by Lopez, Rob
Harvey sat on a chair, a bandage wrapped around his head. He was hunched over, and at first Rick thought he might be unconscious, but he was rubbing his hands slowly along his thighs. Sally lay contorted on a bed, not moving. In the other beds, three of the patients had sheets covering their faces. Only the jaundiced patient remained alive, his bulging eyes still staring. Rick turned his gun on the security guard.
“Harvey? What happened here?”
Harvey continued to anxiously rub his thighs in a guilty motion, and Rick feared the worst.
“Harvey? What have you done?”
Rick couldn’t see the shotgun anywhere, but he wasn’t sure if Harvey had another weapon, like maybe a knife. He planted his sights on the security guard’s head.
At that moment, Sally sat up, blinking sleep from her eyes. “Hey,” she said. “You’re back.”
Rick was confused for a second. “Are you okay?” he said.
“Yeah,” said Sally cautiously, seeing the weapon aimed at Harvey. “What are you doing?”
Rick reassessed the situation, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. He lowered his gun. “Nothing. What happened here? Whose blood is that?”
“That’s Harvey’s,” said the nurse, looking sympathetically at the security guard. “We were robbed. Three guys came in and beat Harvey up. They took most of our medicines.”
Rick looked at the three dead patients. “And them?”
“They passed away in the night. It’s not related, though the trauma might have affected them, I don’t know.”
Lauren appeared at Rick’s side. “Oh my God,” she said. “Who did this?”
“Three guys. Well, two of them. They were the ones armed. Real thugs. They forced Harvey to kneel on the floor and then clubbed him over the head.”
“How badly injured is he?” said Rick, seeing as Harvey still hadn’t acknowledged their presence. “I mean, is he all there? Cognitive functions, and all?”
“He’s fine,” said Sally. “He just feels bad because he couldn’t protect us, but I don’t blame him. If he hadn’t surrendered, he’d likely be dead.” She turned to Rick. “Why were you pointing a gun at him?”
Rick wasn’t sure how to diplomatically explain that he thought Harvey had gone crazy and killed Sally and the patients, so he didn’t bother. “Doesn’t matter now. Describe the guys. What were they armed with?”
“The two guys were redneck types, real brutal, and they had guns like yours. The third guy wasn’t armed that I could see. He seemed to be in charge. He was a little guy and he apologized. Said he wouldn’t take all the medicines, though he took most of them, along with the protein supplements. And the shotgun, of course. Then they took off.”
“And he apologized?”
“Kind of. He didn’t appear to have much control over the brutes. He was smiling all the time. He looked a little crazy, actually.”
“Did he have a New Jersey accent?” asked Lauren.
“As a matter of fact, he did.”
“Packy,” said Lauren with a frown, turning to Rick.
“You know the guy?” asked Sally.
“We crossed paths with him a couple of times,” said Lauren.
“He’s the nut with the grenade we warned you about,” sighed Rick.
“I didn’t see no grenade,” said Sally.
“Consider that a plus. Look, your position here’s been compromised. It’s time to get you out.”
“When the time’s right, we’ll go,” said Sally. She glanced at the one remaining patient. “But not until then.”
Rick too looked at the patient, the bloodshot eyes gazing back at him, almost pleading. A pillow over his face right now would end the misery, and Rick wondered if that was what the man wanted. He couldn’t see Sally agreeing to that, though, so he didn’t pursue that thought. Instead he took out his map and spread it on a table.
“When the time is right,” he said, “I suggest you come south. Stay off the roads, though. If you follow the Little Sugar Creek, you’ll come to Freedom Park. There’s a small nature museum there. We’ve checked it out, and it’s clear. If you hole up there, we’ll find you. We’ve brought a Primus stove, and more food and water. It should keep you going.”
From inside his vest, Rick pulled out a revolver – a nickel-plated .357 Colt Python he’d taken off the man whose throat he’d slit. He made to hand it to Harvey, but the security man continued to harbor his shame and humiliation, and he glared at Rick, like the whole thing was his fault. Rick gave up and laid the revolver on the table instead.
“The choice is yours,” he said to Sally. “This’ll be our last visit here. I don’t recommend you stay too long. I don’t think it’s a good idea to strike out for the camps, either, but I’ll let you decide. If you want to join us, you’ll know where we can find you.”
After they left, Lauren said to Rick, “Maybe one of us should stay with them. I don’t think they know how to defend themselves.”
“No,” said Rick, proceeding resolutely down the stairs. “I’ve given them enough chances. They’re on their own now.”
“Wait, I thought you were the one who wanted to help people out?”
“Yeah, if they’re smart. I draw the line at stubborn and stupid, though. I told that idiot he needed to sort out his security, and now he’s sulking like a child. We can’t help people who don’t want to be helped. If they survive and we encounter them again, then maybe we’ll talk. Until then, I’m done.”
“Tough love,” reasoned Lauren.
“I don’t think we can afford any other kind.”
*
“Wait for it,” warned Scott.
Lizzy continued to run back and forth across the ballroom, but Daniel stopped, giving Scott an expectant look.
“Keep running,” said Scott. “Wait until I give the word.”
