by Angela White
The vet left them on their own, going on to the animals in the larger pens and the two Marines labored silently, both knowing they needed to make peace, but neither wanting it.
One holding, one shoving the huge pill down the small throat while avoiding the claws, they found a rhythm…as they always had on base. When they finished the cats, the vet switched them to pigs, and then the dogs that had to be brought out one by one, because even standing was hard in that mass of tails and teeth.
An hour after they had been switched to goats, Angela and Charlie joined them, the wolf on their heels. The boy worked with the dogs beside the tent, where Chris could guide him. Angela was left to her own devices after being shown what the vet wanted and she didn’t talk to the laboring males, tried not to even look their way unless she had to. She didn’t want to make things worse and the time went by slowly.
Well after lunch mess had come and gone, Kyle entered their line of sight, drawing frowns from both sweaty Marines.
“He wants you on the trucks now,” he told Marc, ignoring the other bruised man dripping sweat.
Marc grunted, not sure if he cared what Adrian wanted. He slowly exited the vet area with steps that said to leave him be. He didn’t glance at Angela as he went.
The wolf fell in on Marc’s right, shaking his coat, and they traveled through the camp with no signs they noticed the whispers. Unable to ignore Adrian’s order, he went to the next line of trucks that had come in without acknowledging Neil’s second friendly greeting of the day. He hadn’t forgiven Neil yet, wasn’t sure if he could.
4
Eager to be clean, Kenn left as soon as Marc and Kyle were out of sight. If Brady didn’t have to do this shit, then neither did he.
When Kenn came from the shower camper, Adrian was standing nearby.
“People pick-up, asap, Zack has the details. After the meeting tomorrow night, slaver recon.”
Kenn winced when Adrian turned from him, but clamped his mouth shut. A recon mission was exactly what he needed. Some time to make new plans and be away from Brady’s face for a while. He’d make sure Jeff and Allan, two of Zack’s friends, knew to keep track of them, and he would climb in his Bronco and get the hell out of here.
Kenn’s chin lifted. Maybe he’d keep going. He had no doubts about his own survival in this new world.
His shoulders drooped at that thought. Even if he found another camp to help with, there was only one Adrian and he was here.
5
Neil saw Brady stalking toward the parking area and gestured, hoping Marc had begun to understand, but received no response. He was still hot. Neil had witnessed the fight and wanted to tell Marc he’d done exactly right, but knew it wouldn’t matter. Their fast friendship might already be over.
The Arizona cop was bothered by the thought. During his life, Neil had made few real friends until coming to Safe Haven and he still valued each one. Plus, he honestly liked Marc.
Neil bypassed the training area, going to the hooch they had set up behind a few trucks to give their new storm tracker a private place to work. The sky held that pale pink tone that said to watch out, but most of the camp was oblivious, thanks to the morning’s distraction. People were already laying bets on how long it might be before Kenn snapped for real. It was a matter of…Damn!
Stretched out on the hood of a dented car, Samantha looked up at Neil’s intake of breath, smiling. “I wondered if he forgot about me.”
Neil forced himself to act as if he wasn’t drowning in a completely unexpected wave of need. Her body was laid out in a way that called to him and he tried to keep it from his voice.
“You have a radio?”
Samantha held up the hand out of his view, showing her set. “Nothing to call about yet.”
Neil went to the bumper, fighting the urge to ogle her like a horny teen. He would go take a shower after this. “He said to tell you it’s too soon.”
Sam smiled, glad of the comfort.
When she shut her lids, Neil let his eyes go up her jean-clad legs and over her sweater-covered chest. Nice.
He tore his hot gaze away. “Let me know if you need anything.”
He faded into the lightly swaying trees with a frown, unaware of anything but his reaction to the new woman. What was it about Samantha that drew him so hard?
On guard duty over Samantha, Jeremy chose not to tell Neil he had a tail. Neil had felt something with Samantha, his teammate was sure of it and hoping that little Becky would now prove herself too young.
Neil heard the female steps behind him and turned. “Samantha, can I ask you–”
Becky pressed her body against Neil’s in abandon, pushing her lips to his, and for an instant, his grip tightened!
His mouth slanted over hers with a snarl of need that had her trembling and then he was gone.
“Damn kid!” Neil spat, unable to disguise his disappointment. “With anyone else, you’d be on your back right now!”
He moved away from her, hard body under rigid control. “Get inside the tape!”
Startled by his anger, and frustrated by the age difference, Becky scooped up a thick handful of mud and let it fly.
Neil sensed something coming and ducked before realizing who had stepped in front of him.
Adrian stiffened in surprise as the thick glop hit him in the face and slopped over the front of his jacket in thick clumps.
Everyone froze.
Taking in a tight, calming breath, Adrian slowly used his clean hands to clear the space around his eyes. “Neil?”
Horrified…“Yeah?” he answered harshly, not caring that the girl was now shedding real tears. Damn kid!
“Make sure she pitches for the next baseball game.”
They both stared stupidly at him, and Adrian turned toward camp, noting Jeremy’s satisfied look through mud-streaked lashes.
