“Oh, shit…” Harper started to relax, but strong arms closed around her from behind in a bear hug.
“Beth, run!” yelled a teen boy.
Harper rammed her head backward into his face. He emitted a muffled oof and his grip slackened. Cliff’s training kicked in, and without even thinking about it, she hammered the butt end of the shotgun into the guy’s crotch as hard as she could.
He emitted a pitiful moan and collapsed to the rug in a fetal pose, cradling himself.
“Holy shit!” said Beth. “Why did you do that? Jaden, are you okay? Oh, God, you like totally crushed his balls.”
Harper instinctively backed off to the side, keeping both of them in front of her. When she noticed the boy also had nothing on, she cringed. A few empty beer cans lay on the rug, along with a pile of clothing.
The boy made a meep noise.
“Sorry. But you shouldn’t have grabbed me like that. Are you bleeding?”
He emitted a moan that mostly sounded like a no.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” yelled Beth. “Just walking into a house?”
Harper frowned at her. “Seriously? You two sneak in here to have sex and you’re bitching at me? I’m on the militia, investigating a break-in. This isn’t your house. No one is supposed to be in this one.”
At the word ‘militia,’ Beth lost her antagonistic attitude and resumed cowering in the corner. “Are we in trouble?”
Jaden moaned again.
“No. There may be an unidentified person sneaking around town, so I was checking everywhere around the break-in.” Since neither teen struck her as likely to be a threat, she averted her gaze. “Like I said, this isn’t anyone’s house yet, so if you guys want to borrow it, go for it.”
Beth darted over to the bedspread, wrapped herself in it, and took a knee beside Jaden. “Let me see. Oh, gawd… it’s bruised.”
Jaden emitted a pained grunt.
Harper cringed. “Do you need help getting him to the clinic?”
“You’ve done enough already,” muttered Beth.
“He ambushed me from behind. He’s lucky all I did was hit him. And, seriously? What kind of dumbass are you, grabbing me like that? If you pounced on me just a little bit harder, I could have clenched up on the trigger and killed Beth.”
“Thought,” rasped Jaden, “you were gonna kill her.”
“Umm. Do killers usually yell ‘don’t move?’ You damn near made me shoot her by jumping on me.”
He took a few deep breaths, then coughed. “What the hell was I supposed to do? I walk outta the bathroom and see someone pointing a gun at my girl.”
“You could have thrown something off to the side to distract. Don’t jump on a person with a rifle until it’s not pointed at anyone you don’t want to see dead.” Harper slung it over her shoulder. “Look, I’m sorry for hurting you. Bad situation all around. You grabbed me and I just… training took over.”
Jaden sat up and examined his nether regions.
Harper turned away, blushing.
“Think I’m okay. Gonna be sore for a bit. So, wow, they really made you a cop?”
“Basically,” said Harper, without looking.
“Right on. Ow. Yeah, this is gonna be sore for a while.”
Harper looked down at the carpet in front of her sneakers. Sudden worry that she’d get in trouble and kicked off the militia turned her back into the fidgety, shy version of herself from before the war. But, he had grabbed her. True, she probably should have tried yelling get off me and saying militia or something, but a real bad guy wouldn’t have cared. Confidence returned. No, she did exactly as Cliff would have wanted her to do when grabbed by an unknown party. Fortunately, her attacker turned out to be a horny high school kid and not a crazed recluse. At the sudden realization she’d been in the arms of a naked man, she blushed scarlet.
“Seriously, we’re not in like trouble or anything?” asked Beth.
“Who would we get in trouble with?” asked Jaden in a lifeless tone. “Our parents?”
Beth stared at him for a few seconds, her lip quivering, then burst into tears.
“Hey… hey… sorry.” He put an arm around her. “I meant things are different now. No one’s gonna care that we’re together. It’s just you and me, Beth.”
“Until you’re gone, too,” said Beth past sniffles.
Harper edged to the door, whispering, “I’ll just give you guys some privacy.”
