Flying High
Shortly Before dawn
1
“Samantha? Honey? You have to wake up now.”
Samantha responded to the urgency, lids snapping open.
Around her, papers, dishes, and gear dropped to the floor with a loud crash.
Neil rubbed a gentle hand over her furrowed brow. “It’s okay. Go to sleep, now.”
Samantha groaned, realizing what had happened. “I’m sorry.”
“No worries,” Jeremy stated from her feet. He’d already begun to clean up. “Just get a little more sleep while you can.”
Samantha wanted to help take care of the mess, but her roiling stomach said she had more urgent needs. “I’ll be back.”
She ducked from the tent, almost running to the bathroom.
Neil followed, waiting while she retched. He was hoping the disruption of the dream was all that had upset her stomach. He didn’t understand much about descendants and even less about pregnancy.
Neil held out the wipes when she emerged and they walked to the smoldering fire can as she cleaned her face and hands. The towels flamed up the instant they hit the red wood in the bottom of the can, bathing them both in fire glow.
Samantha felt Neil’s hot gaze, but all she wanted was to brush her teeth and she moved around him to take care of that. Afterwards, she needed to eat so her stomach would settle down.
A sharp pain lanced through her side and Samantha winced, but kept going. She’d had a few of those, but didn’t want to alarm her men. The doctor had her scheduled for a visit and she would tell him everything.
Neil’s lips disappeared into his scowl, but he managed to keep from nagging her when she vanished into the tent only to come right back out, kit in hand. He trailed her to the showers, annoyed with both her and himself. He would have to figure out a better way to wake her from her nightmares. Flying objects were dangerous, but so was this sudden alertness.
Neil stayed outside the door, approving of the heavy security that Marc was almost finished with. Not everyone would like the guns on the QZ tower, but Neil was betting the boss would be pleased.
Neil gazed through the shadowy flickers around them, not spotting any members up this early and he wondered if the mess had food going yet. If Samantha wasn’t going to sleep, he could at least get her to eat.
Neil was pleased when Samantha came from the shower and headed exactly where he wanted her to go. He finally spotted someone else moving. The large shadow and limp said it was Doug and they exchanged surprised greetings as they entered the mess.
“What are you doing out so early?” Doug wanted to know.
Samantha laughed. “Was gonna ask you the same thing.”
“Had to piss again,” Doug grumbled. “And Peggy was up.”
“Over here.”
Peggy sounded annoyed, and Neil and Samantha joined the couple hesitantly. Neither of them were in the mood to listen to people arguing.
Peggy already had stacks of plates set out and she handed one to each of them. “Li’s got a small buffet set up inside the truck for the early risers. Go get something. Coffee’s on the stove.”
The trio followed orders without replying, aware of her bad vibes.
“What’s she upset about?” Neil asked lowly when he thought they were out of earshot.
“I didn’t go back to bed, I guess,” Doug rumbled. “Didn’t want her wandering alone.”
Neil understood that. He didn’t want Samantha alone either.
Samantha wasn’t paying attention to the men or to the sweaty cook who greeted them happily. Her attention was on the stacks of pancakes that Li Sing was packaging for breakfasts for laboring people who wouldn’t be coming to the mess. “Can I?”
Li pouted. “You not wait four minutes?”
Samantha grinned. “For fresh?”
Li bobbed his head. “You get ‘em hot and sweet.”
“I wait!” Samantha groaned and took the stool in the corner, plate and cup still in hand. She loved watching people cook. She’d even enjoyed the shows on TV. That was how she’d found Kendle’s program. Her cooking gals had been replaced by Survival Challenge and Samantha had been sucked in from episode one. She’d only lost track because of her lack of free time.
Neil took a small plate of the muffins and fruit cups that had been chilled, and left the truck, not wanting anything as heavy as Li’s pancakes. They went down light, but hit hard. It was perfect for a mother-to-be with too much acid in her guts.
