Don't Look Back (Warders of Earth) (36 page)

Ranting and raving was not going to get me anywhere. I needed to think, negotiate, search for a weakness in their so-called logic.
Tell me about this competition?

The leader lifted his hand.

Light streamed from the ceiling to a single point about midway toward the floor. The particles formed into a 3D image of a solar system.

Both the Elvirathons and the Skeetishas are ancient races. Many cycles ago, we ascended to such a logical lifeform that physical pleasure and emotions devolved until they were mere whispers in our past. All that was left, was supremacy. The war began. When we realised we could not destroy each other, we decided there was only one way to prove which of us held supremacy over the other. The challenge of conquering other planets. Since that time, the competition has changed.

You send out scout ships, make contact and sit back to watch what happens. Is that it?
I raised my eyebrows.

Only the worthy can live.

I bit down on the hot denial springing to my lips. Turning to Alex, I whispered, “We’re their entertainment.”

The way he clenched his jaw, told me he agreed.

I flashed,
This isn’t about resources or a new planet to live on, is it?

Negative. It is about winning.

You must really hate each other.
I shook my head.
What can we do to change the other aliens’ minds?

We do not believe this to be possible.
The leader made a slashing motion with his hand and the image disappeared.

I looked at Alex. In his gaze I read a steadfast determination and trust; trust in me. I had no idea whether what I intended to propose would work or how to go about it, but I had to try. If I didn’t, the outcome was too horrible to contemplate.
Can they be stopped? What if you form an alliance with us, with Earth?

The leader stepped back and the five formed a tight huddle. They conferred with each other for several minutes before breaking apart. The group as a whole walked forward to stand before the tank which contained Alex and I.

Realising my nails were digging into Alex’s palm, I relaxed my grip. Heart thudding, my gut shuddering in sickening spasms I waited for the verdict.

The leader flashed,
This sounds like a worthy challenge. We agree. But be warned, Tara Ferguson. It will not be easy. The Skeetishas have proposed a different set of rules. The winner will take all.

~The End~

Thankyou for reading
Don’t Look Back –
the first book in my apocalyptic, science fiction New Adult series
,
Warders of Earth.
I hope you enjoyed it.

Look out for Book 2 –
Marnie’s War
coming in late 2015.

C
OMIN
G
2
015

The Mars Academy Series

Bargain with the Enemy

Touring the Stars

Bindarra Creek Makeover

Books written by S. E. Gilchrist:

Legends of the Seven Galaxies series:
Legend Beyond the Stars

The Portal

Awakening the Warriors

Star Pirate’s Justice

When Stars Collide

The Mars Academy series:
Stranded

Apocalyptic:
Paying the Forfeit

Storm of Fire

Bound Series:
Bound by Love

Bound by Lies

Contemporary:
Dance in the Outback

Cowboy under the Mistletoe

Coming: March 2015

Cosmic Fire

Episode 2 in The Mars Academy series.

The Mission: Find and claim a new earth.

Morgan is too unreliable. Thirty five weeks Dana has known him, not that she’s counting. Already he’s gotten her into more hot water than she’s ever been in her life. She doesn’t need his kind of trouble.

She knows what she wants; captain bars on her shoulders; her own command and no hot-shot firey is going to get in her way.

But everything changes, when a saboteur attempts to murder them both.

Now she wants justice.

B
IO

S.E. Gilchrist can't remember a time when she didn't have a book in her hand.  Now she dreams up stories where her favourite words are…'what if' and 'where'?  SE lives in the Hunter Valley, Australia with her family and is the author of over eleven books.  Her stories are set in the exciting worlds of science fiction, ancient worlds, apocalyptic settings and contemporary small towns.  SE takes a keen interest in the environment and animal welfare and loves bushwalking and Zumba.

SE is published by Escape Publishing and Momentum Books and is an indie author.

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Reviews can help readers find books and increase a writer’s visibility.  I am grateful for all honest reviews.  Thank you to any who have the time to let others know what you’ve read and what you thought of the book.

If you’d like to know more about me, my books or to connect online, please visit the following links:

Website
|
Amazon Author Page
|
Facebook

My twitter handle is: @segilchrist1

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DON’T LOOK BACK

Copyright © 2015 S. E. Gilchrist

All Rights Reserved

Suzanne Hamilton

ISBN: 978-0-9925266-2-7

Cover Design by:
Damonza

Editor:
Cathleen Ross

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Amazon.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Without limiting the rights under copyright above no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organisations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

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Acknowledgements

I would never have realised my dreams of being a writer without the motivation and support of my family, friends and the wonderful writing community, Romance Writers of Australia. Special thanks to my face-to-face writing group,
Hunter Romance Writers
.

You ladies rock.

Prelude to Marnie’s War © S. E. GILCHRIST 2015

MARNIE

Pulling a man-sized, cotton handkerchief from her jeans pocket, Marnie mopped her wet cheeks then balled the sodden mass in her hand.

“I miss her already.” She sniffed.

“Times are tough and so are you,
piccolina di papà
.” Nic sent her a sideways wink.

Marnie sighed. “I don't feel tough.”

“You’ll see.”

At the moment, I feel about as strong as this soggy hankie.
Only the gut-wrenching dread eating away at her, forced her to keep going. Glumly, she slumped in her seat and stared out the windscreen. The cultivated fields both sides of the road gave way to lightly treed undulating pastures.

They slowed as Nic negotiated a series of sharp corners and the road dipped into a slight valley. When the ute cleared the next crest, they entered a thickly forested area and the road lay in a straight line before them.

