Red Sands Read Online Free PDF

swept the beam of his flashlight over the row of lockers that hung at the back of the building. Several of the metal doors were open, and he rummaged inside. The first one was empty and he continued to the second, swinging it open and feeling for a pulse rifle or pistol or anything.
    Nothing.
    The soldiers must have taken all the rifles when the ships showed up , Jeff thought.
    He shone the light inside the locker, illuminating six grenades. Only, they didn’t look like the kind he saw in the movies. He pulled one out. It didn’t have a pin. Instead, a small button at the top looked like it activated the weapon. Holding the small gray cylinder under the flashlight, he read the label out loud.
    â€œEMP.”
    Electromagnetic pulse , he thought to himself. He’d heard of them before. They’d used bigger versions in China years ago. He stuffed the grenade in a bag and zipped it up, continuing to the next locker.
    By the time Jeff was done scavenging, he had twenty-four grenades and a pulse pistol. He’d also snagged more MREs and a jar of energy pills labeled Jacked . He popped one of them into his mouth and took a swig of water.
    An hour later Jeff felt like he could take on an entire pack of Spiders. He organized their gear and woke David, who had finally fallen asleep. “Time to eat, bud.”
    David wiped the sleep from his eyes and snarled, “I’m not hungry.”
    â€œYou have to eat.”
    â€œLeave me alone,” David growled.
    He curled back up on the ground and Jeff shook him.
    â€œHey!”
    Bringing a finger to his lips Jeff said, “Keep it down. And sit up.” He handed the boy a granola bar and then tore off the end of his own. He chewed quickly and gulped the nutrients down. If they were going to fight, they needed energy.
    David took a small bite and then tossed the bar on the ground. “I’m going back to sleep.”
    Jeff reached out and grabbed his arm. “No, David. You aren’t. Because we’re leaving soon.”
    â€œWhat? No! I want to stay here.”
    â€œWe can’t stay here.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause we have to fight.”
    Silence.
    David looked up from his lap. “But those things will kill us.”
    â€œMaybe,” Jeff replied. “But they’re going to kill us if we stay here, too.”
    â€œNo. They won’t find us here. We can stay here, Jeff. Please, let’s stay here.”
    â€œRemember what I told you before in the storage room? About how we can honor dad?”
    A short nod.
    â€œAll we’ve done since then is run. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of running. I say we fight.”
    David shook his head back and forth.
    â€œFine. You can stay here. I’m going to the highest building I can find and I’m going to wait until those things come. Then I’m going to shoot them. And I’m going to kill ’em.”
    â€œNo!” David protested. “You can’t leave me here.”
    â€œThen come with me.”
    David let out a whimper and looked like he was going to start crying again. Then he reached for the granola bar. He stared at the wrapper and then jammed it into his mouth. Chewing with his mouth open he said, “Do you think we can really kill those things?”
    Jeff nodded, although he wasn’t sure exactly. All he really knew was that they had to try or eventually the monsters would kill them.
    After swallowing the final bite David said, “So what are we going to do?”
    â€œClimb onto the building where they keep the spaceships. It has a good view of the entire base. Then I’m going to use an electromagnetic grenade to lure the Spiders in. When they’re in range we’ll shoot them.”
    David stared back with an incredulous look on his face. “I don’t know . . .”
    â€œJust trust me.”
    â€œOkay.”
    Two hours later, the sun had set, and the two boys slipped