“I may know it and how to work out the problem but by the time I figure it out, two hours have passed and the code has changed twice,” Angela said.
“Don’t even try to explain it to me,” Bruce said moving to the screen. “These are the barriers we will place to build walls around other locations. I want forts three hundred miles to the east, north, then west. These will be our outposts and I want three to five thousand people assigned to each one. The survivors we bring in will spend their six-month probation period there, before being allowed to transfer to Hope. Each outpost will be able to house fifty thousand since Paul increased Hope to hold a quarter of a million.”
Stephanie typed into the laptop and the screen showed the first of three bases on a map. Bruce pointed at the screen. “As you can see, each one is beside a small river that will be used to generate power, and also are beside or very close to a rail line.”
“Sometimes, you make me sick,” Mike said making notes. “Now, I can easily see why you wanted people trained on railroads. You could’ve told me.”
“Mike,” Angela said, looking at Stephanie’s laptop. “Bruce is the definition of ADD. He makes plans on top of plans, sometimes starting at the end and then working backward. If you think he can give you headaches now, let him start bringing you in on his brainstorming sessions.”
Thinking about it, Mike shook his head. “No, that will be alright.”
“Just watching him pace as he thinks gets me tired,” Angela chuckled.
Reading the outline of the bases, Paul asked. “Bruce, you do most of your thinking in your shop, don’t you?”
“Um, yeah.”
Paul looked up at the head of the table. “Can you do that in another shop if I built it in a more secluded area?”
Bruce looked at Paul in shock. “You want to build me a new shop to just ‘think in’? Like we don’t have enough shit to do?”
“Yeah, there is a machine shop school behind it. The area around the farm is limited access but people still can get close to the shop, and we need to keep your ideas under guard,” Paul said.
“That is a good idea,” Ted chimed in and Bruce looked over at him. “Well, Bruce, I hate to tell you, but you talk to yourself when you’re thinking and if someone got close long enough, they might hear something we didn’t want them to.”
“Where could we put this shop, Paul?” Marcus asked.
“Beside the fort that Bruce and Mike built,” he said without thinking. “It’s not used now, inside the fence, secluded, and Ted and Carl can arrange for a guard.
“Hold on here, none of you have a problem with this? Me not telling everyone about the magic bullets?” Bruce asked looking around the table.
“No, Bruce,” Gene said. “We all know why and like you, we want this war over. That is the fastest way to save as many as possible.”
“So, could you do your thinking in a new shop or do I need to move the advanced machine school beside your shop?” Paul asked.
“He just needs a place to pace and tinker with stuff,” Angela said, still looking at Stephanie’s laptop. “Build it.”
Wondering what was so interesting on the laptop, Bruce moved around the table to see. He stopped, staring at the screen. “Really, guys? During a meeting?”
“Babe, we’ve helped with the booklets, been in on damn near all of your brainstorming sessions and did the power point presentation. If you want, we can give the briefing,” Angela said smiling.
“What are you two looking at?” Mike asked from the other side of the table and Nancy leaned over his shoulder.
“The ultrasounds,” she whispered and Mike looked at her. “They watch them a lot.”
Slowly turning his head, Mike just looked over at Bruce and Bruce stared back. “Hey, I’ve watched those videos like a hundred times, so don’t look at me like that,” Bruce snapped, holding his hand up to Mike.
“He does and doesn’t get lightheaded anymore seeing mine,” Stephanie said with a soft smile, looking at the laptop.
From the middle of the table, Gene snickered. “Bruce, you would think seeing an ultrasound of twins wouldn’t bother you.”
“Eat me,” Bruce snapped and looked down at the booklet. “The ammo production needs to be up and running in one week.”
“Whew, thought you were going to give us something impossible,” Willie chuckled, writing on a notepad.
Bruce looked up at the command group, and besides Angela and Stephanie everyone seemed relaxed, making notes as they looked at their booklets. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen everyone so at ease when I’ve laid out my agenda.”
