“Can I help you gentlemen find something?” he asked, taking a step back from them.
A slightly shorter man with pock marks all over his face nodded. “Yeah. We’re trying to find the laundry room. We were told it’s back here.”
Darius glanced at the man’s companions. One was as tall as Darius, and well-muscled. The other had a slight but powerful build, reminiscent of a recruit fresh from boot camp. None of the three carried anything in their hands. This struck him as odd, given the request for directions to the laundry room. His fingers curled up, readying for a punch if needed.
“The facilities in the support section are off limits to unauthorized personnel, gentlemen.” He paused for a moment. “Besides, it seems a little late to be doing laundry.”
The pock-marked man grinned wickedly. Darius brought his arms up defensively just in time, easily turning aside the man’s first two blows. But he was outnumbered. The muscular man landed a square blow to his jaw, and while he was still reeling, the last assailant landed several sucker punches to his kidneys. Pain shot throughout his body, and he could do little more than try to roll over and turtle. The attackers were relentless, kicking at him furiously while he was down on the deck. His arms hurt from every blow he shielded, but he couldn’t protect his entire body. He received repeated punishing blows to his gut and back. Still Darius protected himself until he couldn’t hold his arms up any more. He rolled over, wheezing and coughing up blood.
“Sorry, Governor,” the pock-marked man said. “Nothing personal.”
The final kick was delivered to his head, and Darius blacked out.
Gabrielle Serrano
13 July, 6 yal, early morning
About 25 miles inland, southeast of wreck site
Will slid from his perch atop a boulder at the edge of camp, slowly shambling over to the smoldering fire. Gabi scrutinized his every move, reading his mood from his body language, counting the puffs of fog that escaped his lips with each breath. She had done the very same thing a hundred times before with animals she stalked. Unlike an animal, Will could speak, though subtle cues in the way he carried himself spoke volumes without the utterance of a word.
He took the strips of cold bird meat that were offered to him, though he did not eat any until he returned to his perch. Even then, he consumed it very slowly. He kept to himself, staring off into the forest. Will lacked his usual razor-sharp focus, and only mumbled a short reply when Kristin came over to talk to him.
We’re not going anywhere today.
Diego tugged at the blanket wrapped around her, breaking her attention from Will.
“Gabi, I’m hungry,” he complained.
Their morning meal of leftover game bird and berries barely sated Gabi’s hunger. She glanced at Gina’s pack, which still rested in the same spot they had placed it after moving the camp the day before. There would be food inside, mostly dried vegetables and smoked fish. But Will was extremely touchy about Gina’s pack. He threw a fit when Kristin suggested they leave it behind at the old camp, where the bear mauled two of her friends to death.
A devilish grin shot across Gabi’s face as an idea formulated.
A test, then.
“Hang on a second, Diego. I’ll get you some more.”
She shrugged off the blanket. The chilling morning air left shivers running down every inch of her body. Gabi walked the long way around the fire to Gina’s pack, making sure to draw Will’s attention, locking stares with him for a few moments. She then opened the pack and began to rifle through it in search of food.
“Hey!” Will shouted, hopping down from his perch. Gabi continued, undeterred. “Hey, get out of there!”
Gabi found a bundle of broad tropical leaves which had been wrapped around a fillet of smoked fish. She pulled it from the pack and began to walk back to Diego, ignoring Will’s shouts. He caught up with her, wrenching her elbow to spin her around. He was far stronger than Gabi, though he had never used it against her in such a rough manner. She didn’t cry, though stabbing pain shot through her elbow. Gabi locked stares with Will, who was fuming and snarling.
“Put that back,” he snapped.
“Diego’s hungry,” she replied firmly. Though the fury in his eyes made her want to shrink away, she stood her ground.
“Put it back, Gabi. Now.”
“Or what?”
“Or so help me…”
“You’ll break my neck?” she scoffed as she interrupted him.
Will’s eyes widened in momentary shock. “What? No.”
