Small Town EMP (Book 3): Survive The Conflict

by Hamilton, Grace

  Cara shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t think so.”

  “Does she own the land?”

  “No.”

  “Then she has no control over who stays and who goes. Don’t give her that control. Rise up. Join the others and fight back. There’s food in that tent. I bet there’s food and blankets and lots of other things you need in Lilly’s tent and the tents of her men,” he said, trying to make the woman understand there were options.

  He looked down the road towards the main tents and saw others standing in the road. He smiled as he watched Ennis clap a hand on a man’s shoulder. It was working. Ennis had been right. They were pulling together a small army. Even if Austin and his group couldn’t change the world, he could at least take satisfaction in knowing they had made one small, positive change in the lives of others.

  “I don’t know how to fight,” Cara whispered.

  “You don’t have to fight,” he said, turning back to her. “You have to stand with the rest of the people. Look, they’re coming together. Are you going to stand with them or are you going to keep letting this woman use you and take food out of the mouth of your son?”

  And, with that last comment, he saw determination coming into Cara’s eyes. She watched her son licking at the wrapper of the protein bar, and then reached down and grabbed her little boy’s hand. With nothing more spoken, they began the march down the lane, joining in with the others coming out of their tents as they marched together.

  “Good job,” Austin said to Ennis.

  “They’re rising up. This is going to be good, and I don’t think we’re going to have to do much of anything,” Ennis said with a proud grin.

  “Lilly Gamblin!” a tall man in the front of the group shouted.

  Austin moved to the edge of the group, ready to witness the revolt and provide additional muscle if needed. He hadn’t just convinced Cara to rise up only to have her get kicked down again.

  Lilly emerged from her big tent, her mouth working at something. She scanned the crowd, putting both hands on her hips and calling out for her goons. “What’s going on, Gabriel?” she asked with a forced smile.

  “We want you to leave. You came in here and took over, and we’re tired of it. You didn’t start this place and we don’t need you trying to run it. Go. Take your buddies and get out of here!” Gabriel shouted.

  Lilly grinned, her gleaming white smile appearing venomous. “I’m the mayor of this little city, Gabriel, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You are not the mayor. You’re officially ousted. Leave now!” his voice boomed.

  There was a rumble through the crowd, and without anyone giving an order, they began to move forward as a unit. Austin walked with them. He had his eyes on the man who’d been the one to rob them. He was looking forward to a little revenge.

  There were at least sixty people marching on Lilly and her five men now. Even if they made it to their guns, they wouldn’t be able to shoot them all. He loved the look of fear he was witnessing in Lilly’s eyes. She had sucked off this group long enough.

  The first rock was hurled through the air, narrowly missing Lilly’s head.

  Soon, there were more rocks being lobbed at the tyrants that had kept these people down. The angry shouts and accusations were being flung just as violently as the rocks and anything else the group could find.

  Austin stepped forward. “I’d suggest you all leave,” he called, standing less than ten feet from Lilly.

  “You did this!” she snarled, putting her hand up to ward off an empty box being thrown at her.

  He shrugged. “I can’t take all the credit. Leave now or these people will kill you, all of you,” he said, looking at the others.

  “What’s to say we won’t come back here and kill them all?” Lilly spat.

  “Nothing, except I think it might be a little harder than that. You’ve angered a lot of people. They don’t like you. You’ve left them to starve. You’ve robbed from them and then turned around and sold it back to them. I think that, if you’re smart, you’ll get as far from here as you can!” he shouted out, working to be heard over the advancing crowd.

  Lilly glared back at him before turning to one of the men. “Grab all you can and we’ll come back for the rest.”

  Gabriel pushed forward, standing directly in front of Lilly. “No. Everything is ours. You leave with the clothes on your back and nothing more.”

  The look of shock on her face made Austin smile. She must have realized her tenuous position, though, because a moment later she turned to walk away, her men crowding around her as they followed. Gabriel and about ten other men pressed in behind them, pushing them to the outer edge of the camp and then forming a human fence across the road.

  Ennis walked over to Austin, grinning from ear to ear. “I think we can grab our stuff and get out of here. We’ve done our good deed for the day.”

  “You did do good, really good,” Austin said with a laugh.

  “See, you should listen to me now and again. I do have some good ideas.”

  “You have a lot of good ideas,” Wendell said, coming to stand beside them both.

  “This is all sweet and cozy, but we have a mission. We’re not here to save the world,” Sarah said in her usual all-business voice.

  Austin looked around at the people congratulating each other and nodding their way in thanks. They’d done all they could for these folks, and more than most would have done. “She’s right,” Austin agreed. “We need to get our supplies and go.”

  24

  Wendell was so tired of being tired. His feet hurt, and he could feel a blister on his pinky-toe. He’d told the others about it that morning, but they didn’t care. None of them cared. They were so dead-set on the idea that they were going to save the world, it made him sick. They were fools. All of them were fools. He was the only one who had the good sense to know when to quit. He wasn’t quitting on life, either—he was just quitting their game. They were playing for the losing team, and he was sick of being on the losing team.

