Survivors (Open)

[jleavesl]

John thought of his old life, as he fought the wheel of the rusted hulk of an automobile, what he believed to have once a pontiac, down what had once been a road. He remembered the love of his old life, and watching her die of the radiation. They were in NJ on the way to pick out table patterns or something mundane for the wedding, when the skies began to burn. He remembered crying to a god in whom he no longer believed to spare her and take him... it proved to be fruitless. For several days he mourned, and finally he made his way out into the death and plague that had once been his quiet nook of suburbia. Most of the townsfolk were dead, a few were well on their way. He was once an engineer, albeit a young one, and now at the ripe old age of 25, he cut out across the wasteland, with only an old military rifle and a box of shells to keep him company. He had been tailing a tattered old van for several days... unable to discern whether or not they would be hostile at first.... then discovering that they were of the savage disposition of the majority of those left. Perhaps, when the time was right, he could get the drop on them... maybe free those they held captive... it seemed an eternity since he had companionship.... probably a fruitless endeavor that would end up getting him killed... but what did he really have to live for anyways.

 

[airborne92]

I walked along the edge of the tree line, constantly scanning for any movement in the valley. I could smell the smoke of a wood fire in the distance. The were few survivors of the day of fire, as I referred to it, and most were very brutal when dealing with others since that day. A few still trusted strangers, but nothing like before. Now you had to prove your trustworthiness.

Off in the distance, on what used to be a road, I could make out a vehicle of some kind. I couldn't tell what it was, but I knew there was someone else close by now. How friendly would they be I thought to myself.

 

[papillon24]

Tanya

I watched as the others retreated back into the compound as I watched the snow as closley as i could, the gun cocked and ready to go. I felt a shiver of the world rush through me as I watched Tommy pace back and forth in the opening of the cave.

"Will cut that out and watch with me. You are driving me nuts. And if you have nothing to do go and get me something warm from my trunk." I watched him get up and leave to fetch my fur for me as the wind stated to blow a bit more.

i moved cautiosly to the kiosk to the small hole that had been made there as a watch hole many years before and eyed what could be seen. Dust, that was all that ws left for miles around..

 

[ariosto]

If it hadn't been for the sacks of cornmeal and blankets he was carrying, the shot would have killed him.
As it was it knocked him six feet backwards up the driveway in a shower of yellow meal and drygoods...He was scrambling for cover when the farm girl came out of the van, chambering another round.
Julian threw his hands up but knew it was a useless gesture.

"Nothing's gonna keep me from shooting you now asshole."
Her words were flat and cold as ice. She drew a bead on his forehead...

*FUCK* Was he going to go like this!
Steele launched himself like a rocket at her, fully expecting instant oblivian before he struck...but it never came.
He heard the deafening report of a shotgun just as he hit Mina, knocking her to the ground.

Shaking his head and staggering to his feet, he saw the girl's rifle torn in two by the big scatterguns blast, then looked up expecting to see Cal standing there but unbelievably it was the strange, silent Monica who held the smoking gun!

 

[CNDPhD]

David

David pulled Juliet back to the cave. Giving her frim, small ass a soft squeeze, he moved deeper into the darkness to his priave grotto.

Pulling out a full suite of camping gear, he readied himself for his first major expedition in some time.

Taking Juliet with him would prove a challenge, but judging by how hard his cock still was, one worth the extra effort.

Oh well, if you were going to die, he thougth, its better to die with a woman you care for.

Packing the last of the equipment, he marched up through the cave and grasped Juliet's hand.

Yes, this would be one of the most intersting excursions in years.

 

[CNDPhD]

OCC

ignore this post

 

[susan__32]

Never had Monica had this much power. Even as the respected wife of a State Senator had she held power so directly, so firmly in her hands.

The recoil from the shotgun blast almost spun her around, as she staggered to see what had happened, she realized how foolish her efforts had been. Once again, Monica, the half-crazed pleasure slave had failed to achieve her desired effect. Rather than blasting the cold, hard, clever man, she had managed to disarm the woman who had freed her.

The ‘Professor’s desperate dive slammed him into the farm girl at the same moment she felt huge hands of ‘Cal’ pin her arms to her side. The shotgun rattled to the ground at her feet, its shells empty, with no hope of reloading. Another nightmare just beginning.

