Ways of Darkness (Wolves of the Apocalypse Book 2)

by LC Champlin

  “Nathan, Albin!” Stepping into the headlights, Carolyn beamed with relief. “Thank goodness. We thought . . .” She looked down.

  “You did it!” Amanda bounded up to them and threw her arms around the men for a group hug. Albin extricated himself first, while Nathan gave her a pat on the shoulder as he turned sideways to protect his fractures.

  “Ah, easy on the ribs,” he hissed.

  “Oh.” She released him as if he’d admitted to contracting Ebola. “Sorry. Did they—Did you—”

  “We emerged to tell the tale.” Albin adjusted his satchel strap, not looking at her.

  Behind them, the transport truck roared to life. Exhaust poisoned the air as it rolled away.

  “Thank you both so much.” Carolyn took Nathan’s and Albin’s hands in turn. “Let’s not give them a chance to change their minds. Everyone,” she addressed the drivers of the three other vehicles, “tomorrow I’ll let you know if we can redistribute the supplies we gathered.”

  Then she waved Nathan, Albin, and Amanda into her SUV. No second invitation required.

  “How did you do it? What did they agree to?” Amanda and Josephine would get along well; they both loved interrogation.

  Nathan sighed as his head thunked back against the rest. “They’re going to protect us from the other gangs. They’re even going to give us a generator. It’s temporary, though, until we can get one of our own. Tomorrow they’ll drop off a flat of water and rations.” That had proved the most difficult item to negotiate.

  “They’re what?” Amanda yelped in his ear. She had pressed forward to put her head between the front seats.

  “Restrain your relief,” Albin advised. “In exchange for their protection, we are expected to provide them with manpower and supplies.”

  Nathan grunted. “It’s a protection racket, but it’s our best chance.”

  “Sometimes compromise is necessary,” Carolyn sighed. “I’ll tell the others.”

  “Do you have a list of everyone’s skills, backgrounds, qualifications?”

  Albin picked up: “An inventory of supplies such as petrol, solar panels, and weapons is also advisable.”

  “We’ve already started the former,” she replied, pride in her voice. “We’re still sorting out the latter. Many people have abandoned their houses, but there’s been some indecision about if we should break and enter. I advocated waiting. However, I believe some of the neighbors have already taken matters into their own hands.”

  “You seem to have a handle on the situation.” Nathan nodded in approval. “Is your background in management?”

  “I’m Redwood College’s president.”

  “That explains it.”

  “It’s dark,” Amanda began, heading in a predictable direction. “I wouldn’t feel right about you two leaving for Woodside now. Nothing good happens after dark anymore.” Anymore, as if the disaster had spanned years rather than days. The memory of what normal life felt like grew faint, like the memory of breathing without pain.

  Speaking of breathing, had it really only been yesterday morning he’d had the chest tube? Ah, a Percocet would be lovely, as would a bed.

  “Amanda, I wouldn’t feel right about leaving you and your neighbors until I see the raiders keep their word.” He glanced back to find her looking relieved.

  “You’re both welcome to stay at my place,” she responded.

  “If it’s not an imposition.”

  Carolyn parked on Keelson. “My house is also open. It’s the least I can do.

  “But now I need to call an assembly and tell everyone the . . . less disagreeable situation in which we now find ourselves.” Wry smile. “I would appreciate it if you both could attend.”

  They disembarked, then Carolyn began radioing her watchers on the walls. Amanda went to the nearest neighbor’s house. The residents wouldn’t trust strangers beating down their doors and ordering them into the street, so Nathan and Albin waited on the sidewalk.

  Soon, people began trickling into the area. An assembly made them cannibal targets, but at the moment, they seemed to lack predators. Rather, they lacked predators who attacked physically and in the open.

  When Carolyn deemed the invisible bleachers full, she raised her hand and called for quiet. Her flock watched her, shuffling and murmuring. “Everyone, there’s been an important development.”

  “Is the Army coming?” someone asked.

  “Did the electric company say when the blackout will be fixed?”

