Read Solaris Mortem: The New Patriots for Free Online Page A

you please release me?”
    The Friar eyed him suspiciously, then asked, “What is your business here, Terry Burrows?”
    “Jesus, man, you act like I’m one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I was just passing through. Trying to get home.”
    “These are perilous times, Terry Burrows. We can’t be too careful. I am Brother Bach, or you may call me James if you prefer.” James produced a small set of keys and slipped them into the cuffs that restrained Terry to the bed. “I am sorry about all of this. We found you unconscious and didn’t know what kind of man you were, so we bandaged you up and bound you, just to be safe.”
    Terry rubbed his wrists and flexed his fingers, opening and closing his fists as the blood rushed back in. “Well, I’d say, ‘nice to meet you,’ but under the circumstances….”
    “Do you remember what happened?” the Friar, or James, asked.
    “Yeah, my horse spooked and threw me. Do you have my horse?—or my stuff?”
    “No. I’m sorry, I don’t. I think your horse is gone.”
    “Shit,” Terry hissed. “So what is this? Some kinda—church?”
    “Yes, this is the basement of the Roman Catholic church. We are Franciscans. Are you a man of faith, Terry?”
    “You mean, like religious? No, not exactly.”
    “You may wish to reconsider, Terry Burrows. We are in the end times. It would be wise to take the loving hand of our Savior at a time like this. I would like to baptize you if you are willing.”
    “Uh—thanks, but I really don’t have time for all of that. I need to get back to my sister and her kids. See if they’re okay.”
    “Oh, Terry,” Brother Bach went on, “You really don’t have the time not to . No man or woman who has not accepted our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, wants to be walking the earth right now.”
    “You’re right,” Terry said. “I’d rather be driving. Listen, thanks for your help, but I really have to be going. I have a long way to go and I’m on foot…again.”
    “Very well then. I will pray for you, Terry Burrows.”
    Brother Bach walked to the bureau in the corner of the room and pulled out a rolled blanket. Tucked inside was a can of beans, a bottle of water, a pocket Bible and some meager first aid supplies. “Remember, Brother Burrows, if it gets too dark out there, and it probably will, you can always step back into the light. Be well.”
    Terry took the bedroll and laughed a little in his head. Brother Burrows? “I will keep that in mind. Thank you, James.”
----
    It was going to be a long goddamn walk to Seattle without Blaze. Terry’s head pounded, but three ibuprofen were enough to dull the ache; that and drinking plenty of water. He would need another water filter as soon as possible and he hoped he’d find another. Chances were, everything like that was cleaned out by now. People were beginning to figure out this thing was for real. He doubted he would see any more looters carting off big screen TVs or the like, and he snickered.
    After an hour of walking, he began to miss the horse severely. “This just—sucks.” Understatement of the year right there, maybe of his whole life. Yes, this sucked, safe to say, and he trudged on.
    Clouds gathered and overcast the sun, for which, Terry was thankful. Walking in the heat would be too much in his sorry condition. He began to wonder how Joe was getting along in his new—colony. I wonder if he’s killed anybody yet?
    More importantly, he wondered about Kat. How was she getting along in all of this? What if he didn’t make it back in time? What if he never found her?
    “Stop it. Just stop.” Terry tried to focus his mind elsewhere, like on the little piece of ground he would settle on after he found Katherine and the kids. And how are you going to do that? Self-Doubt whispered. Pretty sure all the mortgage houses and lending agencies have closed up shop for the winter....
    “Shut up,” Terry whispered, “I’ll figure it out.” Chances are, a guy won’t need