Bobby, who was enjoying being warm for the first time since they’d left the truck, reluctantly nodded.
“You just follow me.”
To his surprise, Carlie-Sue didn’t lead them back the way they’d come, but headed deeper into the house. “I thought we were going to sleep in one of the RVs?”
“You’d freeze half to death out there,” she said. “No, we got a room out back fer guests. You fellas won’t mind sharin’?”
“Thank you,” Bobby said. “We appreciate you taking us in.”
Carlie-Sue stopped at a timber door. She opened it, releasing a dusty, dry odor. “Oh, don’t say another word. Anythin’ for our brave boys. You’ll show them West Coasters, won’t you?”
“We’ll do our best,” Bobby said, following her into the darkness. She handed over the gas lamp and put it down beside a double bed covered with a deep pile of coats.
“It’s a bit of a mess,” she said. “We keep our spare clothes and junk in here, but I guess you’ll fix it up pretty quick.”
“Thank you,” Yuri said, and they watched as the old woman edged back out of the room.
“Now, turn off the gas as soon as you can. I’ll cook you a breakfast in the mornin’ to send you on your way.”
She shut the door, leaving Bobby and Yuri to clear the clothes from the bed.
“You feel okay about this?” Yuri said, gesturing at the disheveled, wood-paneled room with its piles of clothes and junk.
Bobby gathered up the comforter on the queen-size bed, and dropped it into a corner, then laid his sleeping bag out on the mattress. “A couple of nights ago, we slept in a brothel.”
Yuri chuckled. “Good point. Nice place, though.”
“Given the alternative is to sleep in a tent outside, I’d say we’re in gravy.”
“But what about Harlon and Carlie-Sue?”
“Do I trust them? Not really. But we don’t have much of a choice. I wish I knew where our weapons were.”
Bobby laid back on the bed, holding himself steady as Yuri climbed into his sleeping bag on the other side. His mind whirled away as he folded up his shirt to use as a pillow and settled down. He was convinced he’d lay awake for hours as scenes from Stephen King movies played across the cinema screen of his mind.
In fact, he was asleep in moments.
So he didn’t hear them coming.
Chapter 12
The Line
Joel had been there when they got back to the house, but Ellie and Jodi had agreed on their story in the long drive back from the beach.
As soon as she’d spotted the Chinese troops disembarking, Ellie had dragged Jodi to one side and the two of them had surreptitiously shot video footage and photos as evidence.
They’d argued long and hard on the drive home about whether to tackle Joel; whether to reveal that they knew Chinese troops were landing. To begin with, Jodi had suggested that perhaps Booker didn’t know, that maybe they’d caught the Chinese infiltrating California secretly, but that was obviously ridiculous. They’d made no attempt to hide their movements. A secret army doesn’t build a road, and it doesn’t bring a destroyer inshore if it thinks it might get shot at. The mystery was how it was that this wasn’t common knowledge. But then, they’d almost been prevented from reaching that vantage point. She doubted that Archie and his comrade knew the truth—they were simply grunts sent to do a job. But they were getting their orders from somewhere, and that chain of command led to the top. Booker knew: that much was obvious.
Jodi had relented in the end. After all, if it turned out that Joel was in on it, they’d at least be prevented from returning with the intelligence to Ragtown. In fact, they’d likely find themselves in a Chinese-run jail cell that Baxter wouldn’t be able to sweet-talk their way out of.
Ellie was relieved when Joel seemed to accept their explanation, though she suspected this was due, at least in part, to his obvious exhaustion. It seemed that even the life and soul of any party had his limits.
The following morning, he was much recovered. Ellie came down to see him swimming back and forth in the misty pool and she found herself reluctantly impressed by his physique when he climbed out and ran into the house to towel himself off.
“Morning,” he said. “Fancy giving me a rub down?”
Ellie grunted dismissively. “In your dreams.”
“How did you know?”
She flushed at that, angry at her body for betraying her embarrassment. One zero to him. Never mind, she’d soon even the score.