“Look, I know we’re young, but it’s like we went back in time. People used to get married at our age. I love you, Beth, and I’ll always be here for you.”
Okay, nothing more for me to do here… She slipped out into the hall and made her way downstairs. Well, could’ve been worse I suppose… I could’ve walked in on them right in the middle of it.
Her cheeks aflame, Harper hurried off down the street with zero interest in exploring other houses. She’d talk to Walter or Roy about the break in as soon as possible, but it could probably wait until her patrol shift ended.
If someone’s watching the kids, they might be at the school, waiting to see who walks away alone. She changed course, heading at a fast walk to the school building.
12
Roaches
Harper roamed around the school building four times, searching all the places she figured someone might hide.
That she didn’t find anyone offered relief and worry in equal measure. Class let out sooner than she expected. Based on the position of the sun, it couldn’t be much past noon. Confused, she headed to the front of the building to walk her siblings home, but upon noticing the kids all remained lined up as if about to go on an organized field trip, she remembered today—Tuesday—was a farm day. She decided to join them, walking along beside Madison and Jonathan as the teachers herded the class past the building, across the sports fields behind it, and up a forested hill to Route 74. Upon noticing Harper there, Lorelei broke away from the smaller kids’ up front and ran over.
Madison didn’t seem too thrilled with being marched around in a line like the world hadn’t been broken and she still had to obey teachers, but offered only a few grumbles on the way to the farm on the opposite side of the highway.
Wow, they’re going to walk the class across the highway? That’s like as wrong as me going into the school with a loaded shotgun.
Still, not like any cars would hit anyone. Except for having to cross a chain link fence and four lanes of empty pavement, the farm sat conveniently close to the school. The ground had a noticeable incline, but they didn’t exactly have to worry about big farm machines being able to drive around. Harper coughed at the overly earthy scent in the air, like she’d gone into the garden section at Home Depot and a giant dog had an accident. Of course, the poo smell came from the animal pens farther north where a handful of cows, chickens, and even alpacas milled around.
Approximately 200 people pitched in on the farm, give or take based on what work needed to be done on any given day. Planting and harvesting would require the most bodies. In between, a smaller group took care of irrigation, constructing new planting beds and building pens for a gradually growing stock of animals. Only four people in town really understood farming as they’d worked on or owned farms before the war. The most knowledgeable, Jim Rollins, had been named ‘farm coordinator’ by the mayor. They had at least three actual plumbers, who’d been focusing their efforts mostly on building an irrigation system to draw from a small creek west of the farm.
For the next three or so hours, the kids broke up into groups that helped out here and there with various tasks or simply followed one of the experienced farmers while they went about their work, describing every step of the process and fielding questions from the kids. Harper didn’t want to interfere, so she didn’t hover too close to her siblings, instead ‘patrolling’ the area while the children attended to their duties. Madison wound up with a team learning how to take care of chickens. Predictably, she cried the entire time they discussed how to properly k
ill them when their time came to be dinner. Though her little sister had begrudgingly accepted eating meat, she doubted Madison would ever be able to kill an animal. Jonathan went with a group to check out the potato fields. Harper noted that he seemed to be sticking close to Mila.
Does he have a crush on her or is he just being protective?
The smallest kids, including Lorelei, went seed planting in a newly-tilled area.
Except for Madison’s reaction to the killing discussion, the kids all seemed to be enjoying the time outside. Mila did try to lurk at the edges and be unnoticed, but Jonathan kept encouraging her to participate. She thought it cute, but the girl’s reaction worried her. She kept looking around with a fearful, intense stare, not making faces like a surly introvert forced to be with people.
It’s almost like she’s expecting to be attacked at any minute.
Harper hadn’t exactly been around a farm before, but this one felt massive. Seeing all the plants growing, the animal pens fuller than last time she’d come by, and everyone working to keep it going made it seem possible they’d actually survive. She kicked a few dirt clods while meandering along, daydreaming about the mall, watching movies, video games, hanging out with her friends, or sitting in history class trying to stay awake.