  He rolled to his side. Even the darkness barely gave them any privacy. That was something else he was sick of. He was sick of seeing them all night and all day. Sick of listening to Harlen snore every night. Wendell wasn’t meant for this kind of life. He was meant to sleep in a comfortable bed, in a house or a luxury apartment where he’d have his own space.

  Things had to change. He’d been in this weird state of limbo for too long. Sometimes, drastic measures were needed, and that’s what he was about to do; he was taking drastic measures. He waited a little longer, knowing Ennis was on watch. Wendell planned on getting up and taking over for him soon. He’d already planned what he would say. He was going to tell him he couldn’t sleep and would take over watch early. That should earn him some brownie points, too.

  He rubbed his eyes, then mussed his hair before getting up and walking through the dark towards the tree where Ennis was keeping watch.

  “Hey,” he whispered.

  “Oh crap! You scared me!” Ennis muttered.

  “Sorry. I couldn’t sleep. I’ll take over watch,” he said, trying to sound generous.

  “Are you sure? I still have another hour or so; plus, Austin has next watch,” Ennis said.

  “I know, but I’m up and we might as well let him sleep while he can. I’ll wake him in a couple hours,” Wendell offered.

  “Fine. I’m not going to argue. I’m beat. We kicked butt this time. We made it a whole day early. That’s impressive. Way to hang in there, Wendy,” Ennis said, slapping a hand against Wendell’s arm.

  “Yeah, thanks,” he grumbled.

  Wendell settled in against the tree, his eyes scanning the darkness. He hadn’t been lying—he was wired and couldn’t sleep. Nerves were making his belly feel funny, so that he had to consciously breathe deep and force himself to calm down. He couldn’t look like a wimp. He had to appear strong and like a man who was to be feared.

  He waited a little longer before he made his move, tak
ing a few tentative steps away from the others. If anyone noticed him walking away, he’d say he was going to the bathroom. When no one said anything or attempted to stop him, he kept going. When he put some distance between him and the others, he picked up the pace, heading towards the meeting place. He emerged onto the roadway glancing left and right before stepping into the open.

  “Don’t move!” he heard a man shout.

  Wendell froze, automatically putting his hands into the air. “I’m not armed.”

  “Don’t move.”

  Wendell stayed where he was. A man wearing a black jumpsuit emerged from the shadows, approaching him slowly before patting him down. Wendell knew there was at least one other person waiting in the shadows with a gun on him, and more likely several others.

  “Clear!” the man shouted.

  Zander emerged from the shadows, stepping into the roadway and strolling towards Wendell. Wendell gulped down the lump of fear in his throat. Zander was a scary dude. He knew he was walking a dangerous line, but this felt like his only chance.

  “Zander,” he greeted him, trying to sound cool and unbothered.

  Zander looked him up and down. “You? You’re the one leaving me notes?”

  Wendell cleared his throat. “Yes, I am. I think we can help each other.”

  “How could you possibly help me?” Zander sneered.

  “I’ve told you where to find Austin. I think that’s a huge help,” he stated, finding his voice. “I can take you back to him right now.”

  Zander made a big show of looking around. “Did you bring the USB?”

  Wendell had been afraid that’s what Zander would want. He hadn’t been able to get his hands on it. Austin had the thing locked down tight when Sarah wasn’t using it. They guarded it with their lives.

  “I didn’t, but I think we can work out an agreeable deal,” Wendell offered.

  “Why would I need to work out anything with you? I could kill you right here and be done with it,” Zander said with an evil smile.

  Wendell wouldn’t let him see how afraid he was. “Because I’m the man on the inside. I know the plan.”

  “I don’t need a man on the inside. I need Austin dead and the USB back in my hands,” Zander retorted.

  Wendell shook his head. “I can help you by telling you what they’re doing.”

  “Why would I care? I kill Austin Merryman, and what they’re doing doesn’t matter.”

  Wendell gulped down the lump of fear in his throat. “You can kill Austin, but that won’t stop them. They’ve split up,” he said, feeling like he was onto something. “If this group doesn’t succeed, there’s another out there working on the plan. You need me to know how to take all of them down.”

  Zander examined him, his eyes narrowed, and then he leaned into his face, glaring at him before he spoke. “What are they doing?”

  Wendell knew he was taking a risk, but he had to try. He was putting his life on the line and wanted to be compensated. “We’ll need to work out a deal first.”

  Zander stared at him, his dead eyes creeping Wendell out a little. He might have overplayed his hand, he realized a moment too late.

  “What kind of a deal?” Zander finally asked.

  Wendell breathed a sigh of relief. “I want a job in the NWO. I want the perks. I want an apartment and food to eat,” he said, rattling off his list of demands.

  Zander smirked. “Is that it?”

  “No. I want a guarantee that my friend Ennis won’t be hurt. He’ll be left alone to do what he wants.”

  Zander still observed him, a grin on his face flickering for only an instant before he turned to one soldier and then another as if to gauge their reactions. Then he looked back to Wendell, raising one eyebrow. “And is there anything else you want?”

  “No, that’s it. Food and shelter.”

  “We could probably arrange that. Now, tell me what they’re doing with that USB.”

