"The man who was here a few days ago worked for your government."
"That's what he said. No secret there. Not worth any money or a lunch or even a small glass of wine."
"He was right. But you will notice that I did not say he works for your government. He is no longer among the living. He met with an untimely end."
"That's so sad. My compatriot was in favor of giving him an untimely end right here on this spot. But, I was able to restrain her. What about his friend in the other car?"
"He also met with an untimely end."
"A lot of that is going around these days, isn't it? Is that it? Nothing more? Nobody is going to come and collect all those forms?"
"You are correct. My information would be worth little." Hans removed a thick manila envelope from the saddle bag on his bicycle and handed it to John. "Inside are aerial maps of this region. Everywhere within three hundred kilometers. Taken from a satellite, I believe."
"How is that going to help me? I have maps." John said, accepting the package, but not opening it. "And, I'm not planning any day trips."
"You often travel on day trips. All over this area. Sometimes on your bicycle. Sometimes in those amazing electric cars of yours. That package includes infrared as well as natural light satellite pictures. They will show you all the settlements in the region. You can contact these people and set up your own government. If you refuse to cooperate with your government, then they can come here in force and station men to make sure you cooperate. If fifty people refuse to cooperate, that is unlikely to happen. They cannot station one thousand people around the state. Only a few men are assigned to this entire state."
"But the US has fifty states. That could add up to thousands of people if they brought in all the others to reinforce these. That information still doesn't help."
"Before their untimely ends, these gentlemen were willing to provide some information to me. The government does not have thousands of people on land. Most are at sea. And, the government is deeply concerned about the virus. Correctly concerned about the virus, I believe. They think that if they bring all their people on land, most will die from the virus. Then, no armed force will be available and the country will fall into chaos."
"Continue to be in chaos, you mean. We've had the chaos for many months. You've been lucky. You are well fed. Your clothes are clean and pressed. You haven't lived with the chaos." John gripped his rifle hard. He was losing patience with this man. If he had something to say, then he should say it. "We don't have so much chaos now because everybody causing the chaos has killed each other."
"Perhaps. But, after they finish here, the government will move these same people from state to state. The survey they gave you asked about people who died from the plague. You are immune and most of the people remaining are immune, whereas most of the government people are not. Some military bases were totally destroyed by the plague, including all of them in this state. They might even want you to join their operation. To go out and do the census for them."
"Why would I do that?" John shifted his weight to his right foot and then to his left foot. He crossed his arms and fidgeted with his rifle. This conversation was going nowhere.
"If you did not comply, they could bomb your house. At fifty thousand feet, they can drop all the bombs they want with no danger of contracting the virus. Many bombs were stockpiled before the panic. The government may be reduced in numbers, but not in strength."
John leaned forward, almost nose to nose with Hans. "You are better informed than someone who just happened to run across two government men and just happened to see them killed after a long and boring conversation. What's the real story?" Then, he stepped back and asked himself, who is this guy, really?
"Why don't we continue our talk over lunch? It has been a day since my last meal. Much longer since my last glass of wine."
John thought, this man is incredibly confident, and incredibly knowledgeable. He could certainly be of use. Even if I had to use drugs to probe his mind, the man would be valuable. "Give me a few minutes." John climbed onto his tractor and backed back to the barn. Pierre was standing by the door with the sniper rifle in his hand. The others also were holding rifles. John told them the story and they agreed that they should provide the lunch. The rain had let up earlier so they decided to hold lunch at the barrier fence to avoid revealing any more secrets than necessary. George attached a trailer to one of the White Warriors and loaded a card table, folding chairs and Marceau's picnic basket. They unloaded just inside the barrier fence and set up everything needed for lunch.
George, Fred, Masako and John sat down around Hans as John said, "Let's talk. How did you know about the government's plans?"
"Of course, mein Herr. How did you know about the virus, even before the body count began to go to the sky?"
"Through the roof. The body count went through the roof. Yes, so you're a spy and you've been spying on the American government."
"Jawohl. And you also. And many others. Based on your last six months here, I believe your chance of survival is greater than any of the other groups in the region. So, I provided my information to you and not to them. I also believe, considering your recent losses, that you would be looking for new members for your group. I would be happier here than in those other groups. As you and Miss Masako are both spies, I would fit in quite well. You are also more open minded, having lived overseas. And, of course, your friend George is a mechanical and electrical genius. He would be valued quite highly in my country. But, even here, I will bet on his abilities to produce miracles more than anyone else, anywhere else."
"Your country is Germany. So, the American government would not like to find you here also. Isn't that correct?" said Masako.
