"I have to know where to drive to, right?"
"Yes, but it's always the usual rubbish," she said, pulling from her purse the list that George, the group's quartermaster, had prepared and posted on the kitchen bulletin board. "No. Not the usual rubbish. Strange rubbish. Pots, pans, knives, forks, spoons, blankets, books, spices, fertilizer, insecticides, sugar, salt, maps, compass and duct tape. Weird rubbish. I thought we already had all this. Where do we find it?"
"Most at Walmart. Some at Home Depot. The rest at the sporting goods place downtown. We have most of it, but we will need more. We may never be able to go to another store, again."
"Dan, I am tired of hearing that. Yes, I know about the bloody virus. The bloody panic. The bloody end of the bloody world."
As they drove off in the dim light of dawn toward town, Elspeth thought to herself that it didn't look like the end of the world. The sky was mostly clear and the sun was just peeking above the eastern mountains. Maybe John was wrong. Maybe Tom's grandfather was wrong. Maybe they were safe. If not for her world being turned upside down and every night worrying she would be killed in her sleep, the sunrise was amazing. The yellow and orange clouds streaking the sky were beautiful against the blue. Then, her thoughts turned dark again. Would she ever see another sunrise? The panic could come at any moment. Even this moment. It could be happening right now. They could drive into the middle of it. If she were in the middle of a panic, she could be injured or killed. Even the television news was filled with talk of the virus. She knew every time she left the compound that her life was at stake and she also knew that preparing was crucial or she would starve to death. Not a win-win situation. She just hoped it wouldn't turn into a lose-lose situation.
"You know what I said about monogamy the other night?"
"Yes," Charles said, with a smile. "Quite interesting. As John keeps saying, you are the life of the party. Always something to put everyone a bit off balance."
"Bloody git. I know he's just trying to take care of us, but he's always so practical. Well, I'm being practical, too. I meant what I said. All the old rules are gone. We may not live another month. Or another week or another day. We could be attacked by a gang from the city. They would take all the women back to their hideout to become their sex slaves. What kind of life would that be? One man after another. Day after day of nothing but sex. Sex, sex, sex." Elspeth was breathing heavily as she ran her hand up Charles' leg. "Find us a spot, handsome."
Charles pulled onto the parking lot of a small quickie mart and drove around back, behind a dumpster, as Elspeth unbuttoned her blouse.
* * *
Charles started the SUV, put it in gear and pulled onto the road.
"I don't suppose you could call that a one-night stand. Was it a one-day lay?" Charles quipped.
"It was what it was, Charles. It can be what we want it to be. Like I said, this monogamy idea is obsolete in the new world order. If you can handle the idea that I sleep with Tom, then he'll have to handle the idea that I can 'day lay,' as you put it, with whomever I wish. Life is too short to deny ourselves a few minutes of happiness. And, it's becoming shorter every minute."
He shot a quick glance in her direction and crinkled his brow. "What if he doesn't like it?"
"Then I'll sleep with somebody who doesn't care. I'm not unattractive. All of the guys watch me when I walk into or out of the room. Even in this small group, I have choices."
"Not many. Fred is quite interested in Masako. Pierre and Marceau are tight. John and Cho. Your only choices are George and me. I assume your new world order still says you don't sleep with your brother, Harry."
"Bloody git. Of course not. None of those relationships are as tight as you believe, but a girl could do worse than you or George."
"Not the compliment I hoped for, but I'll take it. That would take some adjustment or 'getting used to' as George would say it."
"Compliment! Why do you men always have to be told how great you are? OK, you moved my world. How's that?"
And women are different? You like being told you're beautiful. You like it when men watch you. That bikini you sunbathed in on the freighter was quite small and quite sexy."
"Bloody men. That wasn't a bikini, you prat. That was my panties. John said not to bring a bikini and I didn't. I'm sure George would not have a problem with a relationship. He's a little heavy and a lot Texan, but not unattractive. Cho said she fixed him up with a few different girls in China. She even spent a night or two with him, herself, when John was busy spying on somebody. She was sure George didn't know it was her, though."
