Fix the World
1
“What has he really been doing here, Angie? What’s the secret goal of Safe Haven?”
Angela tilted the book toward Marc so that he could read the title on the first page.
How to fix our world, one problem at a time.
Marc opened his mouth to scoff–to make light of that impossible goal–and found only awe. Talk about high ambitions. He settled on the question that mattered most. “Can he?”
Angela flipped the page, leaning closer so that they could both read.
Step one: Write out a complete solution for all problems that cause murder.
Two: Explore every possible outcome and account for them.
Three: Go over each of these steps again.
Four: Record the chosen results.
Five: Put number four in the proper order according to consequence ripples.
Six: Consider all worst-case scenarios.
Seven: Repeat steps 1-7 until you’re 95% sure. Fate will cover the rest.
There was a lot more listed under that one, but Marc wasn’t ready to even skim it. He leaned on the mattress instead, stretching out. He had no doubt about what was in the stack of notebooks now. Adrian had repeated steps 1-7 until he came up with a plan. And then he’d begun to follow it, line by line.
“Who the hell is he?”
Angela sighed unhappily. “Mankind’s last hope.”
Marc let his hand caress a curl. “I thought that was you.”
Angela dimpled. “I’m an advisor. He’s the light.”
Marc tossed out a wave of need. “You’re my light.”
Angela’s smile took his breath and replaced it with hunger–the kind that had to be satisfied.
Marc gently pulled her down onto the bed.
2
“Again today?”
Charlie denied the request regretfully. “No. We’d get caught.”
Tracy ignored the disappointment. “You let me know when and I’m there.”
Charlie stared at her, young heart racing. “We could do something else together.”
Tracy started to say no and found herself asking what he had in mind.
“Puppy duty, tray delivery, and babysitting are all on my list,” he said carefully, watching her reaction.
Tracy sighed. “More FND, huh?”
“Yes.”
Charlie didn’t add anything more. Tracy was smart enough to know what he was doing for her.
“Something fun afterwards?”
“What would you like to do with me?”
Charlie’s happiness gave his words a deeper ring than what she was used to and Tracy froze as an unexpected chill of desire ran over her skin.
Sure he hadn’t meant it that way, she searched for a proper answer. “Whatever we can do alone.”
Now Charlie froze. The images hitting him were…indecent, and he struggled to keep her from knowing. “I’ll think of something.”
Tracy took in the red cheeks and stiff stance with understanding. He had remarkable control over his new hormones.
“Okay… You sure your mom isn’t going to flip out? She has a mean swing.”
“Over me, it would be the gun,” Charlie joked.
“All the more reason for us to be alone,” Tracy retorted. And then flushed. “Leave it alone, I mean. We should give this up.”
“No.”
Charlie’s firm tone wasn’t one she had the heart to argue with yet. Tracy still hesitated, though. Right now, it was innocent–he was helping her build. When he’d offered, she hadn’t hesitated.
“Because you like being with me, how I make you feel,” Charlie blurted. “I don’t expect anything from you.”
Tracy didn’t mind the mental invasion, but refused to allow the lie. “Don’t you, kid?”
Charlie didn’t lower his glowing orbs. “I only expect things from myself. It’s easier that way. Especially since I know what I’ll be capable of.”
Tracy’s voice softened. “But you hope for things.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” he hedged uncomfortably.
“Yes,” Tracy conceded. “I suppose we all do that.” She let him lock their gazes. “And you’re prepared to be disappointed?”
The teenager grinned. “I’ve already gotten what I hoped for.”
Tracy gazed back steadily, mostly ignoring his weak pull. “Time with me?”
Charlie pushed out that magnetic flame and sent it rushing over her body like he’d observed Adrian do. “It means more to me. You mean more.”
Tracy suddenly couldn’t breathe. “How do you figure?”
“Because I’ll still want you after.”
“Don’t do that!” Tracy snapped sharply, body lighting up as if she were with Adrian.
Charlie took a step closer. “Everything will be better with me.”
Tracy felt a light brush along her lips, a mental caress, and shuddered in need. “Please don’t.”
Charlie pulled the heat in, proud of himself. He’d practiced it on several camp women before attempting this moment. He waited for her to get control of herself, aware that he might have gone too far.
“How do you do that?”
Charlie kept his tone light. “It’s a long story, complicated.”
Tracy snickered at the defensively eager answer. “Better to show, right?”
Charlie flushed, but didn’t deny it.
Tracy giggled. “I think we’ll save that for later–much later.”
Charlie stiffened at the words and sent out another blast of heat as he asked, “Will there be a later, Tracy?”
Electric sparked and Charlie came closer as she thought about her answer. He put a hand on the stall door, leaning in. “Please?”
Charlie pushed out the magic and Tracy sighed in defeat. Charlie begging–she held no defense against that.
“Yes, if you still want me when it’s legal.”
“To hell with legal,” he muttered, bringing them within a foot of each other. “I’ll be at your flap the day I make a team.”
Tracy struggled to fight the attraction, to form words. “I won’t… I can’t… Stop that!”
Charlie lifted his hand, wanting to feel her skin.
“Excuse me.”
They both spun from the powerful moment to find the new boy–Conner–leaning against the door.