Daniel resumed his awkward, shambling gait, and Scott looked on with his best PT instructor glare.
“Move it, move it,” he barked.
The children ran from one wall to the other and back again, nearing exhaustion, at which point Scott clapped his hands loudly.
“Hide,” he shouted.
The two children scurried like rats to opposite corners of the ballroom, where a haphazard collection of tables and chairs had been stacked, and burrowed into them until they were out of sight.
Almost.
“I can see your foot, Daniel,” drawled Scott. “I see that foot, I’m gonna shoot it right off.”
The foot disappeared. April covered her mouth to stop herself laughing.
“Okay,” grinned Scott. “Exercise is over.”
Lizzy came out beaming. “I hid well. My foot wasn’t showing, was it?”
Daniel came out a little more cautiously, like he expected to be told off.
“Hey,” said Scott. “You did okay. Give me five, both of you.”
They ran up to him to slap his outstretched hand.
“Now take a break. Later, we’re shelling acorns.”
The children ran off to play in another room, still full of energy. Josh was doing pushups by the hearth. He’d brought weights in from the gym and seemed serious about increasing his strength. Scott thought he’d changed a lot in just a few days. Someone had flicked a switch in the boy, and he didn’t seem interested in being a teenager anymore. He wanted to be a man.
“Where did you get so good with kids?” said April. She was sitting behind a line of sandbags at the tall window, ostensibly keeping watch, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off Scott.
Scott shrugged. “Don’t know that I did.”
“I think so.”
Scott scratched his beard. “Probably because I never grew up myself.”
“Did you ever want children yourself?”
Scott grew thoughtful. “Not sure. It’s kind of complicated.”
“How can it be complicated? You either do or you don’t.”
Scott shook his head. “Wasn’t that simple. When we were in Afghanistan post-9
/11, chasing Bin Laden, we lived in the mountains with the tribes, moving from village to village. They kept their womenfolk hidden from us westerners, but the children were allowed to approach us, and like kids everywhere, they wanted chocolate and gum. They were dirt poor, but a lot of fun. Oftentimes I would be sitting there, seeing the snow on the mountain tops, watching straggly goats and sheep being herded by a group of kids, and I’d picture myself living in the mountains like that one day, with my own place. Children seemed such a natural part of the environment that I couldn’t imagine not having some myself. I kind of liked the idea. Then I’d return stateside and see all these bratty kids, and realized the reality of taking them to school, organizing play dates and all that crap. Teacher’s meetings, rules and the State watching your every move. Lost interest real fast. Outside, in the poorer parts of the world, kids were, like, organic. Back home, it looked like the fun had been sucked out of them, or of having them. I preferred to drink instead. And I never gave it much more thought than that.”
“You’re a romantic.”
Scott scowled. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“Sure you are. Maybe you should have considered living off the grid.”
“Nah. Seemed too much like make-believe. Pretending to be away from it all, while still in the middle of it all. Could have gone to Alaska, I suppose, but I guess I was too lazy to make anything happen. Me, I prefer to drift.”
“We’re off-grid now,” said April with a glint in her eye.
Scott caught the look. “And what would you be insinuating by that?”
“Insinuating nothing. I’m telling you straight. Here we are, no rules. Have you ever considered starting a family? Or having one?”
“You checking me out? Seeing if I’m the right kind of fella to be around?”
April cocked her head. “I’m done checking. I just want to know if you can see the man inside that I see.”
Scott arched an eyebrow. “Girl, I swear you see qualities in me that might not exist. I’m a bum with a gun, nothing more. Is this that whole woman thing where she tries to change her guy to be the one she wants, but then gets pissed when he wants something else? From what I hear, that only ends in tears. And alimony.”
April laughed. “Well, the alimony would have been nice. But no, I don’t want to make that mistake again. I’m just saying: you’re not like any other guy I’ve ever known. And I knew some bums with guns. They were just bums. No redeeming features. Fake-ass wannabes. I’m tired of all that.” She took a good look at him. “I think you are, too.”
“I’m not tired of anything. People are what they are. It’s never bothered me none. I ain’t out to change anyone.”
“That’s not what I was saying.”
“It is what I’m saying, though. I take things as they come, and I ain’t looking to change myself, either. What you see is what you get.”
April seemed amused. “I don’t want to change you, Scott.”
“Just warning you. I’ve had plenty who wanted to change me, and it didn’t end well for them.”
“Women?”
“Nah. Officers. They hated me worse than poison. I don’t have a lot of experience with women. Relationships, I mean.”
April smirked. “I’ll try not to get all high-maintenance on you.”
Scott chuckled. “I guess I’ll let you hang around some, then.”
Lizzy and Daniel came running back into the room. “Mom and Dad are back,” said Lizzy breathlessly.
Scott pulled a face. “Should we look busy?” he said.
“You’re always busy, Uncle Scott,” said Lizzy.
“Only when there’s eyes to see,” he said, winking surreptitiously to April.
Rick and Lauren entered the room, and Lizzy ran to hug her father. His mind elsewhere, Rick absently picked her up. Daniel looked on, like he was analyzing behavior that was alien to him.
“How’d it go?” asked Scott.