"I thought she and John were a couple."
"Cho is a girl with a mind of her own. A bit like me. She's with John as long as it makes sense. Not a minute longer. Right now, he keeps her alive and fed. If she sees a better deal, she'll take it."
Charles waited a second before continuing, "What about you, Elspeth? What if Tom began spending time with Marceau or Masako? How would you feel about the shoe being on the other foot? A bit different, isn't it?"
"I can handle it," she said in a cool tone. "The world has changed. A lot. We have to change a lot, too."
"What about babies? This would be a bad time for a baby and having to take care of it for fifteen years would be a lot of work. Especially, the first few years."
"Now you think of that. Not half an hour ago. But, it's not a problem. I had myself fixed, a few years ago."
"Really? Terry didn't know, did he? He said he was waiting for great grandchildren."
"Bloody prat! He says things like that all the time, just to goad me."
"You weren't around."
"He also says it when I am around. Always with a sly wink. Our little joke, I suppose. I never told him, but he knew. He's a crazy old coot. Had eyes everywhere. I don't know if Tom knows or not. He never said anything. You're the only one I've told. But that doesn't change anything. We are going to die."
"Oh come on, Elspeth. We have to live in the present. And for the present, we aren't dying. Nothing is wrong."
"Your male ego is getting on my nerves, Charles. You think you can handle anything. Well, you can't handle this. We are going to die." She stopped talking and sobbed into her hands.
Charles pulled the SUV off the road and put his arms around her. "And you try to act like you are so strong. We will get through this. John has a good plan. He has brought together some good people."
She looked over at him and wiped her eyes. "Am I a good person? Did he choose me? Why would he? I have no survival skills. I don't know how to cook. He only chose me because he needed that bloody ship. And he couldn't have the ship without taking Tom and he couldn't take Tom without taking me. I'm the first he will sacrifice, because I am the least valuable."
"He won't sacrifice anybody. I won't let him. Besides, you have your good points."
She looked into his eyes for a moment, trying to read his mind. Was he being sincere, or was she just the only woman around?"
"So where do we go next?"
"Bloody Walmart. Prepping. Pots and pans. I thought we had pots and pans. Blankets, insecticide, sugar, salt, compass, maps. Bloody duct tape that won't tape a duct, even if we had one -- which we don't. Marceau asked me to pick up some spices. She said she didn't care much what we brought, just bring back as many as possible. Lots of each. They also sell box wine at Walmart. I'll buy half a dozen or more boxes. More. Definitely. Don't tell anybody. I'm going to need it."
"I don't mean where's the car going. I mean us. Do we sneak around like teenagers or do we bring it out in the open?"
"We're not teenagers. We're British. We sneak around like Brits during the day and sleep in our assigned beds at night, unless we can sneak off to another bedroom without being noticed. That's the way it has always been through thousands of years of British history. That's the way it will always be. Didn't you watch Downton Abbey?"
* * *
"John, George on phone. He have problem." Cho handed the phone to John."
"What's up, butt
ercup?"
"It's not buttercup, it's me, George. Hey good buddy, we've got trouble. Masako and me was pickin' up supplies at one of the local grocery stores and I saw a guy watchin' us. We probably weren't bein' too careful, the way we were talkin'. Sorry about that. As we were puttin' the stuff in the van, he came over. Heavy set guy, six two, two fifty, black hair, maybe thirty. Looked like he could take care of himself. He asked if we were preppers. I tried to be casual and said we just bought a small hotel and restaurant a few miles south and were stockin' up. I thought he bought it and then he said he saw us yesterday buyin' several shopping carts full. I said that it took a lot of stockin' up to run a hotel and he smiled and walked away."
"Sounds like you handled it. What's the problem?"
"I thought so. But, after we went a few blocks, I saw a small red pickup followin' us. I slowed down enough to stop at a light and waited. When the truck stopped behind us, I could see it was the same guy. What should I do? I've turned south on four oh one and I'm gettin' near the end of town. He's still behind us."
