The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

him down before matters worsened. Only once or twice did he ever see his best bud this way, and he recognized an understandable terror in Michael’s eyes. He also noticed scrapes and cuts on Michael’s chest, no doubt from the bramble.

“Coop. Chill. We’ll make it.” He handed his rifle to Sammie. “Show me how to use this.”

Sammie grabbed the weapon and quickly demonstrated the proper firing technique. “It’s a good rifle,” she said between labored breaths. “These things just saved our lives. The enemy didn’t expect us to be locked and loaded. Soon as we started firing, they hesitated. Otherwise, we’d all be lying dead on the side of the road right now.”

Sammie pointed to the mottled blood across Jamie’s belly, but he insisted the wounds were healing. Sammie clambered up the slope, peered over the top, and saw no movement.

“They can’t be far behind. We need to keep moving northwest.” She motioned in that general direction. “That should take us to the highway. The woods can’t protect us forever.”

They moved into deeper woods, tangling with thick undergrowth. Ten minutes later, with no sign of enemy movement, Sammie raised her hand to halt. Jamie and Michael hunkered down on either side of her, again alongside a slope but surrounded by bramble. She demanded no one speak.

They noticed the ubiquitous rhythm of the police helicopter searching the area but focused more on the unmistakable sounds of highway traffic.

“We’re close,” Michael whispered. “Let’s book.”

“I don’t like this,” she said. “It’s too perfect. If we take off in a full dash, we’ll reach the road in less than a minute. It’s right there, and we haven’t heard a peep from the enemy.”

“Exactly. And I gotta hand it to you, GI Jane, you brought it home for us. Now let’s go.”

“Those men wouldn’t give up, but they would be cautious. If they played it right, they’d know we were heading to the highway. Instead of coming down on us, they’d keep their distance and flank us. With luck, they could get ahead of us and be waiting at the finish line.”

Jamie’s heart sank. “An ambush?”

“Why not?” She said. “They could take us when we’d least expect.”

“You gotta be kidding,” Michael groaned. “I ain’t believing this. I’m supposed to be in first period with Mr. Turner right now. I oughta be joking about them cafeteria ladies having to deal with burgers made from cow shit. But this is …”

Sammie grimaced in confusion, but Jamie ignored Michael’s rant. He felt the shadows racing across the Earth. He heard their footsteps. The Jewel was opening his senses to understanding of what he did not see.

“What do we try now?” He asked Sammie.

“Here’s the thing: These Chancellors are all trained soldiers. Even Christian. I trained alongside him for years. None of them are stupid. The police are close by, so if the shooters tip their hand too soon, they could get more trouble than they can handle. They already blew one chance at us, and people can hear rifles from a long way off. We can’t even be sure how many soldiers we’re facing. They’ll be spaced out to cover all the angles.”

“But we can’t just sit here and wait for them,” Jamie said.

“No. We have to draw them in closer to each other. They need a reason to change their strategy. If we do it right, we could open up a flank, slip past them and make the highway.”

Jamie saw the AK shaking in Michael’s jittery hands. He understood what Sammie was proposing, even if Michael did not.

“You need a diversion, right?” When she nodded, Jamie thought fast. He grabbed Ben’s flash drive and handed it to Sammie.

“What?” She stared in disbelief. “What is this?”

“Hope? It was Ben’s. I don’t know if Ben was just full of it or what, but there might be something on here that can help you if you’re able to go back home. You know, to the other Earth.”

They spoke with their eyes. He didn’t want to hear another word, and Sammie understood. Jamie illuminated Michael.

“You need a diversion, and I’m the only one they want.”

Michael tried to interrupt. “Dude, you’re tripping.”

“It’s the only plan that makes sense. Sammie can take you home, but she’s gotta be alive. Just do this, all right? Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

Sammie shook her head as Michael put his feelings into words.

“No freakin’ way. We’re staying together. Don’t matter how this ends – we’re the whole damn team right here. We got power.” He gripped the AK. “We got Sammie Schwarzenegger at quarterback. We can take down those yahoos and make tracks for home.”

“You know something, Coop? I reckon you could sell snow to an Eskimo. But you heard her. Those guys are gonna be spaced out, waiting for us. They’ll pick us off before we see them. We have to draw them out.”

Jamie begged Michael to go along with this.

“Coop. Bud. I love ya, dude, but this ain’t about the team. Maybe this is how it was meant to be.” He wiped his tears. “Just do what she says, Coop. Maybe we’ll hook up again.”

Jamie asked Sammie for help. She pointed west, up the slope.

“Keep low. Use the trees. When you make it to one, find the next before you sprint. Run fast as you can. Their fire should come from your right. The only way they’re going to take the bait is …”

“I know. They got to see me. I can do that.”

Jamie didn’t know what else to say. The moment he dreaded might have come at last, and he couldn’t tell her how he felt. He wouldn’t allow his mind to be distracted by anything other than the task ahead. He figured Sammie would appreciate that, like any soldier in the heat of battle. He wiped hair from