Neil joined Doug at the table and noticed a small plastic device lying by the big man’s plate. It looked like a pen with a needle in the end and Neil winced when he realized what it was for. It would suck to have to poke yourself multiple times a day.
“You gonna do it?” Peggy asked, glaring at Doug.
Doug scowled, fork stopping. “Geez, woman! Let me eat!”
“You’re supposed to do it before you eat,” Peggy insisted, picking up the tester. “Get it over with.”
Doug’s big arm pushed it away, fork coming up. “Later!”
Already pissed, Peggy leaned down and jabbed the needle into his hand.
“There!”
“Ow! What the hell!”
Beep!
Peggy eyed the readout and tilted it toward Doug. “You’re okay. You can eat now.”
Doug cradled his hand, gaping at her. “You... You’re not… Ow!”
Neil quietly left the table. It was safer inside the truck. Samantha would protect him.
2
“Tell them air in the pipes causes it, that they’ll hear it regularly. Compare it to the way the corn stalks howl.”
Theo, tired, only nodded at Angela’s instruction. The eerie howl would worry some of their people, but most of them would accept that explanation. In time, he would want the truth, but right now, all he could think about was sleep. Even his complaints seemed unimportant and he had accepted Angela’s comments on the impossible not really being so.
“Go on,” Angela ordered him off. “I’m good on updates.”
“I should escort you in,” he stated uneasily. The bad vibes about her going in had lessened as the weariness caught up. “I don’t like not going over it all again when they’re finished.”
“A few hours yet?” Angela asked.
“Yes. They’re checking welds and ropes right now.”
“Just have them tell Marc, instead of me,” Angela suggested, already sure Marc wouldn’t go to bed until after she was topside. “He’ll stay within an arm’s length of me at all times.”
“Yeah, that’ll work,” Theo agreed. Marc would keep her safe no matter what happened. “Thanks.” Theo was in his bed in less than a minute, boots still on.
Angela, waiting by the QZ gate, observed the two guards who had just ended their shift over Tara and Missy.
“Boss,” Daryl greeted her. “New shifts up, QZ is clear.”
“Good. Calm night?” Angela asked Kendle.
“Uh, mostly. Kid had a bad dream. Both went back to sleep without coming out.”
“What have you picked up?” Angela insisted, trying hard to treat Kendle like any other Eagle.
Kendle frowned, though she’d been warned to be ready for this. “I only tried a couple times and couldn’t get anything from either of them. Like…steel doors and bottomless pits. Creepy.”
Daryl’s expression said she should know, but he didn’t speak. He hadn’t said a single word to her during their shift and he planned to keep it that way.
“Why?” Angela demanded, upset with them both. “She’s an Eagle. She fought in our war. Do your duty.”
Angela rotated to scold Kendle and found the Survival Challenge star cringing away.
“What the hell?”
Daryl felt it too, though not as strongly, and was able to choke out, “Heat!”
Angela immediately understood, forcing a barrier around herself that wouldn’t let anything get through without notice. “That’s me. Sorry.”
Both Eagles recovered, but kept their distance, and Angela wasn’t offended. “It’s an emotion thing.”
Uneasy, Kendle retreated further and Angela pinned her in place. “If you can’t try, you can’t stay.”
“And I told you to teach her something on every shift.”
Marc’s voice behind them held all the warmth of an iceberg.
Daryl sputtered, “I waited until we weren’t on duty because I knew we’d fight and be distracted.”
“Fine,” Marc approved. “What lesson?”
“We’re going to the training tent to get her kai lessons going,” Daryl defended. “And you know I wouldn’t abuse my skills to hurt her.”
“Does she know that?” Angela asked.
“Uh,” Daryl turned to Kendle. “I wouldn’t, you know. No matter how mad you make me. I’m a good guy.”
“There’s no such thing,” Kendle intoned, leading the way. “But come try to convince me anyway. I won’t be able to sleep yet. Maybe you can bore me into it.”