  “What about the hostages? Aren’t the police doing anything?”

  “When can we drink the tap water?”

  “When’s the Internet going to be up?”

  Carolyn motioned to a group of four who waited nearby. The former hostages. “Our neighbors have been returned!”

  Crowd chatter rose like the sound of an incoming tide. A few people broke from the mass to greet the victims.

  “We should be grateful they’re unharmed. In addition to releasing these people, the raiders, who call themselves the Red Devil Goats, agreed to protect us from other gangs.”

  Confusion ensued among the assembled.

  “They will even provide us with a limited amount of supplies and a generator.”

  Sounds of amazement and doubt came from the herd.

  “However, your neighbors’ freedom and our safety come at a price. These gentlemen”—she held an arm toward Albin and Nathan—“were generous and courageous enough to join me in speaking with the raiders. You know what happened. But though they began as hostages, they were able to successfully negotiate a compromise with them.”

  “Compromise?” a male voice demanded. A short, stocky Hispanic man shouldered to the front. “Saying ‘compromise’ is another way of saying ‘mutual loss.’”

  “Eduardo, let me finish, please.” Carolyn met his glower with calm.

  “He’s right!” A middle-aged female Asian, with hair pulled back, clothing neat, and movements precise. Her accent pointed to English being her second language. “The military and police are not helping. If they are so unable, we must fight back ourselves!”

  Some of the crowd began to rumble assent. Not good.

  Nathan stepped forward. “Listen! The raiders are professionals who won’t hesitate to use force if you become too bothersome. They’re ready, willing, and able to march in here to rape, pillage, and plunder. But we managed to talk them into seeing your value as free human beings rather than cargo or carrion.”

  “If you doubt our report,” Albin added, coming to his employer’s side, “speak with the people who were kidnapped. Then inquire of the young Zander Nelson about the Devil Goats’ disposition.”

  Nathan surveyed the audience. “These people escaped, but you might not be so fortunate. The Goats’ demands aren’t unbearable. They’re offering far more for this deal than the gang that kidnapped Zander Nelson did. In fact, the Goats even bought him back from his kidnappers. Hopefully the government will come to your rescue, but they haven’t been overly helpful to date. I’ve been out there.” He pointed northward, toward the high rises now only darker shapes in the night. “The relief agencies are overwhelmed. The government wants to keep the peace, but it wants us to do what we can for ourselves. This isn’t a permanent arrangement with the raiders. We’re holding off Hell by suffering some penance now.”

  “No.” Eduardo held his hands up as if to ward off the impending loss of sanity. “No. It’s a set-up. It’s a trap to make us let down our guard and roll over.” Perceptive bastard.

  Half the crowd murmured in thought, while a quarter voiced agreement. The last quarter kept their mouths closed.

  “You can be their protectorate, or you can be their prey.” Nathan closed his fist before him.

  Eduardo had doubt, not hard proof—not that truth made any difference to a mob. At least one idiot always thought they’d make a better leader. It didn’t matter who held authority, either, be it Abraham Lincoln, Hanniba
l, or Alexander the Great.

  “You’re probably with them.” Eduardo folded his arms in defiance. “Why else would they listen to you? It’s all too easy.”

  Chapter 80

  Camp In

  This Is Why We Bleed - Leader

  “Easy?” Nathan approached Eduardo, slow as an executioner before the block. “So you believe this negotiation happened over coffee, perhaps? Or, even more ridiculous, that the Goats sent me as an inside agent?” Wearing a fierce grin, he halted a foot from Shorty. “No. We suffered for this—for you. They beat me. Do you want me to take off my shirt and show you? Look at my face.” Flashlight out, he shone it down on his face. Besides highlighting his injuries in gruesome brilliance, it forced Eduardo to look away. “See him?” Light on Albin and his bloody shirt. “We bled for Redwood Shores, and we’re not even from here. Tell me, Eduardo, where are your injuries? How much of your blood have you left on the concrete for your neighborhood?”