“Then what, Will? What are you going to do to me to keep from taking your dead girlfriend’s precious food?”
“God damn it, Gabi!” His eyes narrowed to slits and his lip curled upward.
“I guess it’s not really stealing anymore, since she can’t use it.”
Kristin stepped between the two of them. “Knock it off, you two.”
Gabi shook her head and started to walk away. “Good to see you’re up today, Will. Get your pack together. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“What?” Kristin gasped.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Will countered.
Gabi handed the package of fish to Diego, who wasted little time opening it and stuffing a fistful of fish into his mouth. Daphne had been hanging around nearby, and joined him for the extra meal. Gabi looped back around to face off with the Vandemarks.
“Yes, we are.” Gabi enunciated each word emphatically.
Will’s eyebrows nearly knitted together as his brow furrowed deeply. “You don’t call the shots around here. I do.”
“The last time you called a shot, Gina and Caleb were still alive. Your sister and I have been keeping this camp running for the past two days. Marya, too.”
“I just need a little time.”
“Give him some space,” Kristin added, wrapping an arm around her brother’s shoulder.
Gabi shook her head. “I’m not staying around here waiting for you to find your feelings or whatever crap excuse you’re going to give. Every day we wait is another day one of those beasts has to pick us off. We need to move. We need to get to where we’re going. Then you can go cry your ass off.”
“Fuck you,” he spat back.
“Will!” Kristin protested.
Gabi sniffed and shrugged. “It is what it is. Nothing against you, Will. I just don’t like the idea of being prey. If I can’t be the hunter, it’s time to move on.”
“Fine,” he snarled. “Go hunt then. Come back when you’re being less of a bitch!”
Gabi crossed swiftly over to Caleb’s pack. She slipped it open, looking for the magazines for the rifles.
“I said go, Gabi,” Will bellowed.
She slipped the ammunition out of the pack, cradling it in her arm to shield it from Will’s sight as she retrieved her bow, quiver, and tomahawk. She discreetly slipped the ammunition into her game sack, then slung it over her shoulder.
“Be back in a few minutes,” she whispered to Diego and tussled his hair.
Gabi slipped into the woods. She had no intention of hunting. Will had made his decision to stay clear, but she was determined not to delay any longer. Once she was out of site and sure she was not being followed, she quickly made her way to the camp where Gina died. The corpse of the bear was still there, though various scavengers had taken large chunks of flesh from its back and flanks.
Without wasting time, Gabi took the ammunition from her bag. She placed the three magazines in a neat line on the blood stain that marked the spot where Gina expired. As expeditiously as she came, Gabi left the old camp and returned to the new one.
Her early return prompted questioning stares from everyone in camp, save for Diego and Daphne, who were otherwise occupying themselves. Without a word, she rolled up her blanket and set to work packing her backpack. She then made quick work of Diego’s. Gabi donned her pack, grabbed Diego’s, and helped him slip on the bulky sack. When she turned around, the others were formed in a half circle around the f
ire pit.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Will asked harshly.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Leaving.”
She pursed her lips and cocked her head to the side, feigning deep thought. “I’d like to call it continuing the mission.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Will growled.
“Yes, we are. We’ve stayed long enough. C’mon, Diego.” She grabbed her brother’s hand and started walking.”
“You don’t know where you’re going.”
“Doesn’t take a genius to figure it out, Will. We keep going toward the big mountains over there.” She pointed generally southeast. “Then find a river that flows the opposite direction. Keep following it until it dumps into the big river, then follow that to the site.”
Will’s jaw slacked slightly.
“What?” she continued. “I’ve seen your maps a hundred times. I know your game plan. You taught me everything you know about the wilderness. You don’t think we can make it there?”
“No,” Kristin answered for him. “No. We need to stick together.”