Angela swallowed a snicker. She didn’t want to like Kendle, but that spunk was hard to ignore. If Kendle ever settled down, she would be leadership and as much as Angela hated it personally, she also was anticipating it. Kendle would be a vigorous defender.
Of the women, her witch stated, still staying back and quietly taking energy to store.
And those women will defend their men and children together. It will all work out in the end, Angela answered. She believed that, but she also knew it couldn’t happen without pieces falling into place perfectly. She wasn’t counting on that, but she wasn’t going to interfere with however fate chose to handle that future. She’d done her part. Now, others would attempt to do theirs.
And when you end up on opposite sides? the witch questioned. Will you regret your actions then?
Never! Angela swore furiously. Never.
“Are you all right?” Daryl asked. Marc was scanning the foggy mountains cliffs and shadows, but Daryl had caught some of the emotions flashing across Angela’s face.
“Distracted,” she answered, smiling a bit at the word. Distracted didn’t even come close to her mental state these days, but this was a vacation with servants compared to what was coming.
“You know where I’ll be,” Daryl said dryly, and left them alone.
Marc took a moment to admire Angela’s hair in the sharp sunrays that were beginning to break through. It was like fire dancing on darkness.
Angela swept the defenses that Marc had handled overnight. She assumed he would keep going until she told him it was enough, which it wouldn’t ever be if the future didn’t change.
Wanting to be sure he understood her views on it, she asked, “Can we add another tower, with a few more guns?”
Marc’s expression was priceless.
“Really? I love you so much!”
Angela let the laughter roll and it brought the bubble over them to life.
Those awake to witness it stared in approval and relief. The shield was brilliant blue, with steaks of green and gold–calm and happy. There were faint tinges of yellow and even orange here and there, but the majority of her people were safe and snug, and the small percentage didn’t dent her mood. It was much less than 17%.
Marc, unhappy but unable to protest, said, “Theo’s ready for you. They had a great night.”
“Sweet.” Angela didn’t have to be told that putting Jennifer with them had helped. It was why she’d assigned the girl there. Jennifer’s mind was a priceless resource and it would be used for the future. “Let’s go.”
3
“We’re all set,” Theo said, holding out a rope.
Marc frowned, but still didn’t protest as Angela strode confidently to the cave entrance. She’d submitted to wearing his gear and the ropes, though none of the men were wearing them. There wasn’t anything else he could say to keep her from going inside that cave. Afterward, she was off-duty and supposed to eat, then sleep.
“You stay close,” Marc ordered, unable to keep silent as he attached the final rope to his belt.
“Yes, dear,” Angela joked. She understood his nervousness. She had a touch of it herself, but she didn’t want anyone to know.
“Clear room,” Kyle ordered, he and a small crew coming to provide her escort. They would be leaving afterwards.
Before she could protest, Kyle snapped a second line onto her caving belt, and then secured it to his own harness.
“No offense,” he told Marc.
Marc laughed, aware of Angela’s displeased expression. “None taken.”
Angela refused to get upset and drew her personal bubble in tighter. Now that she knew it worked, she would teach the other pregnant women to do the same and cut down on awkward moments. She would also dedicate a new notebook to handling descendants.
The cave entrance was wide and littered with cords and equipment. Only a small path was cleared through the boxes and crates of equipment that the building crews had requested first.
Angela walked around them carefully, hoping the teams were establishing a system of organization. Things would go quicker.
The cave floor was a nightmare and Angela understood Marc being so paranoid, but she wondered if Kyle had been this way with Jennifer while she worked in here.
Not seeing the damp patch on the sheet of metal that had recently been dragged in to cover part of the gap, Angela’s boot slipped and sent her flailing toward the edge.
Marc snapped his rope and caught her as she was jerked away from the danger zone.
Angela clutched Marc’s arm, stomach cramping. “Change the belt–now.”
Marc realized where the pressure had been centered and swore furiously as he worked the harness links. He hadn’t even thought about it.
