"Wild hogs. A couple of men went hunting and butchered two big ones." She flipped the slices over. "This isn't quite the same as what we used to get in the store."
"I didn't know you could make it without the preservatives and stuff."
"Joe, my husband, had a stockpile of the curing spices." She stuck out her hand. "I'm Marguerite by the way."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Reginald." He looked at the skillet, his mouth watering even more. "So how do you make it?"
"Joe smokes meat and before the world collapsed, we would freeze the bacon. It tastes much better than store bought, but since we don't have freezers we can rely on, we have to cook it right away. This was smoked last night, so I'm frying it for burgers. Sometimes the wild hogs don't have enough fat, but one of the ones they bagged was well over two hundred pounds."
"Interesting." Reginald gave himself a mental shake. He wasn't here to discuss bacon. What had gotten into him? He needed to check out the vehicles and plan their escape instead of listening to the woman drone on about hogs and smoking.
"We're having a get together this evening. Burgers with bacon." Marguerite grinned. "You need to run home and get your wife and little ones. They'd be mighty upset if they missed out."
Several pairs of eyes stared at him. He had no choice but to return to their prison and get his family. Maybe during the party, when everyone was otherwise occupied, he could find a way out of the gates.
They walked toward the park. Belle and Katie skipped ahead. Their laughter floated on the air, but Reginald refused to allow them out of his sight.
The entire town turned out for the gathering. Mary Anne walked over to Marguerite to introduce herself. Reginald slipped away from his family and headed straight to the fence covering the car depot. He leaned against the fence and searched for a gate. It was in the middle of the fence and had no lock. He looked around to ensure no one watched him and stepped through the gate into a shed. It housed several vehicles with keys dangling from the ignitions.
One of the cars would provide them a way out of this mess. The tension knotting his shoulders unraveled as he slipped back through the gate. A large calloused hand wrapped around the back of his neck. "What are you doing?"
"Just checking out the town." Reginald hoped his shrill voice didn't betray his fear of the huge man. "I wanted to see everything."
"Come on." The man propelled him to Vixen's office. He opened the door and shoved Reginald. "Go inside. Vixen's waiting."
Great. Now he'd upset their captor. How did she even know he was snooping?
The woman sat on a sofa. "Come, Reg. We need to talk."
He walked to her on shaky legs. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes." She arched her brow. "You're a curious little thing. Aren't you?"
"Exploring the town." He sucked in a breath. "You did say we should make ourselves at home in your little prison."
Vixen ran one of her red fingernails down his arm. "Prison? You make it sound so horrible. Our little community is one of kindness and caring. Why do you insist on making us sound like vile human beings?"
Kindness and caring? Right. He didn't know what Vixen's game was, but he planned to find out before it cost him his family.
"Stay away from the vehicle shed." Vixen's strange violet eyes flashed anger. "You won't like what happens next if you don't learn to mind your own business."
Chapter Thirty-One
Josh turned onto the highway. "Xever, do you think we can get the supplies without going into San Antonio?
"Yep." Xever shifted in his seat. "I guess Randi forgot about Houston's. It's a mile or two this side of Kerrville. It's a manufacturing plant that sold to farm and ranch supply stores."
"Great. Do I stay on this road?"
"Yes. I'll tell you when to turn."
"If you're just going to run to a plant, why did you need me along?" Adriana leaned forward. "I'm needed at home."
"It's time for you to see what the world is now." Josh glanced back at her.
"Whatever. I figured you'd rather have Randi with you."
"I would. She knows how to take care of herself."
"Then why not bring her?"
Josh clenched his jaw. He wanted to take the woman out and give her a good spanking. How could an adult be so immature and spoiled? He gave himself a mental shake. She was grieving. He needed to remember how devastated Ginger's death had left him, and they weren't married. Lord, give me patience with this woman.
"Josh already answered you." Xever glanced over his shoulder. "You need to spend time outside the safety of the compound."