Stunned, the ‘Professor’ looked up at the two of them, the towering youth holding the middle-aged woman easily in his hands.

With practiced ease, the ‘Professor’ placed his hand on the throat of the farm girl as he stood. With cat like grace, the hand was replaced with his large boot, pressing the poor woman’s neck firmly to the ground.

“Goddammit, you idiot” he shouted, “How did this bitch get the jump on you?”

Wiping blood from his forehead, he continued to rant “Did you have your cock in your hand again you fucking Neanderthal?”

Monica could feel the big man stiffen as the ‘Professor’ yelled at him.

“Oh, god, they are going to take it all out on me” she thought.

Looking into the eyes of the strange, mysterious man known as ‘Professor’ she knew it would take many many months to repay his anger.

 

[ariosto]

Cal was struggling for words which was hardly unusual and Julian turned away in disgust, dragging the farm girl to her feet.
'YOU GODDAMN BITCH! You think you can shoot me...shoot me!"

He slapped her hard across the face and pushed her into the van, brushing by Cal and Monica. The kid had crawled under a seat.
In a minute he had her securely bound to a meat hook bolted into the rear of the dilapidated vehicle and was glaring at her.
"If you weren't about to get traded for some real pussy girl, I'd give you to that asshole out there and then I'd pop a cap on you myself..."
She was looking at him with defiance and frustration, her face still livid from the slap.

"Let's see what you have under that flannel Annie Oakley."
With a single motion, he tore open her shirt and revealed a beautiful set of rose tipped breasts.

"Yeah..they're gonna like you just fine."

"Hey Professor...what do we do with this one."
Cal stuck his shaggy head in the door.

"Christ...she tried to kill me too!"
He jumped out of the door and motioned Sutter back inside.
"Take care of those two in there compadre."

"Can I fuck em?"

Julian was suddenly furious...
"I don't give a damn what you do with them...Go ahead get your rocks off but don't you mess them up...you hear me?
That's our goddam future in there!"

Steele turned to the silent woman who was shivering both from cold and the man's fury.
"Now what shall I do with you?...
You tried to blow my head off, but you saved my life doing it...interesting damn problem."

He walked around her appraising her lush figure, her sensuous face which the scar only added character to and her obvious fear...

"Tell you what beautiful, there's some more stuff in the house I want...you can come up there with me and help me carry it back. Maybe we'll even party a little while we're up there...how does that sound?"



OOC...I'll play both Cal and Steele ladies, till we link up with some more male players...that okay?

 

[Quintissa]

She looked around dazed still not quite sure what had happened as she lay on the ground with her breasts bared to the man. "Ive never "partied" with anyone and I dont intend to start now"

As she spoke the last word her legs pushed up almost succeeding to throw the professer off but in all actuality just making herself less comfortable pulling her arms back behind her as she glared at him hatefully.

 

[ariosto]

OOC...hey Quin....sorry you got my last post scrambled...
Your in the van with Cal at the moment, and Steele's taking Monica up to the house...
If I wasn't clear in my post I do apologise.

 

[Snork Maiden]

Juliet

We walked back down into the cavern system. It was amazing that the temperature in the caves always stayed around forty degrees probably due to the lack of the strong chilling winds that raged outside and the natural heating from underground. We walked through the ‘Cathedral’ a large open area that was formed into a large atrium. Large stalactites hung down, glistening in the low illuminations from the sparse lighting of the wall sconces that burned with smoky flames, fuelled from the extracted fats from corpses of marauders, the technique developed by boiling the bodies and skimming refining the body oils as best a possible to reduce the stench, a smell most of us had become accustomed to over the years. Water droplets dripped from the strange inverted pinnacles forming twisted solid reflections of themselves in the form of stalagmites and columns of limestone that had taken the form of limbless twisted tree trunks. Small groups of cavern dwellers moved about in the gloom carrying out their daily routines, which didn’t amount to much but the sense of purpose and community helped keep their spirits up.

David wrapped his arm around me pulling me close as we moved quickly towards the dwelling quarters. I welcomed his firm embrace and looked up at him as we walked through the large chamber. A tunnel extended in the northwest of the cave and branched into two. Taking the right hand passage we made our way to David’s chamber. Dominated by the pile of furs that formed his bed, a structure that more resembled a nest. He released me and began to search fervently around the room collecting items.

