Free Humanity Gone (Book 3): Rebirth by Derek Deremer Page A

years I've been mostly alone, but I've heard of these New Americans. The new government for the country or whatever. Usually what I heard about them was not good.
    I trailed them from a distance, and after abandoning the car, I carefully sneaked in to the compound that had been established within the baseball stadium property. The soldiers were much too preoccupied by their captives and left their posts unattended. Crossing over a fence and getting alongside the building was all too easy. I scaled the outside of the stadium and leaped onto the second level. Then, I made my way through the concourse and out among the seats that face the field. While squatting, my eyes searched over the side for any sign of them. The field itself had a few trucks parked on the infield. Long wires stretched from them into the perimeter of the stadium. Dozens of uniformed soldiers moved around the concrete walkways of the first level. Lights were on sporadically around the field. Then, I saw a small animal struggling through the snow on the baseball field between two of the eighteen-wheelers. It reminded me of... that raccoon from just a few nights ago.
    I quickly shake my head - this has been plenty of self-reflection. I am not going to be shooting that animal today, despite how hungry my stomach says it is. It doesn't matter how I got here; I'm here. I stand up and walk to the edge of the second level of the stadium. Sneaking into this base was the easy part, now I need a way to release my maybe, could-be, hopefully friends. I walk slowly around the perimeter of the baseball field, glancing every so often over the edge and hoping to catch a glimpse of-
    There they are.
    Two of the females are being escorted out of the stadium from the outfield section exits. I quickly run back into the concrete concourse of the second level and run down to where they seem to be taking them – to the buildings beside the river. The guards guide them outside the fence and down between a few of these buildings. It will take too long to find the stairs – I decide to jump. I look down over the side. The cement ground below is covered with schools buses and Humvees. Gripping the rail, I leap over, hang for a moment to limit the true height of the fall, and kick off the vertical surface. Landing a little less than twenty feet below on the top of a bus is still painful, but with a quick roll, I stand up unharmed. After making sure the coast is clear, I run to the end of the bus and leap onto the roof of a building that is adjacent to the alley those girls were led down. Upon arriving at the corner, I pause and stare down. The guards stand at the entrance to the alley. Judging by the blood against the walls, this is a common place for executions. Their bodies would be easily disposed in the river. They lift their rifles while yelling at the women to kneel. The girls don't listen.
    Good for them.
    I quickly reach for my revolver and aim at the two men. I could probably shoot the one from here. But the other one may fire on the women before I can fire the second shot. I'm fast, but with their guns aimed, all they have to do is pull the trigger. I’d have to get their attention first.
    My feet leave the top of the wall.
    I should have thought about this more.
    I leap down into the alleyway between the girls and the two armed men. I land on my feet, bending my knees completely to absorb most of the impact. I stand up quickly with my hands to my sides. The two executioners are caught off-guard.
    “Who the hell are you?” the left one yells. A gust of wind travels through the alley and brings up my black coat into the wind. In the moment of confusion, their guns waver and sag to their sides for just a second.
    The second I need.
    I raise my left revolver and slide down the hammer twice with the side of my right hand. One of the guard’s fingers tightens on his gun and fires harmlessly into the brick wall.
    Good thing I was careful.
    A small stream of smoke rises into