....He sighed in relief when he saw it was Tanner. His dog had followed him with the stealth of a predator: just as he had taught it. He smiled. Pointing at the light-skinned man, Stephen whispered,
“Shh, boy. Kill!”....
As a veteran, Stephen is used to undesirable climates. From his days in the military, he has taught himself not to be so dependent on man-made appliances. He’d always been a bit suspicious of the activities of the government, and when the EMP did occur, he was more prepared than most. With survival skills that surpass basic, he is easily able to adapt to this new world as he begins on his trip to New York, where his only companionship is his German shepherd, Tanner.