The Survivors: Book One (47 page)

“You know it.”

“He knows what?”

Charlie jumped, and Adrian waved him on as Kenn returned with two full cups and sat down.

“Kids need to be kept busy. We have to pick the next list of places to look. Bring the maps by after lunch and we'll....”

5

A short time later, stomach pleasantly full of toast, Adrian sat in the lea of his tent - chair, folding table, and notebooks in front of him. The wind had finally calmed down, and he got started making schedules for the next week, glad he wouldn’t have to spend the extra hours trying to figure out who didn’t have all their shifts in yet. As of midnight, everyone was back at zero.

He worked on them in alphabetical order, trying to fit the person with the chore by their skills, and all the while, he was listening to the voices of his people as they walked by, approving of the long pants and sleeves most of his camp was wearing. Both John and his suggestions had been accepted.

“Those eggs was nasty and it’s still the best meal I’ve had since January.”

“Glad we’re back on full water rations.”

“Oohh. Imagine a hot bubble bath.”

“Girl, a hot shower would be heaven.”

“Yeah, like that’ll happen. It uses too much water.”

Adrian turned to a back page and scribbled a note, then went back to the schedules.

Mitch showed up ten minutes late, giving the CB updates personally, and Adrian handed him a sheet of paper, still not totally sure he’d chosen the right person for this job. They had given a dozen men the radio test, but only this sloppy drunkard hadn't flunked.

“This is the way I’d like things run from now on. What we put over the air matters.”

The red-nosed man gave it a quick read over, nodding. “Sure.”

“Kenn will be installing a more powerful CB system in the next week, so when he’s ready, move to another truck, til he’s done.”

“You got it, A-Man. I’ll catch you later.”

The hung-over man left, eager to start using the bolder system, and the leader was relieved to see the ass-kisser go. He hated it that the camp saw him dealing with someone that no one really liked, but it couldn’t be helped. He suspected Mitch was too good to waste and he’d leave him where he was, until he knew for sure.

When he was gone, Adrian waved Seth over and began gathering up his papers. He lit a smoke and gave the tensely waiting undercover cop a hard look. “Long wait.”

The redhead gave a tight smile, taking off his black cap as he sat down. It didn’t escape Adrian’s attention that he was wearing the uniform of an Eagle, despite not being one.
Yet
. The redhead had been busy, trailing him almost continuously for the last week and he was good, right up there with Kyle, but the question was, why?

“I don’t mind. It’s better we’re alone anyway.”

 Adrian finished off his cold coffee with a grimace of distaste. “Because you want to know why I passed you up for the new Level Ones again, but don’t want anyone to know you’re questioning my judgment?”

Adrian’s words were brutally honest and Seth nodded, not sure whether he was ready for the truth he’d come for, or if the things he needed to say to this man, who he now respected above all others, would get him asked to leave.

“Because I’m not sure about you yet.”

The cop's hurt green eyes flew to his, and Adrian shook his head, thinking of his surprise when it was Seth who joined Kyle to watch with him during the storm. “Not like that. Not sure where I need you the most.”

“I do.” Seth clamped his mouth shut and waited to be told their conversation was over.

Adrian didn’t speak for a minute, thinking that right there was what concerned him. Seth was a good man, he knew that, but he also had a short fuse, which was not a great trait for a bodyguard in this new world. “Have you thought about something else? There’s a lot we need.”

Seth didn't look at him, but said, “Yeah.”

Adrian's cool eyes searched the man. Seth was often the first one at the tape to look over the new people when there was a call, never skipping it, and his devotion had gotten attention. He hadn’t been surprised to find out the undercover cop had been planning to apply to the secret service academy, had wanted to guard the President. In time, he might still get his chance.

“Why a Level guard, Seth? Why does it matter so much?”

 A little surprised at the easy opening to what he needed to say, the 30-year-old cop found the truth with no problem, didn’t hesitate to meet Adrian’s waiting eyes.

“Because you need help, and I need to serve. Because there’s no one watching your six and I want the job.”

Adrian's eyes were full of warning. “You sure? That may be a very dangerous job in the future.”