“You done? I gotta piss.”
Flushing scarlet, Tracy hurriedly ducked under Charlie’s arm and fled the camper, forgetting her cleaning supplies.
Conner limped toward the stall and Charlie went to help the wounded teenager, trying not to be angry about the interruption.
At least he had finally let Tracy know where he was going with things. And she hadn’t exactly said no. He’d had to let her in a little to reach her. Sometimes that was hard to do here. So many of the refugees had ugly, greedy minds that hurt him. It was a relief to discover that Tracy wasn’t corrupt. Her concern was for hurting the dream
Or you, his demon offered. She doesn’t want you risking your neck for her.
“Too late for that,” Charlie murmured, waiting for Conner to finish.
“She’s hot. Yours?”
Conner’s question was blunt, curious, and friendly. Charlie didn’t pick up any disapproval. It made him careless.
“Before the year is out, she will be.”
Conner took in the determined fire and recognized the common soul. Charlie was like him…was Adrian his father?
Charlie didn’t correct the thought, but he did bring up a thick wall. He now had secrets that he would defend, harshly if provoked.
3
Angela flushed as she came from the tent. “How long have you been waiting?”
“Just got here.” Kyle chuckled at what was clearly a lie.
“Uh-huh.”
Kyle snickered. “Maybe I should be later tomorrow?”
“By an hour!” Marc called from inside the tent.
Angela and Kyle laughed as they began walking.
Kyle handed her a paper. “Nearest spring and places for supply pick-ups along the way. The water from the hot spring is thermal. Do we still have to clean it even though it’s sterile?”
“Yes. Some of that water is roughly 4,000 years old. We’re not taking any chances with it. Who knows what nature might have cooked up down there? Try to collect from areas that are covered with green boxes. They were used as protection from debris and other contaminants.” The page went into her pocket. “What else?”
“Did a spot count. Our thief is back.”
Angela’s mind went to Danny, who she’d helped to expose. “Another one?”
“Yes. We caught Danny red-handed, but Adrian was sure there was a second thief,” Kyle said. “We didn’t catch anyone else.”
Angela stored that. “I’ll handle it. Next?”
“Seth’s on Point, as per Marc’s instructions, off at lunch.” He paused, flipping pages. “Radio’s been quiet, but there were campfires in the distance last night. Zack checked it out, says they’ll probably all come by today. More sheep, not shepherds, that he saw... We’re good here for a few more days, unless that creek goes up. It’s cleared and netted. No one has duty over it, but we’ll go by it on rounds.”
“Any signs of life?”
“No, but it was dark. Might have overlooked things like that.”
Angela slowed, noting the long lines. “Got a little more room. Keep going.”
Kyle referred to the next page. “Questions from Conner on what all he’s allowed to do and Jennifer wants to know when she gets to help.”
Angela thought of what she’d seen. “Conner, I’ll handle myself. Tell Jennifer: when she’s not weeks away from getting by the danger date. Tell her we need those babies more than we need a hand.”
Kyle had told her the same thing, but Jenny was worried about losing her place.
“Who is Li’s assistant today?”
Kyle moaned in mock annoyance. “I forgot to give him one, so he drafted his own. Tonya.”
“That explains the lines.”
“Yeah. We’re keeping an eye on her.”
Angela was noticed by those around them. She plastered a welcoming expression on, scanning the herd. She found worry, restlessness, boredom and suspicion everywhere, but little anger or hostility as she got into line and was surrounded.
“How’s Adrian?”
“When’s he comin’?”
“Why did he put you in charge?”
Angela tried to keep her patience. “Hello. I’ve missed you, too. Yes, I’m fine and it’s nice to be back.”
Her gentle reminder was ignored.
“Come on!”
“Quit stalling.”
Angela scowled, piercing those closest with a cool glare. “Adrian’s fine–recovering. He and John will decide when he’s able to return, and that’s a question you’ll have to ask Adrian. Now can I eat here or should I go back to the QZ mess?”
They returned to their seats, leery and confused. They wanted answers, but she could only deliver them when it was time, when instinct said to. Right now, it said to set requirements on the respect they showed her.
Angela walked through the full mess to the center table…her heart clenched for an instant. The wooden table was covered in good wishes from the entire camp, even the benches.
Angela was still reading them when Tracy sat down across from her.
“It was Leslie’s idea,” Tracy stated, wanting credit to go where it was due.
Angela traced the swirls and lines with an absent finger, deep in thought. Tracy’s next words snapped her into the present place and time.
“Will you look…for me?”
Angela, relying heavily on manipulations to keep control, understood the benefits from Tracy’s side, but she also saw them from her own.
“Why don’t you ask Charlie?”
Tracy didn’t look up from swirling her spoon through instant potatoes. “Because you can make him stay away from me, if you find bad things. I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” Angela was already sure of the answer.
Tracy’s cheeks flushed and her voice lowered to an embarrassed mutter. “He got in my head.”
“And?” Angela prompted, tone cold. She’d known it was coming.
“And he said he’ll come for me–openly–the day he makes a team.”
Angela took that in, surprised. “Marc told him at least a year.”