Angela concentrated on breathing evenly and the drip of the water down the walls. When she was reasonably confident everything was okay, she pulled out of Marc’s hands and headed for the next area.
Shaken, Marc indicated for Kyle to take her side and tried to get his breathing under control. He and Kyle had agreed that Angela, more than anyone else here, was a target. She was clumsy at times and drew danger without meaning to, and she had reckless moments that they held little control over. Both males had agreed that until the cave was safe, Angela would be harnessed to at least one of them, but preferably both. Their caution had just been proven necessary and Marc was incredibly grateful for that decision. It all could have ended right there in front of him–a simple, agonizing arm’s length too short.
Kyle’s men patted Marc’s shoulder as he caught up to the group, shortening the rope to Angela. They understood his near panic and respected him even more for roping her against her will.
“This will be a main living area. TVs, games, and that list,” Angela instructed, trying not to think about how near she’d just been to death. “This next one will be perfect for our training.”
The crew followed her through the first level of the cave, taking notes and staying close in case she slipped again. When they reached the second level, where a rope waited to transport them to the next landing, Angela felt the tension increase.
“If I can’t do this, then the herd can’t do this,” Angela informed them, using Kyle’s arm for balance as she put her boot on the first rung of the rope ladder.
Her point was hard to argue with and the males waited tensely for her to reach the bottom, where several Eagles were already standing guard. They had security set up throughout the caves and all the exits would be on camera as soon as the power was on.
Angela climbed from the ladder, aware of Kyle waiting to drop down by the rope that had been put there for that reason. She got out of the way and his big body came through the hole.
Kyle made contact with the sentries who had come over at the noise, and then took up a nearby post to wait for the rest of the crew.
Angela, tethered to Kyle and Marc, also had to wait. She passed the time by studying what she could see of the caverns around them. This second level held multiple areas, each with their own set of tunnels and caves. She noted that the cleaners had been here too, but they hadn’t been able to remove the odor of dampness. Angela didn’t think there was enough bleach to accomplish that. Mildew and mold always lingered in caves.
Once everyone was down and in place, Marc nodded and Angela went into the first cavern, taking a mining hat from the box before he could tell her to. She flipped on the light and adjusted the angle, then led the way. This wasn’t something she needed to be scared of. It was something she needed to learn, to perfect, and then be able to pass to her herd. If they didn’t get a chance to try living here, nowhere would satisfy them.
“We’ll make this the sleeping side,” Angela stated, pointing to natural cuts and crevices in the walls that would eventually be their shelving. “Same setup as usual, but I want Eagle stations in each area. One man, one female–one senior, one rookie.”
Marc and Kyle were making notes, but the rest of their protection detail was paying attention to their surroundings and not caring for the shadows and the odd groans and moans of the earth. It was more than unsettling. It was nerve-wracking.
“I want the bathrooms for the sleeping area over here,” Angela said as they entered an adjoining cavern. The smell of mold increased. “Once we reinforce that gap, it might be perfect for the composting toilets.”
Angela pointed at a small indent in the center. “Put a washing system there, something for hands and faces for half a dozen people at a time.”
Angela moved to the cavern across from the sleeping side and immediately spotted a ledge that they needed. “Use this room for the showers. Have the buffalos put on that ledge, once it’s evaluated and supported. Place the showers in a six-cube around an Eagle station–same setup as the sleeping. One male, one female–one senior, one rookie.”
“That’s going to cause some problems,” Marc commented, thinking of their more prudish and shy members.
“I prefer they’re safe and not raped,” Angela stated. “The women will get over it after hearing you say that. Also, it allows the men to be in the next shower over, so they know their female or child is protected.”
“We’re using the new stalls, right?” Kyle verified. “The ones with the full doors?”
“Yes. The Eagles will only be there to prevent problems and because of their presence, there shouldn’t be any,” Angela answered, sweeping the walls for bugs. She didn’t detect anything crawling, but knew better than to think insects weren’t down here. “We’ll need something for the bugs. A gel maybe, so it won’t be ruined by the dampness.”