  “I . . .” Eduardo kept his head down.

  People murmured.

  Seeing her advantage slipping, the Asian woman stepped forward. “There should have been a community meeting to discuss this deal.”

  Nathan’s shoulders went back, but before he could get off, We didn’t have a month to waste on neighborhood pissing contests, Carolyn jumped in. “Mrs. Wong, I understand your concerns. I agree that there should have been a group discussion and a vote. However, the raiders arrived before we could organize one. Who knows what else they would have taken or who they would have harmed if we had waited?”

  Wong looked displeased, but she held her peace.

  “We can discuss this more in the morning. Secure your houses. Keep alert. And most importantly,” Carolyn paused to look at each resident, “be there for one another. Our lives depend on remaining a strong community.”

  Most of the assembled dispersed to their homes, but Eduardo, Wong, and a few of their clique advanced on Carolyn. Nathan and Albin flanked the college president, hands near their concealed .45s. Amanda pressed in as well.

  “I said go home,” Carolyn repeated, standing her ground. “We can discuss this in the morning.” With that, she returned to her vehicle.

  The rogue element looked at each other, then at Carolyn’s defenders. A fight would solve the immediate problem. On the other hand, it might result in the community degenerating into civil war. The point of this mission was to create a colony, not a collapse.

  “Get in.” Carolyn had her head out the window.

  Nathan and Albin advanced half a step; the opposition retreated a full step. Bullies didn’t like victims who pushed back. With Eduardo, Wong, and Co. cowed, the defenders returned to the Acura.

  “Thank you,” Carolyn murmured after the doors closed. Abstracted, she stared at the street ahead as the vehicle proceeded toward the Musters’ house.

  “Carolyn,” Nathan began, “I think you should spend the night at Amanda’s for your safety.”

  “Thank you, but I’ve lasted through the nights thus far. I trust my neighbors.”

  “Admirable. Speaking of your neighbors, I need a few who are mechanically inclined, or who are able to read simple directions, to work on a project. It’s for the community’s safety. It needs to be completed by mid-morning tomorrow.” At the last sentence, he pulled a piece of folded notebook paper from his pocket.

  Accepting the note, she gave him a smirk. “Don’t worry; this is Silicon Valley, after all.”

  “Excellent. Amanda, if you know anyone, I would appreciate you co-opting them.” He passed a similar square to her.

  Carolyn dropped the three off at the Musters’ residence, where Amanda led the newcomers inside. Now that no baseball bats, garden implements, or rifles greeted Nathan, he could take in the residence. Neat, clean, homey.

  The girls met them, Denver eager as a puppy, and Taylor shy and retiring.

  “Girls,” Amanda began the announcement, “Nathan and Albin will be staying with us awhile. Behave.” This she aimed at Denver, who pretended not to hear, her attention on the visitors.

  “It’s like a sleepover!” the youngest Muster bubbled. Kids, always the most resilient creatures in adversity. Then her face fell. “I wish we could order pizza.”

  Albin gave her a half smile. “We do not have pizza, but we do have emergency rations.” He produced an MRE from his satchel. He held the food up like Indiana Jones after discovering the Holy Grail. Beef Stew. Even better than the Holy Grail when it came to MRE flavors and satisfying hunger in an emergency.

  “What is it?” Denver turned skeptical.

  “It’s a Meal, Ready to Eat. This is what you might eat when you venture into the park to occupy a paved pad next to a hundred other tiny car parks while pretending to be a vagrant.”

  “Huh?”

  “He means camping,” Nathan chuckled.

  “I’ve never been camping.”

  “Have too, Den,” Taylor murmured. “You were too little to remember. It was when Dad was around.”

  “Whatever, TayTay.”

  Nathan pulled out one of his own MREs, the Ham Slice. “How hungry are you?”

  The Musters flicked on an emergency lamp. At Denver’s begging, they all sat in a circle on the living room floor. The reasoning went that if they ate camping food, they needed to do the job right.