“I know, but in a year, if he keeps wearing me down…” Tracy sighed, miserably defensive. “I won’t be able to say no. If it’s not gonna work, you have to keep him out. I can’t do it now.”
Angela leaned closer, voice growing pointed. “Do you honestly think it will take Charlie a full year to make a team?”
Tracy paled as she understood. “Before he’s fifteen?”
Angela wanted to comfort, but she wasn’t quite capable. She got as close to unbiased as she could.
“I doubt the camp would kick up much fuss. Charlie appears to be able to do whatever he wants in this camp–like he’s Adrian’s…”
Angela stopped herself from saying the rest.
Tracy missed the pause in her sweep of the camp.
When she lingered over Angela’s shoulder, there was no doubt it meant trouble.
Ignoring the arriving people who called greetings or came toward her, Angela stood up, now fixed on the two men sitting alone with Jennifer. They had their backs to the center table, had missed the sudden silence that allowed everyone to hear their cruel words.
“Should have thrown you in a creek.”
“Just a problem we’ll have to get rid of later.”
“We don’t want your kind here.”
Angela’s pace quickened. If Kyle heard that…
“Damn.”
Angela heard Marc’s steps behind her. His mild curse made her brace for the noise that was coming. Kyle obviously had heard them.
The mobster flew by them an instant later.
Tucker and Anderson saw him coming–or maybe felt it. Both men hurried to defend themselves, but it was already too late. Kyle’s fists rained down like thick pistons, firing until blood began to drip.
Those closest scattered, but it was contained to a rear corner. Kyle’s swift, vicious hits kept the men trapped.
Marc waited for Angela to stop him…and waited.
Daryl finally got Kyle’s attention. “Jennifer’s bleeding.”
Kyle shoved Tucker’s half-conscious frame away, spitting at him, “You’re out of the Eagles! You show up for a meeting and I’ll put you down on the spot!”
Marc was still waiting for Angela to stop this, to take charge…and finally realized that she wasn’t going to. It was a camp lesson. Her first.
Kyle carefully picked Jennifer up and stepped lightly. His face, terrifying seconds before, was no concerned and loving. The instant flip was powerful. The camp never saw Kyle when he was at his most dangerous or his most vulnerable. This was a reminder that there was a reason he was their top Eagle.
As he went by, Angela noticed Daryl giving Crone, a member of their team, a nasty glare and stored it. After handing out punishments to Seth and Kyle, Daryl and his team had become looked to by the camp as enforcers of a sort. Just like her predecessor had, Angela was encouraging it. She knew Daryl was currently spying on Crone, who he thought was spending too much time with one of the young girls from Cesar’s camp.
Angela turned to the two bloody men who were slowly picking themselves up.
“Go spend some time with Doug. He has chores.”
Tucker and Anderson were in no shape to argue.
As they limped off without even basic medical care, Angela hit her button. “Send a clean-up crew to the main mess. Code Two.”
Code Two meant it had to be disinfected. Angela helped the Eagles carry the soiled tables and benches out of the mess. The clean-up crew would spread sawdust over the blood splatters and then work on the tables. Within a short time, the mess would be restored. They were getting good at cleaning up after themselves.
Angela turned to Kyle and Jennifer, and caught the brief look that he exchanged with Tracy. In the quick glance, Angela read concern for Jennifer, but also a bond between him and Tracy that shouldn’t have been there. She wasn’t the only one who noticed.
Wrapped over his arm, head on his big shoulder, Jennifer also saw the look and instantly added up the clues.
“You lied to me!”
Already leaving sporadic drips, blood began to roll over Kyle’s arm and fall to the dirt in ominous splatters.
“Where’s he going with no punishment?”
“Why is he allowed to beat people?”
“Teacher’s pet,” someone promptly supplied.
The disorder around them rang in Angela’s mind and despair came for the first time. If they couldn’t understand that Anderson and Tucker had deserved what they got, how would she ever get them to fight for her?
“These people don’t stand a chance against the government,” she muttered. “I need more weapons.”
Kevin grunted agreement as they went to help the Eagles settle things down.
A group of men eating close by exchanged pointed looks. Each of the five men were Eagles, but none of them had been noticed yet. They’d bonded during teamwork and had been trying to come up with an idea that would give them some glory while doing something big for the camp.
“Weapons,” Theo repeated quietly, dropping his eyes to the lunch that they were nearly finished with. “I might have built a few things like that in my time.” He raised a brow, including the others. “Anyone else?”
All of them raised a subtle finger. Engineers were notorious weapons examiners. Some loved them and some hated them, but everyone wanted to know how they worked.
Theo returned to his beef Manhattan. “Anyone want to meet in my tent after evening mess for cards? Closed game.”
The time was narrowed down and the five Eagles faded back into obscurity, but the sense that their purpose had just been revealed was clear.
4
Charlie took Conner to Adrian, calling a quiet greeting to John and Anne.
“How is he?”
“I’ll live,” Adrian croaked.
The boys each took a side of the bed as John left Jennifer’s cot to inspect Conner’s wound. The pregnant girl was sedated. Kyle was in the chair at her side, looking broken.
Charlie shot a quick thought down to Adrian while everyone was distracted.
Conner thinks you’ve fathered other children since him, that I’m yours.
