Chapter One
As the city of Oakland crossed the terminator into night, Owen and Harley Keegan
departed the store and entered the street. In the gathering darkness, they heard
the first noises of a riot. From around the corner echoed a man's shout, a
shotgun blast, and a child's wail. Harley muttered a curse. As he and Owen
looked up and down the waterfront street, the rioting grew noisier. Men shouted
in fighting anger; like a string of firecrackers, dozens of pistol shots popped
in quick succession.
"We better get going," Harley said and headed for the truck, parked next to the
nautical hardware store.
Owen grabbed Harley's arm. He stood, listening to the gunfire. Perhaps it was a
trick of sound, but Owen thought he heard gunfire from the hills.
He shook his head. "No," he said. "We can't go driving up through Oakland. We
better cross over to the island."
"Alameda?" Harley asked.
"Yeah."
"What are we going to do there?"
Smiling gently, Owen jostled the arm of his older, bigger brother. "Survive?"
Harley returned the smile. "Survival is good. You drive, then."
They climbed into Harley's truck, a midnight blue Ford Bronco with black windows
and oversized tires. ... read full excerpt from Soldier of Light ebook