  That was it, then. He had to trust him and run with it. Wendell had long realized he wasn’t going to get a written contract; he just had to hope Zander was a man of his word and wouldn’t go back on what he’d agreed to. “They’re going to launch missiles at the satellites that are holding nuclear warheads.”

  He couldn’t read the expression on Zander’s face, and didn’t know if it was excitement or incredulity he saw there. Either way, it wasn’t a look that made him comfortable. Zander was a bad, bad man.

  Zander burst into laughter. “Shoot down satellites holding nuclear warheads? Wow. Ambitious. Is that really the information you’re trying to use for trade?”

  “Yes. I’m serious. We’ve walked for days, weeks, trying to get to the computers that are controlling the satellites,” Wendell squealed.

  That seemed to give Zander pause. “What’s on that USB?”

  Wendell finally had his attention. “Lots of stuff. Including codes. Launch codes. They’re going to launch missiles at those satellites.”

  “When?”

  “Soon. We’re checking the computer center tomorrow morning. If it has what we need, we move forward with our mission. If the computers aren’t there or functioning, we’re going on to Boise, where Sarah, I mean Dr. Bastani, thinks there has to be a functioning computer center being used by the NWO.”

  Zander looked at him as if he was trying to gauge whether he was telling the truth or not. Wendell stared back, not backing down. Something about the look on his face told Wendell that Austin and Sarah were onto something. For a very brief moment, he wondered if he’d screwed up. What if their plan could work? What if they could have managed to defeat the NWO and return the country to its former glory? Wendell felt sick, but quickly pushed it aside. If Austin was right, Wendell would win. And if Zander defeated Austin, Wendell would still come out on top.

  “I have a better idea,” Zander said with a smile.

  Wendell felt a shiver of cold dread run down his spine. Zander was an evil human being. Wendell knew for certain he was making the right choice by getting on the winning side now before everything blew up—literally—but that didn’t make dealing with the devil any less heart-stopping.

  “I’m game,” Wendell said, hoping it wouldn’t involve him getting killed.

  “You and your buddies go ahead and check out the next computer center, which won’t do you any good, and then, when you get to Boise, I’ll have a little surprise there waiting for them.”

  “Oh?” Wendell replied, his voice much higher than usual.

  Zander grinned. “Yes, I’ll see you there, and you’ll get what you want if you get your group there and keep your friend alive. I want to be the one to kill him, and I want him to see my face when I do it.”

  “But not me, right? You won’t kill me?” Wendell confirmed.

  Zander shrugged. “Do as I ask and, of course, I won’t kill you. I don’t kill those who do me good service, and it seems like you’re falling into that category.”

  Wendell nodded, reassured. “Okay. I’ll see you then,” he said, anxious to get away from the man.

  The guy had evil energy. It practically oozed from his pores. Wendell turned and started to walk back in the direction he’d come from, hoping they didn’t decide to put a bullet in his back and just kill Austin and the group now. He’d thought that would be the plan, or that they’d at least take them into custody now, so he no longer felt like he was walking on firm ground. Nevertheless, he’d played his hand, and he certainly had Zander’s attention.

  Just as he thought he was in the clear, a soldier caught up to him and grabbed hold of his arm as if he were a prisoner instead of a conspirator.

  “What?” Wendell demanded.

  “Hold on. Zander wants to make sure you know what to do when you get your friends to Boise,” the soldier said flatly.

  It took a moment, and then Wendell grinned. He was in.

  25

  Amanda looked at Robin, happy to see he looked better than he had yesterday when they’d first met. She knew she was pushing it
by sticking around another day, but she couldn’t bring herself to abandon him and his many patients. He was in need, and they were in a position to help.

  “It certainly smells better in here,” Robin said with a faint smile, looking around his makeshift hospital space.

  Amanda chuckled. “Barely, but that’s better than nothing.”

  “Thank you for all you’ve done here. It is a tremendous help,” he said.

  “You mentioned there were antibiotics in the next town?” she asked.

  He examined her expression, apparently surprised she’d bring it up, and then nodded. “Yes. At least, there were. There’s a large hospital there, and up until a month ago, the supplies were being fairly managed by a group of individuals who’d taken charge of the building. They were rationing out supplies and medicine, but I haven’t been able to send anyone to try and get some for us. I’ve barely been able to keep it together here.”

  “We’ll go,” Amanda told him, having been thinking about doing so ever since he’d mentioned it. How could they not?

  “You will?” Robin asked excitedly.

  “Yes. I need to talk to the others, but I think they’ll agree. We are on a deadline and really don’t have a lot of time, but we can hurry, and we have the time to spare. We’ll get there and get back, and then we’ll be on our way.”

  Robin gently grabbed her upper arm and pulled her out of the living room and into the hall. “Amanda, you should take some of the antibiotics, as well, you and the others. Your exposure risk is high.”

  “What about you?” she asked.

  “I took some in the beginning. We’ll see how much is available. If there’s enough, I’ll take another round just to be safe,” he said. “But with all your group is doing, you should make sure you and your people get the first doses.”

  She smiled, appreciating how good and fair this doctor was, and feeling all the more glad they could help. “Good. How far is the hospital exactly?” she asked.

  “About five miles.”