27.
We wake to the wind. A violent,
gale force wind, blowing at us from out of the east. Just like I knew it would
when observing the wind ghosts the night before.
Hard pellets of sand and hot sparks
from the dying fire sting my face and eyes. The night has given way to dawn,
but the dark cloud cover blocks almost the entirety of the brilliant sunlight.
Anya screams, but the howling wind nearly silences her completely.
I slide out of the bag and fall flat
onto my back from a gust of wind that feels more like the charging tackle of an
NFL linebacker. I try and shield my eyes while forcing my feet back into my
boots and desperately searching the immediate area for Sameh. That’s when I
make out an object coming at me from over my left shoulder. The two headlights
piercing the san