I wish you were. Adrian slammed the wall down too late.
Charlie’s face darkened. “She doesn’t!”
Adrian’s pain was almost tangible. I know. It’s always ‘my Brady’.
Charlie withered under his idol’s sarcastic misery. “I’m sorry.”
Adrian held out a hand. “So am I, son. You’ll help me stay out?”
Charlie slowly took Adrian’s hand. His anger, most of it anyway, came from remembering how he’d once wished for Adrian to be his dad.
You have to leave them alone. It will destroy Safe Haven.
“I’d never hurt my sheep...” Adrian’s body relaxed as sleep claimed him again.
“I believe in you.” Charlie patted his hand, understanding the drugs were in control of Adrian’s mind right now.
Conner turned to find Charlie bent low in concern, hand gripping Adrian’s.
He promised! He wasn’t supposed to have more kids!
Conner straightened, rage pulsing. “Did he kill your mother, too?”
Charlie gently covered Adrian up. “Almost. He used her for bait to draw out the slavers. It saved the whole camp and turned her into someone I don’t know most days.”
Conner tried to sneer, but the pain of losing his mom made him sympathetic to the misery he read in Charlie’s mind. He settled for warning, “Watch out. Once he’s in her head, she’s lost.”
Charlie understood that’s why Adrian had said stay out, not away. The more time he spent with her mentally, the stronger the bond would become.
Charlie flashed a surprised grin at Conner. “You don’t know it, but you just helped me out, big time. I may even owe you for it.”
Charlie left without explaining that if he spent mental time with Tracy, she would want him. It always worked that way with their kind. Hadn’t Adrian himself said so during one of their private talks?
Yes. Charlie pulled up the correct memory file.
“They don’t even have to like us for the bonds to start. Be careful who you choose to ensnare. You may not be able to get rid of them.”
Charlie’s pace quickened. He knew exactly what to do now. He did owe Conner. Maybe they could even be friends or something once Conner was placed in the Jr. Eagles. He couldn’t hang out with Conner until that happened. An unproven friend didn’t factor into Charlie’s plans.
5
“The bleeding stopped, but it’s only a matter of time. No way she’ll make it to September.”
Angela had been fairly sure, but still hoping to be wrong. If nothing changed, the twins would be here before the government.
“And Adrian?” she forced herself to ask.
“He’ll live,” John responded.
Angela had been waiting to hear John say it before letting herself believe. She hadn’t been sure, either. His wounds had become infected so fast that it was a miracle.
“When will he…”
“A while,” John snapped. He’d already heard the question too many times to pretend he had any patience left. “At least two weeks.”
Angela understood John was protecting his patient, but these people needed Adrian at the helm as soon as possible. “Any chance of half that? He won’t want to lie around, and we’ll pump him full of energy.”
John wasn’t ready to deny it could happen. “I’d be surprised.”
Angela had to let it go at that. “Two weeks, huh?” She sighed, staring at Adrian’s medication-calmed face. Want to or not, she could tell how weak he was, how the infection had drained him.
“Fine. I’ll adjust for two weeks instead of one. How soon can he travel?”
“Five days for camp travel.”
“Too long,” Angela denied, adjusting her plans on the fly. “Have him ready in three.”
She didn’t stay to hear the arguments that she already knew. They were on a deadline. She couldn’t afford the extra days here. That one delay might cost them in the end, and she wasn’t taking the chance. Jennifer and Adrian’s health would be covered as best they could. The rest was up to fate.
“Good girl,” Adrian muttered, now surfacing in quick, blurry moments.
John scowled, but didn’t scold. She was Safe Haven’s leader. The camp came first. Adrian had trained her well, and John hated him a little for it. The gentle Angela who had joined them in South Dakota wasn’t coming back.
6
Refusing to dwell on morbid thoughts, Angela went to the little mess. She didn’t need to call Kevin over when he saw her quick stride. He appeared at her hip with his notebook out before she could hit the button on her radio.
Angela settled at the center table as Li Sing hurried over with hot tea. She thanked him, and waited until he was out of earshot to start handing out instructions.
“Adrian needs the magic users. They’ll each have five minutes, every day for the next three. Tell them I said he’s empty. It’s been a while since Adrian was forced to draw. He’s usually surrounded, and they’ll need to insist.”
Confused, Kevin noted it for later. “How do I…”
“Talk to Kenn and Kyle first. They’re tight these days for some reason that I should probably be worried over.”
Kevin didn’t like that. “I’ll look into that, too.”
Angela didn’t tell him no. That part of Kevin’s new job–spying and rumor-gathering–was what would keep a leader abreast of coming trouble.
“I want Leslie on the QZ today. Give her a senior man who won’t be a distraction. She has to know how to work these kids.”
Angela observed Peggy and Hilda walking by on the other side of the tape, and Anne coming from inside the QZ toward them. The trio stopped, talking casually at first, but the conversation apparently took an interesting turn because all three females lowered their voices and went toward a less traveled section of the circular path that wound through camp.
Curious, but not worried, Angela turned to tell Kevin to find out what that was about, and found him already writing it down.
She didn’t offer any encouragement, but Kevin could feel that he’d pleased her. It lightened the shadows on his scruffy face.
