After The Virus (Book 2): Homesteading

by Archer, Simon

  “Everyone should be ready,” she said, smiling. “I think Michelle is trying not to show how impatient she is to meet Virgil.”

  “Hopefully, that goes well,” I mused, then nodded and gathered our bags. “Take your painting and let’s hit the road, then.”

  She kissed me again and smiled, then went to gather her belongings while I headed to the Cantina to meet up with the rest of the folks transferring from here to the farm.

  Doctor Finley sat with them quietly, fingers intertwined and resting on the table before him. Everyone looked up as I walked in, and I just stopped and looked around.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Oh, we’ve just been waiting for you,” Gene said.

  “For most of the day,” Penny added.

  “Bruce and I got a bit distracted,” I told them, taking a seat myself.

  The old survivalist snorted but didn’t say anything more. He knew I could drag him under the bus along with me.

  “Are we leaving today?” Susan asked. “If you need to wait another day, that’s fine.”

  I shook my head.

  “We’ll be heading out shortly,” I said. “What I want to figure out right now is who is riding with whom, and who is willing to drive.”

  “What will we be driving?” Bill asked.

  “My truck and the SWAT vehicle,” I replied. “Bruce is staying here for the time being, along with most of the CDC folks.”

  “Gwen is taking an early retirement,” Bob said almost mournfully, but he was smiling.

  “We’re going to make a serious effort to figure out if it’s feasible to move our operations to Auburn University,” Gwen spoke up. “Since I wanted to move out to Homestead already, Doctor Finley put me in charge of performing that evaluation.”

  “I’m still maintaining security here,” Bruce added. “And reaching out to other possible survivors. This place is still easier to defend than a farm, in my opinion.”

  “Noted,” I told him.

  “I just don’t feel comfortable in the city,” Michelle said softly.

  “Eventually,” Bob said, taking advantage of the break. “We do want to all relocate to the Auburn/Opelika area for multiple reasons, not the least of which is going to be a ready supply of food and water. The CDC does have relative self-sufficiency with water and power, but our food stores, and our power, will eventually run out.”

  “In a few years,” Jeremy added.

  “Right,” Finley agreed. “Still, the city is not a good place for long-term residence, and we need to look into relocating, just not immediately.”

  “Honestly, Bob,” Estelle said. “I think sooner would be better, especially since people are jumping ship.”

  “Damned mutineers,” Doctor Finley said, smiling. “Would you and Gwen please have a close look at the Auburn facilities? We might be able to relocate some of our equipment, too, so long as we can manage a reliable supply of power.”

  “I’ll look into that, Doctor,” I said. “While they evaluate the labs and stuff.”

  “Good,” he said. “Recent events have me nervous, and I’d honestly like a safer spot.”

  “Understood,” I said. “I’m planning on improving defensibility for the homestead starting when we get back. Bruce will, I’m sure, rig up a reliable detection and warning system for you on top of what he’s already got.”

  Penny narrowed her eyes a bit and looked thoughtful. The girl was tech-savvy and who knows, she might have some good ideas for the homestead. I looked around at everyone and shrugged.

  Bruce nodded and leaned back in his chair, stroking his mustache.

  “Alright, then,” I took a deep breath and stood up. “Let’s do this. Who wants to ride in the Blackhawk?”

  Penny’s hand shot up, which I’d expected, Susan also raised hers with a faint smile.

  “Cool,” I said. “Who’s with Bill in the BearCat?”

  “BearCat?” Michelle asked, looking at me blankly.

  “The SWAT truck,” he answered for me, and I nodded at him.

  “Oh,” she said, then smiled over at the young man. “I will.”

  “That puts Gwen and me with you,” Estelle volunteered. “Think you can handle us?”

  I just arched an eyebrow in answer, which caused her to chuckle. Doctor Finley shook his head and smiled faintly.

  “Well,” he said. “This takes us down to a skeleton crew of myself, Jeremy, Phil, and Bruce.”

  “Phil and I will keep twelve-on, twelve-off watch schedules,” Bruce said with a smile. “Nothing to worry about, Doc.”

