Fighting to Survive (45 page)

“
People's
actions-and votes- have consequences. We all need to be aware of
this.
”
Travis stood and looked around the room.
“
As
far as we know, we are the biggest and best off of the survivors in
this area. Hell, maybe the whole state.
”

“
Or
country,
”
Jenni sighed.

“
Maybe
the world,
”
Nerit added.

“
So
we need to have our shit together. People have got to realize that
every damn choice we make has consequences that not only affects our
lives, but the lives of everyone around us.
”
Travis sighed deeply.
“
We
need to let everyone know what happened. We need them to understand
the situation with the Vigilante. And they need to understand that
just because we are now in this amazing hotel, we are not necessarily
safe. Call a fort meeting and lay it out, Manny.
”

“
The
political fallout from this-
”
Manny started to say.

“
Fuck
politics, Manny.
”
Travis hated how harsh his voice sounded, but he knew he was right.

Manny
put his head down, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.
“
It's
what I know.
”
Manny looked up at them, his eyes stricken.
“
I
don't know how to do anything but be who I was before all this
happened.
”

“
This
world is messed up,
”
Jenni grumbled.

“
Voting
those assholes out was the right thing to do,
”
Juan declared firmly.
“
The
Vigilante killed them, not the rest of us. Not the ones who voted.
”

“
We
all knew they would probably die out there.
”
Nerit shrugged.
“
We
made the choice.
”

“
God
help us do the right thing. From now on this is the kinda shit we
gotta take deadly serious.
”
Bill flipped his notebook shut.
“
If
this is our new brand of justice, then we all better be damn sure we
can live with it.
”

“
Agreed.
”
Travis folded his arms across his chest.

“
We're
getting close to mob rule,
”
Manny said in a soft voice.
“
People
need leaders . Order. Law.
”

“
If
we-the people in this room-try to dictate to everyone out there how
it should be, we're gonna fail. Yeah, we need officials of some sort
to handle every day administration, the planning of the fort
defenses, things like that, but the big issues need to be in the
hands of the people.
”
Travis faced the silent people in the room.
“
We
have to do this together or we'll fail.
”

2. Turned Upside

The first official
fort-wide meeting was held in the dining room. It started right
after dinner. Only the people on patrol didn't attend.

It stared off calm
and ended up strained. Guilt ate at some, while others vehemently
defended their choice to evict Shane and Phillip.

There
was a mixture of reactions at the news of the Vigilante striking
again. Some obviously saw him as a person willing to do what the
authorities would not. Others were terrified for their safety. No
one wanted to end up on the wrong side of the wall.

The
Mayor lost control of the meeting after half an hour and Peggy and
Bill took over. Manny looked sickly. Rosie and Felix helped him out
of the room.

Kate
and Travis sat in the back of the room, listening to the other
survivors. The strain and terror of the last four months was
spilling out. It slowly became apparent that people were very aware
of the fragility of their new existence and wanted assurance that
life would safely continue. Making new societal rules was something
most didn't even want to deal with.

When
they finally decided to vote in a new mayor and fort council, Travis
wasn't surprised. When the town nominated names for the position of
mayor, he was shocked.

Katie's
fingers slid over his hand. She gave him a reassuring smile.

“
Well,
shit,
”
he muttered.

3.
The Camera Doesn
’
t
Lie

“
...as
it dawns on them what they have done, the ramifications of their
Romanesque gladiator games continue to reverberate throughout the
fort,
”
Calhoun's voice narrates as the camera focuses in on four people
lounging in plastic chairs, having a drink.

“
Here
we see the beautiful, yet psychotic Amazon named Jenni. Sources tell
me her real name is Genevieve Maria de la Lourdes Blakely. I'm sure
that is some sort of top secret Catholic Church code...
”

The camera zooms in
on Jenni who promptly sticks out her tongue and crosses her eyes.

“
...this
bizarre secret salute once more appears on her face. Whenever I
approach her, she immediately signals the other Amazons. But little
does she know that with the use of some foil and toothpicks, I have
eliminated her secret signal...
”

The
camera zips around to show Juan looking annoyed as he lounges next to
Jenni.