“Shall I make pancakes?” he said, moving over to the kitchen. “I managed to get some eggs on our travels—it’s funny what people give as gifts these days. A year ago, I’d have thought they were having a laugh, but now fresh eggs are like a form of currency.”
Ellie sat at the countertop. “I’d rather have them over easy.”
He shrugged. “Okay. I’ve even got some bread, so we can have toast. I won’t tell Jodi, though.”
“Don’t tell Jodi what?”
Baxter smiled as his daughter appeared. He’d obviously heard her coming. “I’ve got some eggs and bread, but Ellie wanted to keep them to ourselves.”
“Liar!” Ellie snorted.
She couldn’t deny it, even exhausted the man brought a life to the place that the house had lacked. She couldn’t figure out what his role in Booker’s administration truly was, but she decided she might as well have fun along the way. As much fun as she could, given the invasion force they’d witnessed the day before.
Jodi flopped onto a bar stool and gratefully accepted a coffee mug from her father.
“Late night?” he asked.
“No. Just a long drive yesterday.”
“Along the coast?”
Ellie felt her heart race. “The new coast, yeah. Didn’t see much. Most of it was just mud and slime from when it was underwater.”
The kitchen filled with a delicious aroma as Joel broke the eggs into the frying pan. “I wish I knew what was going on with the weather. It’s like the worst winter ever.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Ellie said. “We had snow pretty much from Denver to Ragtown.”
“So, what do you think?”
Ellie shrugged as she watched him expertly flip the eggs. “I don’t know. But something weird’s happening, that’s for sure.”
“Uncle Buzz has a theory,” Jodi said.
Joel froze for a moment, then slid the eggs onto slices of toast and put them on the counter. “Buzz always has a theory. How is he, by the way?”
And Ellie realized that this was the first time Joel had asked about his brother. “I haven’t seen him since we left Denver. He was heading back to the island.”
“The farmhouse? The one he built with my money?”
“You should see it, Dad,” Jodi said. “There’s loads of people living there now.”
Joel turned back to the stove and broke another four eggs into the frying pan. “It’s a pity the plan didn’t work out. If it had, we could have been together all this time.”
“Oh my God, these eggs are fabulous!” Jodi said with obvious relish. “It’s amazing what we miss, isn’t it?”
Ellie nodded as she finished her second slice of toast. “Absolutely. I guess it took the end of the world to realize how much I took for granted. What do you miss, Joel?”
“Making movies. The only thing I was ever good at. Sonny’s got some ideas for rebuilding the industry, but…”
“But what?”
Joel’s shoulders sagged, then he took in a deep breath and loaded up another four slices of toast with an egg each and gave one each to Ellie and Jodi. He poured a mound of ketchup on the corner of his plate and began to devour his breakfast.
“Dad? What were you going to say?”
Joel wiped up the sauce with the first slice of toast before moving onto the second. “Look, it’s best we don’t talk about this. The less you know, the better.”
“Come off it, Joel,” Ellie said. “We’re
adults here. What gives?”
Joel shook his head, his eyes settling on Jodi.
“Oh, I’m not an adult? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No! Well… Yeah, I suppose I am. You’re my little girl.”
The expression on Jodi’s face stiffened. “No, Dad. I was never your little girl. But that’s all in the past now. Things have changed forever, so we get another chance. Now, what were you going to say about Governor Booker?”
“President, Jodi. You have to call him President Booker.”
“Not here. Not when it’s just the three of us.”
Joel finished his eggs and took the plate over to the sink. “It’s best if we just stick to calling him that. He’s mighty touchy about it.”
“But he’s going to start up movies again?” Ellie said.
Bringing the coffee pot over, Joel poured himself one and offered it to the others. “So he says. This is the movie capital of the world, after all. But I don’t think filmmakers will get as much freedom as they had before. Not by a long shot. No, don’t ask me any more.” He picked up his cup and walked out of the kitchen. “I’m going to spend an hour in a good book. We’ll go out after lunch.”
