by Angela White
Angela pointed to where people were slowly staggering toward the mess that would have coffee and toast going, even though the bell hadn’t rung yet. “Go have some breakfast and then draft a few hands to put the pharmacy tent in the front row that Kenn will be marking off. After that, you’re on call for the pharmacy and radio during the dayshift.”
Tonya knew from Kenn’s words that the front row was reserved for the important tents and felt her stomach flip. “Because we’re going to need it, right?”
Angela stared, impressed at Tonya’s intelligence. She’d honestly expected gushing gratitude, not eerie insight.
Tonya snorted, reading it and then let it go in favor of the answer. “Well?”
“Yes,” Angela answered, not having to force the approval this time. “Stock it heavy out of each supply load that comes in. I’m giving you and the doctor first dibs.”
Angela evaluated the woman again and came up with a better summary than she’d hoped for when she’d suggested Kenn try to reform her. “I have work for you. Quiet work.”
It was a magic moment for Tonya. She had always been on the outs with authority, no matter the location, but now, she was one of them.
“I can give that gushing gratitude now, if you still want it,” Tonya quipped, honored to be on the inside of Angela’s deeper plans. That was part of why she’d hesitated to resign. She liked being in on things and loved being an Eagle.
Not letting Tonya know that she had just shown signs of an advancing gift, Angela chortled. “Thanks, but no.”
“Adrian loved it.”
Angela’s countenance twisted into something Tonya assumed was pain.
“I actually hate it,” Angela confessed. “But it’s what Adrian trained you guys to give and I have to make that type of change slowly. Old habits are hard to break.”
“Don’t I know it,” Tonya muttered. “But it is possible. Kenn and I are living proof of that.”
“Yes, you are, and I love you for it. Walk with me. We’ll go over some things.”
Tonya stayed close as Angela listed the items she wanted available at the pharmacy at all times, not needing to write it down. The issues Angela wanted covered came with an outbreak. Of what, didn’t matter. People needed fluids, vitamins, fever remedies, and stomach calmatives. Along with toilet paper, Tonya added. Her mind switched into list mode and she took her notebook out. The items were going to be too important to take the chance on missing anything.
Angela finally left Tonya in line for a tray, still scribbling. She would indeed be removing Tonya from her team, but everyone would know it was only because she’d been asked to. Tonya hadn’t done anything wrong this time. In fact, the choice she had made would ease more suffering than her gun could have reached, and Angela intended to reward her for it.
2
Marc sensed the Indian behind him and didn’t react, though he wasn’t sure of the intent. Most of the natives were gone now, with only one full group still here and another mixed handful who had chosen to stay. Most of the braves had been eager to return to their camps and proclaim victory. Others had been concerned over the ash storms and tremors. Marc was confident all of those people would go south. It was another sign of his connection with Angela and of his gifts working for him, but Marc’s brain took it further than either of them had, and his heart sank.
“Everyone we’ve found is fleeing! Why didn’t I see that?” Marc exclaimed. “The traveling store people said west, then south. The deer herds were moving south. Max and Lenore had come south. If we found them on the road, they were leaving.”
“As are we, my friend,” Natoli said evenly from behind him. “Our stories did not end with the arrival of the Ghost and his final battle.”
Marc slowly turned around, dreading it. “Tell me.”
“It is the end of days,” Natoli stated gravely. “We must go south, to the jungles, where there is safe hunting and good ground to farm. This earth is splitting, shifting, and only the south is safe.”
Natoli held out a small hide pouch. “Take this, my friend, as our pledge of peace with the white man.”
Marc took the intricately carved pipe, recognizing some of the symbols. “This is powerful.”
“Yes. It calls to those far away.” Natoli extended his arm. “Until we meet again, my friend, my brother.”
Marc clasped arms with him and then the Indian vanished into the trees as if he’d never been there.
I want to go with him, Marc realized, and swallowed that pain.
“You can.”
Marc found Angela nearby. Her tone was even, but her eyes were showing more emotions than Marc had thought one personal capable of feeling.
“What?” he asked, stalling.
“Go with them.”
“No.”
“I know you’d be hap–”
“Stop.”
Angela did. She knew he would go with her to the ends of the earth, but she needed his light and he had to be happy to provide that.
“I am, baby-cakes,” he tried to soothe. “I’ll adjust.”
“You’ll loathe every second you’re away,” she intoned, falling into that mental state he hated listening to. “And you may not return at all.”
That was a blow he wasn’t prepared for and Angela went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “If you stay here, you will survive. I’ve seen it.”
“I love you.” Marc held her tightly and allowed his mind to shut that terrifying door. “I’ll never leave you.”
Angela swallowed her tears. They would take the time fate gave them and be grateful for it. “Thank you.”
Marc sealed their lips, and then tugged her toward the mess. “Come on, let’s get you fed so my stomach will settle down.”
3
“What do you feel like doing this evening?”
Tracy scowled at Charlie’s cheerful tone. “Nothing.”
Charlie knew she was having her period and he held out the chocolate bar he’d traded Doug for.
Tracy accepted it with the first smile since before the chaos. He took a seat next to her and waited for the candy to vanish.