“
...as
I once more document their top secret meetings...
”

Juan
looks toward the camera and scowls.
“
This
is not a top secret meeting, Calhoun. We're chilling out together as
friends.
”

“
...is
Mr. Juan De La Torre. He's Mexican-American and, as usual, he is
issuing denials of his secret activities...
”

Juan
rolls his eyes and waves the camera away.

“
Next
is Travis Marcus Buchanan. Now, he used to live in England so I
strongly suspect he is a spy for the Queen...
”

The
picture zooms in on the curly-headed man sitting in a chair looking
grim. He sighs and pushes the camera out of his face.
“
Calhoun,
give it a rest.
”

“
...then
his ladylove. The center of this debacle, Kathleen Mathilde Kiel. Her
code name is Katie...
”

The
blond woman looks up into the camera; the light illuminating her
golden locks, making her pale face look even whiter.
“
Calhoun,
I know you think you should document all of this, but please aim the
camera away from my face.
”

“
...this
one eludes me to her origins...
”

Katie
sighs and covers her face with her hands.

“
...but
the truth remains that they sent two men into the wilderness...and
one came back...or actually it was his clone...and not a very well
done one…It was kinda chewed up and in pieces...
”

“
Calhoun,
put the fucking camera away,
”
Juan's voice demands.

The
camera turns to show the wizened face of a man wearing a cowboy hat.
Calhoun is obviously holding the camera on himself.
“
I
alone seek the truth as the others cower before the powers that be. I
will unearth their secrets and reveal in my camera's
light...oomph...
”

The
camera suddenly swings crazily and there is obviously a scuffle. When
it
’
s
over, the camera is on Calhoun. He looks very uncomfortable.

“
...and
this is Crazy Calhoun,
”
Jenni's voice narrates.
“
Rumor
is that he is an overgrown leprechaun on steroids...
”

“
Am
not!
”

“
...and
that he is spying for the Wicked Witch of the West...
”

“
I
am a proud citizen of these United States and I have never consorted
with witches!
”

There
is another scuffle, then the camera reveals Travis looking at the
camera, obviously trying to figure it out. Finally, he adjusts it and
says into the camera,
“
We're
going to vote in a mayor and city council. They nominated me.
”

Juan's
voice says,
“
And
he's gonna freaking win.
”

Travis
looks annoyed at this.
“
So,
yeah, I'm chilling with my friends and hoping to God I don't get
elected.
”
He hesitates, then adds,
“
And I do not spy for the Queen of England.
”

The
screen goes black.

It took some finesse
escaping Calhoun and his camera. It took a little luck avoiding the
little packets of survivors who wanted to talk to Travis about his
nomination, but at last, they made it into the elevator.

“
You're
gonna get elected,
”
Juan repeated for the umpteenth time.

“
You
say that one more time and I'm going to deck you.
”
Travis scowled.

“
Play
nice, boys.
”
Katie ran a hand over Travis' curls to soothe him.

“
Just
tellin' him the truth.
”
Juan shrugged.

“
Which
he obviously doesn't want to hear,
”
Katie answered.

Travis continued to
look out of sorts as the elevator dinged its way up.

Juan thought his
buddy was being a big baby about the whole thing. It was amusing as
hell though. Besides, giving Travis shit was alleviating the tension
he felt from Jenni's silence and distant expression. Juan watched
the numbers over the door light up. Just a few more floors and he
could find out what was wrong with Jenni. She had been putting him
off all night. He was tired of it.

The
elevator arrived at the next floor and chimed. Travis slid his arm
around Katie's waist as the doors opened. Juan took hold of his
shoulder.

“
You'll
win because you're the best man for the job, Travis.
”

Travis
sighed and opted not to punch Juan's lights out.
“
We'll
see.
”

With that, the
couple walked away and the elevator doors shut.

Juan
looked toward Jenni and smiled. She either didn't see him, or she
ignored him. She continued to stare into nothingness, her arms folded
over her breasts. He loved her, but at times he felt powerless and
incompetent. He could feel her emotions churning just beneath the
surface of her eerily-detached expression.

Tentatively,
Juan reached out and touched her arm. She glanced at him. Her focus
appeared to return to the here and now. She stepped closer and he
slung an arm over her shoulders. Her body was very tense. He kissed
her cheek, trying to soothe her.