And he was gone.
#
Joel flashed his permit at the police officer and found a space in the parking lot outside Lucille’s Smokehouse.
“Do I have to remind you both to be on your best behavior?”
Ellie was tempted to respond sarcastically, but satisfied herself with a barbed, “No. We promise to be good.”
They climbed out of the SUV and Ellie looked around. They’d passed a line of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people all making their way into the retail park. They were mainly individuals and small groups, most of them carrying big plastic bottles and crates. Ellie saw police officers and deputies walking back and forth, but there seemed to be no hint of trouble even though those near the front of the queue must have been in the line for hours judging by how long it was.
Joel led them along the metal crowd barriers that confined the queuing people, studiously avoiding catching anyone’s eye until they reached a gate.
Joel showed his wallet and spoke to the officer guarding the gate who lifted the microphone of his portable radio. “This is Carter at the east gate. Supervisor, can I have your twenty?”
There was static for a moment. “I’m outside the Fish Grill. Do you need me?”
“Mr. Baxter is here, Sarge.”
After a brief pause during which Ellie imagined the sergeant cursing, he replied. “Acknowledged. On my way.”
A few minutes later, a man in dark blue uniform with a badge on his chest offered his hand to Joel.
“Mr. Baxter, Sergeant Rowe. I wasn’t expecting you today.”
Ellie could see Joel’s smile out of her peripheral vision. He could certainly put on a performance.
“Good afternoon, Sergeant. I like to turn up unannounced every now and again. Keeps people on their toes.”
The sergeant’s expression proved that he was a better actor than Joel Baxter himself. “Very well. And these people?”
“My daughter, Jodi, and her friend Ms. Fischer. I’m training them.”
“And they’re authorized?”
Joel nodded at Ellie, who flourished her permit.
The sergeant—who had gray and ginger hair and a permanently rosy complexion—forced a smile and waved them through.
“How are the numbers?” Joel asked as they walked toward Lucille’s Smokehouse, passing beside the crowded sidewalk. The people here looked in equal parts exhausted and relieved.
Rowe took a notepad out of his pocket and flipped through the pages. “Up twenty-five percent week on week. We’re coping.”
They rounded the corner of the restaurant, passing the door the people in line were entering through. A cop stood beside a second door, pulling it open as the sergeant approached.
The first thing Ellie noticed as they went inside was the noise. It was a cacophony of banging, shouting and the general hubbub of lots of people in a confined space. What had been the kitchen area of the restaurant was now an apparent chaos of boxes being moved toward the counter, ripped open, and their contents handed to servers at the front. Ellie held her nose to stop herself sneezing, then allowed herself to be guided around the back, overwhelmed by the assault on her senses.
“Stock levels?” Joel asked as Rowe pushed open an internal door and Ellie felt cold waft over her face as she went inside the restaurant’s stockroom.
“Holding up. I don’t know the bigger picture, of course,” Rowe said. “Way above my pay grade. All I know is that I send through what we need and it arrives a few days later.”
Joel nodded. “Good.”
Rowe glanced at Ellie and Jodi as their eyes swept the stockroom. It was almost as if he were daring them to challenge him. But all Ellie saw were plain brown cardboard boxes stamped with markings she didn’t recognize. Sure, they looked like Chinese symbols, but that was hardly unusual. Or, at least, it wouldn’t have been if she hadn’t just seen a Chinese army disembarking fifty miles from here.
Joel made a pretense of inspecting the stockroom as Rowe played along, both men clearly wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.
They emerged into the fresh air outside a coffee shop, then headed toward Macy’s. “I’ve been here before,” Jodi said, striding ahead before slowing down again as she caught sight of what was inside. “Oh…”
The front doors were wide open and people were walking in and out in small groups.
“This is where we distribute non-food supplies,” Rowe said. “It started off with just Macy’s stock, but now we bring everything here, sort it and make sure it goes where it’s needed.”