Mr. Collins said it’s easier to destroy than create. It only took hours to undo like 200 years of advancement. So much for flying cars and space ships in 2219. We’ll be lucky if 2219 feels like 2019. Wait, no. I hope it’s not that bad. People were too shitty to each other.
Laughter came from a group near the edge of the farm. Harper glanced over at a cluster of hockey players, Zach at their center. She recognized Kirk beside him, but not the freakishly tall boy on the right, Paul according to the name stitched on his jacket. The fourth kid had the size of a junior but a babyish face more like a twelve-year-old’s. Of the four, only he lacked any facial hair. His jacket bore the name Mike.
Zach gestured at another boy around the same age who had a light brown complexion. That boy didn’t have a varsity jacket on, only a plain white T-shirt liberally soaked with sweat and dirt. Long, straight black hair hung a little past his shoulders, draped forward as he worked taking green leafy plants out of a wheelbarrow and stuffing them into a neat row along a plowed field. She couldn’t remember his name, but knew he’d also come in with the team. He had to be sixteen or seventeen, too old for school, and had likely been at the farm all day.
She scowled at the jocks, wondering how long Ned would allow them to just stand there without working. They’d been hovering around the Hispanic kid for at least half an hour. If they’d been assigned to the farm, they ignored their jobs.
“Hey Ruiz,” said Zach, “not even a nuclear war gets your people out of doing farm work, huh?”
The other three laughed.
“You guys are working on the farm, too amigo,” said Ruiz. “Guess your Dad had no one to, uhh, donate to so you got a better job, right?”
Two of the boys laughed. Zach and Kirk glared.
“Eat a dick, Logan,” said Zach.
“He already has,” muttered Kirk.
The boys laughed until Logan calmly said, “Aww, Kirk… that was supposed to be our little secret. Now everyone knows.”
Kirk rushed forward, raising his fists. Logan dropped a small hand shovel and took a step back, falling into an odd combat stance with his arms slack at his sides.
“Watch out for that Mexican kung fu,” said Zach. “He hits you once, you’ll spend all day sleeping.”
“Wait, for real?” asked Mike.
“No, he’s trying to make a siesta joke.” Logan scratched at his eyebrow. “You’re forgetting your audience, Zach. If there’s any thinking required, they won’t get it.”
Kirk took a swipe at Logan, but he evaded with a fluid lean.
“Ooh, Lo’s got moves,” said Zach.
Harper hurried over. “Hey! Knock it off.”
“Uh oh,” said Kirk. “We’re in trouble now. Here comes the poh-leece.”
Three of the varsity boys laughed, though Zach didn’t.
Mike pointed at her. “Maybe you should start with the redhead first, Kirk. But be careful. She looks like she could take you. Can’t fight the taco boss until you get past the miniboss.”
Harper shook her head. “Seriously? Is that kid actually twelve or does he only look and talk like it?”
The boys—except for Mike—laughed.
She gestured at Logan. “Don’t you guys have something better to do than stand around being jackasses? You’ve been hanging out here for at least a half hour. Haven’t you taken work assignments by now?”
“Oh, yeah, we might not get paid if they catch us goofing off,” muttered Zach.
The other three chuckled.
“It’s okay, they don’t bother me,” said Logan.
“That’s not the point.” She sighed at him, then stared at Kirk. “One letter on a schedule is the only reason you guys are still even alive. If that had been a home game, you would’ve all been in Colorado Springs when a giant damn nuke went off, and you’d be dust. Do I really need to spell it out to you that there’s no such thing as paychecks anymore? No food magically showing up in grocery stores. You’re not working to earn a couple bucks so you can go drinking. This is us trying to stay alive. And if you’re planning on sitting around doing nothing, letting everyone else risk their lives or bust their butts, you should find a new town.”
Zach approached Harper, patting Kirk’s shoulder on the way, which caused him to back off from Logan. “So, hey, girl. How about you and me go do something fun?”
“I can’t. I’m working. Please, just leave him alone.”
