Read Online Kiamichi Refuge by C. A. Henry - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: C. A. Henry
Tags: Science-Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Contemporary Fiction, Dystopian
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the wheel.
Watching him drive away, Erin wanted to stomp her foot in frustration. “Arrrgggghhhhh! Mister Deputy Sheriff Barry Kline, you are an incompetent jerk! Talking to me like I’m a child. A stupid child, at that,” she fumed as she paced.
Just then her phone rang. Digging it out of her pocket, she took a deep breath and answered.
“Are you at home? Go turn on the TV. Hurry,” Jen urged. “Call me when you’ve seen it.”
Erin looked at the phone. “She hung up. Huh. And here I am, talking to myself again. Sheesh.”
Erin rushed into the house and turned on the TV, searching for news and finding plenty.
“In an unusual show of solidarity among Muslim nations, the leaders of Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have called an emergency meeting of OPEC member nations to discuss possible sanctions against the US for the attack on Kandahar.”
Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise for both the Taliban attacks on US bases and the rocket attack on Kandahar City.”
Erin pressed the mute button on the remote and called Jen back. Jen answered on the first ring, and didn’t bother with a greeting.
“Is this it? Is this the crisis we’ve been expecting?” she blurted breathlessly.
“I don’t know, but it could be. It depends on what OPEC decides to do. We need to be extra watchful. Don’t plan any trips, stick close to home, and keep your vehicle gassed up, for sure.”
Erin paused to think. “You call Sarah, and I’ll call Valerie. We need to warn them to be ready in case things go downhill. Let’s stay in close contact meanwhile, okay? Hey, when is school out?”
“Sarah finishes up next Friday. She’ll be on vacation for a while, but Val has her CPA exam tomorrow. Do you think you should wait to call her?”
“Yeah, you’ve got a point. Waiting one day probably won’t hurt, and maybe this will blow over,” Erin conceded, but doubtfully. “I’ll call her after the test. Besides, we might know more by then. No use distracting her at this point.”
***
With most of her editing work finished, Erin decided to swallow her fears and take time off to go exploring. At least I can take Blitz along for company , she thought. With her Glock on her hip and carrying two flashlights, she double-checked that the doors were locked, then went through the pantry to the cave. Crossing the cavern, she chose the cave that Ernie had already explored, where he had found another way out. The passage angled down slightly toward the northeast, then curved more toward the north.
They came around a bend and could hear the sound of water flowing over rocks. Soon, the cave opened up into another cavern, but one considerably smaller than what she had begun calling the “cache cavern” in her mind. The little cavern had a pool in it that was about eight feet across, and the water she heard was seeping out of cracks in the rock wall to her left, then falling a few feet into the pool. She could easily see the sand and rocks on the bottom of the pool. Blitz lapped up a quick drink, then they skirted the pool on a sandy ledge that surrounded the water on two sides.
Continuing through the cave, they finally reached an opening to the outside. She peeked out, but had no idea where she was, so she simply retraced her steps and went back to the lodge.
Chapter 11
Last Week of May
Two days later, Tanner dropped in just in time for breakfast. Erin couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked, dressed in black jeans and a black tee. She told him about the attempted break-in and Deputy Kline’s arrogant attitude.
Tanner was vocal in his disapproval of the deputy. “He has been a problem for years. I don’t understand how he has kept his job this long. He doesn’t do anything except strut around trying to impress people. He’s just a useless waste of space.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Erin shook her head. “For a cop, he sure seems fidgety. He kept playing with a cigarette lighter, like he couldn’t keep
Watching him drive away, Erin wanted to stomp her foot in frustration. “Arrrgggghhhhh! Mister Deputy Sheriff Barry Kline, you are an incompetent jerk! Talking to me like I’m a child. A stupid child, at that,” she fumed as she paced.
Just then her phone rang. Digging it out of her pocket, she took a deep breath and answered.
“Are you at home? Go turn on the TV. Hurry,” Jen urged. “Call me when you’ve seen it.”
Erin looked at the phone. “She hung up. Huh. And here I am, talking to myself again. Sheesh.”
Erin rushed into the house and turned on the TV, searching for news and finding plenty.
“In an unusual show of solidarity among Muslim nations, the leaders of Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have called an emergency meeting of OPEC member nations to discuss possible sanctions against the US for the attack on Kandahar.”
Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise for both the Taliban attacks on US bases and the rocket attack on Kandahar City.”
Erin pressed the mute button on the remote and called Jen back. Jen answered on the first ring, and didn’t bother with a greeting.
“Is this it? Is this the crisis we’ve been expecting?” she blurted breathlessly.
“I don’t know, but it could be. It depends on what OPEC decides to do. We need to be extra watchful. Don’t plan any trips, stick close to home, and keep your vehicle gassed up, for sure.”
Erin paused to think. “You call Sarah, and I’ll call Valerie. We need to warn them to be ready in case things go downhill. Let’s stay in close contact meanwhile, okay? Hey, when is school out?”
“Sarah finishes up next Friday. She’ll be on vacation for a while, but Val has her CPA exam tomorrow. Do you think you should wait to call her?”
“Yeah, you’ve got a point. Waiting one day probably won’t hurt, and maybe this will blow over,” Erin conceded, but doubtfully. “I’ll call her after the test. Besides, we might know more by then. No use distracting her at this point.”
***
With most of her editing work finished, Erin decided to swallow her fears and take time off to go exploring. At least I can take Blitz along for company , she thought. With her Glock on her hip and carrying two flashlights, she double-checked that the doors were locked, then went through the pantry to the cave. Crossing the cavern, she chose the cave that Ernie had already explored, where he had found another way out. The passage angled down slightly toward the northeast, then curved more toward the north.
They came around a bend and could hear the sound of water flowing over rocks. Soon, the cave opened up into another cavern, but one considerably smaller than what she had begun calling the “cache cavern” in her mind. The little cavern had a pool in it that was about eight feet across, and the water she heard was seeping out of cracks in the rock wall to her left, then falling a few feet into the pool. She could easily see the sand and rocks on the bottom of the pool. Blitz lapped up a quick drink, then they skirted the pool on a sandy ledge that surrounded the water on two sides.
Continuing through the cave, they finally reached an opening to the outside. She peeked out, but had no idea where she was, so she simply retraced her steps and went back to the lodge.
Chapter 11
Last Week of May
Two days later, Tanner dropped in just in time for breakfast. Erin couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked, dressed in black jeans and a black tee. She told him about the attempted break-in and Deputy Kline’s arrogant attitude.
Tanner was vocal in his disapproval of the deputy. “He has been a problem for years. I don’t understand how he has kept his job this long. He doesn’t do anything except strut around trying to impress people. He’s just a useless waste of space.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Erin shook her head. “For a cop, he sure seems fidgety. He kept playing with a cigarette lighter, like he couldn’t keep
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