I made my way to the bed and collapsed in the warm furs watching him curiously. ”Whatcha doin’, I asked, with a curious tone as he started to stuff items into a pack. He continued to select items from rough made shelves and boxes ignoring my question. I arose form the furs and slipped my raggedy clothes from my body walking over to him, shivering slightly in the cool, damp ambient air of the caves. I smiled at him wrapping one arm around his neck and kissing him again. ”Come and make me warm”, I said softly taking hold of his hand and leading him back towards the pile of animal skins. I pressed my body to his, feeling his muscular frame under his clothing and his erection pressing against my hip. ”You can do what ever it is you are doing later” I continued.

He reluctantly dropped the medium sized backpack he had been busily filling and stood looking down into my wide dark eyes.

”Love Me”, I whispered softly to him, ”Love Me”

 

[airborne92]

Sven

I eased the safety of the FAL to the semiautomatic position. I didn't want to attract any attention to myself with a metallic click. I also didn't want to waste ammunition if I needed to use this weapon.

I continued in the direction that the vehicle was going. I eventually lost sight of it in the blowing dust and snow. Most of the survivng trees were dead or lifeless because of the unnaturally long winter. After a few hours of walking I saw what I thought to be a farmhouse in the distance. I cautiiously made my way towards it.

 

[susan__32]

Monica

Pulled, almost drug along, the Professor forced her to follow him into the farmhouse. Her ears still rung from discharging the weapon, her right wrist and elbow ached from the kickback. She had never fired a gun before, and hoped never to do so again.

The farmhouse was warm, the warmest place she had been in years. The woman who lived her – and might soon die here – was clearly a competent and self-reliant person, something Monica had never been.

As the Professor pulled her along, she could smell coffee. COFFEE, oh god, she had not had coffee in so long she had forgotten what it was. This small frame house was a museum dedicated to the life she only half-remembered. Looking over her shoulder, trying to find where the kitchen was, she fell to her knees as he yanked on her arm again.

Spinning around, he glared down at her.

She looked up, afraid again. Her green eyes sparkling in the sunlight coming in from the nearby window. She licked her lips but her mouth was dry. She could see his mood change. The way his eyes moved over her, she recognized this growing desire. It was her coin in trade. The only thing that had kept her alive this long.

Gaining confidence in a situation she knew well, she slowly arose. Reaching out, she softly clasped his large rough hands in hers. Monica gave the slightest hint of a smile and licked her lips again. How easy it was to fall into this role. How well she knew it.

Pulling him with her, she directed him to the large sofa in the front room of the house. The nearby wood stove filled the room with its heat. Lowering her head, she could see the puddles forming on the hardwood floor where the snow was melting from his boots.

Keeping her eyes lowered, she unzipped her parka. Never lifting her head, she pulled her sweater from her shoulders, and kicked off her boots. Turning slightly to the side, she reached under her T-shirt and unhooked her only bra. Pulling it off her arms, she removed it from the short sleeve of her shirt.

She could feel her nipples pressing against the white fabric, and she could feel the familiar warmth flowing from her tummy downward.

Unzipping her jeans, she rolled her hips suggestively as they fell to the floor. Pulling the shirt over her head, she felt her heavy breasts roll and sway as she lowered her arms again.

Her single remaining item of clothing was her last tiny symbol of the luxuries she once knew. A pair of black satin thong panties that David, the leader of the Clan had given her. She could feel the fabric tight between her rounded ass cheeks, and she could smell her sex opening, responding, as it always did in these situations.

Almost regretfully, she hooked her fingers in her panties and pulled them down.

Finally fully nude, she looked up. Her eyes told him all he needed to know. Before him was a woman who was used to trading her body’s charms for another day of life. Her skills, some natural, some acquired, were now his.

Thus she stood, a woman who quite literally could not say “no” to any desire he might have. Monica looked deep into his eyes and extended her arms to him, palms open, offering herself.

 

[ariosto]

Cal Sutter


Cal watched the Professor push Monica up the driveway and into the house. In spite of his loyalty to Julian Steele there was a quiet rage building within him.

Help carry stuff, my ass...He's gonna fuck her. He wouldn't let me but now he's gonna poke her godddamit.

He turned back into the cramped vehicle, his brow knit tight in anger.
Okay then...he'd play too.