“Working?” Paul laughed. “You?”
“What, you like into Mexicans or something?” Zach glanced at Logan.
She briefly considered telling him ‘what would happen’ if he didn’t leave Logan alone like some character out of a movie, but couldn’t find it in her to make threats. “Look, if you guys want to remain here in Evergreen, you will need to stop causing trouble.”
Zach laughed. “Forget him, baby. Neither one of us needs to be here right now. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”
“Who is this chick?” asked Paul, his voice way deep for an eighteen-year-old. “You’ve been standing around for hours and you’re giving us attitude about not working?”
She looked up at him, his chin higher than the top of her head. “I’m on the militia. Basically a cop. I’m here to make sure everyone stays safe.”
Zach appeared to be fighting the urge to smile, while Kirk, Paul, and Mike all openly laughed at her.
“You are going to protect me?” Paul laughed again. “Look at this tiny chick with a giant shotgun. Bet you couldn’t even fire that thing. It would put you straight on your ass.”
“Probably jump straight out of her hands,” said Mike.
Harper folded her arms. “I didn’t realize ‘jerk’ was an actual occupation.”
The boys snickered.
“Oh, no. We’re ‘jerks,’” whispered Kirk. “Better watch the language, there kid.”
“How’d they wind up giving you that damn thing?” asked Paul.
“Maybe she likes holding the big rods?” asked Mike.
Zach whacked him on the shoulder with a backhand. “Dude. Don’t talk to her like that.”
She considered saying the gun belonged to her dead father, but these four would only mock that, too. “I had it when I got here. Didn’t want to surrender it, so I joined the militia. And yes, I have fired it.”
“Ever shoot anyone?” Zach leaned grinned while making finger pistols.
“Yes,” said Harper, deadpan. “I’ve lost count.”
All five of the boys fell quiet, looking at her. Zach swallowed, unnerved by the distance in her eyes. He glanced away after a moment, muttered, “C’mon, guys, let’s finish that damn plow shit,” and walked off.
Paul, Mike, and Kirk regarded Logan with disdain, her with a mixture of
annoyance and curiosity, then followed Zach, whispering amongst themselves, mocking her calling them ‘jerks.’
She shook her head. “Sorry about those jackasses.”
“It’s okay. They’ve been like that for years. Used to get the ‘Mexican on ice’ jokes.”
“Ugh. Some people.”
“They always said cockroaches would survive the nuclear war.” He chuckled. “Guess they were right.”
“Hah.”
He offered a hand. “Hi. I’m Logan. I used to play hockey and go to school. Now I plant”—he swiped the bundle he dropped and held it up—“whatever the hell these are.”
“Turnips?” asked Harper, trying not to look into his rich brown eyes… or picture him dressed like a teenage Captain Jack Sparrow, which his long hair and wispy beard would totally work for. She almost blurted something stupid like ‘gotta get back to work’ and hurried away from him, but he didn’t give off vibes like he planned to suggest they go make out somewhere… so she stayed put.
“Could be turnips, yeah.” Logan held the bundle up to study. “Hmm, probably are.”
She bit her lip, worrying that if she got to know him, he’d wind up being bonkers, too. Or something else would happen. Or maybe that uneasy feeling swimming around in her gut meant she should run like hell while she still could. He might be crazy. But… meds would’ve run out a long time ago. Oh, what are the odds…? I can at least be friendly. “Hi. I’m Harper. I, uhh, used to be the quiet girl no one noticed. Now I’m a deputy… or something.”
He smiled. “Sounds like you’ve got quite a story. Maybe you’ll tell me sometime?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe. You probably got a story, too.”
“Not really. Just a kid from the suburbs who liked hockey, got on the right bus at the right time. Trying to stay alive like everyone else.”
“I’m sorry about your parents or family.”
“Thank you.” He raised his brows slightly, an inquisitive look in his eye.
She bowed her head. “Yeah.”
“Sorry about your parents.”
The World That Remains (Evergreen Book 2) Page 13
