The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  “Neither will I,” Kenn spoke up, doing his job this time without being guided. “I’d rather do an extra shift or teach a class to know I’m safe when I sleep.”

  He didn’t regard the smoldering man sitting across from him, positive Brady was thinking something ugly at the remark.

  “Agreed. Okay, we’ll be voting on shift change or teaching change, and also on some places to go next since nearly all the reports of mutations are north. You’ll notice I favored dropping down the way we came in. To the east are Badlands and open country, nothing we need. If we get down into Nebraska, we might find more farms, maybe even a field with corn ready to be smeared with butter.” That drew more smiles. Corn, other than canned, was a thing of the past for most of the country.

  “I also included a shortlist of places to spend the winter. It’s not the final vote by far, but it will give us an idea of the supplies we’ll need then, so we can start gathering now. I left an empty line for other ideas. All right. Any new business before we spend some time on the slavers and our defenses?”

  There was a tense quiet while he closed his book and waited. He couldn’t tell them they were safe here, but he had to make them feel it anyway. Some of the most recent of Cesar’s refugees had recognized Rick. There was no avoiding the topic and he had chosen to handle it as openly as he could.

  “They’re still in northeastern Wyoming, as far as we know. The radio has been quiet, but we’ve all witnessed the smoke trails and damage they leave, even if we weren’t in one of the towns they attacked. They’re moving along Interstate 25 and east of it, so I’ve only included places south.” Adrian swept his uneasy people. “Eventually, they’ll catch up or we’ll have a delay, and we’ll have to make a choice. That’s later. For right now, here’s what we’ve been doing: Marc, Neil, Kyle.”

  There were frowns at the order of the names, most people understanding it wasn’t random, and Marc steeled himself as Neil and Kyle held up a drawing so good they’d made Neil sign his name to it.

  “We made up some emergency plans,” Marc told them, starting with the one labeled: While Camped–Day.

  “He thought; I drew,” Neil cracked, grinning. “And Kyle made fun of us in support.”

  There was laughter, and Marc saw Adrian give Seth a pointed nod that said they’d demonstrated the proper use for running off at the mouth.

  “If we’re camped, the guards will sound the alarm we hooked up to run the length of camp.” Marc gestured to Kenn, who angrily hit a button on his wrist band.

  “Incoming! Seek shelter! Incoming!”

  It blared from all corners of the dark camp around them, horribly loud, and everyone was glad when the Marine slapped another button and made it stop.

  Marc wiggled a finger in his ear. “Okay, since we’ll all be deaf from the alarm, pay attention to where you should be.”

  He began to explain, leaving Adrian free to judge the reactions of his herd. The leader was hoping this would be enough to temporarily ease the quiet worry he saw lurking.

  “We’re steel-plating things, Neil will get into that. All of these semis here will be nearly bullet proof. If the alarm goes off, get to the mess or one of these trucks. They have three drivers assigned at all times, and supplies inside in case you get pinned down or want to make a run for it,” he stated, not hiding the fact that he wouldn’t. “How you know which truck to go to will be covered in a minute. The plan would be to circle around the mess and make our stand if we were out in the open, or move into a nearby building and defend it. If we’re on the road, it’s a little more complicated.”

  He waited for the two Eagles to flip the picture over to the side labeled: On the Road.

  “We’ll be practicing during travel time, so you’ll get the hang of it. Basically, the lead semi will pull sideways across the road and each of the cars behind will pull all the way up to form a barrier wall. Pull in with a hard right or left, leave your doors open, and line up nice and tight. We’ll be steel-plating car doors too, so you’ll have cover if you stay low. Go to the mess and help each other.” Almost finished and glad, Marc said, “Copies of these plans and what to do are being put into each glove box. Now, for a nighttime attack, Neil’s gonna fill you in.”

  Marc switched places with Neil, grateful his tongue and brain had stayed on the same page.

  Neil switched to a 3rd drawing: While Camped–Night.

