The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  “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 i
s 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.