“I know the perfect stuff for spiders and centipedes,” Bobby offered, not taking his attention from the cavern he was facing. He hadn’t seen anything, but he had felt a disturbance. “It’s called Ever Green dust.”
“Great. Add it to the next run going out, if we don’t already have it,” Angela instructed.
Angela assigned the other areas on the second level quickly, and moved to the rear of the widest tunnel, where another large hole and rope waited.
“I’m sorry, but you can’t go down there,” the guard on the hole stated, swallowing nervously. “We took a vote.”
Angela could have argued, but she knew they had counted on her reaction and then accounted for it. She held out a hand and Kyle placed a small folder in it.
Angela examined the pictures, approving of the lamination. Cynthia was discovering ways to get them using office supplies again and it was wonderful.
“That’s our waste spot,” Angela said, pointing. “The notes I read earlier said that pit is hundreds of feet deep. As long as we add the right chemicals and exhaust, it’ll be perfect.”
“What about the garbage dump and recycling rooms?” Marc asked, suddenly wanting her above the ground.
“Here for the garbage,” she answered, pointing to a place on the picture. “Make that the kitchen area and we’ll put the animals in this corner.”
“That’s good,” Kyle observed. “We’ll still have room for the butchering and classes without contamination.”
“Yes. We’ll need a shower or two down here. Same monitoring system, but this shower will be open at limited times, and only to the people who butcher and work with livestock.”
“Medical bay goes on the first floor?” Kyle asked.
“Second, in that cubby next to the communication room. The doctor won’t care for it, but he’ll spend most of his time topside at the QZ anyway, so talk him down when he finds out,” Angela instructed, giving a hint for the future that even Marc missed. She still didn’t like the new doctor, and neither did any of the other women. He wasn’t gentle and the students laboring with him were starting to complain about his snide comments concerning the descendants and their pregnancies. He didn’t think the babies were human. Angela wasn’t looking forward to Marc discovering that.
“What about training?” Marc wanted to confirm his suggestion to leave that topside for now. He also wanted to be finished and he gently took Angela by the arm to steered them toward the ladder.
“Yes, topside, for now,” Angela acquiesced. “Along with the center fire, the larger animals, and supply truck crates. We’ll bring it down as we need it.”
Marc didn’t stop when they got to the ladder. He took the pictures from her and tugged her toward the rope.
Angela caught his twitchy vibes and didn’t argue. She climbed, trying to go quickly, and felt him coming up right behind her.
They had to wait for Kyle, the ropes linking them not long enough to reach between levels, but Marc didn’t pause any longer than he had to. The sense that Angie needed to get out of here was too strong to ignore.
Angela read Marc’s thoughts and became concerned, but she wasn’t picking up anything at all on her own and it was frustrating.
“Damn,” Marc swore, leading her around the hole she’d almost slipped into earlier. “Adrian spotted a group coming. Says they’re trouble.”
Angela understood why she hadn’t been able to pick up anything and she unlocked Kyle’s rope first. “Go check that out. I need to cover the herd if there’s shooting. They won’t take much of that so soon after what we just went through.”
Kyle headed for the QZ, hearing the revving engines of someone who was not driving calm and careful on these treacherous mountain roads. He paused and looked back. “How do you want it handled?”
Angela sighed, unhappy that her fears were already being proven. “Trouble makers go in paddock C.”
None of them were amused by the joke and Angela pointed to the area that had been fenced in last night. It was near Adrian’s site and that wasn’t lost on any of them. “That’s Zone C. It’s for the people we’re not letting in or those we want to keep track of while we make up our minds.”
That implied there would be other holding areas in the QZ and Marc stayed by her side as she went to the mess to check in with Doug. He wanted to be around if Kyle had to handle the new arrivals. The Eagles were free to use their own judgment on issues like that–the senior teams–and Angela was confident Kyle wouldn’t take any lives that he didn’t have to. As for those who needed to be taken, Kyle was no longer the executioner. Someone else now held that terrible, soul-crushing job and he would be better at it than even the mobster had been.