Tracy enjoyed the treat and felt some of her emotions come under control. It was amazing how chocolate could do that.
“I’d like to shoot better.”
Tracy looked over at him, still licking the gooey sweet from her fingers. “What?”
Charlie had frozen at the sight of her with a finger in her mouth and she giggled. His innocence was refreshing.
“Huh…Hi’d….” Charlie shut his lids and took a deep breath. “I’d like to be better with my gun. Feel like helping?”
Tracy considered it. Shooting something didn’t sound bad.
“Sweet!” Charlie answered her thought, not giving her time to change her mind. “Hot chocolate and a steak sandwich at the mess on the way?”
“Okay,” Tracy agreed reluctantly. She wanted to hide in her tent and try to find the peace she’d known before, but even she knew that couldn’t be found inside these canvas walls.
“Here.” Charlie handed her the Eagle jacket she hadn’t worn in days. “It’s chilly.”
Tracy slid into the leather with a blast of pain and a wave of determination. “I can do this.”
Charlie gently tossed an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll do it together. When you’ve had enough, I’ll get you back here in less than a minute.”
“You promise?” she demanded, suddenly terrified of being out there around people.
“You know it,” Charlie responded, steering them for the flap. “Let’s live a little and see how it goes, huh?”
Tracy allowed him to lead her from her den, hoping he would always be as considerate as he was being right now. A woman wouldn’t even glance at another guy after this type of attention. It showed a soul that was deep enough to drown in and to Tracy, that was ideal. Shallow men were the ones who hurt people. Deep men built and created. They had respect for their power and didn’t use it against those
weaker.
And when the real man inside him emerges? she asked herself.
“This is the real me,” Charlie murmured as they stepped under the mess canopy. “I could have gone that other way, but I wanted you more than I wanted to be wild. You saved me.”
Tracy gasped at the pain of that honor.
“Come on.” Charlie tugged her into his arms. “Let’s get you more chocolate.”
Tracy snickered through her tears and leaned her head against his. “Thank you.”
Charlie wasn’t certain on the correct reply, so he went with what felt right. He kissed her softly and hugged her. “It’s my honor.”
“Well, isn’t that sweet.”
The center table gaped in surprise at Candy’s bitter sneer.
“Are you okay?” Theo asked. He and Candy had come by to drop off some papers, but Angela wasn’t here yet.
“No,” Candy answered, staring at the couple. “I’m not sure why they can touch and kiss in public. We have age rules here.”
Charlie heard her and glowered over Tracy’s shoulder. “Just because you’ve been thinking about Conner, that doesn’t mean we’re all bad, you know.”
“I have not!” Candy refuted hotly, proving Charlie right.
Theo gaped at her red face, a bit disappointed. He’d thought maybe Candy had a thing for him, but if she was daydreaming about Adrian’s demon seed, then that wasn’t the case.
Theo spun away from the table and vanished into the crowd forming around Li Sing’s grill.
“Why did you do that?” Candy asked angrily. “You know I wasn’t thinking about Conner in a good way!”
Charlie shrugged, aware that Tracy had tensed under his arm, as if she was about to flee. “You should have minded your own business and then I could have done the same.”
“Asshole!” Candy flung at him as she stormed off to track Theo down and explain.
“Maybe I am,” Charlie admitted as the eating people snickered. “But I won, so who cares.”
He steered Tracy straight for that center table and settled her between Becky and Samantha.
Samantha understood Tracy wasn’t out and about of her own free will. “I have some new magazines and a bit of snacks stashed,” she stated, observing the females around the double table. “Who’s up for a pot luck, gab-fest, poker game tonight?”
Conversation stayed on that topic for a while and allowed them all time to observe Tracy and a few of the other rookies who’d had rough missions. Most of them appeared to be doing okay, but Tracy had clearly gotten the worst of it. Her flinches came often and everyone approved of Charlie getting her out of her comfort zone. As long as she didn’t hide, they could all help her. It was what Safe Haven had been created for.
4
“There are a few things I need to tell you while we enjoy this wonderful meal. You can go on eating, but keep track of the update I’m giving.”
Alerting those on duty to Angela’s coming words, the radio crackled when Kenn let off his button.
Not far enough away for Marc’s peace of mind, Adrian flipped his radio on, and told David to shut his off. The Safe Haven setup Kenn had given him would deliver Angela’s voice as clear as an angel’s bell.
“You’ve noticed Doug working on the board, I’m sure, maybe picked out your name and wondered what new hell I’m assigning you to. You’ve also probably noticed there are teams getting set to roll out. A lot of us have hard labor waiting. I’ll explain that as soon as Doug is finished and please remember not to touch the board or you’ll smear the liquid chalk.”
Adrian settled on the uncomfortable rock, perfectly content to let their dinner burn while he listened to Angela update his herd.
Conner and David shared a confused, slightly concerned glance, but didn’t comment.
Conner took over roasting the wild turkey that Adrian had stalked right after they arrived. Conner was still a bit disturbed at the memory of his father leaping off the side of a cliff. He hadn’t known there was a ledge below at the time, or that the ledge had been a nesting site.