“We need to keep moving,” Gabi retorted. She glanced around at the others, gauging their reactions. Will was shocked and furious. Kristin was concerned. Karina was hard to judge; she was probably still grieving the death of her brother. But Marya and Aidan were both intently listening to the conversation.
“We’ll go in a couple days,” Will promised.
“You didn’t wait a couple days after the storm killed just about everyone in Camp Eight. We all went to work cleaning up and burying everyone the next day. You’ve never waited when something needed to be done. Not until now. Now you pitch a fit if someone dares to take Gina’s food. She’s not around to eat it, but you’ll be damned if you let it actually go to use. You’re slipping, Will. You’re slipping, and you’re gambling with everyone’s lives.”
His shoulders heaved as he let out a heavy sigh. “Fine, want to take the food from the other packs? I don’t care. It’s not a big deal.”
“It’s more than that. Every day we’re out here, we could be hunted. Maybe by a bear, maybe by something else we haven’t met yet.” Gabi turned to Marya. “Do you want to sit here and become something’s lunch so that Will can have a couple days?” Marya bit her lip and her eyes darted from side to side. “Didn’t think so. I don’t either. That’s why we’re going.”
She tugged Diego’s hand, and he obediently started walking next to her. They only got six paces before Marya stepped in her way.
Damn it, Marya!
“You’ve got some real guts thinking you can take over for Will,” Marya said.
Gabi nodded once. “You would too, if you felt Aidan’s life was on the line.”
“I do, actually.” Marya paused and glanced over her shoulder at Will. “That’s why we’re going with you, Gabi.”
Gabi stuttered for a moment, unable to form a sentence. She had expected that Karina might come to her senses and follow them with Daphne, but having her rival be the first to volunteer was not something Gabi had counted on. She was thankful for the help, but not so much for the company. “Get your gear together.”
Marya nodded. She and Aidan broke rank to go collect their meager possessions. A few moments later, Will growled, and stormed across the campsite. He retrieved his M4 carbine and pulled the magazine to check that it was loaded. Gabi knew that he hadn’t reloaded the weapon since he emptied it into the bear. She folded her arms across her chest in smug satisfaction. Will grumbled and went to Caleb’s pack, where the spare ammunition for the rifles had been stowed. As he rummaged inside, he became increasingly agitated. He dumped the contents on the ground, and when the ammunition was nowhere to be found, shouted a loud expletive.
Will was in Gabi’s face in an instant. “Where is it?” he bellowed.
“Go hunting, Will. You’ll find it. By then we’ll be long gone.”
He screamed in rage and threw the rifle aside. Gabi had only a second to react before his fist crashed into her cheek. It wasn’t enough time. She toppled backward into the dirt, landing awkwardly on her pack. Diego screamed and started crying immediately. Gabi tried to recover, but Will was on her in an instant. He landed another hard blow to her cheek. She was in serious pain, and the world seemed to be fading from her vision. Then she heard the distinct metallic ping of a pistol slide.
“Get off of her,” Marya shouted.
Will looked over his shoulder. He slowly got up, raising his hands in surrender. Gabi rolled out from under him and regained her feet. Marya stood ten feet away with a Beretta trained on Will. Gabi collected Diego, soothing him as she circled around behind Marya.
“Will hurt you,” Diego whimpered.
“It’s alright,” she said. “I’ll be fine in a minute.”
Aidan slipped one loop of Marya’s pack over her shoulder. The four oddball companions made their way out of camp, covered by Marya in the rear. They walked in silence. Gabi touched her tender cheek, which had swollen enough to hamper the vision from her right eye.
So much for our great and shining leader, she thought sarcastically.
About twenty minutes later, Marya broke the silence.
“Too bad Karina and Daphne didn’t come with us.”
“Yup.”
Karina has it coming if they fail. And Daphne’s stuck with Will. Sucks for her.
“Think he’s found the ammo yet?”
“Probably.”
“We should get a move on, then.”
“He’s not coming after us.”
“Yeah? Why not?”
