Relentless

5

He didn’t hear the door slam but the thunder of the wind dropped away abruptly and the cold air became still. A voice-the Major’s, but hoarse: “Everybody hold still.”

After a moment Walker heard the distinctive click of Baraclough’s Zippo lighter and saw it explode into flame like a little bonfire.

They were crowded into a dirt-floored shed. Burt, near the shelves tacked to the far wall, reached up and got down a long cardboard box. “Candles.”

The flame was transferred from the Zippo to half a dozen candles which Baraclough and Burt placed on the two-by-four crossspieces between the exposed joists.

“See if you can get that stove going, Steve.”

It was an old potbelly stove on claw legs with a black pipe chimney that went up the wall. Behind the stove the corner of the room was stacked with short-cut chunks of firewood.

Walker hooked his arm over the saddle and sagged against the horse. Oh Jesus God.