John tried to think fast. It wasn't good that someone knew about them. He wasn't sure what to do, but George thought he needed help. He should rally the troops and go do what he had to do. That was the nature of their new world. Do what you had to do to survive for another day.
"That's a busy road. He won't try anything. Keep going to the next town and take the exit ramp. Turn right and drive for about a mile into the town. Stop at the McDonald's. We'll be there in forty minutes. Take your time eating. Go back for a dessert or two if you need to." John put the cell into his pocket.
"What problem?"
John took Cho by the arm. "I'm not sure, but we need to provide backup. Call Pierre and Harry. Tell them to take the black SUV and bring guns. You want to come, too?"
"Sure. Cho protect John. Need practice with gun. Getting rusty."
"You say rusty. I say you were excited and didn't wait to aim. You missed that cab driver."
"Not miss next time. Cho be cool as ice. Promise," she said with a smile and a kiss on his cheek.
John couldn't help smiling to himself and thinking how lucky he was to have her. If something happened to her, he would be lost. But, now, he had to help George. John took the back roads to bypass the town and make better time. Forty minutes later, the white SUV pulled into the McDonald's drive-through lane and John ordered two diet cokes. While waiting in line, he called George.
"Hey, buddy. Long time no see."
"You can go now. Head west and go across the interstate. It's quiet after that. We'll follow. Pierre will meet us in two minutes."
George and Masako left the restaurant, backed out the van, turned left and slowly drove through the small town. The red truck followed, a dozen car lengths back. John followed, staying about a quarter of a mile behind. The interstate was a few miles later and Harry and Pierre were waiting on the exit ramp with the black SUV. After the interstate, the land flattened out with only a few trees. It was farm country with few houses and no traffic.
John handed Cho the phone. "Call Pierre. Tell him to have Harry pass us and we'll drop back. Then, pull up as close as Pierre needs. Tell him to hit a tire and then take off. We'll stop and I'll offer to help after the truck pulls off the road. I'll figure out what's going on. Maybe it's nothing. Keep your gun handy."
"John no worry. Cho protect."
John couldn't stop himself from smiling again. He and Cho were a good team. He wasn't sure whether she chose him or he chose her. But, it always worked out well.
A mile later, the curvy road straightened out and Harry accelerated past. A quarter mile later, the red truck swerved and then pulled off the road. Harry slowed and passed. When John arrived, the man was standing behind the truck looking at a mangled right rear tire.
John put his soft drink cup on the hood of the SUV and walked over, looking at the tire. "Looks bad. Tire's ruined. You hit something? Maybe a piece of metal on the road?"
The stranger looked around and behind him. "I didn't see anything."
"You have a spare?"
"Yeah, I'll get it. It's under the back of the truck. I can handle it."
"Be glad to help. Always wanted one of these. The SUV is too big and uses too much gas. Hard to drive on these narrow roads. The wife liked it. I should have bought a small pickup, instead." John nodded toward the SUV where Cho was standing near the front, her right hand hidden behind her and holding her gun. Her eyes were riveted on the man.
The stranger's eyes followed John's gaze. "OK, thanks. I'll get the jack. It's under the seat and you can start jacking it up. I'll crawl under and take the tire loose. It's one of the old one's that don't have a jack to take down the tire."
"That's what I thought," John said, quietly.
John pulled out a pair of gloves and took the jack the man handed him.
"Where's it go?"
"Right there," the man said, bending over and pointing under the truck at the rear axle.
John inserted the jack and started cranking. The jack was unsteady when the wheel came off the ground because the right side of the truck was off the pavement in the dirt, but the man didn't notice and John kept cranking it. John loosened the lug nuts and removed the wheel. Pierre had done a good job, as the tire was unusable. The man slid under the back of the truck and started removing the spare.
"I saw you back at the McDonald's, didn't I?" said John.
"Yeah, I was having a burger. I didn't see you."
"Drive through. Wife was thirsty. She's always thirsty. Don't know where she puts it. Must have a hollow leg. You drove out just as they handed us the drinks. Looked like you were with that white van."