“How are you adjusting to being my right hand?”
“That’s Brady,” he remarked, leery of traps.
“You know what I meant.”
Kevin did. He’d been stalling. “It’s different.”
“You ready to give it up?”
Aware of the wording, Kevin refused. “No.”
“Good. You’re quiet, you pay attention, and so far, I’m not falling behind. I’d hate to have to break in a rookie.”
Kevin was startled into a place of contentment that he hadn’t known he was lacking. This was how Kenn and the others felt when they did something right. It was...amazing.
Angela motioned toward the buffet. “Cynthia stayed with Adrian until dawn. She could use breakfast in bed today. Feel like dropping a tray?”
Kevin didn’t need to be asked twice. He assumed it was a reward for sticking with the duty he’d been given.
Angela let him think that, smothering the guilt. She had a very short amount of time to work on this first plan. The Major’s men should be at the bunker within the next ten days. That was how long she had to persuade the camp to fight, and a great deal of that success would rest upon Matt and Mitch behaving as she’d foreseen.
“I counted on their weaknesses,” Angela reminded herself lowly, listening to Kevin load up a tray and leave. “Two dogs, for a herd of three hundred sheep and shepherds. We’ve done worse.”
7
Angela stared at the ants rooting through their ever-growing garbage pile, frozen in place. She’d just had an idea so unimaginable that the new leader inside had insisted she explore it.
The ants viewed Safe Haven as a food source, often digging up anything they buried. And they were aggressive about defending their hills–which they only built when Safe Haven stayed camped. It was leaving behind not only a mutation legacy in every state; it was also a trail for fresh antlings to follow so that they could catch up to the colony.
Angela had little doubt that the hills were stocked with food and protectors. The ants were evolving at an alarming rate and every sign she picked out screamed intelligence. For example, the bait balls no longer worked. The colony simply sacrificed a few of their soldiers to carry the poison away from the hills. They buried it out of the scent line and then crawled off to die alone. Samantha and Neil had complete documentation on that one. They’d been sent out on more than a few observation trips during Adrian’s command, and they’d discovered that the ants were cleaning up the towns as the colony went by. That could be useful.
“You got anything for me?”
Angela hadn’t realized he was her open shadow today. “Yes, actually. Nice timing.”
Kyle didn’t tell her that he’d observed that look on Adrian’s face enough to understand. The only difference was that Kenn was usually the one who had the honor of hearing the new idea or plan first. He also didn’t say he couldn’t stand to be cooped up in that tent any longer. She knew.
“Ask Dog, and then Jennifer, this question: Can they talk to the ants?”
Kyle stared, dumbfounded, and Angela returned to her thinking. What would the insects want if someone could bridge the communication gap?
Kyle recovered slowly. “Why Jenny?”
Angela’s answer wasn’t a comfort.
“If she wants you to know, she’ll answer that.
Kyle waved Billy over to cover his post, going to the tent where they had Dog stashed. Apparently, there was a lot he still didn’t know about Jennifer and her gifts, and this was a bad time to be low on details. When she woke, he would face her accusations and try to save himself.
8
Angela observed Samantha climbing slowly from the front seat of Jeremy’s truck. The couple had moved there when the rain began.
Angela saw the gentle kiss Samantha placed on his cheek, the way she smoothed hair back over his sleeping face. That was more than the response of a close friend or relief source. Samantha loved Jeremy.
Angela hadn’t realized it was possible for Samantha to have real feelings for both males, and she stared hard, thinking it through. For every action, there was always an equal, and opposite reaction...
Samantha went to her team leader’s side, not answering the silent questions. Angela had her own triangle going on. She’d figure it out in time.
Angela scowled at the thought, turning to watch John and Anne enter the medical tent, where Adrian was.
Samantha waited, slightly impatient and a bit groggy. When Jeremy woke, he’d come for her and she wanted to be too busy to talk until he cooled off. Hoping to speed things along, Samantha took her notebook out and found a pen. She rubbed at her hip, thinking at least now she knew where the red line had come from. She hadn’t remembered the pen was in her pocket when she crashed.
“I want a list of things that will make John’s life easier,” Angela stated, picking out his ginger movements through the medical tent window.
Samantha started writing as she spoke. “Less carrying–a gopher to stay with him. Less climbing. I’ll ask Neil. Pain relief is Tonya, but I doubt she’ll give it to me…”
Angela waited.
“I’ll have Marc ask her,” Samantha chose, falling into the assignment. “All the women want him, so she won’t say no. More rest…”
“Say that again.”
Sam tensed at the order. “Which part?”
“Pain relief.”
Sam’s shoulders unhitched. “Well that’s what we should have been giving cancer patients all along, right? I read a Post article on it.”
Angela raised a brow and Samantha quickly explained, “Scientists were brewing it as a tea and an oil, I think. They’d sent it into remission in lab rats, but the government wouldn’t renew their funding.”
Angela didn’t have to consider the outcome on this one. “Tell Tonya that Marc wants it and I’m paying–a trade of her choice.”
Samantha went toward the couple’s tents to deliver the messages, understanding Angela didn’t want Marc to owe Tonya. Samantha agreed with that choice. Reformed or not, the redhead was dangerous.