The trees grew close to the road, their branches almost meeting above their heads and forming a shadowy canopy that made Marnie shiver.

“Be careful, Nic.” Her gaze darted from side to side.

Something wasn’t right.

Nic turned the headlights back on.

Roughly five hundred yards ahead, light glinted on metal.

“Best pick up that shot-gun,
piccolina di papà
.”

Marnie scooped the weapon off the floor near her feet and held it cradled in her arms, the muzzle pointing toward her passenger door.

“There it is again.” She pointed to the right. “Amongst those trees.”

“Yeah, I got it.” Nic hit the accelerator and the ute flew down the road.

A figure emerged from behind a tree, ran towards the road, waving.

“That looks like Luis. What the devil is he doing out here?” said Nic, applying the brake. When the ute rolled to a halt, he rested his elbow on the open window. “Luis, man. Thought we left you back in town.”

“Nah, I decided to take my chances on my own.” Luis shrugged. “I nicked a motor bike and set off just after you left the mayor’s place. Then I got spooked. Any chance I can ride along with you guys?”

“Sure thing, buddy.” Nic grinned. “You wanna climb on board?”

“If it’s all the same to you, I'll ride behind on the bike.”

“Come on then.” Nic nodded and set the ute into motion.

Frowning, Marnie swivelled around and peered out the rear window as Luis pushed the bike onto the road then followed. “Nic...”

“Leave it,
piccolina di papà
. I owe him. Anyway,” Nic tossed her a cocky smile. “We're almost at the road block. See?”

Sure enough, a crudely constructed timber road-block squatted in the centre of the road. On the left hand side, an army truck was parked on an angle in the side ditch. As their ute approached, two men climbed down from the inside of the truck, one yawning and tucking his rumpled shirt into his pants and the other holding two rifles. They strolled casually to stand behind the road block and raised their weapons.

Marnie exchanged a glance fraught with meaning with her father. Her stress levels went through the roof as she silently clicked off the safety before resting the muzzle out the side window.

Nic pulled the ute up ten yards from the road-block, keeping the engine running. Leaning out the window, he called a greeting in a friendly voice, adding, “Hey man, wanna help us out a little here?”

“No one is allowed to pass,” said the taller of the soldiers, gesturing with his rifle.

“We don’t want no trouble.” Nic held up a hand as if to give credence to his words. “We’re just a family looking to reconnect with one of ours who needs help. You can’t blame us for wanting to get to her. She’s only six years old.”

The other soldier with sandy-coloured hair and a straggly beard shuffled his feet, a frown appearing on his face.

Would he let them pass?
Her stomach clenched into a painful knot but Marnie didn’t dare take her eyes off the soldiers.

“We’ve got our orders,” barked his partner.

“We understand. But a man’s gotta do what’s right for his family.” Nic gave a loud sigh and scratched his chin. “I tell you what, how about I make this a little easier for you guys. We could help each other out.”

The rifles aimed in their direction, lowered a trifle and Marnie's frantic heartbeats slowed as well.

Emboldened by this wavering in confidence, Nic said, “I bet you guys have family elsewhere too. You must be wondering how they’re doing in this here bad times.”

Sandy-hair admitted, “I got folks in Longreach. Haven’t heard from them for a bit.”

“And I bet you’re worrying whether they’re safe from this disease striking all of our families down.” Nic snapped his fingers. Sandy-hair jumped.

Not a good sign – an armed soldier with twitchy nerves. Marnie squinted along the sights of her rifle.

Her father added, “I have twenty vaccines and I’d be more than happy to share half with you.”

“Shit yeah.” Sandy-hair poked his buddy in the shoulder. His rifle was now pointing at the ground. “Come on, man. Just think what we could get on the black market for this stuff.”

The other soldier jerked his chin. “What’s stopping us from taking all of them?”

“Well, my piccolina di papa
here has a shot-gun aimed at your gut and my mate is a mean shot with his rifle. We could stand here all day either pissing at each other or we could see who can shoot first or we can act like civilised men and be on our way. What’s it gonna be?”

“I say we take what these good folks are offering, Jim. This shit is getting out of control,” muttered Sandy-hair.

“It does sound mighty tempting,” admitted the other soldier, slowly.

Boots crunched over gravel as Luis strolled along the site of the ute until he was level where Nic leaned out his window looking at the soldiers.

A cold frisson streaked up Marnie’s spine. The world switched to slow motion as she swung her shot-gun around.

Too late!

“Or, there's another solution.” Raising his gun, Luis fired off two shots in quick succession at the soldiers then spun round and fired at Nic.

DAD!

Hands shaking, her belly feeling like lead, Marnie levelled her gun at Luis. From the corner of her eye, she could see her father slumped back in the seat, eyes closed, blood flowing from his shoulder down his arm and chest. How badly was he hurt? Was he...was he even alive?

“Don’t do it, girlie, or the next slug goes into your pa’s head. Only reason I aint killed him straight off, is he and me are mates. Now, I’ll get you to lower that gun ‘n I won’t have no need to do any more killing.” The complete lack of emotion in Luis’ flat eyes convinced her.

Slowly she placed the shot-gun near her feet.

“Now you get out of the car and come round here and get your pa out. Come on, now. I aint got all day.”

On trembling legs Marnie did as she was told. Three minutes later, she sat by the side of the road, Nic bleeding in her arms and watching their only hope of reaching her daughter disappearing into the distance.

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