Against the Grain Read Free Page B

new ones at. The electronic sight on my AK kept me capable at night, and it was fast as hell on multiple targets during the day too. With the flat bullet trajectory of the 5.45 round that the AK74 shot, it was a very good combination for me.  
    With all that in mind, this silenced black gun of death with the long evil magazine sticking out of the bottom was just an unknown to Megan, except for what she had seen the bad guys do with them in movies. The sooner she got to know the basics of weapon handling the better.
    The houses of the families that we were going to sat on both sides of, and were visible from a road that was well used in its day. Groups of people still used it occasionally for trips to town, so an armed watch and armed response was kept up as much as possible.  
    Early on, with people abandoning their homes both in and out of town, the security was necessary. Nowadays, anyone left father down the road was generally known to us. We had blocked off the end of the road closest to town from vehicle travel and put a few signs up, but it was really just a deterrent.  
    “Hold it here,” I said, placing Megan’s hand on the pistol grip of the AK. “Keep it pointed out there and don’t mess with the controls. This is the safety, when the lever is up it won’t fire, but really it will not fire unless you willingly pull the trigger. Okay?” I instructed.
    “Alright,” she replied hesitantly.
    If she ended up staying with the Harris family who I was taking her to, she would have the opportunity to learn full safety and handling of firearms, as well as actually learning to shoot them. Once up to speed, one of the things I got to do was make sure everyone there was, and stayed, proficient with the long guns at least. Pistols were another concern altogether that I hadn’t delved into with any of them as of yet. I told myself it was unnecessary, or it simplified supplying the people, but in reality it was more about the learning curve for the group of novices.  
    Doing a quick last check to make sure everything was where I wanted it in the “cave,” I slid my pack out the open window and made my way up. Once I was satisfied that we were still alone in the backyard, I had Megan hand up my gun and her pack, then I helped her up and out into the early morning air. It had stopped raining and the temperature was brisk, but not too cold, so the fresh air felt good on our tired faces. After replacing the stuff to hide the basement window opening, we were off.  
    We made good time getting out of town. I was taking a specific path that would bring us to the top of a ridge where we would be able to watch the sunrise and take a bit of a break for breakfast. The light was growing as we crested the top of the little cliff, and although neither of us needed it, we were happy for the break.  
    After pulling off our packs, I retrieved the little canteen cup and stove I kept tucked away and I got some water heated. It was the perfect time to use a packet of my treasured instant coffee. I had squirreled away plenty of the little packets, but that was a long time ago and I was now very careful with how much I used. Some day in the distant future when it finally ran out, I would not be a pleasant person to be around.
    “So after high school you joined the Army?” Megan asked as she found a dry place to sit down.
    “Why do you say that?” I asked her without looking up from the stove of now nearly boiling water.
    “Well the guns, the gear, the… everything,” she responded, trying to be polite.
    I thought about that for a second then stood up and walked over next to her. I passed over the steaming cup and replied simply, “Something like that.”
    Not really eager to talk more on that subject, I asked her my own question.
    “How did you end up getting into the medical field? I mean you were always smart with science and stuff, but it never really seemed like a passion.”
    “Like you said, I was good at it,” she