by Paul Greci
“Even if we did win,” I say, “the end of a war, or an invasion, or whatever this is, is different than the end of a game, or a race, where everyone just goes home and goes about their business.”
“Frank the Second”—Derrick points at my forehead—“makes a good case. My dad told me there was a Japanese soldier who fought for more than twenty years after World War II was over.”
The mosquitoes find us, but since we have dry suits on the only places they can get at are our hands and faces, and it’s pretty easy to wave them away or slap them if they land on us.
“So, we sit here and starve,” Brooke says, “all because the enemy could be sore losers?”
“Maybe they were given strict orders not to give up,” Shannon responds. “That’s basically what happened with that Japanese soldier Derrick mentioned.”
I stand up and wave my hands in front of my face. “Three days. Think of all we’ve been through. Surely we can handle three days of starvation while living in dry suits. Right? I mean, we may have helped to save the world from a nuclear war. Look at us! We did it. We carried out an almost impossible mission. I didn’t do it so I could wander out on a gravel bar and be shot after the fact. I want to live.”
The whine of a boat motor invades my ears. Somebody is coming, but we don’t know who.
CHAPTER 108
“HOW DID YOU FIND US?” I ask.
Albert grins. “I knew where to look.” He’s snugged his flat-bottom riverboat up against the shore, and we’ve tied it off for him. A couple of rifle cases lie in the bottom of the boat along with four red gas cans. “You. All of you,” Albert says, “did a good job on the bridge.”
“Did anyone die?” Shannon asks.
“Some people did. Yes. But it saved lives. Not just our lives, but lots of lives.” Albert swats a mosquito on his neck. “You people impress me. From high school students to high-stakes operatives in less than a month.”
“You said you knew where to look to find us,” Derrick says. “Could you see us from the bluff the whole time?”
“I could,” Albert replies, “but I didn’t have to.”
“I don’t understand,” Brooke says, “but I’m glad you’re here because that means we can leave, right?”
“Sam,” I say. “You work with Sam. He told you. Didn’t he?”
Albert shrugs, then he points to me. “You heard it from him, not me.” Then he grins. “Get in the boat. We’re heading to Fairbanks.”
EPILOGUE
SCHOOL STARTED ABOUT SIX WEEKS later than usual this year, which means we didn’t really have a cross-country season. But I kept running anyway, thinking of Theo as I sped up hills, and his life that was cut short by the landslide. My parents are still splitting up, but I’m thankful they’re alive.
Brooke, Shannon, Derrick, and I had to spend a few days debriefing with Sam and a few people that work with him before we were allowed to see anyone else. It was unclear if Sam was their boss, or if one of them was in charge, or if they all shared power equally. We didn’t meet at the army or the air force base. Instead, we met in a windowless room in the closed Kmart on Airport Way. The building is being used by the military as storage for vehicles and other stuff. All the windows are covered with plywood.
Mum’s the word regarding the mission we were involved in. We aren’t even allowed to tell our parents. We ran into Albert in the wilderness, and he was responsible for getting us back to town—that’s our story. The Russian invasion—it’s the talk of the town—but we didn’t know a thing about it since we were at Simon Lake and then trekking through the wilderness without any contact with anyone, until we ran into Albert and he filled us in.
My friends keep telling me how lucky I am to have missed being rounded up by the Russians. How they thought they were going to die. I smile and agree because our real story, the whole how close we came to getting nuked by our own bombs, is classified information.
“Maybe in twenty years,” Sam said, “or maybe in fifty, you’ll get to tell that story. Whenever—if ever—it’s declassified. Don’t even discuss it among yourselves.” Sam went on, “There are lots of stories that never get told. Stories that could cause more harm than good.”
Brooke and I are hanging out at least twice a week, getting to know each other outside of being in an emergency situation. The more I get to know her, the more I like her. Since we shared such an intense experience, it’s easy to be real with each other. I’m not guessing what she’s thinking or feeling; I’m asking her and she’s asking me.
