The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  Samantha took the soldiers to the double table that already held Cynthia, who was scribbling intently on the next edition of her paper, and Charlie, who was laboring over plans for Kenn and their rookie team. Everyone had been surprised when Kenn had picked Charlie as his XO and Charlie had refused.

  “How is Tracy doing?” Angela asked quietly. “And Candy?”

  “Good on Tracy,” Morgan answered, dipping his burger in mustard. “She spends a lot of her time training alone with Charlie or helping with the animals. She’s down there now, feeding.”

  “Still hiding from it,” Angela guessed regretfully. “Give her some more time before you put her on anything stressful, but she needs to get to work in the other ways. When she feels like an Eagle again, she’ll feel safe.”

  You think so? Charlie asked without his usual bitterness. He hadn’t believed his mom cared about Tracy. He was glad she was getting an update.

  Yes. It helped me.

  Charlie knew that to be true. He smiled at her, getting one in return, and then continued working on his papers.

  Angela shut her eyes as chills swarmed her. She didn’t have much energy. She needed to finish this. “What about Candy?”

  All the men frowned. They’d discussed it only yesterday.

  Greg answered, “Not great. It’s almost like…”

  “She misses Conner?” Angela supplied tonelessly.

  “Yeah. She stays to herself. No more haircuts or training.”

  “She refuses to discuss Lee,” Ben added. “Sucks.”

  Angela understood that. She also understood not wanting to talk about the things that hurt. “Marc needs to make the choices on her, not me. I’m biased. I liked Lee. I don’t like Conner.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Yes.”

  “That.”

  The Eagles agreed Conner was trouble. He had bonded with Candy against her will, much like with herself and Adrian. It wouldn’t end well if she or Candy succumbed to the darkness.

  Greg noted new footsteps coming. He looked up, which drew the rest of the SF men to scan the mess.

  Angela stored the cause and effect, pleased. Greg was coming along nicely.

  Neil, top guard on this floor, came through the tunnel. After quick glances around at the short food lines and full, content tables, he returned to his rounds. Other levels weren’t as calm, but most of their population was gravitating toward the mess as word spread. Neil was glad Angela and Marc were on his floor.

  Lost in her reflections, Angela was happy with how Marc was doing so far. Most of the cave had been battened. The air vents to the top had been closed, while the vents that went miles in two other directions had been opened. Depending on the shift of the wind, Safe Haven would be pulling clean air at all times. As the cloud of fallout centered over them, they would lock down completely and then the waiting would begin.

  “Room for two more?” Seth inquired. Becky was sleeping again. The morning sickness was keeping her off her feet.

  Jeff was behind Seth, expression saying he didn’t belong here and he knew it.

  Kevin had volunteered to gather the supplies that they were taking to Sally. He wasn’t ready to face the camp. Jeff knew exactly how he felt as Angela and everyone else at the table centered on him.

  Angela hid her upset stomach. “Always.”

  Jeff gave her a quick sweep, reading the discomfort. “You haven’t changed.”

  Angela snorted as the guys at the table slid down for Jeff and Seth. “No. You?”

  “Maybe a little,” Jeff stated, taking a place next to her. “I’ll be more careful of animals from now on.”

  “Same here,” Angela muttered.

  “I’ll be leaving to take some supplies to Dog.” Jeff met her gaze. I’m probably not coming back. I expect Kevin to go with me, but I’ll leave him here for you if it will help.

  Angela sighed. No, as much as we need Kevin, it will bring trouble. He’s more useful to you at this point.

  Jeff placed a hand on hers, sending a bolt of good health into her. Shhh. I don’t want more people to know.

  “We have a few sets of heavy gear,” Angela offered, not telling him that Kevin had already mentioned it to too many guards for it to remain a secret. “It would be safer if you used it. The levels out there are going to get very high.”

  Those quiet words explained a lot for the people who were able to make the connection. The men around her went silent, studying the implications as they tried to guess what would happen next.