"Van, no. He just happened to leave before I did."
"Where you going? Live around here?"
"You ask a lot of questions. The tire is loose, raise the jack a little and I'll push it out to you."
"Sure, I'll raise the jack."
John quickly gave the crank a few turns and lowered the jack four inches. With the right side of the truck off the road and, with the wheel off, the truck would drop even further than normal. He stopped six inches short of the bottom when the tire jammed between the truck and the man.
"Hey. You're going the wrong way. You should be raising the jack, not lowering it. You're going to mash me."
"Right. Sorry. I'm not used to this kind of jack. Mine's hydraulic," John said as he gave the jack a few more turns.
"Hey, that's still the wrong way." The man squirmed, trying to get out, but was stuck. "This is beginning to hurt. Hey, run it back up."
"No, you're wrong. I did it the right way. Now, tell me, why were you following that van? You followed him all the way from Smithton to the McDonald's back in Big Gap. You waited forty minutes while he had lunch and then you followed him again." John bent down and gave the jack another turn.
"Ow. Hey man, you're killing me. You're going to break a rib. You have the wrong idea. Stop that. It really hurts."
"Sure. Glad to. Tell me the truth before I crush the life out of you."
The man was in obvious pain as he slowly spoke, "I didn't mean anything. He was one of those preppers."
"Is that illegal? You some kind of prepper cop? Did he buy too much rice and not enough beans? Keep talking or I'll turn you into mush." John gave the jack another turn.
"Stop. I'm talking. I figured he had a stash somewhere. If I could find out where it was, I might pick up a few things and resell them. Make a few bucks. You know."
"I know you're a thief and a coward." John stepped over to the jack, which was not firmly set in place and looked around to make sure nobody was on the highway or nearby watching. He winked at Cho, then kicked the jack as hard as he could. The jack popped out and the truck's frame fell to the road. The man screamed, a long agonizing scream that John knew he would remember for the rest of his life.
John suddenly remembered a raccoon he had shot with a pellet gun when he was a child. The shot didn't kill the coon and when he r
an up, the coon was lying on the ground jerking. He quickly put another pellet into the animal's head, but it wasn't enough. The coon's skull was too thick for the tiny pellet. The next pellet was aimed at the thrashing animal's heart and did the job. John had remembered that scene often since it happened. He resolved at that time to buy a more powerful gun, to avoid the suffering of his prey.
This man's scream was unsettling, not that John had killed many people and heard many screams. Only when necessary, but he had found it necessary too many times lately. Now it was necessary again so that he and the others could survive. This scream reminded him of the ghosts floating around in his mind. Did one of those belong to this man or would this be one more ghost to dream about? One more bad dream. He would definitely remember this scream for the rest of his life, alongside the faces of the other lives he had found it necessary to extinguish.
Cho ran up, gun in hand, carefully watching the man. "He dead? What now?"
"I'll look around. He looks done for, but watch him anyway."
"Cho protect John. No problem."
John searched through the cab of the truck and found a pistol in the glove box and a rifle behind the seat. He took both, wiped off the fingerprints, went back to the SUV and put them in the back under a blanket. Cho was still watching the man.
"Let's go. Call the guys and tell them we're OK. They can head home now."
"You look bad, John. What wrong?"
"Cho. What can I say? I just killed a man. I really hate that. In cold blood. I'm not a cold-blooded killer, but I am. I have to be. I just did it. It was calculated. I never saw that man before. I didn't know who he was. But my blood was boiling. I hated him more than I've ever hated anyone in my life. I could have torn his body into shreds. I don't know why. Something's wrong with me. I don't know who I am any more. I felt hate. The need for vengeance. I had a thirst for his blood. I never really felt hate like that before."
"Man going to take food. Coward. Steal in night. He sell our food. He get new TV. We starve. You save our life. Cho proud of John," she said, kissing his cheek.
"I'm not proud of John. What am I going to have to do next?"
The Weak Shall Die: Complete Collection (Four Volume Set) Page 21