  “After listening to the stories, we think it will be a night attack, so we based most of our plans on that. When the sirens go off, the trucks you should go to will light up-headlights, signals, etc… The highest levels of Eagles will escort the kids; the next two will clear the tent areas. The next will sweep the showers, bathrooms, and parking areas. Rookies will help with livestock.” Neil held up his arm to show a shiny new wristwatch. “You’ll know the Eagles by these. They flash red, white, and blue. For a day attack, the plan is the same, except you’ll know the right trucks by the red cross on them.”

  Neil started to take Kyle’s end of the picture, and then stopped, removing a pencil from behind his ear. He carefully erased a smudge from the picture and then replaced it.

  Neil reddened as he realized everyone was staring at him. “Sorry.”

  Kyle snickered, trading places. “Perfectionist.”

  Neil snorted. “Super-trooper.”

  “You know it.”

  The crowd laughed at their teasing and Adrian gave a subtle nod to Kyle that Marc wondered about. Was the joking staged too?

  “Okay, details. We’re keeping boxes of vests and supplies around the camp at all times. We’re also doubling the number of sentries on supply runs, so that means we need more Eagles. We have nine places open. The signup sheet will be posted. We’re also going to train a little harder, so when you hear all the noise in the tents, you know it’s us.”

  Kyle was ready to hand over control, but the boss had other plans.

  “Kyle can handle questions now.”

  Voices and hands went up as Neil and Marc sat down, leaving the Level Six Eagle to fend for himself.

  “So, we’re going to fight?”

  “When are they coming?”

  “Shouldn’t we run?”

  “Maybe we should think about their deal.”

  “We do not negotiate with killers!” Kyle snapped, causing the crowd to fall silent. “We don’t hide and we don’t hand over our people. We’re Americans!”

  “Americans have been doing it since this country was formed!”

  “Better a few than all of us!”

  Kyle was hot at their shouts, but he lowered his voice. “It’s better to face them now than during the winter, when we can’t get away if we need to.”

  The mess filled with protests and shouts, but quieted as soon as Adrian stood up.

  Kyle was quick to find his seat, heart worried. They were so fast to be cowards, with no thought of being heroes instead.

  Adrian studied his people. “You’re afraid and you have every right to be. They are the worst of the old ways. So, what should we do?”

  There was an uneasy silence while Adrian made his point. “There will come a time in every person’s life when they must choose to stand and fight, and maybe die for what they believe in, or run and live and lose it all anyway through shame and guilt.”

  He gestured, making sure he had each of them included. “You’ve got your lives. That’s a lot now, and you’re stronger, more able to care for yourselves. You might hole-up somewhere and even survive for a while alone, but you’ll have destroyed the future we’re building here. It’s not just one life in this camp, it’s all life…and alone, Safe Haven will die.”

  Adrian saw faces that wanted him to fix it, make it go away. “I don’t want another useless war. No more bloodshed! Life matters more than it ever has and I’m so sick of death I could puke, but I’ve made my choice. When that time comes for us, I won’t run with you. I’ll stand.”

  “Kick their asses, man!” Mitch shouted in a drunken slur, and there w
as an immediate chorus of agreement that allowed Adrian’s closest men (and women) to breathe easier.

  “Kill ‘em all!”

  “We’ll show ‘em!”

  “We’re with ya!”

  Adrian grinned in relief as if he’d been worried about losing leadership and those who knew the truth held still, trusting him to find them all a way out.

  For the next few minutes, he and his men answered dozens of questions. It was loud and serious, and Angela was encouraged. She thought Adrian’s words were flawless.

  “So, let’s do some voting and go get some of you going on new classes. I personally can’t wait to attend a Kai class where Neil and Hilda are in the cage.”

  There was a lot of laughter at that and Adrian let them go for a minute with the remarks. Humor had a way of clearing a person of fear.

