Post by joelcrodriguez on Jun 11, 2014 0:33:26 GMT -5
'Somewhere North of San Bernardino', my first published post-apocalyptic story is now available on Smashwords.com. You, the reader, get to set the price which essentially means you can either get it for free, or donate a buck or two. In celebration of the story's publication, I've decided to post a small excerpt here on the forum. The story itself follows a marauder in the California wastes by the name of Jackal as he travels the wastes in search for two things; power, and a mysterious woman who he encountered in a past skirmish with a rival bandit clan. If you could be so kind to leave a review when you're finished, it would be very much appreciated!
www.smashwords.com/books/view/447103
'Somewhere North of San Bernardino' - Excerpt #1
The darkness of the Mojave night shadowed Jacky as he strode down the road, his compound bow at the ready. He knew that there was someone watching him, but he couldn't tell where. Just a few more steps and he would officially be in Scabber territory, marked with a burned out SUV plastered with graffiti. Jacky was hesitant as he stepped towards the vehicle, looking all around him before continuing forward. This was the only border mark needed, and there was almost always a Scabber or two keeping watch.
With a shrug, Jacky stepped past the decrepit vehicle right as a bullet pierced the rusted hull. He immediately leaped behind it, his mind questioning which dune the shot had come from. He had only three bullets for his pistol and four arrows for his bow, all of which he was hoping he didn't have to use. He knelt down behind the heap of rusted metal and began digging through his knapsack, pushing past dirty clothes, some roadmaps, a bottle of water, and some .308 rounds he had scavenged a few days prior. Finally, he was able to find his switchblade which he immediately tucked into his right boot before removing the filthy clothing. After a few minutes, Jacky peered around the side of the truck and saw a figure with a high powered rifle approaching slowly over a dune to the north. He began rolling up the clothing into a ball and waited until the bandit stepped on the tarmac of the dark freeway.
"I know you're out there, Burner! Let's just make this easy on ya, okay?"
Just as he stepped onto the crumbling asphalt, Jacky tossed the bundled up clothing out from behind the vehicle, startling the bandit who fired a single shot into the rags. Before he could pull back the bolt and eject the empty cartridge, Jackal slipped out from the other side and pulled up his pistol, catching the Scabber at an inconvenient moment.
"Drop it! Now!" Jackal yelled as he got closer with his pistol aimed for the skull of the Scabber scout.
"Alright, alright!" said the Scabber as he dropped his rifle to the ground and raised his hands above his head.
"On your knees!" Jackal shouted as he lifted the rifle and tossed it further from the bandit. Reluctantly, the bandit got down on his knees and put his hands atop his head.
"Alright, you got my gun. You win! Just... please, let me go!"
Without replying, Jackal put the pistol to the bandit's head and nearly pulled down on the trigger before remembering the scarcity of ammunition in these parts. Instead of pulling a simple execution, he tucked his pistol back into its holster.
"Oh, thank god..." the Scabber said as he lowered his hands. Before he could say anything else, Jackal unsheathed the switchblade from his boot and jammed the blade into the skull of the bandit, killing him instantly and sending his corpse to the ground. Jackal knelt down next to him and began rummaging through his pockets, finding another two .308 rounds for the bolt-action rifle. He then lifted the rifle from the ground and paced back to his knapsack, removing the other three bullets he had already found. Jackal pulled back on the bolt, ejecting the empty shell and seeing that the Russian made bolt-action was missing a clip, meaning he would have to load in a new round after every shot. Still, it was better than nothing. Jackal loaded in a fresh round and continued his journey down the long road, still many miles to go before he would reach the Dead Mountains.
www.smashwords.com/books/view/447103
'Somewhere North of San Bernardino' - Excerpt #1
The darkness of the Mojave night shadowed Jacky as he strode down the road, his compound bow at the ready. He knew that there was someone watching him, but he couldn't tell where. Just a few more steps and he would officially be in Scabber territory, marked with a burned out SUV plastered with graffiti. Jacky was hesitant as he stepped towards the vehicle, looking all around him before continuing forward. This was the only border mark needed, and there was almost always a Scabber or two keeping watch.
With a shrug, Jacky stepped past the decrepit vehicle right as a bullet pierced the rusted hull. He immediately leaped behind it, his mind questioning which dune the shot had come from. He had only three bullets for his pistol and four arrows for his bow, all of which he was hoping he didn't have to use. He knelt down behind the heap of rusted metal and began digging through his knapsack, pushing past dirty clothes, some roadmaps, a bottle of water, and some .308 rounds he had scavenged a few days prior. Finally, he was able to find his switchblade which he immediately tucked into his right boot before removing the filthy clothing. After a few minutes, Jacky peered around the side of the truck and saw a figure with a high powered rifle approaching slowly over a dune to the north. He began rolling up the clothing into a ball and waited until the bandit stepped on the tarmac of the dark freeway.
"I know you're out there, Burner! Let's just make this easy on ya, okay?"
Just as he stepped onto the crumbling asphalt, Jacky tossed the bundled up clothing out from behind the vehicle, startling the bandit who fired a single shot into the rags. Before he could pull back the bolt and eject the empty cartridge, Jackal slipped out from the other side and pulled up his pistol, catching the Scabber at an inconvenient moment.
"Drop it! Now!" Jackal yelled as he got closer with his pistol aimed for the skull of the Scabber scout.
"Alright, alright!" said the Scabber as he dropped his rifle to the ground and raised his hands above his head.
"On your knees!" Jackal shouted as he lifted the rifle and tossed it further from the bandit. Reluctantly, the bandit got down on his knees and put his hands atop his head.
"Alright, you got my gun. You win! Just... please, let me go!"
Without replying, Jackal put the pistol to the bandit's head and nearly pulled down on the trigger before remembering the scarcity of ammunition in these parts. Instead of pulling a simple execution, he tucked his pistol back into its holster.
"Oh, thank god..." the Scabber said as he lowered his hands. Before he could say anything else, Jackal unsheathed the switchblade from his boot and jammed the blade into the skull of the bandit, killing him instantly and sending his corpse to the ground. Jackal knelt down next to him and began rummaging through his pockets, finding another two .308 rounds for the bolt-action rifle. He then lifted the rifle from the ground and paced back to his knapsack, removing the other three bullets he had already found. Jackal pulled back on the bolt, ejecting the empty shell and seeing that the Russian made bolt-action was missing a clip, meaning he would have to load in a new round after every shot. Still, it was better than nothing. Jackal loaded in a fresh round and continued his journey down the long road, still many miles to go before he would reach the Dead Mountains.