  Satisfied she’d given them enough to use to keep the camp calm; Angela told Jeff, “I need something you won’t want to do, but Adrian has to give Sally a message. She’s important to the future. Tell Marc to take him for the food run in the morning.”

  Jeff carefully patted her cold fingers, unable to believe how badly she’d been hurt. “I’ll talk to him.”

  “Thank you.” Angela slowly stood up as Marc approached the table. She held out a hand, letting their blue spark of connection be viewed.

  Marc felt his rage fade another notch as their fingers and force connected. It was impossible to stay mad with her weariness dragging him down. “You okay?”

  She curled against his chest weakly. “Yeah. I could use a nap.”

  Marc caught her as she stumbled, steadying her. “Let’s go.”

  People smiled as the couple left, tension gone except in their concern over her health. They had been told it would take time, that Marc would protect them, but knowing Angela was helping was a large comfort. Their seer had returned. It was okay to breathe and live again.

  Marc took Angela to the shallow impression on the same floor as the brig and medical bay, wondering why she hadn’t said anything about Julia yet. That viper was currently occupying a cell in the brig while the doctor ran her blood test and the Eagle on duty collected her story. The boy, Cody, had free run of the brig while his mother was being interrogated.

  Marc directed her into the cubby as Morgan caught up to them.

  “Who do you want in charge while you sleep?”

  Marc sighed, flashing a hand signal that was counter to his answer of, “I’ll get my notebook for you. It has my wishes on that topic.”

  Angela let Marc remove her boots and tuck her in, already dozing.

  Marc flipped off the light and began pulling the door shut.

  “Marc?” Angela called sleepily.

  He paused, tensing. “Yeah, baby-cakes?”

  “There’s no need to do that with me. I won’t ever interfere with your choices.”

  Marc smiled wryly. “Fine. I took a pep pill right after the Mexicans called last time. I’m good to be up for a while.”

  “Thank you,” Angela yawned and spoke at the same time. “Good night.”

  Marc shut the door, grunting. He’d much rather climb in and hold her, but there was work to be done and his body was able. He and Morgan went to the brig to sort out plans for their morning run out of the mountain.

  Angela burrowed deeper into the blankets, ignoring the heart crying out in pain and loneliness. The same misery would still be waiting for her when she woke. There was no need to rush through it all at once.

  Outside, Shawn took up his post. He chose a shadowy spot along the narrow curve in the tunnel and blended in. After everything he’d done, having this second chance to guard Angela was a gift from Marc that Shawn wasn’t going to waste. Anyone who came by would be in his crosshairs the entire time and he didn’t care who they were.

  2

  “I don’t care who she is! I’m not doing it.”

  Marc sighed in annoyance as Tonya immediately flipped the doctor the middle finger.

  “Listen, children,” he began. “She’s here. She’s asleep. Do either of you want her up?”

  Tonya and Doctor Reynolds both denied that, faces contorting into ugly stretches of concern and fear.

  “Neither do I. She needs to rest, but if she senses all this anger, she’ll be up and there will be hell to pay.�
� Marc reminded them of the trial and the damage Angela had done to the few traitors among them while walking that lined street with his words. The anger turned to fear.

  “That’s better,” Marc praised sarcastically. He had realized Angela being home would give him another weapon to use against those who disturbed his peace. “Unless you two want her to make this choice?”

  “I do,” Tonya pouted. “But in the morning.”

  “You’re the boss here,” the doctor sneered. “Just tell this one to stay out of the lab.”

  Marc picked up the paper that Tonya had flung at him upon storming into the security impression without knocking. The numbers caught him, held him.

  Tonya sat down in the chair across from the desk before the doctor could, confident that Marc would support what Angela wanted.

  “I wouldn’t if it wasn’t important,” Marc warned.

  The doctor tensed as he realized they were communicating in a way that he couldn’t.

  “Not really,” Marc soothed. “She was making an assumption that I would agree with Angela. It’s not true.”