  “Kenn and Seth will pass around the slips. Brady and Neil have the pens. Kyle and Jeremy are the counters and as usual, I expect you to watch the totals. Also, there’s a blank space at the end and I read each one, so if there’s something you need to tell me, that’s a good way to do it.”

  Marc was impressed with the official appearing ballot. He made his own choices quickly, but it was clear that Adrian didn’t mind people talking about it. Most of the camp hadn’t gotten through more than the first couple items yet, too busy listening to those around them talk about volunteering to take Neil’s lessons too. It was a wise man who knew you didn’t get anywhere with real Americans by pushing them around. The more they talked and agreed, the more likely it was that the votes would go in Adrian’s favor.

  Smart, Marc thought, and sneaky.

  Marc reread number five, where to check next for authority. Neil had said it wasn’t because they wanted the government, that any organized group could fill that hole. So why were they all military choices? Why not try the city shelters and colleges?

  Because those places and people are long gone, and really, you know that.

  Marc wiped his face of emotion as Angela and Samantha stepped by on the way to put their votes in the barrel. Hair down and blowing wildly, wearing jeans and a sweat-stained tank top, she was so sexy his breath caught.

  Angela couldn’t stop a smile and a spark flew at the contact. Sorry.

  Marc returned her welcome openly despite Kenn’s hot gaze already being on them. Don’t be. In here it’s like we’re alone again, he sent, amazed at how easy it was. The bond was stronger because she’d saved his life, he guessed, but it also showed more.

  Does he know for sure those places are empty? Marc asked when she didn’t respond.

  Yes. His dreams are full of it, but it’s also his back trail. He’s been checking much more than what these people have been told.

  He keeps a lot of secrets, Marc sent, mind pulling up Adrian’s words about Tonya.

  That’s another line he’s walking. The camp would be very upset to find out he’s been with her.

  Marc didn’t shrug, feeling more than Kenn monitoring them now. It’s his business as far as I’m concerned, but it makes me leery, too.

  Tonya earned her punishments. She’s lucky he didn’t have her banished.

  Adrian caught bits and pieces of their exchange, and it amused him to have Angela and Brady ignoring everything going on, as if they’d known all about the inner details of the meeting. They hadn’t, but they had affected it. The emergency plan and almost all the new defenses had come from Brady and the need to protect Angela. Even Samantha had affected quietly. They’d been here a week, and already, big changes were coming because of it. They were definitely his.

  “We’re going to start counting now, so come on up and make sure it’s right.”

  Most of the camp moved that way, but Marc waited until Angie and Sam had come by before taking his own ballot up, and then gravitating toward Neil and the rear of the mess.

  So, why is he checking bases and compounds, if he’s not actually searching for authority?

  Angela met his gaze this time, drawing a frown from Kenn that had Eagles gritting their teeth in frustration.

  Because he knows that’s where average people will go. He’s gathering his herd.

  She looked away suddenly, like someone had said something sharp, and Marc scowled openly. Can Kenn hear us?

  No. The bond I have with Kenn is limited because I’ve always known what he’d do with it. It’s much weaker. Adrian probably could.

  That told him a lot and Marc observed Adrian as he carefully explained something to a large group of single females. He’s trying very hard to give me reasons to stay…when we’re alone.

  You’re still thinking of leaving?

  Marc could feel her pain. I won’t.

  For how long?

  He did shrug this time, turning toward the beckoning rookies who’d tried to give him team lead despite Kenn’s words at the level test. When they’ve gotten things down better.

  Angela watched him go with pain in her heart, but she didn’t stop him or make any promises. The line they were walking had thinned.

  The vote went Adrian’s way on everything and a light drizzle began to fall as the meeting broke up. The wind was gusting, putting them on edge and no one lingered. When the thick, white mist rolled in, everyone except the guards took to their tents and shut them up tight.

  8

  The fog came in fast, curling around their vehicles and weaving its way through the camp to be waist-high in places. The Eagles sat in jeeps and trucks, scrutinizing the foreign landscape around them as it became distant and then submerged in rolling clouds of white.