"I'm not a sheltered princess. You two act as though I don't know the world has deteriorated. Have you forgotten I lost my husband because of this disease? I'm raising two children in a prison." She motioned to Josh. "And this Neanderthal has taken me on perimeter checks more than once. I've had to learn to shoot in spite of my hatred of guns, and I work my tail off trying to keep this crew fed. Do not call me spoiled again."
"Spoiled's not the name I have for you." At Xever's direction, Josh turned onto a dirt road. "This place is in the middle of nothing, isn't it?"
"They didn't invest much in where they set up since they didn't have a store, as such."
"Are you going to ignore that this cretin called me an awful name?" Adriana asked.
"I didn't hear him call you anything." Xever grinned. "He said spoiled wasn't a name he had for you. If you don't want to be thought of as a witch, then sweetheart, stop acting like one."
"Dad!"
Xever turned to look at Adriana. "I'm sorry, mija, but you've been horrible. Especially to your sister. I've told you before it has to stop, but you continue to be a shrew. I know you're hurting, but if you don't want us to think of you as a harping old biddy, then stop." He patted her hand. "Find another outlet for your grief."
Her mouth gaped open, and she flopped back in the seat.
"I love you, and I hate hurting you, but you must stop being so mean and hateful. Especially to Randi. Without her we wouldn't be alive."
"Without her, my husband would be alive."
Josh slammed on the brakes throwing Adriana forward. "Wrong, lady. Without Randi, you and your children would be dead. Eaten by those." He pointed to several infected people blocking the road. "Those things that no longer resemble humans would have torn your kids limb from limb and eaten them. Is that what you want?
"Stop blaming her for Leon's death. He was an adult. Perfectly capable of taking care of himself. Get it through your obtuse brain, the only ones any of us have a responsibility to protect are the children. Do you honestly think I made you learn to shoot because I'm a jerk? I did it so you can defend yourself." He turned back to stare out the windshield. The crowd of infecteds continued to grow.
"What should we do?" Xever asked.
"There are steep embankments on either side of the road. I guess to drain water off when it rains."
"Yeah. No way around them."
"Just plow through them," Adriana said.
"And risk damaging the truck and getting stuck out here?" He held his rolling stomach and swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. More killings to add to his ever-growing list. "The only way to open up the road is to shoot them and drag their bodies to the side."
"We can't murder these people." Adriana's eyes widened and her mouth hung slack.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Xever turned to look over the seat. "We have to get through here, and we can't plow through them as you suggested."
"Which, by the way, would kill them." Josh stared out the window. "Maybe we need to find a fire truck so we can have someone on top spray them. People who have rabies are supposed to be hydrophobic, so it might get them to move."
"You don't have to be a sarcastic creep." Adriana gave his arm a gentle slap. "I'm struggling with all of this death and can't help but think there's a better way."
"You think you're struggling with it," Josh muttered under his breath.
"Let's d
o this." Xever grabbed his rifle and opened the door. "We have to get through, and there are no alternatives."
Josh picked up his rifle, opened the door, and shot several people. They dropped to the dirt road one by one. Their blood soaking into the dirt. His breathing came in short pants with the loud rapport of the gun.
Xever hopped out and began moving bodies to the side.
Swallowing the bile that flooded his throat, Josh turned to Adriana. "Cover us while we move the bodies."
"You expect me to shoot people? I didn't sign on for that."
"None of us did." He clenched his hands into fists. "Are you telling me you'd rather allow the infected to bite me and your dad than to shoot? Lady, it's time to get your stupid priorities straight. If not, then get your rear out of my truck and walk home." Josh climbed out and slammed the door hard enough to make the truck shudder.
Xever looked up. "You okay?"
"We're on our own. Watch your back."
"Fine." Xever pulled another body to the side of the road. "I don't know what to do with her," he muttered.