We’ve gotten together with Derrick and Shannon a few times and it’s just plain weird in the coolest way to see people in their everyday lives who you know secretly had a hand in saving the world from a nuclear disaster.
The reason our secret doesn’t feel isolating is because we have one another. Even if we aren’t directly talking about it, we acknowledge it all the time with eye contact, a touch on someone’s arm, a hug, or a joke about Frankenstein or the green thing.
I’m not sure what my future holds, but I hope Brooke plays a large role in it. And I hope that Derrick and Shannon do, too.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wrote successive drafts of this book over the past two years as my father was facing several end-of-life health issues. While I was sitting with him in the comfort of his own home, by his bedside at the hospital, and then at the hospice care facility, and while flying between my home in Alaska and his in Indiana, I worked on this story when I was able.
I am deeply indebted to all my family members. Thank you to my brothers Carl and John, sisters-in-law Vivian and Sandi, and nephews Mark and Tim for your continual and comforting presence during this time.
Thank you to my mother, Dolores, who took excellent care of my father. Her deep well of love and compassion continues to nurture and guide our family.
A big thank-you to my agent, Amy Tipton, and my editor, John Morgan, for all the time and effort they put into this story. I feel fortunate to have you both in my corner.
Thanks also to Erin Stein, Natalie C. Sousa, Carolyn Bull, Jessica Chung, Melinda Ackell, Kerianne Okie Steinberg, and Raymond Ernesto Colón, and to all the other people at Imprint and Macmillan who helped bring this book into the world.
Thank you to my wife, Dana, for being there for me in all aspects of my life.
ALSO BY PAUL GRECI
THE WILD LANDS
SURVIVING BEAR ISLAND
FOLLOW THE RIVER
PRAISE FOR
THE WILD LANDS
“This fast-paced book contains all the hallmarks of a classic wilderness survival novel (deadly terrain, vicious predators, literal cliff-hangers) and the best of the postapocalyptic genre … The author’s decades of Alaskan wilderness experience is evident throughout … A great high-stakes wilderness survival tale.”
—School Library Journal
“This rugged survival story places a group of teens in a dark, burned-out postapocalyptic nightmare. Your heart will pound for them as they face terrible dangers and impossible odds. Gripping, vivid, and haunting!”
—Emmy Laybourne, international bestselling author of the Monument 14 trilogy
“A compelling story that wouldn’t let me stop reading. Greci has created both a frightening landscape and characters you believe in and want to survive it.”
—Eric Walters, author of the bestselling Rule of Three series
“A brutal vision of things to come. Greci delivers an apocalyptic odyssey that’s honest, relentless, and backed by his firsthand knowledge of the wilderness.”
—Lex Thomas, author of the Quarantine series
“Heart-racing … A rugged wilderness lover’s post-disaster survivalist tale.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Heart-thumping suspense for readers who liked Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave.”
—Booklist
“Raw and accessible. Offering hints of Hatchet with markedly more manmade danger.”
—The Bulletin
; “The themes of teamwork, choice, and free will are incredibly well done … an intense and thrilling ride.”
—TeenReads.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAUL GRECI has lived and worked in Alaska for over twenty-five years as a field biology technician in remote wilderness areas, as a teacher, as a backpacking trip leader for teens and as a naturalist for several outdoor education programs. His middle grade adventure novel, Surviving Bear Island, was a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Scholastic Reading Club Pick. He is also the author of the young adult novel The Wild Lands. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by Paul Greci
Praise for The Wild Lands
About the Author
Copyright
HOSTILE TERRITORY. Copyright © 2020 by Paul Greci.
A part of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
mackids.com
All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
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Book design by Carolyn Bull
Imprint logo designed by Amanda Spielman
First hardcover edition, 2020
eBook edition January 2020
This book remains in the owner’s possession.
Swipe it and you’ll be met with severe aggression.
With bears at your heels and fire in your face,
It’s likely you’ll disappear without a trace.
eISBN: 9781250184634