“Once things are clear, I’d like the crews to get rolling on the blueprints,” Angela stated, aware that Marc’s concern hadn’t eased. “Actually, I’ll get Greg to cover that. Why don’t you go–”
Marc immediately followed Kyle and Angela approved. Both of those men had loved ones inside these gates and their attitudes were ‘shoot first and question later.’ It was exactly what an apocalypse called for.
Greg joined Angela and she handed him a small envelope with a sticky note on the front.
Greg read it.
“Please deliver these notes quietly.”
“You got it,” he replied, and vanished.
Angela joined the small crowd around the board. Marc would handle the outside and she would cover the inside.
Before she could add the totals of loads that had been brought in so far, Cynthia appeared.
Angela caught Cynthia’s expression. It said there was a problem she wouldn’t want everyone to hear, and Angela read the reporter’s thoughts.
It only took a moment, and then Angela yawned, showing that calm, almost bored façade again, but her mind buzzed. If Cynthia was right, there was yet another traitor in their midst and Angela had missed it.
“Getting old,” Angela muttered lowly, nodding to Cynthia.
“What was that, lass?” Doug asked, leaning down.
“I said I’m getting old,” Angela covered as the reporter left. “Letters are blurry to me.”
“We have an optometrist now,” Ray volunteered. “Just have to find him the equipment.”
To Ray’s delight, Angela took out her notebook and wrote it down.
“Great. Now all I need is a count on crews,” Angela stated. “Who hasn’t checked in yet?”
4
Marc didn’t like the new people even before he had his demon examine them. Reckless driving, tossing garbage out of filthy windows, honking horns and shouting–none of the signs of civilization that most of their new arrivals came with. Marc didn’t detect gratitude to have found organized people, but he did perceive greedy eyes casing the fences, estimating weaknesses.
“This should be fun,” Kyle stated sarcastically, hand dropping to the replacement Glock on his hip.
“Yeah, let’s get some help on this.” Marc signaled for two more teams to be called to the rafters on this gate, indicating that they should open fire at the least provocation.
Kyle went with Marc as the gate opened.
Marc signaled for the gate to be locked and waited with his hands on his Colts for the vehicles to reach them. The demon inside was whispering of all sorts of atrocities, but Marc didn’t need to hear it to know these people were trouble. The feel of them was bad and it only increased when the cars stopped and the people emerged.
“Oh, this is nice!” the leader exclaimed, coming to Marc with a glad hand out. “I’m Benn.”
“No physical contact,” Marc informed the man, not shaking. “Stay back. How can we help you?”
Benn lowered his hand, sleazy grin widening. “Sure, sure. Makes sense.” His brown gaze went to the gate, to the Eagles pointing rifles and hostile glowers.
“We want to join Safe Haven. Heard your fighting on the radio and knew this was where we should be.”
“The fighting is over,” Marc stated. “This is a settlement now and we don’t let everyone in.”
Benn’s bearded countenance expressed only a light dismay. “But you guys called for survivors.” He gestured at the three dozen men and women waiting nervously behind him. “We’re survivors.”
“And maybe trouble,” Marc accused. “There’s only one way to tell that now. You’ll have to stay in our quarantine zone so we can determine what type of people you are.”
“Sure,” Benn agreed eagerly. “Open those gates and we’ll do what you tell us.”
Feeling Angela surveying the new arrivals, Marc glanced up to verify what she wanted him to do.
Angela slowly pointed toward the large, double-gated site. “Zone C.”
Benn’s expression dipped into something dangerous. “Up there? Away from you?”
Marc motioned Zack to open the electronic gate they’d only finished installing this morning. “Yes. We’ll bring some supplies out, but we don’t have much to spare. You’ll need to do your own scavenging.”
“You won’t take care of us?”
“Survivors take care of themselves,” Marc stated coolly.