9
Jeremy didn’t want to wake up.
The dream had pulled him in deep and the flashing numbers in his mind were definitely a pattern. If he could stay here in the dark with Samantha, he could get the last two numbers and break the code.
“Why do you need to?”
Samantha’s voice didn’t echo, but Jeremy still cringed. No one was supposed to know of his obsession.
“Too late for that,” Sam responded neutrally. “But I have to know why. I won’t let anyone hurt him, not even you.”
“I’m not a traitor,” Jeremy replied, still trying to memorize the next two numbers.
“They’ll be able to track us if you break the code.”
Jeremy knew that and it didn’t matter. “I have to do this.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I wake up thinking about the code, you, and the future–in that order.
“I can’t let you have it until you know why,” Samantha denied him unhappily. “The risk is too great.”
The darkness around them lightened and the flashing roman numerals vanished.
“No!”
“Jeremy!”
Jeremy snapped awake with a snarl. Samantha knew the code and she wasn’t giving it to him.
“Jeremy, you up?”
“Yeah,” he answered Daryl’s call with a curt tone.
“You have sniper duty over the boss in an hour.”
Which one, he thought sarcastically. He only said, “Okay.”
Jeremy didn’t care who their leader was right now. Being denied the final numbers was more than frustrating and he got up with a fresh scowl of anger. It would be a long day. He had QZ duty after sniper rounds and until he could be alone with Samantha, everyone had better stay out of his way.
10
“Seth’s back.”
Angela hit her mic. “Copy.”
She went to observe his team pulling into the QZ parking area.
Seth came straight to her.
“They’re gone–tried to give us the slip during the fog. We tracked them until dawn, went west.”
“That will have to be good enough,” Angela stated, pushing away the lingering concern. She would have preferred a ‘no survivors’ report.
Seth frowned slightly. “We could find them.”
Angela heard the unspoken words–I’ll go back and do it. I’m capable of that, too.
“Not unless they come here,” she chose. “We have bigger problems.”
Both of them glanced toward the medical tent, where John and Anne’s shadow were moving calmly.
“Anything else out there you think I need to know about?” Angela asked.
Seth thought of the enormous herd of elk moving north, though it was now officially Summer. “Nothing we haven’t been observing all along.”
“Okay. Get some rest.”
Seth waved off the compassion. All he wanted right now was Becky. Being around those hard females had reminded Seth of his duty to her. He was going to increase Becky’s training now that her body had received some recovery time. In a few months, she would be as dangerous as those snakes. Then, he would start handling her other needs. Mental healing was a slow process and Becky needed a guide through it.
“Get off me, Neil!”
“Make me.”
“I’m warning you…”
Neil braced, but didn’t let her up off the tent floor. It was her first Kai lesson, only he’d done it differently with her, based on her terrors. Every lesson she got from him for a while would be hands-on to help her learn to fight Rick’s ghost.
Becky felt the ugly rage rear its head and snapped her mouth shut. Neil didn’t understand how much she hated to be touched. He had to learn to respect her.
Becky let the anger loose.
Seth broke into a run at the sight of smoke oozing through tiny holes in their tent.
He shoved inside the smoldering canvas to find Neil on his knees, eyes bugging.
“Seth!”
Becky ran to embrace him and the trance broke, letting Neil free. He fell onto the floor with a gasp. “Pass!”
Becky giggled, letting Seth hold her tightly.
“I got Neil!” she exclaimed. “He didn’t know what I can do now.”
Seth let out the breath he’d been holding, realizing Neil was giving a lesson. Around them, the tiny holes were growing, slowly burning through the damp fabric. That, with the puddle in the corner and broken plastic scattered across the floor, said he hadn’t remained in control.
Neil wasn’t moving, only drawing in ragged breaths, and Seth gently pushed Becky back. “What did she do to you?”
Neil groaned. “There was a knee in my mind. I said only physical attacks work on me.”
“So, I kicked him for real,” Becky explained. “Hard. He hit the stove when he fell. Sorry about the tent.”
But she didn’t sound sorry. In fact, she sounded happy.
“Paybacks are a bitch,” Seth commented lightly.
Neil moaned again. “You have no idea.”
Becky’s easy laughter floated through the air. “He landed on my knife, I think, and doesn’t want to say so. He needs stitches in his ass.”
Seth threw his hands up. He’d been worried about Becky!
“Come on, then. You hurt him, you help carry him.”
Becky slid an arm around Neil without hesitating.
Seth filed that as they got the dazed trooper to his feet.
Blood smeared over their hands and arms in the process, and Becky frowned. “You are hurt.”
Seth stayed quiet as they carried him to John. Becky had touched Neil, shown concern for him. She didn’t hate him anymore.
Neil had the same thought, but it was hard to concentrate through the throbbing. He should have been expecting the physical reaction. Teach him to ignore rumors.
Samantha appeared at Seth’s side, and Seth prepared to defend Becky. He didn’t think Sam would find this funny.
“What happened?” Samantha asked tonelessly. As if she didn’t know.
“Rebecca got a little carried away,” Seth offered. It was the only concession he meant to give.
Sam turned an ugly glare on him. “I thought you said he’d be okay!”