"That is true. I believe the government should take a liberal stance regarding who is here and who is not. But, that is just my personal opinion. I do not think that is their opinion. They are concerned about spies, especially Orientals," he said, looking at Masako.
"We already discussed that issue and we can deal with it. Is that what happened to the man who came here? He found you and wanted to deport you."
The group was silent, with no answer from the German for a minute. Then, through the silence, Hans said, "These days, they do not deport people. How would they? They have no passenger planes and not enough fuel even for military planes. He was going to shoot me, but I was faster." In the blink of an eye, Hans was holding a small pistol.
"You put a mechanism in your sleeve. The kind that card cheats used to use."
"They still use such things. It is very handy," Hans said, as he unbuttoned his sleeve and placed the small gun back into the mechanism. "It is a single shot and only good for short range, but it has done it's job many times. It has saved my life and I am thankful for it."
John wondered why the man showed him the sleeve gun. It was obviously of no use now because he was outnumbered. Had he shot someone here, everyone else would have produced a gun and he would have been slaughtered. It made no sense. Perhaps he thought that if he revealed one of his secrets, then John would trust him. Yes, that normally works, John thought, but not now. "You believe that I should trust you because I could turn you over to the government if I wanted to?"
"No, if you betrayed me, you would be betraying several of your friends. You are not going to do that. You have no love of the government. If you wanted to kill me, you would simply kill me. The government would play no part in it."
"You can finish the wine. We'll go back to the lodge and speak with the rest of our people."
"Take your time," Hans said, as he filled his glass and leaned back in his chair. Looking up at the dark sky, he said, "But do not take too long. It is going to rain again soon and I do not like sitting in the rain drinking diluted wine. Your lodge or one of your cabins would be much more comfortable. I am sure."
* * *
Back in the lodge, everyone gathered in the dining room, a mixture of feelings between them. Masako was angry and wan
ted to kill Hans. John and Fred had not made up their minds about Hans. Marceau, Pierre, Iris and George did not trust him at all. John explained the situation and the question to be decided. He then unfolded the maps on the old wooden dining room table.
Fred looked carefully at each of the maps, putting one on top of another and flipping back and forth between them. "These could be useful, as he said. Whether we want to make contact with other groups or to avoid contact with other groups. The infrared maps show who has heat and how much. Several groups are near the railroads and would be easy to reach with George's gasifier train. Easy to trade with as well, right George?"
"Sure. Access to the customers is important. We could use the flatbed car to move our power plants. Also, bring back our payments. Access and transportation are the keys to wealth. That's why the interstate highways were built. And before that, the autobahns and before that, the canals in France and before that, the roads throughout the Roman Empire."
"I hate to mention this, but knowing where everyone is would make it possible to go there and wipe out everyone else. These maps are valuable from a military point of view," John said, thinking that the world had indeed changed if the first thing he thought of was killing everybody he could find.
"True," said Fred. "But, sad that we still must consider such things."
"We will always need to consider such things. So what's the answer? A few weeks ago, I had a similar discussion with Charles. He pointed out that bringing one person into the group is not a big risk. We could all watch him. Anyone who had good reason could put a bullet into him. No trials. No questions asked. What do you all say? Keep in mind that Hans could be a real help with his knowledge and prior training."
Iris looked at John and said, "I see no problem with him. I'm sure none of us trust him, but, as you say, we'll all watch him. We always carry a gun now, anyway. I don't see a big risk. If he has all this information, he probably has more. If not on paper, then in his head." She looked at Marceau and raised her eyebrows.
Marceau replied, "I agree," then she pulled out a revolver. "I took this from Elspeth's cabin after she died. She had many. I practiced with it and it is a good gun. I can do what I must do with a knife or with this gun. Masako has also taught me some jujitsu moves. I am not afraid of him and he has been honest with you so far."
Pierre looked at her, shaking his head, "Mon petit. What are you saying? You are not afraid of him?"
"I am saying that I can take care of myself, mon amour. I am no longer afraid. I am not afraid of him. I am not afraid of anyone."
"Mon Dieu. If you are not afraid, then I must not be afraid either. Bring him in. Give him Charles' cabin. We will watch him. Like a hawk, as you say."
Masako added, "Sure, why not. As Marceau says. We all carry and we all watch our backs. It's now a habit. He won't be a problem. Could be a help. If he's a problem, I'll take care of him."
John couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was afraid every day of his life and these ladies were not as strong, not as good a shot, and not as tough. And they were saying they weren't afraid of anyone.
"How do you figure this situation, Binky?" said George.
