aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire) Read Free Page A

see if you can make it run.” Ardal barked out the order. Immediately another large man jumped into her
truck. Other men limped toward the rear and pulled themselves up as best they
could.
    “You
can’t just take my truck.”
    Fiona’s
protest was ignored. Instead they walked past her with their eyes lowered. It
was the strangest group of men she’d ever encountered. They treated her with
deference, but still ignored her words. Fiona started to go to the vehicle, but
Ardal touched her arm. Again the jolt of electricity shot through her. She
inhaled sharply, but kept her face impassive.
    “Jehon
can make any machine sing for him. If you will tell him the direction of your
house he can take these men there before coming back for the rest.
    Fiona
bit her lip. What choice did she have? She was outnumbered. Maybe it was best
for her to stay and help the rest of the survivors. She nodded and pointed in
the direction of her house before walking toward the wreckage.
    “You
do me honor by agreeing to my advice.” Ardal’s voice was a low whisper. “I
thank you Fiona, as do my men.
    “Are
you soldiers?” That had to be the explanation for the uniform and air of
command. Except this group of men weren’t like any military people Fiona had
seen before.
    “We
are Hunters; elite warriors born and bred.” There was a note of pride in
Ardal’s voice.
    “Was
it a secret mission, or will your people be sending out a search party?”
    “What
is the meaning of a search party?”
    “You
know, others sent to find you.”
    Ardal
shook his head. “We are the last. No one will look for us.”
    “That’s
sad.” Fiona’s voice faded away. She had reached the first of the wounded. It
was a young man, perhaps in his early twenties. His body was ripped open in
several spots with bits of metal mixed in with the carnage.
    Fiona
knelt and examined him with experienced fingers. The most serious injury was a
knife-shaped piece of metal protruding from his left thigh. That would require
surgery before it was removed. She daren’t risk taking it out now in case the
man bled to death. Right now the metal was preventing anything serious from
happening.
    “This
man needs immediate attention. We’ll pack something around the metal so that it
doesn’t dislodge.”
    Ardal
grunted his agreement. “Firbin is tough.” He looked up at another man running
toward him. “Get me a dressing.”
    Within
seconds the material arrived. Fiona went to pack the wound, but Ardal stopped
her. He put the small device he had shoved in her face to Firbin’s leg and ran
it over the skin. Then he gripped the metal and pulled it out. He was so quick
that Fiona didn’t have a chance to stop him. There was no blood, though. The
metal hadn’t been in a major artery. With a sigh of relief she sat back on her
heels and watched Ardal’s expert hands wrap a cloth-like material around the
wound. When he was done, he opened his eyes and gave Ardal a crooked smile.
    “Many
thanks.”
    Ardal
grabbed his hand. “Be strong. Remember you are a Hunter true and right.”
    The
man nodded and closed his eyes on a sigh. Despite the strangeness of the words
they seemed to comfort the man. Fiona glanced at the giant beside her. His face
showed no expression, but his eyes burned with unmistakeable pride. It was
obvious he cared about this man and the others. He was a puzzle. He was unlike
any man she had met before.
    Ardal
stood and offered his hand. She grabbed it and went onto the next man. There
was no hope for him. There was a huge gash in his chest, the organs beneath
exposed to the air. His heart was torn and was pumping blood out with each
beat. His life force was fading. Ardal knelt beside him, clasped his hand and
bent to whisper in his ear. Fiona couldn’t hear the words, but she noticed a
strange peace come into the man before death claimed him.
    “He
died with honor.” Ardal’s voice was low, his head bent as a shiver seemed to
pass through his body.
    “How
can