“Because he’s lost everything now,” Gabi replied coldly.
“Don’t you think that might make him a little, I dunno, vindictive?”
“He’s not his father.”
Marya considered this for a moment. “No. No, he’s not.”
Calvin McLaughlin
13 July, 6 yal, 09:46
North Concordia
Andrea giggled and cooed in her bassinet. Cal stopped stirring the bubbling goo in his cauldron for a moment, stepping away to check on her. He smiled under his mask.
“Goofball. What are you up to?” he cooed back.
She gave him a toothless grin and giggled again. Cal removed his safety googles and gloves, then reached to the inner pocket of his apron for his handkerchief. After he wiped the beaded sweat from his forehead, he put his protective gear back on and resumed his work. A few minutes passed, and Andrea got bored with whatever game she was playing with herself. She whimpered for a minute, then started to cry.
Damn it.
He couldn’t stop at this stage, or he risked losing the viability of the biodiesel component in the mixture. The glycerin would still be salvageable, but even still, the mistake would be costly. Cal hummed for a moment as he thought, then broke out singing nursery rhymes. To say that Cal was never much of a singer would be an understatement. The caterwauling that emanated from his throat pained his own ears, and he was pretty sure the local wildlife would start howling if they could hear. But after two songs, the desired effect was achieved; Andrea settled down again.
Phew.
He glanced up at the timer, but jumped when he was startled. Hunter was standing next to the rear shop door, accompanied by Dayton. Cal took a deep breath. When his heart settled back to a normal rhythm, he greeted them.
“I hope you didn’t hear that, Hunter,” he grinned from behind the vapor mask.
Hunter didn’t laugh or poke fun at him. His friend’s face bore a grim expression that was mirrored by the deputy governor.
“What’s going on, guys?” Cal asked, feeling his nerves jitter just a little.
“We need to talk, Mr. McLaughlin,” Dayton replied. “Do you have a minute?”
Cal glanced again at the timer. “I can talk, but I have to do it here.”
Dayton nodded. “That’s fine. Have you seen Governor Owens today?”
“No, not today.”
“What about yesterday?”
“No. Why do you ask?”
Hunter and Dayton exchanged worried looks. Dayton turned back to Cal, and with a grave tone said, “He may be missing.”
“Missing?” Cal blurted.
“He didn’t show up at Civic Hall this morning. I checked with Devereaux to see if he was working in the square, then checked his temporary berth on Michael. He’s not there, and no one’s seen him today.”
Hunter took a step forward. “This isn’t like him, Cal. He doesn’t just skip out. On anything. Ever.”
“Are you sure he didn’t just have business across the river this morning?” Cal postulated. “Or maybe a trip to Rust Creek?”
Dayton shook his head. “Roger says he was scheduled to work from Civic Hall this entire week. I heard back from Counselor Abernathy just a few minutes ago. The governor didn’t go south.”
“What about the farms?”
“There’s a lot of ground to cover, Cal,” Hunter replied. “The word is spreading to keep an eye out for him. But the last time anyone saw him was last night around seven, when he returned to Michael for the night. Several people saw him board the ship. No one saw him leave.”
“He slipped out?”
Dayton scratched at his beard, which was now almost equally gray and brown. “I’m just hoping he’s out touring farms somewhere, and that people just didn’t notice him leave because they were busy.”
Cal shuddered at a thought. “And what if he didn’t?”
“Then he disappeared into thin air, Mr. McLaughlin. I’m not a detective, but I’m starting to wish I was.”
The timer went off. Cal turned off the burner, placed the lid on his biofuel brew, and stashed his stirring paddle. He stripped off all of his protective gear except his apron, stuffing most of it in his inner pocket.
“Well, I’ll let you know if I hear anything or if I see him,” Cal added.
“Thank you.”
Hunter and the deputy governor took their leave through the shop. Cal exhaled loudly and wiped his brow with his arm.
Project Columbus: Omnibus Page 117