  Eased, the doctor crossed his arms over his chest. “Well?”

  Marc dropped the paper on the desk, pointing at Tonya. “You’re in charge of this project. The lab is yours. The doctor will stay out of there unless he has work to do for a patient.”

  “I’ll stay out of there period!” Doctor Reynolds snapped angrily. “She can do it all.”

  Marc regarded the man in contempt. “If she can, then fine. If she can’t, you’ll do it or you’ll be put on half rations for only doing half of your job.”

  The doctor gaped, open-mouthed.

  Tonya buried her chin in her chest to keep from laughing in delight.

  “Get to work. Both of you,” Marc ordered, glaring. “And if she gets up from either emotion you’re both spewing now, there will be a price to pay and it won’t come from her.”

  Marc waited for the pair to be gone before chuckling lightly. He didn’t understand why the doctor had refused to continue the research on the cannabis oil, except for old world prejudices. There was nothing wrong with using the last of Tonya’s stash to discover if the drug would help their cancer patients. Marc doubted that it would do that, but it would serve the purpose of eliminating the last of the smokable material from the camp. They’d already eliminated all narcotic use over the last six months between citizens being too scared to leave camp on their own and all drugs being locked up. Cigarettes were also almost gone, with only a few dwellers still having any packs hidden. Those were being used as trade items and the price was high. Marc was pleased. The harsh withdrawals were over for their population, except for the potheads, and their turn had now arrived. It’s great, he contemplated, lighting a very stale generic cigarette. It was his last one. Marc planned to suffer through the forced quitting with his people. They would find strength together, as they had been doing with all the things that challenged them. For what they’d gone through, Marc thought they were all handling it pretty well. It certainly could have turned out worse for all of them.

  Am I forgiving her? he wondered, exhaling and coughing.

  Maybe, but it didn’t matter. He still wanted her. He’d made that choice. Angela could be Satan himself and he would still crave her touch, her light.

  Marc finished the smoke in silent contemplation, not as stressed as he’d been while Angela was gone. He assumed that most of their camp felt the same. The next few hours would provide the best sleep any of them had gotten since Vlad brought the mountain down.

  Wide-awake thanks to the pharmaceuticals, Marc opened his notebook and made plans for the morning run. The camp needed food. He would retrieve it.

  3

  “This will be one of our last trips out of the mountain for a while,” Marc informed the eager group of men around him a few hours later. They had just passed the last guarded checkpoint before the bottom exit of the mountain. Marc had waited to give instructions until they were out of the range of both camp members and guards. “We’re checking the Det Cord down here on our way down to make sure it’s still rigged to blow. Other than the topside, where Greg has been laboring on the gate and cleanup, this is the last entry or exit from our den.”

  Marc held out small black bags that contained replacement parts and tools. “If you have to work on anything, remember to be careful. We pieced this together with what little remained from our fights with the bunker. It’s fragile.”

  The Eagles stowed their new items with care, exchanging uneasy glances in the gloom of the flashlights.

  Marc understood their fears, but he didn’t try to soothe them. There was nothing comforting that he could say, other than, “If it blows while we’re in here, we’ll die or dig our way out.”

  He didn’t believe these guys would find it funny the way a team of soldiers might have.

  The walk to the trucks was slow, tense, and cold. By the time they reached the exit, after reattaching the Det Cord in two places, they were frozen and grumpy. These tunnels were frigid for humans even though they were in their thickest gear.

  Spotting dim dawn light, Marc led them out quickly, using his mental grid to scan for waiting problems among the boulders and the exertion to warm up his aching toes. This was supposed to be a short trip out. They would drop off supplies to Sally and then hit some adjacent locations in hopes of food.

  The waiting trucks, freshly refilled from their last run by level six men now sleeping happily in the caverns above them, were a happy sight for the team.

  Marc gestured to Jeff. “You’re with me,” he ordered, going to the lead vehicle. He glowered at Adrian. “So are you.”