“What’s the point?” Ted said. “You have a better grasp on what’s going on than anyone, and you’ve gotten us this far doing wild shit. To be honest, if you calmed down, we all would probably die from shock.”
Laughing, Bruce stood up. “To be honest, I laughed my ass off watching Paul do the impossible.”
“We all do,” Mike said.
“Tell you what, everyone go over the areas I have laid out for you and get an idea of everyone else’s area and let’s meet back up tomorrow morning.”
Paul looked up, “If possible, can we shorten the timelines you’ve put us on?”
“Duh,” Bruce moaned, gathering his stuff. “Yeah.”
“Hey, I didn’t want you pissed when we come in ahead of schedule. These barriers will weigh close to fifteen tons and will take up a lot of room.”
“Read the outline,” Bruce said, tapping the girls on the shoulder and then looked over at Paul. “We are building a four-hundred-mile wall across southern Mexico, and the current plan calls for thirty outlying forts.”
Everyone gave a startle and jerked their heads up. “Across Mexico?” Paul shouted.
“Yeah,” Stephanie said getting up. “Page one hundred and ninety-two, he found a path across the country that wouldn’t cross a large river. I wanted it further south because it wouldn’t be so long, but Bruce said he didn’t want to clear out Central America or Mexico City.”
“Damn, talk about building a wall,” Conner mumbled, looking at the map in the book.
Reaching over, Gene popped him in the back of the head. “What good will clearing out the states do if we just let more blues in from the south?”
“Are we going to build a wall across Alaska?” Conner asked glaring at Gene.
“Not unless blues learn to like cold,” Bruce said, following the girls out.
Carl cleared his throat, stopping Bruce. “You think we can clear the states enough that people can live outside of walls?”
“Nope,” Bruce said stopping. “Our best bet is going to be controlling their numbers, but make no mistake, the blues are here to stay.”
Reaching back, Stephanie grabbed Bruce’s arm and pulled him out of the bunker. “He goes over that in the appendix,” she said and yanked Bruce to the door.
When they were gone, Gene looked over at Jake and Matt. “When can you two start the operation of recovering europium?”
“Two weeks,” Jake said and Danny leaned over the table.
“You start before the doctor releases me and I’ll kick your ass.”
“I’m helping her,” Buffy chimed in.
“You have your assignments in here also,” Marcus said, flipping through the book.
Buffy and Danny both turned to see reading glasses perched at the end of Marcus’ nose. “Dad didn’t give us more tasks,” Danny said.
“Yes, he did,” Carroll said, looking at the book with her reading glasses on. “He gave us the outline and feels he doesn’t have to convince us anymore to follow him.”
“I’ve done everything he’s asked me to do,” Paul said.
“We all have,” Marcus said flipping a page. “But you realize not one of us asked ‘Why?’ today.”
“I’ll figure it out on my own,” Ted mumbled. “When Bruce tells me, I feel stupid.”
“That’s what he is expecting,” Carroll said looking up. “We’ve all done it, but n
ow we all realize it’s time to let the man just do what he was sent here to do. Save us.”
Carl grabbed his radio. “Protection team, stay with the boss. Ted and I have homework.”
Chapter 8
It was late afternoon when Gene walked out of the house with Carl and Ted. “Where is he at?” Gene asked.
“Gun range,” Ted answered, adjusting his rifle across his body. “He went to Hope doing tours of the work groups and people training after Angela and Stephanie’s broadcast.”
Giving a curt nod, Gene pulled up his cellphone and tapped the screen. “I’m heading to him, you two want a ride?”
“Nope,” Ted said as a black SUV pulled up. “We already called our ride. You want to ride with us?”
“That was good,” Gene said and tapped his phone off.
They drove around the base to the far west side where the gun ranges had been placed. On one range, they saw a large collection of vehicles and three people on the range. “Oh man, Bruce is going to be pissed,” Ted mumbled, looking at the huge protection team.
“Did they bring everyone?” Carl asked as the SUV pulled up.
Nodding reluctantly, Ted climbed out and looked through the SUV at Carl. “You’re taking the ass chewing this time, I took it last time.”
