[First Draft Sneak Peak] Outside Chapter 9 Part 2
Chapter 9 Part 2: Sam's First Battle
The urban ruins were becoming thicker. Overpasses had collapsed, clogging what were once paved roads, but were now pitted and patchy remnants of shattered concrete following a winding path. To the west, the ruins were thick, unmistakable remnants of what used to be a great city. A web of ragged roads converged to the east, the buildings were smaller, composed of rotting wood rather than crumbling concrete and twisting steal. Broken glass was ubiquitous and crunched with each step. On occasion, the group come across the rusting husks of old cars, long abandoned and cannibalized, grass and shrubs growing through the twisted metal.
Syd and Sam joined Tyre, Doc and about a dozen armed members of the guard. Sam looked at the stern faces. He couldn’t help but ask, “Where’s Sylvia?”
“Where I need her to be,” Tyre snapped. His focus was deep into the distance. His senses attuned to all that was going on around him. That he was distracted with a silly question was a source of annoyance.
Syd remained close to Sam. “We’ve done this before. Don’t worry.”
Funny thing was that the more Syd said, “Don’t worry,” Sam’s level of concern increased. Each step brought with it just a little more tension.
For Sam, there was one overriding concern. It wasn’t for his own safety. “I don’t think I’m ready to kill, Syd.”
“Nobody is. Hopefully it won’t come to that. If it does, you’ll do your job. You’ll protect Abode because it’s all you have. Just breathe and let things happen as they will. Don’t do anything stupid. Listen to Tyre, and you’ll be back home with Philippa in no time.”
Sam looked around. Philippa was also a member of Tyre’s guard, but like Sylvia she was not present. Perhaps her leg was still weak. Sam was glad that she would miss the danger. As he looked around, however, he noticed about half a dozen members other than Philippa and Sylvia were missing. None of the women were present. Some of the smaller men were also missing. All of them were effective fighters and would have made the situation more secure. Sam wondered why Tyre excluded them, but took to heart what Syd said about knowing what he was doing. He must know what he’s doing. He’s still here.
As they walked, Sam kept an eye on Tyre. What was he thinking? What was he seeing? He studied this brutal, amazing man, how his demeanor changed, became more...predatory...as he walked into a possible battle. His head barely moved on his neck, yet he was aware of everything around him as if taking in the reality of the world through his skin. Always his eyes scanned everything before him, but never darted, never uncertain, seamless motion under slitted lids, purposeful and precise. Raising his hand brought the group to stop as he stood as tall as he could and listened, eyes closed. At one point Sam could have sworn he saw Tyre smell the air like a wolf on the hunt. Was it possible that Tyre could smell danger?
Curious as to what this master predator was seeing, it being impossible to know what he heard or scented on the air, Sam took to following Tyre’s gaze. At one point the line of Tyre’s eyes rested on the jagged rooftop of a nearby building. There was a quick, almost imperceptible glint of light, appearing for the merest instant. Tyre saw it, but never indicated that it meant anything more than the sun glinting off of a tiny piece of glass. What else could it be?
“Draw your pistol and unlatch the safety.” Tyre directed Sam without looking at him.