  Adrian and Jeff hurried into the cold vehicle that would at least provide shelter from the wind that was blowing sheets of thin snow and ice over them.

  Marc got the engine running and adjusted the seat, still scanning as the rest of the team split themselves between this truck and the one other that he’d chosen to take. Marc noted the quarter tank of gas, holding his hands over the heat vent as beautiful warmth started to emerge. Kyle had carefully measured the fuel for this run. He had to watch it or they would be trapped below and have to cart everything up on foot.

  “Any of our alarms disturbed?” Marc asked as Kyle slid into the seat behind Jeff.

  Morgan took the other seat, intentionally sandwiching Adrian uncomfortably between them.

  “No, we’re good,” Kyle responded cheerfully, elbowing Adrian over. “They haven’t gotten to this section of the mountain yet.”

  “How long?”

  “Kenn said to tell you not to let the sun get too high, so I assume a few hours,” Morgan replied, shouldering Adrian back against Kyle.

  “Good enough,” Marc stated, shifting into drive. “Let’s roll.”

  The ride down the slick hill wasn’t fun, but it wasn’t terrifying for the men on this run, despite the drop-offs waiting if their drivers steered them wrong. The relief and excitement of being out of the tomb for a little had overridden those fears.

  “Where is she stashed?” Marc asked as he came to a halt at the level ground near the bottom of their road. He didn’t detect anything around them yet.

  Jeff pointed toward the small business district in the distance, where industrial buildings rose in stunted growth from the snow-covered landscape. “There’s a warehouse.”

  “Warehouse? With all of the places available now, why did you choose a warehouse?”

  “You’ll understand when you meet her,” Jeff quipped, not about to fill Marc in with Adrian listening. He knew about the man’s weak stomach and he was hoping Adrian might puke upon entering the warehouse. Jeff had absolutely no faith in Sally’s willingness to clean up after herself or her animals.

  Marc steered them in that direction. Whatever it was, it could wait.

  “What about any survivors we run across?” Kyle inquired.

  “I’m only out here to pick up food,” Marc informed them coolly as he studied the map, missing fr
owns from the Eagles.

  Adrian saw the reaction, but didn’t comment on it. Whenever he’d gone out on a mission, it was with the understanding that if they found survivors, the people would be evaluated for being brought into their haven. The new administrator apparently wasn’t going to give everybody the same gift that he’d been given.

  A short time later, they rolled by a small camp of refugees without a word spoken. Disappointment returned, stronger.

  Not scanning, Adrian assumed Marc was wondering why his guys weren’t happy with him, but again, he didn’t speak up. The Eagles were expecting their boss to care about everyone, even those they didn’t trust. They were quickly learning that Marc didn’t think like Adrian and Angela. Marc didn’t care if everyone survived. He had his picks in the dwellers he thought were worthy. In some ways, it would make him a great leader. Safe Haven’s population would be smart, productive. Adrian actually respected him for the choice. It was a hard line that he himself had not been able to follow, nor had Angela. They both had sympathy for all life.

  Marc didn’t correct Adrian. He knew why the men were disappointed, but he was making the only choice that he could. In less than one day, the radioactive cloud would be over them. They had to get business done and get inside. As for the people they were leaving out here, Angela had already scanned them. If they were supposed to be a part of the herd, they already would be.

  As the Safe Haven vehicles rolled by, few of the refugees paid attention. Adrian’s sweeps of the refugees didn’t reveal much good in these groups. The desperation that they had already been through, combined with the evil in their hearts, allowed for no peace. The smartest refugees had already departed. They were off to locate shelters that would protect them during the winter. The takers and the beggars were the ones who were still here, so Adrian understood Marc’s indifference. He just wasn’t as hard as that.

  Adrian forced himself to open one of the newest notebooks that Angela had sent to him through an Eagle, needing the distraction to keep from bringing it up. Marc already wasn’t happy to have him along for the trip. He didn’t want to make it worse.