So it was. They took one last lingering look at Bertie, turned, shouldered their back packs, and made there way down the track.

“ was nearly out of fuel anyway” said a disgruntled Ben.

“ yeah that’s fine, but did you check the oil, I’m just saying “ Mary said contemptuously.

They walked on in silence.

It was very cold.

Ben broke the icy silence “ how much food do we have left ? “

“ one tin of stewed beef, canned pineapple, and half a bag of rice “

“ aah the a la can menu “ Ben jested.

“ better than that last restaurant we ate in, you know, before it all happened “ Mary said smiling

“ oh yeah I remem. “

Ben dropped suddenly to one knee, arm out, motioning down. He turned to Mary, eyes owl like, and put a finger up to his lips. He leaned into her ear.

“ don’t move “ he whispered breathing hard.

“ I just saw one, it hasn’t seen us yet “

“ where “

“ dead ahead 200 feet on the right of the path “

Mary slowly peered over his shoulder.

“ it’s seen us “

Ben turned his head slowly, it was coming towards them, in no hurry, loping, sniffing the ground in mild disinterest. 150 feet and closing, red eyes glowing in its grossly disfigured head. At 125 feet it stopped stood on its back legs and sniffed the air, came back down on all fours and began to charge.

“ give it to me now “ Ben screamed

“ Now, Jesus “

Mary fumbled frantically in her coat pocket and pulled out the revolver. How many shots left ? He couldn’t remember. He grasped the gun and flipped the safety. 50 feet, steam and snot billowing from its huge nostrils. The pistol cracked, cracked again, then one last time, then just clicks. He put his head down bracing for his end.

A barrage of gun fire to his left, an arsenal, maybe fifty guns maybe more, the creature screamed, blood curdling, like something from the depths of hell. He looked up, the creature still screaming was running into the woods on his right, he looked left into a fog of spent gunpowder. He turned to Mary, her head was down, she was shaking uncontrollably.

He put a hand on her shoulder.

“ Mary, it’s ok “

On his left faces and bodies slowly came into view through the fog. Perhaps 50 perhaps more. A man in his early fifties in a plaid shirt and jeans, rifle over his shoulder, held up his hand and approached..

“ that was close “ he smiled. “ Jeff “ he held out his hand.

“ Ben, good to see you this is Mary, “ he shook his hand. “ thank you “

Jeff got down on one knee, “ we are fighting back, if you want to join us “………