“You’re covered! Drop the gun now, or I will kill you.!”

The man screamed. “Damn you! Damn your Major! Fucking kill me, you shit! Do it! I’d rather be dead! Do it!”

This whole mess was getting out of hand. I stepped back around the corner and covered the enraged man, who still refused to drop his weapon. “All right, hold it! Just hold it!” I stepped out and the man’s arm twitched like he desperately wanted to bring up the pistol, but Charlie had stood up and there was no mistaking the intent of the AR now pointed at the man’s head. “Just calm down. Nobody wants to hurt you, but if you do something stupid, you’re in a world of hurt.” I stepped forward and could see the pistol more clearly. It was a standard. 45 auto, and had he shot me with it, I probably would have died, even if just wounded.

I stepped closer. “Holster your gun. I don’t want it going off accidentally.” The man stared at me but complied. I holstered mine as soon as he did and Charlie lowered his rifle. The man’s eyes relaxed and his narrow shoulders visibly sagged. “That’s better. My name is John Talon,” the man’s eyes shot towards me when I said that, but I let it pass. “And that gent up there is Charlie James. We’re not with any ‘Major’, we’re just survivors in this messed-up world, like you. We don’t want to hurt you. We just want to make sure you’re okay and to help you if we can. If you don’t want our help, we’ll leave you to your own devices and wish you luck.”

The tall man looked at me and gave me a sly smile. “My name is Simon Crays. John Talon, you say? I think I’m happy to meet you.”

2

We retrieved Simon’s things and rode slowly back to the lodge. Simon’s long legs allowed him to walk at a mile-eating pace, and he had no trouble keeping up with Charlie and myself.