  Angela was in her tent, Charlie spending the night with Matt, and her focus was on the open window. Stray threads of fog wound through the screen, but her mind was on Marc.

  He was so unhappy and all he wanted was to be around her, talk to her, and laugh the way they had on the trip here. His loneliness was clear and her own needs were hard to keep in line as the camp around her became too muffled to be a distraction anymore. Marc hated the idea of her being an Eagle. Could she change that? Things would be so much easier if she had his support.

  Half an hour later, most of the tents around Angela were dark, the noises of camp hushed, and she slowly slipped outside. The fog was over her head, damp and thick, and she stayed still, calming the part of her that would always hate the dark. She pushed away the sour smell and concentrated. Where was he?

  Angela found him by his isolated thoughts. It was almost impossible to view through the layers of swirling white. She was careful not to bump into anything and alert even her shadow to her absence. She wanted a real Brady moment, on her terms, and she moved his way, not sending any thoughts, just tracking his.

  Marc sat in Angie’s Blazer and smoked, watching the camp disappear. He wasn’t scheduled for duty but he’d come anyway, unable to fight the feeling in his gut that something was about to happen. Subdued sounds of the camp came to him–tent flaps rustling, footsteps, dogs padding around–and he wondered if Angela, too, was watching and waiting for dawn.

  Marc’s fingers tightened on his smoke as a wolf or coyote sounded in the near distance. He swept the area when Dog jumped from the hood, perhaps to give his answer in person. The big animal was gone a second later, the white mist barely disturbed, and Marc hoped none of Kenn’s men would shoot him and claim it had been an accident. The thick fog would be a good excuse and Marc thought maybe the wolf knew it and would stay away from camp tonight.

  Marc understood more when the strange howl came again and Dog answered, clear and sharp even through the fog. A mating call, Marc thought, getting out of the Blazer to try catching a glimpse of the female.

  The fog was damp, unpleasant and Marc sighed deeply, sweeping the moving whiteness. It was so hard to labor all day and stay in his tent all night. He used to be solitary, but his time with Angie had thawed that layer of ice, leaving him lost without a shield. She was so perfect for him. Why hadn’t she called? They’d been so in love! Why had she felt she couldn’t call him?
<
br />   It was my pride at first. I thought you’d sold me out.

  There was a pause and Marc swung around eagerly. Where are you?

  His question was ignored by the shadow tracking his location. By the time I had Charlie, I realized they’d tricked you, too, but it was too late by then.

  You could have run, after a while.”

  It was finally time for the truths he’d avoided and she didn’t censor her words, as she had during the trip here.

  You’ve seen firsthand how determined he is to own me. Is there any place I could have gone, that he wouldn’t have followed?

  No. He’s obsessed. If we left now, he and a dozen or so would come after us. Even Adrian wouldn’t be able to stop them.

  Marc watched the fog, hating the ugly place they were in. Here, where she was already starting to outgrow him, she was safe. Out there, where she’d love him and only him, her life would always be in danger.

  We walk a thin line. Our son on one side…

  The voice fell silent and Marc finished the thought. And my love on the other.

  There was a silence where he could feel her pausing to let people go by before moving closer.

  A feeling I’ll return openly if you can wait for me.

  He saw the fog part near the rear of the Blazer. Angie!

  Her hair was loose, floating on the mist, and her glowing blue orbs beckoned. He moved toward her feeling as if they were surrounded by his dreams. He needed to hold her. Will you let me?

  “Yes, Brady. I need that.”

  Magic flowed between them. Sharp and sweet, the hunger and need rose up together to steal her breath. She’d missed being with him!

  Marc could almost feel her need. There were small flecks of desire in her face, but it was the greedy hunger lurking beneath the surface that he responded to. They’d hidden these feelings for so long!

  Angela still flinched when his arms slid around her and Marc pulled her up tight against his hard, warm body. He rested his head against hers and waited, knowing she’d relax when she reminded herself who he was.