Seth grinned. “More than anything. It’s what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Adrian looked at him for another long moment, before shrugging like he wasn’t sure the cop could do it, when nothing could be further from the truth. “I’ll change your schedule, but keep in mind it takes more than just good aim and confidence. It’s hard work and it's dangerous.”

“I belong there. You’ll see.” the cop stood up, holding out his hand, and Adrian returned the gesture. “Thank you.”

“I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

“So do I.”

Adrian watched him leave and noticed Charlie heading his way, right on time and hands full.

“What do you think about him?” Adrian asked the boy, indicating Seth. He didn’t know he was going to, and saw the boys deep blue eyes grow hazy.

“Seth’s okay. He never found his little girl and he’s still upset.”

Adrian didn’t comment, thinking he’d have to be careful how he handled the special boy. As for Seth, the redhead was another above-average sheep trying to become a shepherd, and he would help him make the transition, but where were those who had been born to lead?

“I’ll put this stuff inside and you can go with me on rounds.”

Charlie nodded, not sure why the Boss wanted his company, but eager to help if he could and be seen doing it - like everyone else here.

Adrian folded up the table, taking it and a chair to the flap, and the boy automatically carried the other one, but didn’t step inside because he hadn’t been invited. Adrian nodded his thanks. Well-trained…and it bothered him - a lot.

“Grab that box and come on.”

The first stop was the Mess, where 30 or so people were in line or already sitting down to canned chili, crackers, and applesauce. Adrian stopped near the flagpole ropes.

“Raise our colors, boy.”

Charlie and Adrian saluted, as did others, and the blond man’s quick eye saw those who looked natural, like they’d done it before. It likely meant they had military training or a history of service. He saw two, maybe three, and mentally added them to the list of interviews for the next set of Level One guards. There was work for them if they still had the desire to serve. He wouldn’t respect them as much if they didn’t. In the Corps, in for life, but he definitely understood, and wouldn’t treat them differently.

Kenn fell in on Adrian’s right as they moved on and Adrian noticed Charlie dropping back out of eye, but not earshot, pretending to be very involved in kicking a path through the sand that had blown back into the camp during the night.

“I have a great idea.” Kenn handed Adrian a slip of paper. “That’s our next supply run. Everything we need for a while, depending on how lucky we get.”

Adrian’s mouth curved into a smile and he clapped Kenn on the back. He really should have already thought of this. “Great is an understatement. Kyle’s men will be your escort. Leave day after tomorrow. I’ll need a list of people and supplies by tonight.”

“You know it,” Kenn answered, writing the directions down.

Adrian saw a look of satisfaction on young Charlie’s face. Had the boy helped Kenn? It was a brilliant idea, over half of America’s goods transported by rail and the massive boxcars would just be sitting there, waiting to be found and emptied. Some, say half even, would already be cleaned out or too damaged, but the rest would still be on the tracks where the EMPs or lack of fuel shut them down. It was a terrific idea. Kenn’s or the boy’s?

“What else?”

They moved to the parking area, Charlie trailing them, listening hard while appearing not to be.

“Last thing, I know you do fuel-ups by yourself on days when we’re shorthanded, like at the end of the month, and I thought maybe you could change things a little. Like for the Eagles to graduate to the next level, they have to put in hours on a teaching class. That would free up six or seven short shifts.”

“We are always short ten men.”

Kenn nodded, ran a beefy hand over his short black hair as the gritty wind ruffled it. “Give me one of the extras. That’ll still leave you two.”

Adrian laughed. “Two instead of ten. I won’t know what to do with the extra time.”

“Sleep,” Kenn said immediately, and they shared a grin of commiseration. Both of them averaged less than five hours a night.

“I’ve given your boy a full-time job.”

The wide-shouldered Marine nodded, okay with Charlie being distracted. The constant whining about his mother was relentless, and Kenn had found himself spending as much time away from the sulky teenager as he could. “He’s a hard worker.”

“I’ve noticed. You take the hand-to-hand test yet?”

Kenn shook his head, not reminding him they’d both passed one in basic training. What had happened before the War was mostly that: before.