“How will we get out?” Benn protested, retreating as all the Eagles on the rafters suddenly aimed at him.
“We’ll open your gate twice a day so you can come and go. If you agree to leave this area, the gate will be opened at any time and we will try to send a few things with you.”
“Is this how you treat people who come here?” a woman behind Benn demanded angrily. “We need your help!”
“And you’ll get it,” Marc stated. “The doctor needs to run tests and you can tell him about your medical problems.”
“They do have a doctor!” the woman told to those still in the car next to her. “A real doctor!”
“When more refugees come, you may have to share your area,” Marc explained the new rules, already positive that he wouldn’t put anyone in with them if he could help it. “We’ll expect you to share and get along while we evaluate and run tests.”
“What if you say no?” Benn asked, eyes on Marc’s guns.
“We’ll ask you to leave,” Marc replied evenly. “And you will go, one way or the other.”
“We don’t want trouble,” Benn said, backing up further. “We want in there with you, where it’s safe.”
“You’re safe up there, if you follow our code of conduct,” Marc stated, beckoning Kenn over. “These are our rules. The sooner you accept them as yours, the sooner we can let you all in.”
Marc pointed. “That road leads to the site. Go there now or keep going. Your choice.”
Weapons cocked, enforcing Marc’s instructions, and Benn quickly stomped to his car. The others with him did the same and the angry people tried not to drive off the cliff as they turned around.
Everyone hoped the group would keep going as they neared the path for Zone C. Instead, Benn led them up the weedy street and drove straight into the gated-area.
Kyle and Angela exchanged a hard glance, and she shook her head, denying him.
“Someone else has that heavy chore now. Just take care of your run. Distractions are costly.”
Kyle stayed outside the gate even after Marc slipped in. Angela’s words were a warning, but he wasn’t worried for himself. Is Jennifer in danger again?
Uneasy, Kyle paced the perimeter in place of his workout, searching for weak spots where an intruder might make it through. He was about to leave on a run and he wanted to know those inside the gates were as safe as they assumed they were. If he found anything, he would take it straight to Marc.
Marc waved to Zack and then, to Kenn. Both men came quickly.
“I want people on Zone C at all times. Make it a regular stop on all patrols. Make sure the stationary men don’t get bored and forget to monitor the rear gate. If something stirs up there, I want it recorded.”
5
“Ready for food?”
Angela let Marc lead her to the mess that had been expanded. There were now two dining areas. One had the usual tables and buffet. The other had tables crammed together, with both hot trays and packed lunches. One for the camp and one for the workers, Li Sing and his family were already busy filling and refilling each of the bins and trays on either side.
Angela didn’t have them on a normal eating schedule right now–she couldn’t with so many crews leaving and coming–but it was still important to waste as little as possible. The pre-packed lunches and breakfasts would help. She hoped. Marc’s numbers on food, water, and fuel had been discouraging. She was being forced to send out more crews for those things and now, instead of later. They couldn’t wait.
Angela scanned the parking area by the QZ, noting teams preparing for their morning run. They would pack, eat, and then leave.
Seth and Becky were at his truck, along with Neil and Donald, who were helping to load the leaving vehicles. The two groups would bring supplies that Safe Haven desperately needed if they were going to make it inside the earth. Being underground would be bad enough. Without having lights and power, it would be a disaster.
The rookies on the two leaving teams were standing together, drawing strength and comfort from each other for their first trips out. These new people had just signed up and hadn’t received a moment of training. Their nervous postures revealed their unease.
“Which is why I put them with strong Eagles,” Angela muttered. “Stop it.”
Marc didn’t comment or try to comfort. He understood how the voices inside could get so adamant that an actual oral response was required to satisfy them. Demons didn’t like to guess–about anything–and Marc agreed completely. Even if it were horrible, knowing was best.
Angela felt his mood shift, felt that awful question coming and she spun around and kissed him.