  “I am more thinking about the reduction in active operating staff,” he said dismissively. “We were already down to a skeleton crew. This puts us at a mandible if that.”

  “Take a break, Bob,” Estelle said. “We’ll let you know within the week if Auburn looks promising.”

  “I’m sure it will,” he said with a wan smile. “But we’ll miss you all.”

  “Hell, Doc,” Gene spoke up. “We’re only about a half-hour away by chopper, and if there’s an airport near Henry’s place, we’ll have fuel to waste. Let us know if you need anything.”

  “Even if it’s just company for movie night,” Gwen added.

  “I can take up to twelve,” Gene added with a nonchalant shrug and a faint smile.

  Bob and Jeremy’s faces lit up at that.

  “I think we’d like that,” the younger of the pair said. “Bring the kids, too.”

  “We’ll see.” I favored them with a faint, crooked smile. It might be a fun outing once everything was settled at the Homestead. I did feel a little guilty for stripping away almost everyone from the CDC, but then, most of them were adults and could make their own choices.

  “In the interest of short goodbyes,” Bruce interrupted, “get the hell out of here, all of you.”

  Laughing, we did just that.

  As we all split up to head to our separate vehicles, I yelled over to Gene, “You need a takeoff check?”

  He stopped and looked at me, then nodded slowly.

  “I think I do,” he called back. “Might as well do it right a few times, at least.”

  I tossed my keys to Estelle, but Gwen intercepted them and scampered off, laughing, while the other woman just shook her head and followed. I smiled a bit. Gwen fell somewhere between the Jackie and Estelle camps, I suspected, which would be an interesting addition to the homestead family.

  That thought in mind, I jogged off towards the Blackhawk to catch up with Gene, Penny, and Susan as they were loading up. I took one of the helmets, and we ran through a radio check, then systems and startup. He hit the starter, and the UH-60’s engines roared to life. I threw a thumbs-up and got clear as the rotors began to spin.

  I tucked the helmet under my arm as I jogged back towards my truck. The past couple of days had been busy and frantic, with a few minutes of the sheer terror of combat. Before that, though, Estelle had really boosted my morale, and now, I wanted to get home to the other girls, my wives, and the kids.

  Hauling the mostly empty trailer, I took the lead, followed by Bill in the Lenco BearCat, while Gene ranged overhead. The plan was for him to fly overwatch, even though I suspected neither of his passengers could handle the M-60s, although Penny might surprise me.

  Susan, though, was something of a wild card. She was older, maybe closer to Gene’s or Bruce’s age. All I really knew about her was that I’d seen her sitting around and knitting or crocheting in the rec room while other people played games. She was quiet, but apparently not put off by any of us.

  I wasn’t so sure about Michelle, though. She seemed the mousiest of all of the new people, and I didn’t know much more about her than the fact she’d been a teacher. That was a useful skill for our little group, considering the kids, but I didn’t know what else she could do.

  “So,” Gwen asked from behind me. “Estelle hasn’t told me much, but you guys picked up a teenager?”

  “He kind of found us,” I replied. “Virgil Knox se
ems to be a pretty good kid. Full of self-doubt and guilt, but pretty calm and responsible as far as I can tell.”

  “I’m sure we’ll get the full report once we get back,” Estelle added. “From Angie, at least. I’m not sure there’s anyone Jackie doesn’t like.”

  “Or won’t forgive,” I said. “Did you hear about that girl’s new pet?”

  “New pet?” Gwen asked. “Wait a minute, are you talking about the coyote?”

  “Coywolf,” I replied. “But yeah. We’ve named him Goldeneye.”

  “Creative,” the small woman shook her head and settled back.

  Estelle chuckled.

  “So,” I said, “what can you tell me about the newcomers?”

  “Seems like you have a handle on Gene,” Gwen replied. “His granddaughter’s really sharp, snarky, and probably hiding just how badly all this has hit her. He’s her anchor.”

  I just nodded and kept quiet to let her continue.