“As long as he doesn’t do that silent bitching, I’m fine,” Carl said, getting out.
Shutting his door, Gene walked past both of them. “Pussies,” he snapped. “I’ll tell him I told your team to travel heavy.”
“Really?” they said together.
“It won’t be the first time I’ve been in a pissing contest with Bruce.”
“Ah, Gene? He outranks you now,” Ted said, trotting up to walk beside him.
Carl ran up to Gene’s other side. “And he can get bitchy.”
“Boys, undoubtedly you don’t know Bruce. As a sergeant, he chewed my ass more than any brass did.”
“I can see that,” Ted chuckled.
“Surprised you took it,” Carl said.
“Hard not to when you knew he was right,” Gene said, coming to a stop and watching Angela and Stephanie running drills on the range. “Pregnant and running gun drills? Man, that is hot.”
“You have a warped sense of ‘hot’,” Ted said and patted Gene’s chest. Seeing Ted pointing, Gene turned and his jaw fell open as Sandy came up to Stephanie, carrying an MP 5 submachine gun. “Seems your woman is learning how to fight.”
“I have to learn her language,” Gene mumbled almost panting.
Carl glanced at Gene. “She speaks English.”
“Not the kind I do,” Gene said walking away from the two. He walked over as Sandy ran the drill down the range with Angela and Stephanie. He stopped beside Bruce, shaking his head.
“Sandy’s mine and I’ll fight you for her,” Gene announced.
“Like I would want another one,” Bruce huffed. “Shit, I didn’t want two. I want to travel back in time and kick my ass when I was younger for even thinking about having more than one woman.”
When the trio finished the run, Gene nodded impressed. “How long has Sandy been training with them?”
“About two weeks,” Bruce said and Gene jerked in shock. “Stephanie let her use the books they’d read about combat, then Sandy went and found any book on base and read it. Then, she asked them to teach her.”
Looking around making sure nobody was close Gene grabbed Bruce’s arm, making him turn, “Can you help me understand Sandy?”
“Bitch, I don’t know what the fuck she’s saying half the time.”
“God damn it, you understand Stephanie and she’s smarter than Sandy,” Gene snapped.
“Only because she speaks ‘stupid’, so I can understand.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it, Bruce. Come on, can you?” Gene begged.
Bruce looked up as the three walked back to the starting line and ran the drill again. “I’ll give you some books to read and we can work on it but I’m telling you, they will know that area much better than we ever will.”
“Thank you,” Gene sighed and reached in his pocket, pulling out rings. “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
Feeling lightheaded, Bruce’s knees gave out upon hearing that and he collapsed on his butt. Gene looked down at him and heard running feet to see Ted and Carl coming. Holding up his hand for them to stop, Gene pointed back to the rest of the protection team. Slowly, the two walked back as Gene looked down at Bruce.
“Why are you shocked?” Gene asked, holding out his hand to help Bruce up.
“Uh, you’ve known her for like a month,” Bruce said not taking his hand and staring at Gene.
“All I need to know her,” Gene said and Bruce finally took his hand. “Will you be my best man?”
“You know you don’t have to even ask that,” Bruce said and hugged Gene.
When Bruce let him go, Gene looked at him. “Are you going to make it official with those two?”
“Huh?”
“Marry them?”
“We are. Unless you haven’t noticed, the world has collapsed. We took the vows when Debbie was still here.”
“I know, but I mean in front of the world,” Gene said and turned to see the girls walking back to the starting point. “It means something to them and like you said, we are starting a new world.”
Thinking about it, Bruce nodded. “Yeah, I always wanted government out of marriage.”
“I’ll wait to ask Sandy until you ask them,” Gene said as the girls gathered up their equipment.
Seeing they were done, Bruce grabbed Gene’s arm. “Then I have to let you in on the uncovered rules of a relationship,” Bruce said pulling Gene toward the group. “You have to carry their shit after practice. I don’t know where it’s written, but it damn sure is because they will give you a look that will make your balls shrivel up.”
“I thought that was just being a gentleman,” Gene mumbled.