They had eggs for breakfast now, but Conner didn’t think he could eat those without suggesting they grab a few turkeys to raise for food. It was on his mind now, but the smell of the meat was distracting him. In the morning, when he wasn’t starving, conversations would have to happen.
“That’s better.” Angela’s voice was clearly amused. “Stained another shirt, but hey, barbeque sauce does that right? Supposed to be messy. Where was I…? Oh, okay. Tomorrow, we start getting the caves ready.”
A loud cheer echoed to Adrian twice. Once from the radio and then again, from the sound of the large camp below. There was an empty landing directly to their left and Adrian’s eyes swung to it repeatedly as Angela updated Doug’s work.
“There are two large teams of people, a mix of Eagles and members. They are the builders and gatherers. Each team is broken into two shifts of twelve hours each. We have ten hard days ahead of us folks, but nothing like the last ten in comparison, right?”
Even David nodded to that. The last ten days had been a nightmare that none of them ever wanted to experience again, no matter what side of the battle they were on.
“After you locate your name and shift, remember it. Be at the assigned place by the time on the board, no excuses. There wasn’t time for me to let you pick the crew or shift you’d prefer. I chose it by where I need you the most, based on the strengths you have. Please don’t ask to switch shifts or crews unless you’re confident that I’ve put you in the wrong slot. In ten days, we will be in the cave and then every team will receive a full week off all chores!”
Another double cheer came and Adrian’s heart filled with pride. She had learned even faster than his own children had–certainly faster than Conner would. That son needed what he’d been unable to give the other one. This time, he would save the boy and himself.
“Builders, you will go in, determine what has to be done, then clean and prepare that area. You will camp outside the entrance to help secure our men, our work, our supplies, and to be right there to get rolling each shift change. Large common tents and bathrooms will be provided for each crew. At the same time, gathering teams will be out rolling. As they bring in each load, they will get your new lists and go right back out, with only a short stop for sleep and food between each run. And when I say short, you know I mean that. Prepping and gathering is the start. This is stage one.”
Adrian ignored the plate of steaming meat Conner sat by him, content to listen for as long as Angela was talking.
“As you gather, you have to stay organized. Each building crew will be sending gophers to the dump areas, kids who don’t know what these items are for or what harm they can cause. It is part of your duty to help the gophers get the correct materials safely to the cave entrance, in the amounts asked for. If we bring too much up, we clog our work area. If we don’t bring enough, we slow down. You get the idea. To organize this a bit, gathering crews will camp next to their dumpsite. You will assist the gophers and provide extra security for our materials.”
Adrian could almost see her standing with a plate, picking off bits of food to show a calm composure. His longing to be by her side was overwhelming.
“As for patrols, there will be five per crew–senior Eagles who can assist in labor, provide security, and attempt rescues if there are any problems. For gatherers, there must be a sixth and seventh man to provide sniper rotations that will work when your team sleeps, sleep where your team works. Each crew is being given a copy of a map we’ve made which shows the best and worst places to search for the items we need. Any area shaded in red is too dangerous without multiple teams of Eagles. Don’t try those. Remember the Safe Haven code when you go into towns and neighborhoods: We don’t steal from people and we don’t tolerate people stealing from us. Help those who need it, but don’t be caught up in drama. We have enough of our own right here for you to work on.”
Adrian dutifully snickered like the rest of her E
agles were likely doing, and then quieted so he wouldn’t miss her next words.
“As each shift ends, drop off notice of your next run, tally your numbers, and deliver it to the contest box in the mess. Once a day, Doug will go through that box–he has the only key–and update totals on the board. To add protection and help even out the contest, descendants will also help. The builders get two and the gatherers get two, split between the day and night shifts to keep things fair. Use them wisely. And to spice that up, there will be another contest for the descendant who helps their crew the most. Betting is encouraged!”
Laughter rolled across the mountain, but it didn’t carry far enough to lighten Adrian’s camp. His son and new soldiers were sharing glances and staring at him in disappointment. Adrian’s soul decayed a bit further as he realized Angela had set it up this way so he couldn’t wallow in his grief.
“Everyone else has work. The older folks have lighter chores, like sewing curtains, rugs, and quilts. The teenagers are on duty with their Eagle teachers, learning to take their place. Pregnant women, non-Eagles, are helping with mess, babysitting, delivering meals and messages, and caring for our weaker members.”
She’d obviously considered every angle in his notebook and sorted through to discover a solution. Adrian couldn’t have been prouder.
“All rookies and fifteen senior Eagles will cover our main camp during this stage. I need everyone else out there. This is a level test for many of you. You have to listen, follow orders, and enforce all rules. You also have to keep our Safe Haven running, as in water, waste removal, and food. Follow the lead of the Eagles with you, and hurry. We’re fighting nature here and we all know how she feels about us. Let’s pull together and get inside that mountain before winter comes.”
There was a pause and then Angela’s voice came again, ringing with confidence.
“Yes, we can take a real break here, if we can get inside. Will we do that?”
Cheers echoed again.
Adrian’s faction felt left out of that safety, but Adrian knew it was a false promise anyway–which was why she hadn’t actually said they would be safe here or given them an amount of time for that break.
