Chapter Eleven

As the friends were discussing their next move, the sound of the hover tank receded, leaving only the sound of chirping birds and the wind blowing through the few dried leaves left in the trees. Punctuated, of course, by the occasional gunshot or rare explosion.

"Is it safe?" Shannon asked, looking around suspiciously.

"I don't know," Alex said honestly, "Marcus, you want to check it out?"

"That's right," he grunted, "send the black man to do the dangerous work."

"No, no," Alex said, trying to placate him, "I'll go. You stay here."

"Nah man," Marcus smiled with perfect white teeth, "I was just giving ya'all shit. It's no problem."

"We'll both go then."

"A'ight. You can handle y'self, so dats cool."

"Okay then. Let's go."

They were gone and back again within ten minutes, making barely a sound. "They seem to be gone," Alex reported, "maybe we should move into the school, at least for now. They've already cleared it, so they think it's empty. We should be safe for awhile."

"I like that idea," Karen agreed, "if nothing else it'll get us inside and under shelter."

"I'm good with that," Tony said, and the others agreed.