Two steps took the big man right up to the bound and defiant form of the girl they'd taken from the farm.
Her torn shirt hung wide revealing full white breasts.
He checked to make sure her wrists were still tied fast to the hook above her head and then he jerked her flannel shirt out of her jeans, tore it open completely and buried his face between the soft warm globes. He licked and kissed his way to the tips opened wide and sucked them in, first one and then the other.

He didn't notice the slender form of the kid sliping silently out the open door.

 

[Snork Maiden]

OOC: I am going to role play the character of Tommy until someone else wants to take over the character to help keep everyone involved.

Thomas Jenkins

Tommy Jenkins, had spent most of his life in Virginia Beach, orphaned at the age of 12 years when his parents had been killed in a automobile accident he had spent 4 years in the local state orphanage in Norfolk. His father had been a Naval commander posted at the Norfolk naval yards and had very rarely seen him save when he returned from tours of duty overseas mainly at thanksgiving and Easter. At the age of sixteen he had left the orphanage and had spent some time working as a casual laborer on construction sites in and around the Southampton County area, the work had been beneficial to his frame, building a lean muscular young man. That coupled with his well defined facial features, chisled jaw and bright blue eyes and black hair all in all made him quite an attactive package. He had taken lodging in Virginia Beach, and in his spare time played guitar, he had hooked up with some local musicians and they toured the bars and clubs of Virginia Beach and Norfolk in the evenings and weekends supplementing his income although in truth he did it for the music, and of course the women that he met on the gigs.

When the day of judgement came he had been working underground on the maglev monorail extension project in Charlottesville, it was a job that for the first time had taken him away from the the coast. The money had been the main reason, it was a lucrative project and the labor supply short.

They had just finished blasting in what would have been the north central line extention when the bombs had hit. From where they were positioned it seemed like a distant blasting and at first the gang had thought it was a second blasting team working on one of the other tunnels. Then of course all the lights when out and they had been throughn into darkness.

The panick had been almost instant. Fortunately the hand torches worked and they were able to make there ways to the elevators. But none of them functioned. They had climbed almost a quater of a mile up the service ladders. What they saw on emergence is now history.

Tommy had spent much of the following 6 months scavaging and stockpiling items, fuel ammunition heading out into the mountains to stash the good in various locations. He'd kept an inventory and a map. It had been on one of these such sorties he had come across the small group of people gathered at Luray Caverns, they were hungry and desperate. His humanity probably saved his life as he had turned his pickup load of supplies over willingly to help.

Accepted into the community the group had continued to stockpile and run scavaging missions until the Nuclear Winter had set in making it impossible to venture into the cities. It had become more dangerous also, Meeting other groups had rogue traders who dealt with icy efficiency and often at gunpoint.

The years in the caves had hardened him to the brutality of man and the hardships that had been endured strengthened him. Now as he stood sentry with the young woman at the mouth of the caves he reminisced on the days of music and laughter from the bars around Norfolk, the sounds resounded in his mind like empty echoes, ghosts even.

He moved up to the girl who was crouched behind the shell of the kiosk, his thick wolfskin furs tied tight around his body and legs for warmth. Snow clung in clumps to the furs but that would melt later and didn't concern him.

The girl turned to him bidding him to cease his pacing, and to fetch her furs, He did so naturally without hesitation, returning after a few minutes with the warm bundle.

"Here's ya furs Tanya", he smiled at her as he extended his arms holding the bundle out to her.

She turned from her position and took them from him.

 

[CaptainAnarchy]

May I join?

May I join? I can take over this Thomas character if you want, I just need a bit of a update on everything that is going on.

 

[Snork Maiden]

Please do Capt'n and welcome to the Boards BTW

Also there is an OOC thread at http://www.literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=105715

If anyone wants to talk about stuff outside the main thread please use the one above to reduce interuption in the main one

Snork

 

[ariosto]

It had been his intention to slap her around and rape her. In the years that had passed, he'd grown used to treating women as commodities. He knew how to hurt and not mark, to cause pain and not disfigure...
He had no idea of Monica's past, of her use inside the cave.
He expected terror, not acquiessence, not an invitation...

He spent his time looking at her.
"Turn around!"
She did.
She'd kept her looks inspite of her age...hell she was probably as old as he was, her body was lush and inviting, her breasts beckoned to him...radiating warmth...refuge...

*Fuck* he felt himself softening and didn't like it at all.

