Snatchers (Book 8): The Dead Don't Pray Read Online Free PDF Page A

supposed to be on the barrier, by the Globe Island." Paul took a grey cardigan and threw it on quickly. He then turned to Rosemary. "Are you alright looking after the kids here?"
    "That's fine." She smiled, but Karen could see sadness behind her smile. She was obviously missing Vince. They may not have been a couple that were in love, but they were two people that had been intimate with each other for months, and Karen could understand why Rosemary missed him— she even missed him.
    "I was gonna come by to see how you're doing." Daniel spoke, looking at Karen.
    "I'm fine," said Karen. "Still knackered. Had a kip on the couch earlier. How's the jaw?"
    "Sore as hell." Daniel then took a step back as Paul left to go outside, and shouted after Paul, as he exited the garden gate in a hurry, "I hope you're alright using a gun."
    "What?" Paul stopped and looked at Daniel, waiting for an explanation.
    Daniel explained, "From now on, Lee wants everyone carrying."
    "Er ... I don't know if—"
    "You don't have a choice."
     
    *
     
    Paul Dickson eventually turned up at the Globe Island barrier and was relieved to see that he was on with Bentley. The other guy that was there he didn't know by name. He climbed up to the top of the cab and sat down next to Bentley, whilst the other guy sat inside the cab, smoking a cigar. Bentley had initially gone back to his home to grab some sleep, but he couldn't get off and asked Lee if he could do a few hours at the barrier. Lee agreed. Sheryl was supposed to be on, but was too exhausted to attend.
    Paul peered at the shotgun that was sitting next to Bentley. Noticing Paul's concern, Bentley laughed, "Don't worry. It won't bite you."
    Paul never verbally responded.
    Bentley looked at Paul and nodded at the gun. "Pick it up. It's yours for a few hours."
    Paul scratched at his dark hair in puzzlement. "I thought it was yours."
    Bentley pulled up his green and white striped shirt to reveal Glen —his Glock—tucked into his blue jeans.
    "I thought..."
    "It still has four bullets left." Bentley picked up the shotgun and put it on Paul's lap. "Don't worry. You won't have to use it. It's just so we can look mean to outsiders, rather than being a bunch of men holding knives and bats like when I first turned up. It's people out there that are more of a danger than those dead fucks these days."
    "I know that."
    "Anyway, you better get used to holding that thing," said Bentley. "I hear you're on the perimeter tomorrow, with a couple of others, while we're out on this fuel run."
    "I heard about that. Seems too good to be true that a tanker truck is sitting idle on a forecourt."
    "It does," Bentley agreed, then hunched his shoulders, "but why would the new guy lie about something like that?"
    "I don't know."
    "They must have turned up to replenish the pumps, while the shit hit the fan, and had to abandon the tanker."
    Paul questioned, "So it's been sitting there for seven weeks, untouched?"
    "I think so. Must have been a shit load of the dead to keep that thing from being taken. Let's hope they're still not there."
    Paul held the gun with trembling hands and thought about the Murphy family breaking into his home, and him and Kyle hiding in the cupboard whilst Daisy and Lisa were being dragged out of the house by the men. He felt terrible that day, but protecting Kyle was his main aim—his only aim. After they were taken, by force, out of his house, Paul helplessly watched as Lisa was thrown into the back of the van, whereas Daisy had her head caved in with the butt of a shotgun by the father of the clan. Maybe holding the shotgun, that Bentley had given him, reminded him of the event.
    His frame shuddered as the memory skated across his mind. He never thought he'd see Lisa again, but Vince Kindl brought her back after driving to Little Haywood to avenge his son's murder.
    I hope you're okay, Vince .

Chapter Eight
     
    The Sandy Lane camp was experiencing a fine evening because of the sun, and Pickle and Karen