August Burning (Book 2): Survival Read Online Free PDF

five extra magazines for the AR-15 rifle.
    Joseph stopped tinkering. “There,” he smiled broadly, pleased with himself. “It’s working.”
    Bennett beckoned for the radio; pleased he had taken the time to commit the engineer to his project. If it had just been him and Leeroy atop the rusted steel tower, he might have leapt off.
    He twisted the knob expectantly, to a hiss of static. Pushing down the transmit button and adjusting the metal antenna, he spoke clearly. “I am a survivor living in Cold Spring, Pennsylvania. If anyone can hear me, please respond. There are about forty of us, hiding out in the old high school. We are survivors. If anyone can hear me, please respond.” There was nothing.
    Joseph indicated the device keenly. “There’s only a few of those batteries left. We should limit its use each night.”
    Bennett imagined his good friend Jaxton touching the girl he thought had been his, far in the valley below. Grinding his teeth, he attempted to transmit again.
     

Chapter Four
     
    The room was silent. The crowd Bennett now scanned his eyes over was ragged, dirty, and tired. Everyone had gathered save three guards, who patrolled the rooftop armed with ancient sniper rifles.
    Bennett made sure to fasten his gaze on a number of them, and deliberately avoided Adira’s dark eyes in the front row. His palms slipped over each other as he spoke. “We’ve made contact with a group of other survivors. A big group.” He began. His voice wasn’t carrying very far, he noticed in frustration. “They’re migrating west, and I informed them of our location and present situation.”
    “Are they bringing more women? Supply’s running dry here.” Terrence cackled, to the delight of his cronies around him.
    “You can ask them yourself. They’ll be here in three days, if they make good time.”
    Spirited conversation broke out among the forty survivors. Bennett wasn’t sure how to proceed. He accidently caught Adira’s gaze, which was level and unbroken.
    “Our good man Terrence has a point. Who are these people?” Jaxton rose from the front bleacher and strode forward with easy confidence.
    Bennett bristled; annoyed his friend could move and speak so effortlessly. “They are led by a group of…former police officers it sounds like.”
    Jaxton grimaced, and turned to stand just next to Bennett, facing the crowd. With his next words, he addressed them directly. “What have we always said? Since the beginning? Never trust anyone but our own.”
    “These are men of the law. They-“ Bennett tried to inject, but he was swiftly cut off.
    “They will attempt to seize control of what we have built here. I don’t like the sound of this, brothers and sisters,” Jaxton yelled emphatically.
    A chorus of affirmation rolled across the glossy wooden floor, stunning Bennett. “The infected are pressing into the valley, more every day. Are they not?! These men are bringing society with them. Order. Security. We need all the help we can get.” He countered. This had been anticipated, but the crowd’s reaction had not. They were fickle, Bennett suspected.
    “We are on equal footings, us and them. If these newcomers think they can sweep in and reap the benefits of what we have sown with our own sweat, they are sorely mistaken,” Jaxton said, his fist pressed to his breast.
    Terrence and the other new arrivals roared. About a dozen were silent, Bennett noted with satisfaction. Taking a deep breath, he launched into a pre-planned argument.
    “Jaxton refuses the guidance of real authority, because he is loath to give up his own authority.” Leeroy and Joseph slammed the wooden benches in front of them in strong agreement. “Once this infection is over, civilization will be restored. There will be a reckoning. By my own eyes, I have seen the infected pressing deeper and deeper every day. Three weeks ago we had secured the entire valley. Now, the western ridge is listed as possibly secure, and the ravines to the