He quickly stripped off his own clothing, not with the care that she'd just used in shedding hers.
Monica saw a tall slender man rapidly going gray, whose body was all sinew and muscle. He like most of those still left sported 'souvenirs' of the badtimes, in his case a livid swath of scar tissue that ran down the right side of his neck and over his shoulder and a good part of his back.
The broken bones had knit but the internal scars still festered.

"Grab the back of that chair and bend over."
Monica looked at him once more...melting eyes...sad smile...

"NOW!"

She grasped the soft leather and spread her legs.
His rough hand cupped her vulva, rubbed it...squeezed it...
She prepared herself.

His fingers were wet with her juices, he stroked himself to hardness with one hand and sent the other deep into the heat of her cunt.
Monica moaned, a low sweet sound almost like a kitten purring.
He was erect now, his cock was throbbing and ready, but first he wanted to taste her, bury his face in her sex, wallow in it and then...then he'd shove his meat up her pussy and fuck her till she died.

 

[airborne92]

Sven

I slowly, quietly and cautiously made my way to the farmhouse. I used what little cover there was. As I got closer I could see a van parked near the farmhouse. I approached slowly, keeping the rifle up and ready to fire. Looking only where the rifle was pointed, letting my other senses take care of what I wasn't looking at. I could see movement in the van, then I saw movement behind the van. I dropped to one knee as I brought the rifle to bear on the second source of movement.

'A young girl, unarmed at that' I thought to myself as I checked my target. She noticed me as I dropped to one knee. I motioned for her to be quiet as I placed a finger over my lips. Then I motioned for her to come over to me. She did so reluctantly, there was definate fear in her eyes.

"Do you live here?" I asked her in a whisper when she got close enough. She shook her head in a negative manner.

"Are you a captive?" I asked, still whispering. She nodded in a positive manner this time.

'
Slave traders' I thought to myself. They were always brutal in their methods. They almost always took just women as slaves, and killed the rest. Rape was one of the preferred techniques they used to break the spirit of those they captured. THat is what was probably hapening in the van right now.

"Go hide in the barn and don't come out unless I come and get you" I say to the girl. As she heads for the barn I work my way around to the back of the van. I can see a man taking advantage of a woman that is tied to a hook in the van. I motion for her to be quiet as I take aim at the guy.

"I wouldn't do anything else if you want to live" I say to the guy as I stand there aiming at the back of his head.

 

[CaptainAnarchy]

Tom

As he stood there in the cold dark cave water dripping down onto his head he shivered slightly. It was times like this that he missed the old days. When the biggest worry he had was a accident at work. He was a young man, he never thought he would be doing stuff like this. He remembered the days of gig's and chicks, the days before it all went wrong. Before he could continue he stopped himself, he found himself all to often getting caught up in the past.


Right now is when his father would say to him "Son, You have a duty to do and you better do it right." His father was quite demmanding, the Navy will do that to you. He played with the 30-30 in his hand quickly drawing it up and looking around and aiming it at various points in the valley infront of him. His thoughts were broken by her voice.

"Will you stop that GI Joe."
"Oh, yea sure.."

Tom put the gun down at his side and resumed staring out into the distance for anything.His eyes began to stray toward Tanya, he was around her age and her body was slender and very attractive. It had been ages since he had felt a womans touch. His duties in the Clan were numerous and caused him to be very busy and often tired when he could even consider trying to form any sort of a relationship. But this seemed as good a time as any.

"So where were you when it first happened?"

Tom smiled towards her slighty and awaited a reply of any sort from the lips that he was staring at intently.

 

[papillon24]

Tanya

I turned and took my furs from him as I felt a shudder of cold pass through my body. Quickly I propped them around me to shelter myself from the cool breeze. I reached into my pocked and pulled out one of the last packs of cigcarettes I had left took one out and lit one with my trusty zippo that I found in a rubbage pile on one of my many misadventures.

"So where were you when it first happened?" I heard him talk to me.

"Really I don't like to talk about it. Don't wanna actually if you don't mind" I drew on my cig watching the smoke dance it's way upward.

"And by the way sit down. You're gonna get yourself kiled if your in sight. I've seen it happen too many times out here. Come and joine me here. It's safe" I patted the ground next to me. "You wanna smoke? Not many left from what I hear. It's kinda my luxury in these time." I held the pack out offering him one.

