Chapter 520

I head back inside and join my friends for a quick meal of energy bars, nuts and dried fruit. It’s actually pretty tasty, though a bit boring. It beats going hungry, that’s for sure.

Less than half an hour after I opened my eyes, we’re on our way north again. The powder blue sky is striped with high, wispy cirrus clouds and the temperature is cool but pleasant. It’s another fine day for a long walk.

We’ve been walking for several uneventful hours when Radar suddenly stops. From the look on her face, I know what’s coming.

“Anomaly!” she shouts, pointing to a spot just to the right of the road.

There’s no need for her to wave her orange cap here. The Marines are well-trained for this. Dealing with Anomalies—and the things that come through them—is their primary responsibility back in San Diego. Two dozen of them quickly form a semi-circle in front of the spot Radar indicated. The two guys carrying flamethrowers take up stations at either end of the curved line of soldiers.

The rest of t