Giving a huff, “Sometimes, a gentleman is tired but undoubtedly, the rule doesn’t care,” Bruce said, stopping at the table the three were using to store gear.
With a sweaty face, Sandy looked up at him, “Did I perform better today, Bruce?”
“Yes you did, Sandy,” he chuckled as she turned to Gene with a look of lust that almost made Bruce blush.
“I’m learning how to fight so my balls are bigger,” she said and walked over bashfully like a shy teenager.
Shocking Sandy, Gene reached out and hugged her tight. “Your balls are much bigger than mine,” he laughed.
With a look of utter bliss, Sandy closed her eyes and hugged him back. “I never discerned there was this much information or physical determination to lucubrate in polemology. The different fields of fire and lines of attack for each team member makes much more logic when put into principle.”
Gene froze on hearing the words, but only understood half of them. “Uh-huh,” he mumbled as Sandy let him go and put her gear in a large bag.
Leaning over, Gene whispered, “Polemology? Is that what strippers study?”
“Nope,” Bruce said. “It’s the study of all aspects of war.”
“I thought that was military history,” Gene huffed. “Now you know why I need you to teach me ‘Sandy language’.”
“Motherfucker, I had to look the word up when she asked the girls to teach her,” Bruce snapped in a harsh whisper, pulling out his phone and tapping the screen. Gene leaned over and saw Bruce was looking up lucubrate. “Stephanie had already told Angela what it meant, so I was the only stupid fucker nodding, thinking they were going to teach Sandy pole dancing. I was about to ask them when they’d learned to pole dance.”
“I don’t feel so bad now,” Gene said with a smile.
Giving Gene a mean glance, Bruce walked over looking at his phone and grabbed Angela and Stephanie’s bags, letting out a grunt. “Baby, why don’t you let some of the protection detail carry those?” Angela said opening a bottle of water. “What are you looking at on your phone?”
Slowly, Bruce looked over at her. “Another word. Be damned if another man carries your stuff if I don’t,” he huffed, putting a bag over each shoulder. “I know it’s part of the rules and why couldn’t Sandy just say ‘learn’ or ‘study’,” he mumbled, putting away his phone.
Angela looked at Stephanie, wanting an explanation. “Hey, Bruce didn’t go into these make-believe rules,” Stephanie shrugged.
“Make-believe, my ass,” Bruce said and kissed both on the cheek. “What is our next stop?”
“Pick up the kids from school, Bruce,” Angela said, popping him on the butt.
“How would I know the routine? Every time I wanted to learn it, the shit hit the fan,” he said as Angela and Stephanie grabbed his hands, walking beside him. They turned to see Gene pick up Sandy’s bag and she hung on his arm like a lovesick little kid.
It was on the tip of Bruce’s tongue to ask the girls about getting married, but he changed his mind when Ted and Carl walked up. “The kids will be out of school in fifteen minutes. Are we heading there or do I need the team with them to meet us somewhere?” Carl asked.
“Oh, but he knows the itinerary,” Bruce huffed.
Stephanie took a breath to respond as Angela leaned forward looking at her. “Don’t Stephanie, it’s not worth it,” she warned. “He’s getting that look in his eye that bitchy is near.”
Letting out a sigh, “I was just-,” she started.
“Stephanie, I mean it. He’s not in the mood for reason right now. He’s actually leaning towards bitchy and we don’t want him pushed that way,” Angela said, glancing up at Bruce’s face and seeing a hard expression.
“Bruce, if you get pissy, remember I tried to stop it, so don’t include me in the retaliation,” Angela said.
“No, Little Foot, I won’t get pissy,” Bruce vowed. “I know better than to get pissy with pregnant women. They will win, and make you feel like a turd for even trying to win.”
“Sherry and Emily want you to take them fishing,” Stephanie said, putting her head on his shoulder.
“I know. They had their gear laid out on the floor,” Bruce said as they reached the SUVs. He tossed the bags in the back and saw Gene kiss Sandy. “Where you heading?”
Blue Plague (Book 7): Hope Page 9