  “Bill is, well, Bill. He’s a really sweet guy, and kind of an idiot. A kind of hipster jock, maybe? I don’t know,” Gwen continued. “He was going to school for a physical therapy degree while working as a personal trainer. He came with Susan and Michelle. Those two are pretty interesting, too, especially Susan.” She smiled over at me and shrugged. “She’s a retired nurse, was in the Navy, and seems to know everything there is to know about fiber crafts and gardening. I think she’s either a lesbian or a widow, I’m not sure which.”

  “No kids, but she said she used to volunteer at an animal shelter,” Estelle added.

  I nodded thoughtfully, revising my opinions of people on the fly. “What about Michelle?”

  “I’m pretty sure she lost someone really close to her,” Gwen mused. “Husband, child, or both. She carries that sense of trauma with her, and the only person she seemed to get close to was Penny, although for some reason, right before you guys came to visit, she started spending more time with Bill.”

  “Good for her, I guess,” I said. “She was a teacher?”

  “Yeah,” came the answer. “You’d think she was too timid for it, but she was the only adult other than Gene that Penny would actually listen to.”

  “We’ll turn her loose on the kids at the homestead, then,” I said with a laugh. “Maybe she can get somewhere with them.”

  “Two teenagers and a ten-year-old, almost eleven, now, I suppose,” Estelle said. She leaned back and stretched a bit in the passenger seat. “Irene is still too young to count.”

  “Hopefully, Virgil can behave around a girl his own age,” I said.

  Both of the women laughed.

  “Anyone given him ‘the talk’ yet?” Gwen asked.

  “I have no idea,” I replied. “Anyone done that with Penny?”

  “I think she’s pretty worldly for her age,” Estelle tossed in.

  “Yeah,” Gwen agreed. “All hail the internet.”

  “Seriously?” I glanced over at Estelle, then gave the forensic pathologist a sharp look through the rearview mirror. “Are we going to have to keep a close eye on those kids?”

  “They’re teenagers,” Estelle said. “So, the answer is yes.”

  “I don’t want Gene getting pissed at the boy, you know?” I said.

  “I don’t want Gene getting pissed,” Gwen agreed.

  “There’s that, too,” I grumbled. “Hell, I’ll make sure Virgil’s had ‘The Talk,’ but I think that kid’s too religious to even attempt anything outside of marriage.”

  “At least he seems to draw strength and hope from his faith,” Estelle said.

  “And that’s good,” I checked the rearview mirror. Bill was still with us, and Gene was flying a bit ahead for the moment. “I wish people like Price didn’t try to play on that need.”

  “Unfortunately, there are bad people everywhere,” Gwen sighed.

  Estelle nodded agreement.

  We all fell silent for a bit after that revelation. It was a sad truth. Even in the post-Reaper world, people still tried to kill each other. About the only thing that let me sleep at night after Hunter Black and the two men in the humvee was the knowledge that they tried to kill me first. Self-defense was a strong rationalization.

  Still, I had a sinking suspicion that I just might have to take the fight to our enemy. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that, but I meant to be ready if it ever did. First, though, I wanted to get the rest of the folks from the CDC moved out to the Opelika area, along with any other survivors we might contact between now and whenever Price came south.

  I couldn’t deny the possibility that the three men that tried to take us out on the interstate had been under orders, but I hoped I was wrong.

  31

  Everyone came out to greet us when we got back to the farm. Gene, though, stole the show with a noisy flyover before landing the Blackhawk in one of the open, fallow fields east of the Roberts’ place. We all trooped over to meet them rather than making Gene, Susan, and Penny walk over to the farmhouse by themselves.

  Introductions were made all around, then came housing assignments.

  “What I suggest is this,” I opened the discussion as we gathered on the driveway, ignoring the cows as they gathered along the fence to stare at us, jaws working while they chewed their cud. “There are four bedrooms in there, although we’ve got a coywolf in the garage.”

  “Hopefully, the noise didn’t spook him too much,” Jackie said.

  “It’s spring, so you won’t need power, and there’s a septic system, but you’ll have to pump and fill the toilets’ tanks manually for now,” I continued. “Tomorrow, we’ll wire in a generator, then put together a list for solar shopping. Who wants to move in here?”