 

[CaptainAnarchy]

"I dont want to talk about"

Her words hit him and he realized that this probally wasn't the best or happiest of topics for her, hell was it for anyone? Not many liked to discuss it, including me. Spending all that time underground, with people panicing was nothing compared to what I could come to do later on. All the trading missions. I had quite a stash of supplies going, food, ammo, and other things.

"You know that thing will kill ya?" I said half seriously.
"Yea they said the same thing about Nuclear Warfare.." she quickly replied

"Point. Actually I'm a non-smoker myself, but always carry one of these around..."

I tossed her the pack of cigs I carried around constantly, they were always handy for sticky situations for trade. She smiled back at me and thanked me.

"No problem, but I will take you up on that offer to sit next to you. I could use the body warmth. But I am no rookie to these situations, I know how to take care of myself fine. I handled stuff like this all the time when I ran all around this areas as a trader."

I sat down next to her and smiled slightly. I then pulled out a orange from my pocket, It was damn near impossible to find any produce but I had gotten this from a trader who had a freezer which managed to keep the food cold enough to keep long enough to trade. I pulled out my knife ,switchblade with a 7 inch blade. I began to peel away at it waiting for something to break the ice. I finally decided to be bold and began.

"So how have you been with any of the guys around here?"

As I finished my sentence I saw a figure up against a cave wall about 500 meters away. I pulled my gun up but I was too late. I shrugged it off assuming if the person were to get any closer that I could take care of them...I went back to paying attention to her awaiting an answer.

 

[papillon24]

Tanya

I caught the pack of cigs he tossed to me. "Thanks, they are even my brand."

I watched as he pulled out the orange and his knife.

"Me? With any of the guys here? Won't happen. They are too into the ones who were bought or conqured. Not the girls like me. i'm too rugged for any of their tastes They wan't a girl who isn't going to fight back of say anything harsh. That just isn't me. I'm a warrior and a survivor. Anyways look at me, I'm not the most delicate looking female around."

I take another drag from my cig as I watch the open space in front of us.

 

[Snork Maiden]

Juliet

I waited for his reply, the silence seemingly endless. He seemed torn between my request and his activity. I looked down at his feet my head hanging with embarrassment from my beseeching and stepped back from him pulling on his hands before releasing them letting them swing back to his sides.

"Go then,", I said, I will trouble you no longer, go and be a hero if you must

He looked at me blankly then turned slowly and resumed his activities.

I hurried from his chamber back to my own, the tears welling in my eyes. The last rejection I would endure I told myself as I hurried wrapped my arctic clothing on, the fur leggings and top felt warm, I grabbed my back pack and hunting bow, it's stainless steel bowspring folded and locked the reel attachments which were designed for bow fishing yet never used I stowed in the pack and grabbed the quiver of arrows.

I grabbed the water skin hanging from a wall peg and proceeded back to the cathedral, where the underground lake would provide the necessary contents.

Turning I headed up the south paths to the emergency exit, a tunnel designed to allow the colony escape should the main entrance become blocked or seiged.

I pushed the outer covering the cold wind bit at my face and I pulled my fur and skin hood over my head peering into the bleak wilderness. Using the cover of the rocks I made my way down the side of the hills into the valley. I would make for the city to see what future lay there.

 

[ariosto]

The coughing sound of the van's engine turning over sent Julian flying to the window. All thoughts of fucking the woman vanished as he saw the precious vehicle, all his posessions and his women shuddering away down the snowy road.

"THAT GODDAMNED BASTARD!...I"M GONNA KILL HIM!"
He struggled into his pants and boots. Threw on the old leather coat.
Monica tried to stop him.
He cuffed her back against the bed.

"You stay here, bitch!
I'll be back.
If you run away...I'll kill you too."

Grabbing his shotgun he threw himself out the door and began running in the direction the Sutter had gone.
Evening was at hand and the road was a sheet of ice, he fell and picked himself up a dozen times.
His only hope being the broken down condition of the van. It couldn't go far.
The idiot was heading back towards the cavern...what the fuck was he thinking!

*********************************

It must be midnight....he lay totally exhausted in the lee of a gutted gas station looking at the stars.
For years there had been no stars to look at. Once he'd known the constellations...the brighter stars...now he struggled.
Cassiopia?...Orion....

A noise!
Steele sat up, cocking back the hammers on the gun and slid back into the shadows.
Waiting....