“I’ll be in the shower.” Adrian slung another handful of mud to the ground. “Maybe I’ll practice ducking while I’m there…”
Not sure what he might say to the crying girl, Neil headed for the training tent, leaving Becky alone.
Drawn by the sound of her name, Samantha had witnessed most of it and come from the windy shadows when the men were gone. “You okay?”
Becky stiffened in embarrassment. It just kept getting better. “Fine!”
Sam shrugged. “Just thought I’d ask. He was kinda rough on you, kid.”
Becky didn’t want the older woman’s pity and she cried out in anger, “Slam you!”
The teenager fled and Samantha returned to her area with a feeling she refused to identify. She wasn’t happy that Neil had refused the reckless girl, she told herself, fighting a grin. Not one bit.
6
Before Adrian made it to the shower, he was distracted by the sight of Dog sitting alone near the supply trucks. Not sure why, he joined the wolf.
Dog’s eyes lightened to a warm shade of golden amusement.
It seems we’ve had the same kind of day.
Adrian felt his mind try to resist and locked down on it. He kept his steps even, but stopped from the friendly rub he’d been about to greet the wolf with.
“What kind?”
Adrian gaped in surprise as the animal groaned. Was he being mocked by a wolf?
Use the talk of thoughts so they’ll stop staring, Dog ordered impatiently. He hated communicating this way. It felt wrong.
Adrian noticed the wolf had thick clumps of mud in his fur and understood he had been on duty, running off ants.
There is trouble coming.
Adrian knelt down, pulling a dog snack from his pocket. Do you like these?
No. They taste like feet smell. The wolf obediently took the lint-covered treat from Adrian fingers, and snapped it down.
The others around here, like me, are dangerous. You shouldn’t linger.
Adrian grinned, hiding his worry. Not ants. Wolves. Thank you.
Dog sniffed his outstretched palm gently, and licked away the crumbs. I watch
over the herd… work again. It is my honor.
Adrian watched the wolf pad toward the perimeter. Fate was giving him all he’d begged for and more.
7
“Get set folks. This one’s gonna take a bit.”
Freshly showered and standing by his usual table, Adrian opened his notebook and the crowded mess slowly quieted down. They had finished the evening meal and people were smoking, chatting lightly.
The center fire and cans popped nearby and the wind blew sticky hair from sweaty skin when it gusted. The temperatures were getting odder. It was the second week in April and they were sweating. What was next? Rain for a month straight?
Adrian sent his gaze over his flock, vaguely aware of bug zappers buzzing and guards circling. They’re nervous, was his first thought. Nervous and ready to run. The sniper attack had them a little spooked. Good thing he was ready to sing.
“This is the 4th mandatory meeting of Safe Haven. We are now two-hundred strong.”
There were murmurs at the large number and Marc took the moment to do a fast check. He noted things that made him unhappy, but they were minor–sentries slightly out of place, a corner not covered–and he would keep track of them. The camp thought the twins had acted alone, but the Eagles now knew otherwise and they were more alert than when he and Angie had first made it here. When the assassins didn’t return, the slavers would come…if they weren’t here already.
“We’ll start with health.” Adrian’s countenance tightened a bit, telling them he wasn’t happy about something. “Not everyone has been by for the basic tests. If even one person has a disease, we all have it. Get tested. Get current on your shots. We can’t handle an epidemic.”
There were surprised glances at Adrian admitting there was something he couldn’t do.
The leader understood and drove in the point. “I’m not a doctor and even if I were, it wouldn’t save everyone.”
He looked around, pushing the calm over them. “I know you’re scared. I am too, each time they stick me with a needle to find out, but I go and I do it, and you need to do the same.”
He beckoned to the cook, and she and her teenage helpers (Zack’s boys) passed out popcorn and apple juice.
“Next are new people.” Adrian gestured at one of the full tables. “These are the seniors from the Rapid City airport. They have majors from psychology to engineering, so we’ll all get a chance to learn their names while they help us make things better.”
The young adults sat down, and Adrian gestured to the benches behind them.
“We also have a second doctor now. Stand up and say something nice, Angie.”
Face painted with vivid eyes and even brighter cheeks, Marc was impressed with how steady her words were.
“Hi, ladies, come visit me. No paper gowns, cold exam rooms, or roaming fingers, I swear.” She delivered a sexy smile. “Can’t make any promises for the guys.”
She sat down with the laughter echoing, breaking the tension, and Adrian went to John. “Let’s have our medical report.”
The doctor stood up, a paper in one hand, gently smoking pipe in the other. “Things are okay with the people here, for the most part. I’ve found no signs of radiation sickness yet, and nothing contagious is going around. We’ve removed some odd moles and warts in the last weeks. Might be the start of something, though, so everyone needs to watch for changes in those things and come to me right away so I can take care of it.” John paused, “I have a suggestion and a request.”
When Adrian indicated he should, the doctor went on. “We need to up our iodine intake for when we get around the bad places. It will help keep us stronger against the war’s effects.”
“That sounds reasonable. What’s the request?”
John was careful not to let his discomfort show. The pain had gotten as bad as it had ever been last night, and though it had eased off around dawn, he was extremely sore.
