Free Amongst the Dead by David Bernstein Page A

ex-marine. He showed her numerous survival tricks, many of which she already knew, but hand to hand combat was George’s specialty. She was young and small, but as long as she practiced and stayed diligent the techniques would stay with her.  
    George had also been a gun collector and had over thirty rifles and handguns. Ten were from his own collection, but from the numerous scavenging missions he was able to pick up many more. He had ammo for most, but not all; some were simply for show.  
    Even though life around the house was peaceful, George always maintained certain security measures. Riley was told about the gangs that lived in the cities and how they controlled much of the area near them. George kept many of the guns in hidden places around the house and property—tool chests, supply trunks, by the woodpiles and in trees. They were all kept oiled and cleaned regularly.  
    An underground bunker, supplied with weapons, food, lanterns, a kerosene heater and other supplies, was about three hundred feet from the house’s property line—hidden in the woods. If the house was ever under siege, the family was told to head there and hide.  
    Spending time with Eric was wonderful, something she and the boy both needed to help their spirits grow. They practiced self-defense, went fishing, played board and card games. Eric loved playing hide and seek and it was something the whole family could enjoy. Games of wiffle ball were played, as well as badminton, Riley usually letting Eric win. But the best thing of all were the silly jokes they told and the laughing they did, something all children were supposed to be able to do.  
    Being the elder and the road-hardened one, Riley took on the role of teacher whenever they worked on something. Teaching had brought her own skills on the various subjects to a new level, even shooting. She was able to see things from a different perspective and in return her own skills at fishing, fighting and even shooting had improved.
    All in all, life had become as normal as it could for Riley, something she wished her father could have been a part of.  
    It was a beautiful, sunny summer day when she and Eric had gone fishing at the nearby lake. The fish were biting as if the lake had nothing more for them to eat. Riley caught five while Eric had a whopping eight fish in his bucket. They would eat well for a couple days and have to smoke the fish in order for them to keep.  
    Having just arrived back at the house, Eric hurried inside to begin gutting and cleaning the fish for dinner. Riley, having washed up at the lake, went up to her room to change into a clean set of clothes. When she was finished, she came downstairs and went out to the deck. Joanne had told her to tell George to hurry up, that dinner would be ready in about an hour, when she saw a man approaching. He was walking down the long driveway. George had seen him too and had stopped chopping wood, but held onto the axe.  
    Riley turned and called into the house. “Joanne,” she yelled. “Come quick.”  
    Joanne arrived within seconds. She was wearing an apron caked with fish guts and brought with her the fresh aroma of fish and onion. Riley wasn’t sure if she wanted to gag or eat at the conflicting odor.  
    Joanne brushed past Riley, immediately seeing the man. Riley turned. The man was now almost to George. They were conversing.  
    The stranger had wild orange hair making his head appear as if it were on fire. He was shirtless, wearing a cut-off jean jacket vest and blue jeans with black leather boots. He appeared to be injured; gashes lined his arms and neck. George had brought the axe up, resting it on his shoulder. If he needed to, he could swing it down fast. For what most would think is a casual resting position, Riley understood that everything George did had a reason.  
    “Get inside,” Joanne told Riley. “Stay with Eric.”  
    The woman ran inside, quickly returning with a rifle. She rested her arms on the