  While Albin pointed the girls to the diagram on the back of the packaging and helped them with the finer points of MRE heating and eating, Amanda leaned in to absorb Nathan’s coaching.

  Everyone avoided “shop talk” about the disaster outside. The elephant in the room had turned into a brontosaurus and begun to destroy the walls with its tail, but nothing could induce Nathan to break the mood. He couldn’t tell them the truth behind the cannibals, or about his experiences, or about the mercenaries. The truth gnawed at its cage bars, but the iron held.

  Supper finished, Amanda sent the girls—who protested all the way—to bed. Then she showed the guests to their rooms. Nathan took the pullout bed in the game room, while Albin claimed a guest room.

  “I’m right down the hall if you need anything.” The slight smile of relief hadn’t left Amanda’s eyes since the two newcomers had stepped from the cargo truck.

  ++++++++++++

  After Amanda vanished down the hall, Albin joined Mr. Serebus in the entertainment-center room. A widescreen flat-panel television dominated one wall. The glass-faced cabinet beneath it held rows of DVD and video games. A combination pool, ping-pong, and hockey table dominated a quarter of the floor space. Framed photos of the girls adorned the walls.

  Mr. Serebus leaned against the window frame, gazing into the blackness above the back garden. “Thus far it’s proceeding according to plan. That Eduardo fellow and Mrs. Wong are going to be bothersome, but the rest of the locals seem to be cooperating.” He kept his voice in the lower register, for Albin’s ears only.

  “The hostage release was effective, sir. The boy was particularly compelling.” Using the child rankled, even if it did produce an advantage.

  The dark man sighed, closing his eyes. “It tore my heart out to do that.” He opened his eyes as his features hardened with conviction. “He’s young; he’ll recover.”

  “Let us hope that is the case.”

  Memories of the boy filtered into Albin’s mind and began to grow, sapping his attention. In the lorry, the child had clung to Albin, radiating terror. The arms around Albin’s neck couldn’t help but remind him of David, who enjoyed piggybacking on anyone taller than himself, and whose climbing skills equaled a monkey’s.

  With a sigh, Mr. Serebus reached up to run a thumb along the edge of his goatee. “Once we get a firmer foothold in this neighborhood, we can focus on developing the files. If we have the opportunity, we should also pay a visit to Birk’s sister. If he’s involved with the terrorists, she may be as well, given her position at LOGOS.”

  “Sir, as more of the files are decrypted, I question whether it is wise
to exclude the government. Their resources are far superior to ours. In addition, the forces that contracted the Devil Goats to deliver the data may prove beyond our capabilities to manage.”

  “I’m not arguing against any of your points. However, it’s too early to make a definite call either way.”

  “There are also the Goats themselves to consider.”

  “I hate them too, but they’re our best chance at success.”

  A day earlier, Kenichi-san held this honor. “As you say.”

  While Albin could easily rationalize working with Mr. Serebus, who file snooped and laundered data for resale, allying with weapons-dealing human traffickers who murdered officers of the law required mental gymnastics verging on madness. One could only accept the arrangement by realizing all other options carried more risk. In addition, the partnership with the Goats would expire soon, for Mr. Serebus would turn on them. Justice would be done.

  “When we discover who the Goats’ buyer is, we can invite the government to the party.”

  Albin nodded.

  Silence settled as Mr. Serebus’s gaze wandered over the photos on the walls. “It’s a shame that good people like the Musters, Nelsons, and Carolyn have to be dragged into this business.”

  “Indeed. I fear the United States may become another Libya.”

  “Then we’ll just have to see that we don’t share its fate.” Mr. Serebus moved to the pullout bed, where he eased down to sit on the edge.

  Still at the window, Albin gazed into the night. With the city dark, sunset left only the moon and stars to light the earth, as they had before man harnessed electricity. Already society began to return to its ancient state, brutal and bloodthirsty.

  He started toward the door. “Sir, I will stand first watch.”

  “Thank you. I’ll relieve you in—”

  “I’ll come for you when sleep is ready for me.” Albin gave his employer a half smile.