I am progressing nicely with my latest novel. Not being a topic I am familiar with, I am doing a lot of research, which works out fine, as it is something I love doing. My characters’ abilities are developing, making them stronger and perhaps able to face what is yet to come
I am attaching shorts excerpts from Chapter Six.
Chapter Six
Luck was not with me that day. I walked aimlessly, searching inside rusted vehicles, digging through garbage, but it was picked cleaner than our area. The constant threat of running into one of the gangs weighed on my shoulders, and I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. The volcanic ash was thick as soup, and I found it difficult to breathe. My throat was raw, and I had drunk most of my water.
The harsh rays of the sun had dissipated for the day and the shadows lengthened. The wind picked up, blowing dust and grit into my eyes. I heard thunder rumbling in the distance, which as a rule meant torrential rainfalls. The rain would help clear some of the ash, but it was unsafe to drink any water unless it was boiled. …….
I suddenly remembered the sewer pipes I had passed a few hours back. It was not far from my present location, I walked quickly, praying I would make it before the sun set. I would not be able to find it in the dark and sighed in relief when I recognized the construction site littered with cement pipes…..
Wrapping up tightly in a musty blanket, I rested my head on a pile of discarded clothing I had found in the trunk of an abandoned car. I was exhausted and found it hard to sleep.….
The rain pelted down, hammering the parched earth. Weather patterns were becoming more and more erratic, growing in intensity and violence. We did not often get rain, but when we did it was more a monsoon than a shower……
Being short had its advantages. I stood upright, lowered my head and walked slowly backwards. I heard a scraping noise; I raised my head and suddenly a body landed heavily on top of me. I was thrown backwards, landing hard on my elbows. Scratching and punching, I screamed at my attacker. “Get off of me.”
AND SO FIRESTORM CONTINUES