously detonated, releasing electromagnetic pulses or EMPs on the earth. In the blink of an eye, most of the modern world reverted to the early nineteenth century.

Caught thousands of miles from home at a truck stop, Nathan did what he could to help those around him. The quick collapse of society startled even Nathan, a reserve police officer and nurse. Not long after the lights went out, Nathan had to use deadly force to protect the innocent.

Seeing all those at the truck stop get away safely, Nathan met Amanda, who had survived on her own after watching her whole family slaughtered at the hands of a street gang. Not really wanting to take the teenager with him, Nathan offered to leave her with the group he had met but Amanda believed only Nathan could protect and teach her.

The day they left the truck stop they met a rather obese boy named John, who practically begged to be allowed to just follow them for protection. Feeling sorry for the kid, Nathan allowed him the chance to prove he wouldn't be a burden and let him join them for a little while until he could find a place to leave both children where they would be safe.

Chapter 1.

Nathan sat watching the sky slowly lighten as dawn moved in. He reached a hand down to caress Amanda's head. He'd had her sit up with Ares till ten and then he took over watch. She didn't really care since he gave her the handheld night scope. Smiling, Nathan knew she'd had it on the entire time.

He had done his watch with his back against a tree in a light doze with Ares' head in his lap until two a.m. That was when he heard Amanda moaning in her sleep a few feet away from him. He got up, went over and sat down beside her, rubbing her head till she calmed down. Ares laid down on the other side of her. Without his early warning system on his lap, Nathan stayed awake.

Taking a sip of his second cup of coffee, he looked over at John. When John had laid down last night, Nathan had him rest his legs on his pack to elevate them. The only movement that boy made all night was snoring. At times Nathan was sure they could hear John in Atlanta.

When the sun was up Nathan still let them sleep, knowing both were tired. He put down his cup and stood up and stretched out. Then, moving away, Nathan started doing stretch exercises over his entire body. Then he started doing pushups, sit ups, lunges, and back extensions. When he was done he was sweating rather well. He turned to get his cup for some more coffee and found Amanda sitting up and looking at him.

”What was all that?” she asked, tilting her head.

”Stretches and exercises,” he said, picking up his cup and walking over to the coffee pot. He poured another cup; still seeing steam on the liquid, he smiled.

”We walked carrying those heavy packs. Isn't that enough exercise?” she asked.

”It's only working certain muscles and the stretches loosen up all the muscles. The human body is very stubborn. If you don't use muscle, it takes it away,” Nathan said, pouring in some powdered cream and sugar.

”Why didn't you wake me so I could do it too?” she asked, letting out a groan.

”You were tired and needed sleep,” he answered, pulling out stuff for breakfast.

”I want to do it,” Amanda said.

Letting out a long sigh, Nathan shook his head. ”Well, you saw me do it, so copy what I did,” he said.

She crossed her arms. ”It's not the same,” she said flatly.

”Okay, tomorrow I'll wake you up and we can do them together,” Nathan promised her and she perked up. He walked over and woke John up then moved over by the folding stove and fixed some food. John got up and grabbed his clothes and got dressed. He came over and sat down with them. Nathan spooned out the MRE scrambled eggs and bacon.

When they finished breakfast, Nathan put bandages back on Amanda's feet and handed her his plate and the pot he used to fix breakfast. ”I have to wash your stuff too?” she whined.

”I tend your owies, teach you how to survive, let you take over my dog, and you don't want to do ch.o.r.es?” he asked in shock.

”I'm teasing,” Amanda said, hugging him then walking over to the creek.

Nathan walked around, taking down the camp and packing up. Today Amanda had on the pants he'd gotten for her out of the truck and they fit, kind of. He was glad he'd grabbed the suspenders from the baseball uniform for her. Still, wearing his jacket and hat made Amanda look a lot smaller than she really was.

As they were loading up, Amanda looked at John. ”Ready?” she asked.

”I'm ready,” he said smiling.

”Amanda, put your gloves on,” Nathan said, tightening straps on his vest.

”What is it with you and gloves?” she said, pointing at his gloves. ”It's not cold,” she let him know.

”This coming from a girl who had to have her hands wrapped up like Q-tips from cuts and scratches,” was all Nathan said. Blus.h.i.+ng, Amanda pulled off her pack, took out her gloves and put them on. Then she grabbed her pack, ready to leave.

Nathan tied the solar charger to the top of his pack to recharge the batteries for the NVG that Amanda ran down, then pulled on his pack as Amanda loaded Ares' pack on his back and buckled it on. Finally ready, they followed Nathan through the woods. Amanda was surprised when, after only fifteen minutes of walking, they stepped out on a gravel road. Not even stopping, Nathan turned left, keeping a steady pace. She ran up to him, well, not really a run but more like a fast waddle, and grabbed his left hand.

John, upon seeing that, moved to Nathan's right side and the two kids started the scanning. They saw several deer and a ton of rabbits. When a snake crossed the road in front of them, Amanda let out a scream and climbed up Nathan like he was a tree. Before Nathan could do anything, Amanda was sitting on the top of his pack.

”What the h.e.l.l are you doing?” he asked as his legs trembled from the added weight.

”That was a snake,” she said as if it explained everything.

”It never came near us,” he said. ”Will you get down? With my pack on you're about ready to take me down,” Nathan said, fighting the urge to just drop her.

”I can't,” she said, looking down and wondering how she'd gotten up there.

With his legs screaming for relief, he snapped, ”You climbed up so climb down!”

”Help me,” Amanda pleaded. Nathan kneeled down and with John's help they got her off the top of his pack.

When she was down, Nathan looked at her. ”Amanda, next time, just jump behind me,” he said.

”Are you kidding? That thing was a hundred feet long,” she informed him.

Nathan closed his eyes, shaking his head. ”It was barely five feet long and it was a king snake. It wouldn't hurt you.”

”How could you tell?” she asked. Knowing if a snake would hurt her seemed like good information to have.

”By the shape of its head and the color of its body,” he answered.

”I just saw a snake,” she admitted.

Seeing Amanda still trembling and looking at the gra.s.s where the snake had slithered off, he asked, ”Have you ever been camping?”