As the World Ends Read Online Free PDF Page A

it’s smart to know what’s out there.”

CHAPTER SIX
    Roan lost the trail after a couple of hours.
    “It’s like they disappeared into fucking thin air.”
    First, the trail headed east, then circled back to the west, finally he found a path with footprints leading south. Hungry and cranky and running out of water his frustration grew.
    “Where are you, you bastard?”
    It was definitely two people he was hunting; one very large foot, which would fit with the guy in the video and one very small foot, that of a woman.
    He sat and took a drink of water, tilting his head up and eyeballing the sun. It was only mid-morning, but he made the decision to head back. What if it was a set-up and they were waiting for him at his camp? Wouldn’t that be a hoot?
    As he started to get up, the air changed around him. In the nick of time, he ducked as a mountain lion jumped in his direction. He grabbed several rocks from the ground and stood up, throwing them at the cat. The mountain lion turned and disappeared into the woods.
    “Jesus, that was close. Thank God for the nature channel,” he murmured, his heart pounding in his chest, sweat running down his back.
    Grabbing several more rocks, he put them into his bag before starting back to his cave. He wasn’t taking any chances if he met up with that cat again.

    “I’m going back to his cave and introduce myself. I want to feel him out before we make the decision to leave or stay.”
    “I don’t want to wait here by myself, Rob. What will I do when the walls start closing in on me,” she whined.
    “It’s safer this way. Who knows what this guy’s like, Lauren? The cave is big. If you need air, go outside for a while but stay close and keep your gun with you.”
    “What happens if the guy isn’t at the cave but finds me first?”
    “I promise I’ll find him first. Don’t let your guard down.” Rob reached into his duffle bag and brought out the two-ways he had packed. “Don’t use it unless it’s an emergency. Otherwise you might give my position away. Click it twice for an emergency, three times for talk. If I can, I’ll click in and talk. Understand?” he said, handing her one of the radios.
    She studied him. Nodded then grabbed it from him. Clicked the speak button to make sure it worked. “There’s a lot of static on these.”
    “They’ll do. Promise me, Lauren, you won’t stray far while I’m gone.”
    “I promise. I know why this guy bothered me, but what exactly bothered you about him?”
    “Can’t say, instincts maybe. I won’t be long, babe, come here, give me a kiss for luck.”
    “Rob, what if the mountain lion comes back?” She moved toward him, into him.
    “You know what to do now,” he said, reaching for her.

    Rob followed a different path back to the cave, making sure to wipe away his footprints along the way. It took him a good hour in the daylight. Before he approached the entrance, he observed it for fifteen minutes. No activity or sound encouraged him to explore it.
    At the mouth of the cave, he called out, “Hello. Are you in there?” It sounded stupid even to his ears. What else could he say?

    Roan heard the rocks grind under footsteps. He stopped what he was doing and listened. The voice startled him when the man’s voice called out.
    Showtime.
    Could it be the couple he’d been tracking, or possibly a forest ranger? Either or, the only way to find out was to go out and greet the man. Anticipation and fear filled his gut. Picking up his gun and radio he headed out of his cave.
    “I’m coming out,” he yelled.
    Until he knew who or what he was dealing with, no one entered his cave. When he stepped out, he grabbed his sunglasses off his shirt where he had hooked them. They really weren’t needed. The grey sky shielded the sun. However, he didn’t want to show too much in his eyes.
    The man he came face to face with also had his sunglasses on. Positive it was video man. Roan looked around, disappointed when he didn’t