The Harvest (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

clues to the where or when. Today he had the where and when, but not the why. And he was no closer to knowing who she was or why she’d chosen him. Austin took in a deep breath, letting it out slow. There was no point in bemoaning what ifs. Had he chosen to believe this would one day come to fruition it wouldn’t have changed the outcome.
    With a bit of prying, Austin extracted Mitch’s phone. He covered his friend’s body with his jacket and left the hangar. Outside, he waded through a foot of snow to reach his truck. A blustery wind took him by surprise, knocking him sideways. Holding on to the side mirror he couldn’t help pausing to stare. In a matter of fifty minutes the landscape has been transformed from a serene tropical paradise to winter bedlam. Large snow drifts were stacked and packed up against the planes, making the metal giants appear as small snow covered hills scattered about the runway.
    Mitch’s phone rang startling Austin back to reality. He yanked on the driver’s door which was already frozen stuck. After a few hard tugs it flew open throwing him off balance again. Heaving himself into the truck, Austin answered Mitch’s phone while starting the engine and cranking the heat on high.
    “Major Howard?” A voice shouted through the static.
    “No. Captain Reynolds. Who’s this?”
    “General Roth in Colorado Springs. Where’s the major?”
    Austin sat taller. “The major’s dead sir.”
    “Well damn it to hell.” He shouted. “We’ve been trying to get in touch with Commander Larson since dawn. We’ve been goin’ down the list and you were the first to answer. What’s your status Captain?”
    “Sir, I just left a hangar full of mutilated bodies and Daytona looks like Denver in January. That’s my status sir.”
    “What about Larson?” Roth asked as if Austin had just delivered a traffic report. “Was he in there?”
    “Not that I could see. But some of ‘em were in bad shape sir. Looked like they’d been shredded in a blender.” If Austin expected a reaction from the general he was disappointed.
    “I need you to gather all your men and…”
    “Excuse me sir, but there aren’t any men to gather. They’re all dead.” There was a long silence on the other end. “Sir, are you still there?”
    “Yeah.” He replied with less gruffness.
    “Sir, are we under attack?” Austin thought he knew the answer to this, but hoped the general would shed some light, provide a few details.
    “Nothing’s been confirmed. They...they came through and...” Static covered his voice. “All we have right now are reports of missing and dead people. No one has seen or heard a damn thing. Other than the sundogs.”
    “Sundogs sir?”
    “No nothing. I mean nothing, you know, just reflections on ice crystals around the sun. An atmospheric phenomenon. Not uncommon, except for today. Except for…”
    “My wife asked about those this morning.” Austin said out loud, but more to himself. “What do you mean except for today sir?”
    “Well for starters, they’re still there. Sittin’ above the horizon. Not goin’ up. Not goin’ down. And for enders, they’re still fucking there. Not doing a god damn thing.”
    “Some sort of aircraft maybe?”
    “Yeah…maybe that’s how… Anyway it couldn’t be helped.” Roth replied, not making sense. “Look captain, try to find your commander and anyone else you can round up, especially woman and children. Get to a safe place where you can defend yourselves if ya have to.”
    “Yes sir.” He waited for more directions. None were given. “Is that all sir?” Austin wanted to ask why the women and children, but the general was again speaking.
    “For right now it’s all I got. Plans are being laid. The future’s in my hands. I have been chosen to…” He paused. “I’ve ordered everyone under the mountain, if you don’t hear back assume you’re on your own. You get the opportunity Captain you make your way to Cheyenne, to Section