If she didn't learn to step up, someone was going to get killed. They pulled the last body to the side, climbed in, and drove the rest of the way to the fence supply company. Josh and Xever went through the doors first. Josh turned to Adriana and whispered, "Stay with Xever until we know the place is safe."
She didn't acknowledge him, so he grabbed her arm. "You've got to have his back. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
The massive building held one large room with shelving units throughout and a small office at the back. Xever and Adriana went left, and Josh went right. He walked up and down each row of fencing. The shelving units reached to the ceiling so he couldn't see on the other side. He took a deep breath and rounded the last unit. Nothing. He met Xever and Adriana in the middle of the next row.
"We didn't encounter anyone." Xever motioned to his side of the store. "Your side clear?"
"Yeah. Nothing but a small office"
"There's a large truck in the loading bay with the keys in it." Xever pointed to delivery vehicle. "We’ll load everything we need plus extras for repairs, and I'll drive it back."
"I have the list from Mark so we can get started."
Xever and Josh rolled several spools of wiring to the truck and loaded them, and then Josh stacked boxes of the stakes that formed the structure for the electric array onto a cart and rolled it to the truck. Xever loaded them while Josh took another cart and gathered the rest of the components.
He rolled the cart back to the truck, and helped Xever finish loading the boxes of metal stakes.
Adriana's screams split the air. Josh looked around but didn't see the woman. She screamed again, and he ran toward the sound of her voice. He found her on an upper shelf with several infecteds reaching for her. One had a vice grip hold on her foot.
*****
Reginald stared at Vixen. Was she going to allow him to leave, or order one of her thugs shoot him?
"We're a family here." Vixen ran one of her cat-like claws across his cheek, and he dug his fingers into the plush leather of the sofa. "I was hoping you and your family might assimilate. Guess I was mistaken."
Instead of making eye contact with the woman, Reginald focused on the painting that hung behind her chair. A print of Edvard Munch's "The Scream". How fitting for this place. "I don't understand what you want from us."
"Nothing." Vixen sat in her chair and crossed her leather-clad legs. What was this woman's fascination with leather? All of her furniture and her clothes were leather of some type. "We want to develop a town that provides for each other. It's time to stop looking out for ourselves and work for the greater good."
"Then why take our car? Why won't you allow us to leave?"
"Greater good, Reg. Your car is part of the community pool. I want you to stay, because there is safety in numbers. Every able-bodied person in the town must learn to shoot and be prepared to protect the family."
"I guess I understand." Reginald steepled his fingers together, furrowed his brows, and tried to force a contemplative look on his face. He'd tell this egomaniac whatever she wanted to hear.
"Good. Now, join your family for the barbecue. We'll have no more of this snooping. Got it?" She didn't wait for an answer, but the unspoken threat hung in the room. "One of the hunters bagged a huge buck so we're going to have a feast tonight."
Reginald strolled down the street. Not much to look at. Vixen's castle, formerly known as the post office, houses, and an old burger joint. He studied the restaurant as he walked by. Since they had generators and propane, why weren't they using the grill there to cook the burgers? Maybe they didn't know how to fill the tanks. The place stood empty when it could provide a nice home for someone. Instead, she made families double up and live in single rooms. Most of the families that is. Some of her elite had their own places. He frowned. The politics of this place never ceased to confuse him.
A man leaned against the side of the pink house. Reginald nodded to him.
"Come inside."
"Excuse me?"
The man motioned to the house with his head. "Come inside and visit. My wife found sodas. We even have ice."
"Where'd you get ice?"
"She freezes it when the generators are running. It stays partially frozen the hours the gennies are off." He held his finger to his mouth. "Shhh. We aren't supposed to waste water on things like ice. I'm Phil Harrison."
Reginald followed the man inside and took a seat at the table. Was this man one of Vixen's top echelon? If not, how'd his family get their own place?
"You need to be careful. Things aren't what they seem around here."
Reginald frowned but kept quiet. He didn't want to stop the man from talking or say anything that might be construed as subversive.
