"We got plenty of those firesticks left friend...you come out now we will finish this quickly. You stay put you're going to burn."
Joel still didn't answer. Better to let them wonder about him rather than answer and confirm things for them. Besides, he thought, he doubted they had any more explosives; the cabin he was in was barely bigger than the garden shed he used to own a lifetime ago - even a medium amount of explosive should have levelled it. But it hadn't. The first blast has just taken half the roof off. All of the walls and even the door and window were still intact. This meant only a tiny amount of explosives had been throw. Following this thought through led him to two conclusions; either the group outside were bluffing and they didn't have any more 'firesticks' as they had called them,o r they were amateurs. Either way he was beginning to like his chances. No point worrying about it - he would know soon enough which conclusion was the correct one.
He quickly and quietly moved some debris off his rifle and lifted it up. Wiped the dust from it and checked it out. It seemed ok. He didn't have very much amunition with him - he had planned on hunting using traps as the area that he was in had been very quiet recently. Maybe I will catch a rabbit or two, he had thought. He looked around again for anything he could use to fight with. He had his hunting knife, and there were some basic supplies in the cabin, and a few things in his pack that he had brought with him, but other than that there was nothing of use.
Joel moved very quietly and came to rest with his back against the wall furthest away from the door to the cabin. The only window, a small dirty and now dust covered square of glass was next to the doorway on the right hand side of the same wall. He pointed his gun towards the door and sat silently.