“Not so good,” said Rick. “The threat level’s gone up. We need to locate that generator Chuck said he heard. At least to eliminate one possible danger.”
“We can go out now, if you want.”
“No. We already came through that area and heard nothing. We need to go out tonight. Meantime, how are you and April fixed for a shopping trip? There’s a big outdoor and sports store to the south-west, and we need warm winter coats and thermal underlayers.”
Scott turned to April. “What do you say, pardner?”
April hefted her shotgun with a sardonic grin. “Lemme hitch up my britches, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Mommy,” said Lizzy over Rick’s shoulder, “Daniel and me were learning how to run and hide. Can you play that game with us?”
“Sure,” said Lauren. “Why not?”
Rick lowered Lizzy to the ground, noting the weights Josh had brought in. “We’ll go out hunting later,” he told his son, “but first I’m going to give you some unarmed combat instruction. We need to work on your reactions as well as your strength.”
Scott swaggered past Josh with a wink. “You’re going to get a whooping, boy,” he drawled.
20
The night sky was clear, and there was definitely an unseasonable chill in the air. A sickle moon cast just enough light to show their condensing breath. Without even a whisper of wind, it was difficult to walk quietly on the carpet of freshly fallen leaves. Scott placed his feet carefully, moving through shadows in the yards. Not far away, he was vaguely aware of Rick doing the same. So far, they’d heard nothing untoward.
Scott had other things on his mind, too. When he and April had returned from their scavenging trip, he’d been the first to enter the clubhouse. Daniel had come running up to him and hugged him in imitation of what he’d seen Lizzy do. It should have been a joyous moment, but the memory nagged at Scott. He liked Daniel a lot, but he barely knew the boy, and the boy didn’t know him. Yet Daniel had hugged him first, rather than his own mother.
The desire to embrace the father figure he’d never had was strong in the boy. It was a poignant moment, and the look in April’s eyes was a picture of love, as if touched by the sight.
It gave Scott a lot to think about. In spite of April’s flattery, he didn’t think of himself as anything exceptional, and certainly not any kind of father type. The whole business of family was a deep subject that he usually skirted past. The solid bond between parent and child was something outside of his own experience. He could be an uncle – at a push. He wasn’t sure he could actually be a dad, adopted or otherwise.
Fact was, though, he enjoyed embracing Daniel. It felt right. And when he looked at April, he was suddenly part of a tribe of three. Totally unplanned, and way out of his comfort zone.
But right.
The idea that he had a reason to come back unscathed from a patrol was new to him. It made sense, of course, to not get wounded, but it never loomed in his mind this way. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about him. Truth be told, it was barely about him now, and he was thinking about his adopted family when he really should have been concentrating on what might lie in the shadows ahead.
Scott rarely had a mind to examine things too closely, and he didn’t have a lot of patience for those who did, but this felt weird enough to make him wonder. The sense of responsibility sat heavy with him, and for a guy only interested in a carefree life, that was odd.
He didn’t just like April and Daniel – he was falling for them. And there were enough clues to suggest that maybe he’d been doing so for longer than he was aware of. It was like he was only just catching up to what some part of him already knew. He wasn’t aware that he ever kept secrets from himself, but decided that maybe he wasn’t the simple guy he’d always taken himself for.
A faint rhythmic thumping caught his attention and interrupted his thoughts. Rick halted, indicating he heard it too. Together, the two tracked the sound down to a nearby yard.
It was an ordinary yard to an unremarkable brick house. Dying plants and a small deck. A two-story
house with no lights showing. It appeared abandoned, but the muffled chug of what appeared to be a silenced generator indicated otherwise. Rick and Scott watched and waited by a neighboring fence, looking for more clues of what might be afoot, but nothing showed itself. Eventually they hopped the fence.
The house was locked, the drapes all drawn, and it didn’t appear to have been looted. The garage was also locked, and while they couldn’t see inside, they could smell gasoline. The sound of the generator wasn’t coming from there, though.
The pipes from the guttering of the house and the garage didn’t lead to normal drains, but had been diverted and sunk into the ground. Cautiously, they searched the yard. The muted thumping led them to an exhaust vent hidden under a bush. Crawling around the edge of the yard, they discovered another hidden pipe sticking out of the ground. Putting his hand over the opening of the pipe, Scott felt air being sucked down.
It was an underground chamber. Judging from the growth of the young trees in the yard, Scott guessed it had been built a while back, perhaps as a personal nuclear shelter during the Cold War. The distance between the intake and exhaust vents indicated a sizable chamber.
Scott imagined it capable of housing an entire family, with stocks of food that could last them months, maybe even a year. Certainly, there was no sign of any vegetables growing in the yard to feed the inhabitants, though it was possible they were growing food under UV lights underground.
A manhole cover in the driveway that refused to yield to their attempts to pry it open might have been a secret entrance, but Scott guessed the real entrance would be inside. He was tempted to break into the house – external security was negligible – but Rick pulled him away. They held a hasty whispered conference in the next street.
“I don’t want to let them know we were here,” said Rick.
“If they’re going to sit in a bunker without a lookout, I don’t see that it matters.”
