Chapter 2

Adventurers like him were setting off toward other cities like Houston, Austin, El Paso, Shreveport, and Little Rock. A handful of survivors managed to construct small radio transmitters and receivers from the remains of the cities. The radio operators had picked up faint signals through the polluted atmosphere, giving hope that others across the country had survived the Harvesting. However, no definite contact had been made. Conventional methods of communications had been severed, possibly due to the Xini obliterating satellites out of Earth’s skies and the broadcast towers from the surface. What had happened to the colonies on the moon and Mars? It might be years before their fate was discovered.

Therefore a few volunteers stepped up to make the perilous journeys to find other survivors. The large cities like Dallas had the best chances of harboring survivors and fugitives. The citizens of Dallas held out hope there were other people who escaped the Harvesting.

Grayson had set out with a group from Dallas to St. Louis just after the Xini left. Dakota begged him not to go since there was no telling what was beyond the rubble of the city. St. Louis might not even exist anymore.

He and Grayson had followed the signal fire, through what remained of Dallas to Parkland and joined a few dozen more people who had gathered there. Others trickled in over the next few weeks, bringing what few belongings they had left in the world. Once they saw the blank space where their house once stood and the barren field where Irving, Texas had been, Grayson had begged Dakota to leave Dallas and head northeast to see if his family was all right, but Dakota couldn’t imagine striking out across unknown territory on foot.

"It will take us days to walk there," he protested to Grayson. "We have no idea what's out there anymore. What if the aliens are still here? We have to stay where we know it's safe."

Supposition about what happened to the rest of the world was rife. The few reports that got out when the Xini first arrived were frightening—it was a given the whole world had been attacked and laid waste. With the bits and pieces of signals, some of the survivors became anxious to find friends and families. A dozen, Grayson included, set off to the northeast, throwing caution to the wind. No matter how much he pleaded with Grayson to stay, his partner insisted on going.

With or without Dakota.

So they left. Then the Xini returned for another quick sweep. If Grayson and his party were caught out in the open…

Enough! I won’t dwell on the ‘what ifs’. He pushed the thoughts from his mind.

Dakota did his best to find a comfortable position using his backpack as a pillow. Sleep didn’t come easily with the air filter over his mouth, but it was better than breathing the poisoned air. His uncomfortable bed wasn’t helping matters.

Sitting up in frustration, he pulled his computer from his pocket, a small device no larger than a playing card. He punched the power button and its screen lit up. He thought about listening to music or watching a movie from the computer’s one million yottabyte memory, but the sound may attract unwanted attention. Another button-push displayed the keyboard, a two-dimensional image that wavered in the air next to it, much larger than the computer. He set it on the ground and pressed several keys on the virtual board, searching for something to occupy his time, since sleep was far away.

At least the power supply will last for a few more years, but there won’t be any new music or movies coming out anytime soon. He sighed and turned off the computer, replacing it in his pocket. Although the entertainment might help him relax and get his mind off his situation, he was no longer in the mood.

As he adjusted his body, a slight breeze ruffled his scraggly hair. He sat up.

No, I wasn’t imagining that. There hasn’t been a movement of air since the Harvesting. Earth must be healing itself! Mother Nature may be beaten but she isn’t down for the count

The wind stirred up foul odors, permeating his air filter with a pungent sulfurous whiff, but it didn’t dampen his mood. He shoved the mask tighter to his face and squeezed his stinging eyes closed. The breeze lasted only a few minutes and Dakota relaxed.

* * * *

He jerked back from semi-consciousness. How long did I sleep?He wasn’t sure but something must’ve disturbed his slumber. He could see nothing in the complete darkness.

A scavenger?

He heard a soft scuffle, a scattering of pebbles in the distance. He realized the location of the clean water source might not be a secret. For once, he was glad that he listened to his instincts and sought out a hiding place instead of camping nearer to the water.

He dug into his gear and retrieved a set of night vision goggles. Scanning the immediate vicinity revealed nothing, yet every few seconds, the sound repeated, closer each time.

Dakota pressed himself as far underneath the outcropping as he could, moving only his head slowly to scan the area.