“Where does it come from?” Ellie asked, watching fascinated at what looked like a form of civilized looting. She wondered what the owners of the department store would think. If they weren’t under hundreds of feet of water.
Rowe looked surprised she’d asked a question. “Some of it is taken from other big stores, some from warehouses and people also donate.”
“And where do these people live?” she added, gesturing at the line.
“In the camp, mainly, and from the parts of the city that didn’t get flooded. We’ve got teams clearing out some of the apartment buildings that were partially submerged, so we’ll have more space soon.”
Ellie nodded. “What about power? Drinking water?”
Now the irritation was unmistakable. “Kimberlina’s working, but we have to severely limit use. Most people have to manage without. We’re restoring the hydroelectric stations to the north. Is that satisfactory?”
“Hey, no need for that kind of attitude! I was only asking.”
“And I was only answering,” Rowe added, before turning pointedly to Joel. “Mr. Baxter, do you wish to inspect the paperwork?”
Ellie caught the obvious reluctance on Joel’s face, but he mastered himself. “Sure. Ellie, why don’t you two take a walk? I’ll meet you back in the car in an hour. And behave yourselves, okay?”
Jodi poked her tongue out and grabbed Ellie’s arm, marching her away.
They headed out to the parking lot and stood, watching the line snake slowly along the sidewalk.
“That could be us,” Ellie said. “And these are the lucky ones. Having to rely on handouts to survive. Must be so difficult.”
Jodi nodded then froze. “Oh my God! Alexis?”
Ellie followed as Jodi dashed along the line.
A young woman with blonde hair gathered behind her neck and an exhausted expression suddenly lit up as if someone had inserted a new battery in her. “J…Jodi? O.M.G. It is you!” She flung her arms over the metal barrier and Jodi hugged her.
Jodi pulled at her arm. “Come on, let’s talk!”
But the woman shook her head. “I’m not giving up my place. I’ve been here hours.”
“Jeez, I’ve never known you to line up for anything!”
&n
bsp; The woman shrugged. “Times change. What are you doing over there, anyway?”
“My dad…”
“Of course. Yeah. Booker’s right-hand man.” She didn’t bother hiding the derision on her face.
Ellie turned to the nearest police officer—a baby-faced young man who looked like he should still be at school. “You know we’re with Mr. Baxter, the president’s special advisor?”
“Yes, ma’am. I saw you with him.”
“Then let this woman through the barrier, but mark her position in the line so we can bring her back. Okay?”
The officer looked nervously along the queue, but found no one he could refer to, so, under Ellie’s unremitting stare, he nodded and pushed the metal fence open enough for Alexis to get through. The people on either side of her in the line watched sullenly as she slid away and followed Jodi and Ellie into the parking lot.
“Good to see you, Jode. Alive, that is.”
They’d made their way back to the car, and Jodi opened the door and guided Alexis into the seat where she sighed with relief.
“You haven’t got anything to eat, have you?” Alexis asked.
Ellie dug around in the glove box and pulled out a bag of chips and a chocolate bar. “I’m Ellie, by the way,” she said as she handed them over, then fighting back feelings of disgust as they watched the young woman devouring first one then the other.
“What’s going on, Lexi?” Jodi asked as Alexis wiped her mouth, having finished.
“It’s called survival, Jode. I got a kid and a boyfriend to look after.”
Jodi’s mouth gaped comically. “You’ve had a baby?”
“Why so surprised? I was pregnant when the wave came in. Had the baby a month later. A boy. Been trying to stay alive ever since.”
“Who’s the father?”
“You don’t know him. Good-for-nothing.”
“Your family?”
Alexis shrugged. “They were over on the East Coast, visiting family. Never heard from them since.”
“Sorry, Lexi,” Jodi said, reaching in for a hug but coming out empty as Alexis put up her arms.
“I don’t need your pity,” she said.
Lost: Deluge Book 5: (A Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival Story) Page 11