Striker (The Alien Wars Book 2) Read Free Page B

in the
back of the third and final vehicle. Within seconds, the truck rolled to a
stop.
    As the first two
vehicles continued on their way, Kenneth hurried up to the third one. “Thanks
for stopping. Where are you heading?”
    The lieutenant
rolled down his window and, with his steely blue eyes, gazed at the disheveled -looking man. “Sparks.”
    “Great. Can you
give us a lift?” Kenneth asked.
    “Please! Can you,
please?” Molly asked.
    The lieutenant
looked at the two teens and then back at Kenneth. “Is it just you and your
children?”
    “These aren’t my
children, but yes, it’s just me and them.” Kenneth gazed at the middle-aged
man. “We don’t have food, transportation, anything. Plus, I need to speak to
General Loreto urgently.”
    The lieutenant
frowned at Kenneth. “You? You have business with the
general?”
    Exasperated,
Kenneth quickly explained. “I’ve been to hell and back these past two days. I
encountered a soldier who gave me a briefcase, which he stole from the Seods—”
    “A briefcase?” The lieutenant quickly
climbed down from the vehicle and gazed earnestly at Kenneth. “Was it a white,
rectangular one?”
    Kenneth nodded.
“Yeah, how did you know?”
    “Was it Captain
Williamson who gave you it?”
    Kenneth turned to
the teens. “Did the man tell you his name?”
    The teens shook
their heads. “By the time we found him he couldn’t speak that much,” Derek
said.
    “Do you still
have the briefcase?” the man asked, looking between the three.
    Kenneth shook his
head. “The Seods took it last night.”
    “Damn!” The
lieutenant paced back and forth, clearly annoyed.
    “How did you know
about the briefcase?” Derek asked.
    “That’s not
important right now,” the lieutenant stated as he stopped pacing. “Do you have
any idea where the Seods took it?”
    “No, sorry,”
Kenneth said.
    “Get in the
back,” the lieutenant ordered, climbing back into his seat. “I’m taking you to
see the general. I’ll explain everything once we get to Sparks .”
    “Can we get our
stuff? It’ll only take a few moments,” Kenneth asked.
    The man frowned.
“Okay, but be quick.”
    The three rushed
back to the house and grabbed the backpacks and rugs. Then, after having a
quick look around in the bedrooms to make sure they hadn’t left anything
behind, they hurried to the truck.
    A soldier gave
them a hand as they climbed into the back of the vehicle. The three barely had
enough time to sit down before the truck started moving again.
    As it rumbled
through the town, Kenneth looked at the worn-out faces of the soldiers sitting
beside them. Most, if not all of the twenty or so men that were beside them,
had bloodied uniforms. Almost all of them were half asleep.
    Kenneth turned to
the soldier beside him and gave him a smile. “It’s good to see you.”
    The man nodded
and closed his eyes. Kenneth contemplated asking him a question about the
Seods, but seeing that he looked half asleep already, he decided to let him
enjoy the quiet. Whatever they had been doing had clearly worn them out.
    Kenneth turned toward
the teens and found that Molly was leaning against Derek and had her eyes
closed.
    Derek made eye
contact with Kenneth. “Thanks for helping us.”
    “No problem.”
Kenneth sighed, leaned back, and closed his eyes, wanting to get as much sleep
as he could. He had no idea what lay ahead for him and the teens. Hopefully
their parents would be in Sparks and he’d be able to make his way back to Stinson Beach straight
away, but the chance of that happening was slim, very slim.
    On the other
hand, the chance that they’d have to visit one town after another, all the
while being pursued by the Seods, was a very real possibility. Only time would
tell what happened next.

Chapter 4

 
    Kenneth was torn
from his long-overdue slumber by the convoy of trucks bouncing through the
rubble-strewn streets of Sparks . He peered out from under the canvas tarp as they raced down
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