“It wasn’t my idea to give her a Kai lesson,” Seth refuted.
Samantha took that in the same way Seth had–Becky was recovering. She cleared her throat. “Well, he knows to be more careful now, I guess.”
Becky moved so that Samantha could take her place, and then slid under the shelter and isolation of Seth’s free arm. She didn’t speak and all of them understood that her forgiveness hadn’t extended to Samantha.
Neil, trying not to hit his knees again, pulled out of their grip. “The doctor needs to sew my ass together and reattach my balls. Excuse me.”
The trio behind him was still cackling when Neil disappeared into the tent.
Samantha quieted first. Jeremy was coming her way.
She leaned toward Seth. “He needs to cool off a bit. Think your girlfriend’s ready for distraction lesson A?”
Seth saw Becky’s eager grin and sighed. “If you want both your men in the tent with Adrian, you could just tell us, you know. You don’t have to hurt them to get them there.”
Samantha smirked and ducked out of sight behind the water tanker.
Her shadow, Alex, hurried to catch up as Seth and Becky intercepted Jeremy.
11
“Here is the basket you asked for,” Li Sing set it on her table.
Angela quickly thanked him and left. She had a test to run. It was only a small one that she expected few people to notice, but there was a sense that it mattered more than she knew at this point.
“What is she...” Jake hit the button on his radio before considering the consequences. “Brady to the Nursery.”
Angela turned around to glare at the rookie.
Don’t do that again.
The order rang in Jake’s mind as if she’d slapped him.
Yes, ma’am.
Angela stormed out of the perimeter, basket in hand, and went a bit further than she’d planned in her anger.
Let it go. This is new to them.
Adrian’s weak voice in her mind made Angela wince. She didn’t want him there now.
I’d like to watch.
Angela sighed, grabbing a handful of the food as the soldier ants began to take notice of her. Two minutes, then get out.
Adrian stayed silent, sensing the walls she was hastily constructing to keep him out of her thoughts. He didn’t try to get in them, just observed. As soon as Brady arrived, he would pull back and observe from that angle.
Angela tossed a handful of the food into a heavy center of the busy ants and managed to hit the dead waterfowl they’d been cutting apart. Food and decay flew across the blue grass.
The ants fled, the smaller ones quick, and Angela observed closely as the larger ants followed. It occurred to her that the cicadas were mostly gone, but their eggs weren’t underground. They were in the molding trees and bushes–all aboveground. Angela wondered if that was because of the ants. Were those a food source?
Once the minors were out of range, the soldier ants came to inspect the food. After a minute or so, they began to pick it up and take it to the minors.
“Interesting.”
Two larger ants came near the food. Bigger, with red spots on their heads, they had big jaws that she thought might be capable of severing a finger. They stared at her and Angela stared back, listening for Marc’s steps.
Crunch! Crunch!
Angela went toward the ants, acting afraid, and then she was in Marc’s arms, flying toward the tape.
“Stop!” she insisted. “Look at them.”
The two soldier ants had followed, were only a few feet away.
“Put me down.”
Marc did reluctantly, not sure what she was doing.
“Back up a few feet,” she instructed, moving toward the two soldier ants. “And throw me something–food, candy, whatever.”
Marc tossed her the bun he’d swiped from the mess on his rounds. He tensed as she neared the ants, ready to grab her. Those jaws had to be sharp.
Angela knelt down and held out the bun as she keyed her mic. “The first man who shoots is out of the Eagles.”
Marc scowled. “Be reasonable.”
Angela ignored him, staring at the closest ant. It had slowed when she knelt, but was approaching the food steadily now.
Angela held onto it for an instant as the ant touched the bun, then let go, but left her hand out.
The ant came forward...
Marc swept her into his arms again.
“They’re chasing you! Stop.”
Marc stopped, drawing his gun.
Angela sighed, happiness evaporating. “Put it away. I’m trying to make friends.”
“Of course, you are,” Marc snorted.
He carried her to the tape and put her on her feet. “You’ll bring them straight into camp if you start feeding them that way.”
Angela’s voice was thoughtful. “You think so?”
She resumed her rounds, going toward the parking area. She’d expected the ants to avoid everything they threw now that they’d been killing them for so long.
“We’re a migrating food source,” Angela said as Kyle came running toward her. “We’re feeding them even though we don’t want to, with our garbage and such, right?”
Kyle controlled his breathing, shooting an annoyed glare at Jake. “Yes. That’s part of why Adrian has us bury the supplies. It makes it harder if there’s a crate.”
Angela gestured to where the ants were coming closer, taking the food and carrying it to their hills. “No more killing them. Pass it on.”
Kyle was confused, but he didn’t ask why. The ants were a tiny part of their problems.
Angela slowly made her way over to Doug, who was supervising the next section of portable wall being attached to what they’d already constructed. If it weren’t lined up perfectly, the smaller ants and wildlife would still be able to get through.
“How’s the arm?”
Doug was studying Zack’s boys. “Just a scratch.”
Zack’s sons were on probation, told if they got out of line one single time, they would be banished without their father. Those who knew better had been careful not to reveal the bluff and the three boys were helping with preparations and chores. Only time would tell if Safe Haven’s light could turn them from the path they were on.