  “No power?” Penny complained. “I’ve got to charge my stuff.”

  “We can set it up on a charger at the main house,” Jackie told her. “What all do you need taken care of?”

  “My phone,” the teenager said, “and my drone.”

  “Can’t it wait?” Gene rumbled and gave her a look that would have cowed a bar full of bikers.

  Penny wilted immediately. “Yes, grandpa,” she said, looking down, although I could see her eyeing Virgil from behind her hair.

  For his part, the thin young man was a perfect gentleman. He stood politely back while we all talked, keeping Tommy calm while holding Irene. I suspected Angie had suckered him into child care. Then Michelle noticed the baby and practically teleported over to coo and gush while the teenaged boy looked more and more uncomfortable. “Could I hold her?” the former teacher finally asked.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Virgil said to her, thrust the baby into Michelle’s arms, and practically fled to hide behind me with Tommy. This, of course, put him closer to Penny.

  I sighed. “Okay, then. Do I need to make assignments?”

  “Not for me,” Gene said. “Penny and I will stay here. She can room with one of the girls, and I’ll room with Bill if he’s good on it.”

  “Michelle?” Penny asked to get the young woman’s attention. “Care to share a room with me?”

  Michelle looked up from the child in her arms and smiled. “I can do that.”

  “I’m moving into the main house,” Estelle announced. “That would free up the cottage for Virgil and Tommy, maybe?”

  “I suppose that leaves the last room here for Gwen and me?” Susan asked.

  “At least for now,” Gwen replied.

  “This sounds good to me,” I said, nodding thoughtfully. “I think, over the next few days, we can scout some of the mobile home dealers and maybe drag a couple of single-wides over to the property there. I’m not sure if the solar will handle multiple houses, but it might, especially with batteries and generator backup.”

  “We could all be on solar pretty quickly, right?” Penny asked.

  “That’s the idea,” I replied. “If not that, we’ll rig up some other kind of power source.”

  “Now,” Angie spoke up, “Jackie and I have a nice dinner prepared. We expected at least one more person, bu
t since Bruce stood us up, someone can have his piece of pie.”

  The kids all perked up at the mention of pie, as did Gene and Susan.

  “Fine,” I said with a laugh. “Let’s eat, then we can get everyone moved into their temporary homes.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Jackie said. “Let me check on Goldeneye. I’ll be right along.”

  “Alright,” Angie said. “Follow me, everyone!”

  The whole troop fell in behind her and headed back across the road. I paused for a moment to just enjoy the late afternoon air. The sun was setting in a blaze of gold and rose, the air was cool, and the sky showed a few fluffy clouds. Jackie passed by a few minutes later, then smiled and blew me a kiss before disappearing off down the driveway. I smiled to myself and looked up at the sky again.

  “Henry?” Penny’s voice broke me out of my thoughts.

  “Yeah?” I asked. She hadn’t fallen in with the rest.

  “Do you want to set up cameras and stuff like Bruce had?” she asked.

  “I was thinking about it,” I admitted. “Seemed like a pain in the ass to keep checking SD cards every so often.”

  She gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Your friend really doesn’t know what he’s doing. If you’ve got power, I can set a wifi network up for you that, given a few extenders, would cover both properties.”

  “Nice,” I said. There was no reason not to believe that the girl could do what she offered. I wasn’t much of a networking guy, but I did know you could get some major range out of wifi with the right gear, and worst-case scenario, we could run cable. “Want to go shopping with me?”

  She grinned up at me and nodded.

  “Good,” I said. “I’m happy to put you to work. Start figuring out what you’ll need, and try to make sure we can get it at Dick’s, Best Buy, or Walmart.” Not that I really wanted to go back to Walmart.

  “Not the best choices,” she mused as we started walking towards, well, I guess it really was my farm, or maybe our farm. “But I can probably make it work. Lowe’s or Home Depot will have networking stuff, too, same with any major office supply.”

  “Wouldn’t be a big deal to stop at one of those, then, if need be,” I said. “How d'you get into this?”