Marc clutched her gratefully, letting the passion carry him away from the edge that he didn’t really want to peer over.
Angela made sure he was rock hard against her hip before she retreated. “You ready?”
“Oh, baby,” Marc crooned. “If only you knew.”
They laughed and took the center table in the camp side of the mess that was being called the breakroom by the toiling shifts. Doug had even hung signs to let people know which side they should be on and the atmosphere here was relaxed. On the other side, busy bees were buzzing toward their chores and the noises carried.
“Damn! Ozzie has first place!”
“No!”
“Got the blueprints finished, didn’t he?”
“Yep. Jennifer knocked them out last night.”
“Explains why Theo’s crew has second. Who has third and fourth?”
“Blank, on both. First loads haven’t come in yet.”
Angela’s head tilted. “That just changed.”
“We have a crew pulling in,” the mess speaker informed them all. “It’s Billy’s crew!”
Cheers and groans echoed and those who were off duty hurried to the main dumpsite to determine how big a load Billy’s team had brought in.
“There are some items in that load that should be quietly removed and put up for later,” Angela stated quietly, cutting into the steak. It was bloody. Perfect.
“Will I know it when I see it?” Marc asked, sliding the bowl of rolls toward her.
“Think winter and you’ll have it,” Angela answered, dipping one of the rolls into the bloody juice.
Marc grimaced and focused on the moody sky. He liked a good steak, but blood in the morning wasn’t what he enjoyed.
Liar! the demon accused jokingly.
Marc hid his smile in his coffee cup. Spilling was different than eating.
Angela felt Marc’s good cheer and leaned against his heat as the chilly wind blew over them. It was light now, but that would also change. The storm Samantha had predicted wasn’t one to be taken lightly.
“Preparations are in place,” Marc comforted. His mind has also gone to their next challenge, but he’d been busy last night and would be again tonight.
“Thank you.”
Marc leaned over and kissed her cheek softly. “We’ll be okay.”
“I know.” She let go of the worry and got back to her meal. “Anyone check in yet?”
“Quinn has. He liked the second spot, but wanted to stay a night and make certain of it when he could get a better view of everything.”
“Good,” Angela approved. “They’ll come home light. Have rotating kits ready for them.”
“Guarding the area already?”
Angela nodded, not looking up. “Yes.”
Marc sighed. “Okay. I’ll make sure they’ve got what they need for intruders of any variety.”
“Great. Jerry has been seen to?”
“Yes. We dug the hole last night.”
“We’ll have the service after lunch. Have it announced on the radio.”
“There won’t be a large turn-out,” Marc warned. “He didn’t have many friends.”
Neither of them stated the truth–no one liked him–but they were thinking it. Jerry had been too pushy, too know-it-all without compromise and he hadn’t fit in.
“Is it wrong for me to feel like that’s a problem solved?” Marc wondered in a low mutter.
“Yes,” she answered. “And no. Death happens too much now for most people to get upset unless it’s someone dear to them. That’s the nature of an apocalypse.”
Marc agreed. He didn’t like losing people, but he had no desire to attend the funeral.
“Anything else for me?” he asked, yawing.
“No,” she said. “Go sleep. In my mind, I’m climbing in behind you.”
“Other way around, baby,” Marc laughed, leaning down to kiss her.
Angela pushed a wave of light as they kissed, needing him to understand how happy she was with him. Marc had turned out to be her partner in every way. It was amazing.
“Wow, is that truck full! Ozzie and Theo will have some competition,” Kenn gushed over the radio.
Angela and Marc parted as the updates continued and the camp began to fully wake. After a day in the mountains, surrounded by so much natural beauty and danger, people were finally taking note. People had their cameras around their necks, some even had packs for hiking on their breaks, and Angela controlled her concern as best she could. Leader or mother, it felt the same most days and it was often a struggle to figure out when to ease off the reins. Letting them grow on their own, even when she knew trouble would come from it, was incredibly hard.
She scanned the parking area again and reluctantly went that way.