Rescue

By H. S. Stone

THIS IS A SHORT STORY OF APPROX. 11,000 WORDS.

For the first time in memory, there is peace between Claire’s people and the Outsiders. The Drivers and their Protectors now have the gratifying task of spreading that goodwill across the region.

Claire and Shaun head to Half Moon Bay to deliver greetings and gifts to seal the peace treaty with the tribe that lives there. The mission goes smoothly at first, but events take a turn for the worse. Claire soon finds that it’s not just peace that is at risk. She faces the possibility of losing what’s most important to her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: H. S. Stone
• Release date: Apr 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310993237

H. S. Stone

Even before he could read, H.S. Stone wanted to write a book. Fascinated by the stories that seemed to leap from his kindergarten teacher's books, he went home and wrote his own book, with illustrations and bound by staples. Of course, since he didn't know how to read or write yet, the book was full of gibberish. Undaunted, H.S. eventually mastered the ABC's and continued to write throughout his grade school years, adolescence, and into adulthood. His publications include novels aimed at Young Adult and Middle Grade readers as well as several short stories. He currently lives with his family in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Book preview

Rescue

(The Driver Series #4)

by

H.S. Stone

Published by H.S. Stone

Copyright © 2016 H.S. Stone

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I still can’t get used to the sight of our city’s gates staying open for such long stretches of time. As I wipe the dirt from the windshield of my car, I peer through the thirty-foot gap in San Jose’s walls, half expecting a horde of Outsiders to come storming through. Except that all I see is an empty highway leading north.

Shaun startles me when he wraps his arms around my waist. I turn around and bat him with my rag, but when he backs away, I pull him by the arms toward me. I kiss him on the lips like I’m thirsty and he’s the last glass of water in existence. It doesn’t matter that I’m standing in plain view next to the gates where everyone can see me.

This is Shaun, my Protector and the person who means the most to me.

What were you thinking about? he asks. Me?

For once, he wasn’t the sole focus of my thoughts. You wish. I point to the landscape outside the gates. I was just thinking about all the recent changes.

Yeah, it takes some getting used to.

It’s been less than a month since he and I returned from Tahoe with news that our treaty with the Outsiders is in effect. When the Tahoe tribe signed the treaty, it effectively ensured peace between the Outsiders living in Northern California and the cities of San Jose, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Not all tribes, especially the small, isolated ones, are aware that we’re at peace, but we’re reaching out to them one by one.

Shaun looks past my shoulder, and I follow his gaze. Down the steps of City Hall, I see Harmony and Justin approaching with the mayor. A man waves at the mayor and then, seeing who is with him, scuttles away, pretending that the two visitors don’t exist.

The bigger adjustment that we’ve had to make—more so than acknowledging that we are at peace with the Outsiders—is believing that they aren’t a threat to us anymore. That they aren’t insane, homicidal lunatics. That they don’t still carry the Doomsday Virus.

The mayor admitted to our townspeople that he and the other mayors are responsible for perpetuating the myth about the Outsiders. I’ve repeated the same reassurances to the doubters who live here, but many don’t believe me or the mayor. I don’t blame them. Old beliefs don’t die without a fight. There are still moments when I see an Outsider convoy enter the gates, and my first thoughts are to flee for my life.

Harmony is different though. Although she is the daughter of the Tahoe tribe’s leader, I didn’t know she was an Outsider until almost a month