Spirits of the Earth: The Complete Series: (A Post-Apocalyptic Series Box Set: Books 1-3) by Milo Fowler (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📕

I lower my window and rest a hand on the Uzi in my lap. "Nobody's been hiding. It's a big continent, Cain. But I'm surprised we haven't crossed paths sooner."

"Admit it." He grimaces and wheezes between each sentence. "You are surprised. That I am alive."

"It's unexpected."

He chuckles, sounding like he's gargling gravel, and pats the Stinger. "My friend and I have been in touch. More than once." He nods slowly as a cold heaviness weighs down my insides. "Yes, you see it now. After what we did to Stack. The truth has dawned on you: it was never the UW. Not there, and not at Luther's Homeplace. It was me. It was always ME!"

The hoarse scream at the end is uncalled for, but he has our undivided attention.

"So you've made it your mission in life to attack fellow survivors," I reply. Why seek to destroy those enclaves where folks are trying to make a life for themselves? Where a little bit of civilization is finally returning to these wastelands? "And you've found some new recruits to take up the cause." I look a few of the Wastelanders over. Psychos tend to gravitate toward one another. "I sure hope Cain's not your leader." No response from the skull-faced freaks. "You do realize he led all of his people to their deaths, right?"

Cain curses, loud and foul. "They died gloriously! It was the will of Gaia!"

"I see." My slow nod is intended to show that I'm paying attention. And I am, noting every detail: which Wastelander has both hands on his bike versus the assault rifle dangling from a shoulder strap; which one defers to Cain with every glance versus attempting to stare me down; which ones haven't taken their eyes off Shechara or Daiyna since we started this insightful conversation. "So, Gaia told you to blow up Stack? And the Homeplace?" I shake my head at him. "You're still blaming a spirit of the earth for all the stupid things you do?"

There's a quiet intake of breath from Shechara and an equally quiet chuckle from Daiyna. Half the Wastelanders rev their bikes and lurch toward us with menace. The other half just keep on staring daggers.

Cain grins broadly, not even bothering to cover his face as the harsh morning sunlight washes over us all, scorching the dusty landscape as far as the eye can see. He probably figures the damage has been done.

"Judgment is upon us, Samson. Fire and judgment. I am the emissary of Gaia's wrath!"

Interesting. "Your wives were in the Homeplace, Cain. Your children."

He frowns at me like I'm speaking gibberish. "This is not the time for new life. This is the end of all we know. We are the Horsemen of the Apocalypse." The Wastelanders rev up their bikes, all thirteen of them, in a deafening display of solidarity. "We must burn this world to the ground to make way for what is to come!"

Daiyna leans toward my ear. "He's out of his mind."

"Possessed?" I ask in a low tone.

"This is all Cain." No evil spirit necessary.

Good to know. "So, how'd you all meet?" I nod toward his riding companions. No reason not to be neighborly—until the shooting starts.

Another big smile from Cain. But instead of answering, he asks, "Where is Victoria?"

"No idea. You probably should've asked before you fired that missile at the Homeplace."

It never was the UW, as we assumed at the time. With good reason. They had a track record of wiping out what they considered to be mutant settlements. But no, it was this lunatic. And judging from what we witnessed in Stack, his thirst for destruction is still going strong.

"She is alive." Cain nods. "Gaia has told me so. Victoria survived the attack on Luther's Homeplace, and I must find her. I need to see what she sees."

I drum my metal fingers across the Uzi. "Can't help you with that."

"Then where is Luther hiding?" He looks at the circle of Wastelanders. "You must realize this is the only reason you are still alive. You killed one of us. You should die for that. But if you tell me what I need to know, I will allow you to go free...and take one of the women with you."

Shechara. I would of course choose my wife. Except I won't have to choose. Because Cain is a devil, and I don't make deals with his type.

I can't fight them. There are too many. And I won't put Shechara or Daiyna in danger like this. We're surrounded. It would be suicide. So what's the alternative?

"We go together." I can feel Shechara's eyes on me, staring in disbelief. Daiyna curses under her breath.

"You will lead us to him?" Cain looks ready to laugh. "Like Judas. Betraying your friends?"

I keep my expression stone-cold. "There's a reason we parted company with Luther and the others. But that's none of your business." I give him a nod. "You want to know where they are, we'll take you there. That's the deal."

Cain watches me like he's trying to read my mind. Not sure what sort of abilities he was gifted with, but I don't think telepathy is one of them. As long as he can't sift through my thoughts, this should work.

"We ride together." He nods, liking the sound of it now. "How long until your battery charges fully?"

I defer to Shechara. "Noon," she says.

"Until then, we ride slow." Cain winks at her. "Two people with mechanical parts, and…" He focuses on Daiyna. "Luther's woman."

Oh boy. Not good.

She stands up and levels her semiautomatic with Cain's raw meat-head.

"How did you get to be the leader of this little wolf pack?" Her fearless voice holds the moment. I'd wager she isn't scared of anything this world might throw at her.

Cain's smile is a tight grimace as he raises his chin proudly. "I defeated their former leader in combat."

"Alright." She nods. "New deal: I beat you, and your merry men do whatever the hell I say."

Shechara grabs her arm. "Daiyna…"

"No woman has ever