“Doug’s class should still be going. Tell him I said to give you a quick run, but you should watch for a bit first, so you know what you’re up against.”

Kenn snapped off a quick salute as he left, and the boy moved back to Adrian’s side.

Adrian frowned, thinking the Marine couldn’t really help him teach the guards unless he was willing to go through the same things they did. He had decided the man wouldn’t have his own team of Eagles; he would serve the Boss instead. Kenn couldn’t do both, but he still had to do everything the teams did, in order to help teach them.
A little less confidence for the match tonight wouldn’t hurt either,
Adrian thought. The Marine was sharp and had only lost last time because the wind had gusted at the wrong second and ruined his shot.

Charlie felt sorry for whoever Kenn was cursing in his thoughts. When he did that, someone (usually his mom) ended up bleeding.

“Come on. Grab that box.”

Charlie did as he was told, clamping down on the request for his schedule that wanted to fly out of his mouth. Adrian would give it to him. He never went back on what he said, like most people.

6

An hour later, Adrian was almost sure the rail yard had been the smart, observant boy’s idea, was coming to think that the magic that fate had hinted at, was already here - had been for a while. It was just too young, too raw, to really be useful yet.

“So what’s this box for?” Charlie asked as they moved to the Mess line for bowls of soup and fresh biscuits.

Adrian grinned at him. “I thought you’d ask long before now. Line it with a garbage bag from the truck and put a note on it. Set it by the cans. ‘Food only’. It’s for the pregnant dogs.”

The boy had just finished and joined Adrian at the table when excited voices echoed, causing people to turn and look. A small group of talking men came by, helping a bloody Doug towards the medical tent, and Adrian grinned wryly, shaking his head as he and the boy went back to eating. He had underestimated Kenn. He wouldn’t do it again.

A second group of noisemakers arrived a couple minutes later, Kenn happily in their midst.

“Damnedest thing I ever saw.”

“Shoulda seen it!”

“Two hits! Just two hits!"

“Broke it. I heard it snap.”

Kenn was saying nothing, just grinning as they got in line, and Adrian looked to Charlie, noticing how he’d tensed. “Ready?”

The boy immediately got up, and they slipped out before Kenn was even halfway through the long, loud line.

Their next stop was the new livestock trailers and even newer vet, Chris. The Utah man had only been out of the QZ for a week and hard at work most of that time - alone, because of his surly attitude and smart mouth.

“Anybody home?”

There was movement from inside, but no answer, and Charlie raised his hand to open the semi's faded white door.

“Not a good idea boy, but you do what you want.”

Charlie dropped his hand, and they turned to see the tall, thin veterinarian step out of a nearby tent, his neat white coat and handsome face not hiding the frosty green eyes of a born loner.

“Star’s in there giving birth. She’s not in the mood for company.”

Adrian stepped over to him. “You see them yet?”

Chris tossed a small, white bag into the teenager’s hands. “One, normal as far as I can tell. When she’s done, we’ll knock her out and run the blood work.”

“Good.” Adrian shook his head at the offered envelope. “Kenn's job now. He’ll be by.”

Adrian turned to Charlie, eyes intent. “What’s your job that matters, son?”

“I’m a Dog Handler. Or at least I will be.”

“And do you know why this is a job that matters?”

Charlie thought about it, then shook his head. “No, sir.”

Adrian smiled, pleased. The boy would probably turn out to be very helpful in the future, reminded him of… Adrian stopped the stray thought. Not till they hit Arkansas. He wasn’t allowed to think of it (be distracted by it) until then, and that was still a lifetime away.

“That’s okay. When you do, come see me. In the meantime, Chris is the boss and teacher, so pay attention.”

Charlie snapped off a salute. “You know it.”

The very smart teenager stepped over to Chris with his hand out. “Hi. I’m Charlie, your new slave. What should I do first?”

Adrian grinned, and the stern-faced vet nodded, hiding his own smile.

“That’s a real good start, boy. Put on the clothes in the bag and then come in the truck. I’ll have her chained up by then. Today, we help dogs repopulate the earth.”