Page 26, Line 26 by Richard Parmatatau
Inspired by Page 26, line 26 from ‘Orphan X’ by Gregg Hurwitz
Parked past the intersection behind a rustling heap of an abandoned car, Evan scanned the street again through a detached rifle scope.
It was always the same, no matter the weather or time of day. Ever since the last pack of roamers, victims of genetics and climate change, went past stripping anything they perceived as value from the remains in stores one could never be too careful. Even for someone as canny as Evan, crossing the street to get to the artfully hidden stores, was always after the process of surveillance had been followed.
Getting spotted by a stray roamer was always problematic and always ended in death and destruction and roamers being terminated before they could be helped.
But for now it was a case of wait and watch and wait.
Evan looked at his watch, a manual job from before the power went out and found in a box in his grandmother’s lockup. As a scientist specialising in genetic mutation and climate change she had trained her family for years to be mindful of the time of day and what might be lurking in the shadows or behind the doors of seemingly empty buildings.
The all clear came from his daughter across the road, hidden behind a hardened glass door.
Evan ever cautious decided to take one more scan.
Just as well.
His final scan picked up movement –in the door of the big department store was a pair of young roamers – probably kids lagging behind their crew but still vicious and capable of inflicting a devastating bite.
Richard Pamatatau