"Rumor has it you were caught snooping around the cars. Vixen won't let that go twice. If you go to the auto pool again, you need to steal a car and scoot. Otherwise, you'll be dead or worse."
"Why doesn't she want us to leave?"
"Safety in numbers. If she surrounds herself with enough people, even against their will, she'll be safe."
"I'm sure there are plenty of people who want to be here. She should focus on them instead of those of us who want out."
"True." Phil leaned back in his seat. "The story around the camp is Vixen plans to build our town, work toward getting word to the rest of the country there's safety here, and set herself up as president."
"President?" Reginald crossed his arms. "Does she realize we're in the midst of anarchy? She'll never be elected when things are so chaotic."
Phil snickered. "Maybe president was the wrong word. Try dictator. Queen. Whatever you want to call her. I tell ya, if I could get out of here, I'd take my chances. This place is an atom bomb waiting to turn Atlas into a mini Hiroshima."
"Why don't you come with us?" Reginald leaned forward. "I'm leaving. One way or another. You and your family can go with us."
"When?"
"Depends. My wife is insistent on staying. She thinks it's safe."
"She's wrong."
"I can see that."
"Talk to her. In the meantime, I'll squirrel away supplies." Phil leaned forward and whispered. "I'm the mechanic, so I can have a vehicle gassed and ready."
Reginald headed back to Mary Anne and the girls with a smile on his face. They could head out during the night if he could talk his sweet wife into leaving with him. Mary Anne greeted him when he reached her. She had on new jeans and a sweater and the girls wore new clothes. He didn't notice that earlier. "Don't you look as pretty as can be?"
A large crowd had gathered, and he hung back in order to observe them. One group of men stood near the grill, and the members kept looking over their shoulders every couple of minutes. Reginald sauntered toward them. He didn't want to appear intent on eavesdropping but hoped they might reveal something useful.
When he reached the group, Phil smiled and held up his beer.
"Want one?"
"No thanks." He needed to keep his head if they were leaving. "How's it going?"
"Good." Phil introduced him the other men in the small group. "We're discussing security."
Reginald nodded but kept quiet.
"You don't think our fences are good enough?" Phil asked.
"Nope." The lanky guy pointed at several sections of fencing. "Those are weak spots. A good shove and people'll pour in or out."
"Why shouldn't they get out, Lewis?" Phil raised an eyebrow. "If someone wants to brave the chaos outside of our gates, why shouldn't we allow it?"
"Strength in numbers," an obese bald guy said. "You know that. If we allow people to leave, how can we protect Vixen and Atlas?"
Reginald clenched his teeth to keep from asking why Vixen was so special. Instead he continued to nod when someone spoke.
"I guess." Phil grimaced. "Now's not the time worry, though. It's party time." He stretched. "Vixen wants us to have a good time free from worries."
Smart move bringing up Vixen's name. That got the men off the idea of setting up patrols. If they were roaming the streets at night, Reginald's family could never leave. The group of men broke up. Reginald walked over to his wife and kissed her cheek.
Tears shimmered in her eyes. "I'm so happy here. As happy as I can be without David."
"I know." He had to change her mind.
They sat at large picnic tables and ate. Reginald tried to listen to the conversations going on around him, but he couldn't focus on a single one long enough to glean any information.
Mary Anne pushed her full plate aside. "I'm going to the room."
"I'll go with you." Reginald stood. "Girls—"
"No. I want to be alone. I barely remember what my son looked like, and we don't even have any photos." She touched his arm. "This is the first time we've slowed in many days. I need time alone."
Reginald didn't know what to say. His own grief threatened to drown him, but he had to put it aside until he got them home.
"Dad, she's okay." Belle hugged him. "You've made big messes, but Mom still loves you. Give her time to grieve."
How did his daughter get so smart? He kissed the top of her head. "I know, sweetie."
Dark Days (Book 1): Contagion Page 25