“How goes our wall?”
Doug disapproved openly. “Too slowly.”
Angela leaned in. “I’ll bet Peggy would be glad to get the camp’s women out here to help.”
Doug started to protest colorfully, and remembered who he was now talking to. He quickly changed the wording. “How would that work?”
Angela smirked, moving on. “I think it probably depends on how you ask her.”
Peggy and Millie were now working in the medical tents when John needed them. The camp had forgiven them when Brett had chosen to split rather than be dragged back into a medical career. Doug and the Eagles, however, were still being cold. Doug didn’t realize the men were waiting on him to forgive her. They couldn’t until he did and Doug hadn’t yet. They sat together at meals when their schedules merged, but it was clear that there were worlds between them.
Kevin turned to Daryl as she went by. “Is that a good idea, getting the females out here?”
Daryl liked it that Kevin knew to keep his voice down, but he couldn’t approve the tone. A leader’s assistant had to trust.
“Do you have a better way? The camp females are the only workable labor we have right now that isn’t already being used.”
Kevin accepted the scolding tone with a sigh. He still wasn’t sure that he wanted this place, despite finding out from Zack that it had been one of Adrian’s last recommendations before going into Little Rock.
Adrian had left detailed instructions, in small bits, with all of his top men. Not enough to cause complete chaos at the time, he had made sure a successor would have a solid support structure based on equal footing.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Daryl prompted, loving his new life at moments like these. He, too, was a leader of men.
“Work on the wall will slow.”
“Is that possible?” Daryl asked lightly. “They’ve been at it for hours and only have two panels up.”
Kevin understood the point as they watched Eric and Tim struggle to get it lined up, and Mike purposely hang his end crooked.
“Fair enough,” Kevin gave in. Even untrained, weaker camp women would take the job more seriously.
“Those three are trouble,” Kevin stated lowly. “We’ll end up guarding them, like with Matt.”
Daryl didn’t answer the obvious. “If you have ideas, she’ll want to hear them.”
Daryl didn’t add more and Kevin didn’t push for details like he knew Daryl was hoping. If he decided he wanted this job, he would find out everything he could, but until then, he planned to maintain a small distance. Kevin had a lot of irons in the fire, from radioman to leading his own team, but the most powerful draw in Safe Haven for him was currently enjoying breakfast in bed.
Both men observed as Angela stopped by the QZ desk on her rounds. The teens appeared nervous and Daryl waved a few more men toward them. The new arrivals from this stop would be heavily screened and viewed with complete mistrust until they were cleared medically and mentally.
“Should I…”
“Yes.”
Kevin went to Angela’s side.
Daryl gave Kyle a nod across the din. Hesitant or not, Kevin had the instinct required for the position. Now they would see if he developed the desire for it. Without that, he would be switched out for someone with the proper enthusiasm.
12
Neil saw Samantha enter the QZ and reluctantly turned to sweep the rest of his area and then the main camp. Slacking off wasn’t allowed. Everyone was still snickering over earlier, and though the wounds were only minor, his pride couldn’t take another blow right now.
Jeremy joined Neil, also stood with his back to the QZ. It felt odd, but with Marc as Angela’s other sniper, the strangers were in danger.
“We’ve started packing things up for the move,” Jeremy told him. “Ahead of schedule. Sam said it was a good idea to be ready.”
“Then it probably is,” Neil responded, trying to be neutral. He understood that Samantha wouldn’t be happy with either of them, so she’d chosen both. And Adrian had known, approved it.
Jeremy was trapped between shame and anger in the light of day, and he couldn’t take much of the silent treatment. He resumed his rounds without a second attempt at conversation. Like Neil, he wasn’t strong enough to walk away from Samantha and the taste was surprisingly sour at times and incredibly sweet at others.
“He’s the only one who knows what it’s like for you.”
Neil jumped. He hadn’t heard Cynthia come up behind them.
“If you two ever came together to care for her needs, I believe she might be happy for the first time in her life.”
Neil waited, thinking Samantha had made another friend who was as hard as she was.
“She’s like Adrian–it takes more to get her there.”
Neil had to turn at that remark, scowling.
Cynthia beat him to it. “Not that you didn’t do good, ‘cause clearly, you did. I mean in other ways. One person tending her isn’t enough.”
“What does she need?”
The question surprised both of them, but Cynthia couldn’t give him the clarity he was hoping for.
“The same as Adrian and Angela, I’d imagine. Devotion, loyalty, obedience, support, but also your insights, your guidance, the instincts and protection. Look at it this way: What if Adrian only had Kenn to see to his mind? How much worse would he suffer?”
Neil snorted, thinking of all the planning and work it took to keep someone like Adrian happy. The blond was the multi-tasker from hell.
Cynthia lowered her voice as Samantha came toward them. “Pretend she’s him, and I’d say things will get easier.”
Neil found he could do that easily, but he didn’t start working on it. He was still mulling over Becky’s words about forgiveness. She’d told him it didn’t matter, that in the end, it wasn’t her choice to make.
“The nightmares decide my mood on any given day.”
Neil understood how that could be, and wanted to change it for her. Becky deserved peace and Neil had chosen to give it to her, if he could. He owed her that.