Page 175 (1/2)

DRAKE CREPT TO the hole in the exterior wall The rim of the hole was still a little warm to the touch He kept his face in the shadows, looked left, looked right

Caine wanted a diversion? Fine, he’d get a diversion

Drake saw Dekka in a lawn chair, head down,what could only be bodies He sao kids playing thuainst a car He did not see Sam or his shadow, Edilio He didn’t see Brianna

The sun was dropping out over the water Night would fall soon Caine had warned hi before Jack turned off the reactor

“You’ll see the lights in the parking lot go out,” Jack had said in his usual know-it-all voice “And you’ll hear the turbines suddenly slon”

Sam had to be out there so lot that Drake could see Had to be Sa but a couple of idiot sixth graders

Drake wanted to be the one to take Sam down If he took Saue with his claiht it out, it’s the winner who rules Caine had missed his shot at Sam Drake wouldn’t miss his

But nohe looked, he saw no evidence of Sa about

Just as he was turning away Orc stoe of the parking lot, toward sorass

Drake laughed silently The monstrosity had to take a pee

Okay, so it was Orc and Dekka and a couple kids with rifles It would be foolish to take any of theht Orc once before and not entirely won the battle Of course he hadn’t been cradling a un then

Drake rested his left hand on the rim of the hole Hot but not too hot He forun on his hand He squatted to get into position He laid his cheek against the cool plastic stock, closed his left eye, and lined up the rear and forward sights He wrapped the tip of his tentacle around the trigger

He shifted the sights left an inch Another inch And now they were lined up on Dekka

Not yet Wait until Jack had turned off the reactor Then wait ten minutes more

But it had better be soon The sun was casting long purple shadows and if the parking lights went out, Drake wouldn’t have much ability to aim