“We need help, two full time students who would take over if anything happened to us,” he stated firmly, motioning to Angela to show his faith in her.
“I’m…I was a nursing assistant.”
It was one of the college kids and Adrian took over, wondering if Angela had felt their value as much as their need for rescue.
“Let’s have a quick show of hands. Those interested?” Half a dozen hands went up and Adrian voiced his approval. “Great idea. We’ll get a signup list posted and John will do interviews.”
He glanced down at the notebook he had laying open on the center table. “Next are the monthly updates.”
Kenn stood up, feeling both the welcome of the camp and the cold shoulder of the highest Eagles. “We’re good on water and fuel for a couple weeks, and two months on food. As of tonight, the supply trucks will be locked from midnight to dawn. Only the boss and duty man on Point will have access. You will also now sign out anything you take and how much of it, so we can keep better track of how much we’ll need to get us through when we settle somewhere.”
The Marine fought his anger when Angela’s voice echoed in his head. There will be no limits. Adrian knows we don’t have greedy people here.
“There won’t be any limits, though. Adrian knows we don’t have greed here.” Kenn flipped the page in his own book, aware of Adrian’s approval for the neat transfer of information. “We have openings in this month’s basic self-defense and kai classes, and I need six FND workers for third shift duty. See me after this meeting.”
Thinking there was more “Foot in Door” work than even he and Brady could handle if they fought every day, Kenn snapped his book shut. His tone was harder than most of them were used to.
“Last thing. Anyone caught feeding the working dogs will take their place for a week. They are in training, the same as the Eagles. You wouldn’t hand a person a slice of meatloaf five minutes after they’ve worked out, and you can’t do it with an animal either.” He threw in a grin he knew his boss would like. “That’s the workers. The breeders are fair game. The fatter the mom, the healthier the pups.”
Kenn ignored Angela’s look of respect as he sat down.
Adrian took over, thinking he would have the Marine MC the next meeting. “Next are changes and improvements.”
He felt their need for more hope and was able to answer it. “We live like gypsies. No homes or any of the things that come with them. No curtains blowing in the breeze, just annoying tent flaps slapping you awake at odd hours. No light on over the sink, just a candle that burns too fast and too dim. No mattress, no kitchens, no walls.”
His face glowed with happiness that he could give them hope for a better way of life. “That’s almost over for us. It will never be the way it was, especially not for those here and those still on their way, but I’d have back what we can. Over the next months, we’re going to trade in these canvas homes for RVs.”
There was a loud cheer that swelled into the night.
During the happiness, apple juice ended up spilling on a few of those in the rear, namely Matt and Charlie.
Only two of the Eagles noticed. Zack, who grinned, and Billy, who thought it was about time Zack’s bully-prone boys were taught a lesson.
“We have a great idea for getting water quicker, and if it pans out, that’ll mean we can all use campers. Men will be three to a tin can. Women need a bit more room.”
Gaffs and snorts echoed at this, but died down quickly as the wind increased.
“They’ll be 2 in a camper. Women and elderly will get them first, as with anything here, by alphabetic last name.”
There were words of thanks and whispers, and Adrian waited for them to settle down before continuing. “We’re also putting awnings over most of the areas, so there will be no more waiting in the rain for bathrooms or mess.”
As if on cue, thunder cracked in the distance and two shoe-sized ants raiding the garbage dove for cover unobserved.
Adrian chuckled through his sudden tension. “We’ll hurry up on that one.”
He scanned Rick, notic
ed him glaring at someone in the rear of the crowd, and stored it for later. “There are a lot of us here now and I’m also working on a better schedule setup. Only those who have duty that week will be given a copy.” He cracked a grin. “Scheduling for two-hundred people twice a month sucks and Kenn and I are working on a quicker system.”
While Adrian was talking, Doug had been installing a large wallboard onto the hard side of the mess truck. There were many smiles and whispered repeats of what he wrote on it.
Point: The Boss!
The Irishman drew a quick US flag in the far corner.
Angela noticed his slight shake as he wrote.
“We’re starting a fire crew, a garden, a newspaper, and a radio station. That last one will be called After War Airwaves and I’d prefer people with experience, even if it’s the basics.”
Adrian sighed, voice resigned. “Now, for the part we all hate–a rule change.”
Tension flew through the crowd and Adrian kept his tones level. “We agreed every able person would pull four, six hour shifts a month, but it’s not enough to cover us. Our size keeps growing and people already have their time in by 28 days, which leaves almost a week where we have to run a light patrol or hope for volunteers.” Adrian flipped the page. “We came up with three solutions. First, we raise it to five shifts and maybe even six if our population keeps expanding. I honestly hate that idea, loathe it even. I want the number of shifts to go lower as we get more people, not higher.”
The groans and complaints became agreement.
“Our second way is to change the structure a little. Everyone who passes a class has to take a week at helping teach it. That would free up enough Eagles to cover those extra days even when we have a double watch posted.” His tone grew cold. “The last way is to do nothing and hope we have a full shift on duty if something happens. I won’t vote for that.”