"You all made many good points. Most important, always remember that he is a spy. He has been spying on us. He hasn't told you why he was spying on us, has he? He must be motivated by some clandestine cause. Something he hasn't told you about. If you bring him into the group, you should first try to determine his motives -- before you kill him, which you eventually will, I predict."
"Couldn't his main motive be survival? Like us?" said John.
"Whatever he has told you is not his motive. Spies do not work that way. You and Masako know that all too well. Are you forgetting your training? Are you forgetting your step-father. He always had a motive." Binky looked down at the floor for a while, as if a bad memory had filled his mind, then he looked back at John. "He always had an ulterior motive. You know I am speaking the truth."
"Maybe he's hungry," said Masako. "He made short work of those ham sandwiches. They were good," she said, looking at Marceau. Marceau smiled.
"As I will be leaving when my friends arrive, I should not be able to vote. But, if I did vote, I would vote to bring him here. I am sure he knows something which could be of use to you. But watch him carefully. A man that fat is always hungry -- for something."
John had to smile at Binky's comment. He looked at George and Fred. "It sounds like a consensus."
"I don't disagree with that," said Fred. "But, Hans has a suspicious look. Not just that he behaves in a suspicious manner, which we all agree, but he's suspicious of everybody. His eyes are always moving. While he was around the barrier fence, he always stood with his back to the fence. He reminds me of a prison guard I once knew. Always a little tense, like his spring was wound two turns too tight."
John was watching Fred, looking for facial expressions and he had to smile. "Fred, your spring looks a little too tight also. Maybe that makes up for George. His spring is always a little loose."
"As Binky says, we should find out his motives." said George. "What's Hans afraid of, John? You should talk to him. Figure him out. Is he more worried about bein' sent back or bein' killed? Starvin' to death, or something else? You could use those drugs of yours."
"Let's call the drugs Plan B, for now. I'm not saying they are out, but I would rather determine the truth without them."
John drove the tractor back to the front gate and opened it. "It looks like you've found a new home, as long as we can trust you. We are concerned about your motives. Is there anything else we should know?"
"My country has a saying, "Whose bread I eat is whose song I sing."
"But, hunger is only a motive until you have a full belly. Then, you find other motives. For now, we have plenty of bread. I'll be careful if we run across a bakery. But how did you know where we were?"
"First, I saw the planes dropping bombs on that mutant settlement. Then, I saw your little train. I assume George figured that out. I followed the tracks back this way and finally heard the explosion. The map showed you were here. I stayed in a house a few kilometers away and was careless. The government men saw smoke from the house and came to investigate. One of them noticed my accent and asked for a passport. Dummkopf. A passport. Do they not know what has happened while they were gone? They should be happy anyone is still alive."
"That brings up a question, Hans. Why are you still alive?"
"I often ask myself the same question. My parents were German. I did spend some time in China, a few years."
"So, you believe you obtained immunity through exposure to the early versions of the virus? I understand."
"You understand because the same thing happened to you, jawohl?"
"The question which keeps going through my head is, did you really kill those guys or are you with those guys? Either, they could be criminals like you or you could be a government agent like them. Either way is not good. They could come back, join with you while some of us were out and take over the compound."
"Sehr gut. That is possible. I do not know how to prove my story."
"Where are their cars?"
"In a garage. A few kilometers from here. I do not drive them. I save the gasoline for a rainy day, as you Americans say. Do you want them? They consume gasoline of course."
"We saved a little. I'll talk to George to see if he wants them."
"Zo, what is your final decision?"
"I still wonder how you are overweight. How was your shirt pressed?"
"You are a prepper. You know what that means. And, my mother taught me how to iron my shirts when I was young. You wouldn't hold that against me, would you?"
"Follow me."
Hans followed John back to the barn on his bicycle. As John was showing Hans a cabin, he tried to learn some more about Hans.
"Tell me, what do we do about the government? Wait until they come back? Or go looking for them?"
"Ya, I think so. They will come back. We w
ait and we do reconnaissance. Using your black car. Charge it during the day and drive around at night. Perhaps, George can make some gadgets to tell us if a vehicle has passed some point on the highway. We could drive around checking them. I would suggest that I do the reconnaissance myself, but as you do not trust me, we can do it together."
Chapter 67 - The Return, Part II
An alarm beeped, causing George to drop his wrench while he was working on the Dart power plant in the barn. He let out a not so mild oath as Fred bent over to pick up the wrench.
"Where is it, George?"
George looked over to the back wall where a red light on a panel was glowing. "Out back." George went to the side door and cracked it open. Not seeing anything, he gradually opened it more and more. Finally, squinting his eyes and rubbing his neck, he said, "Oh no!"
"What?" Fred had hustled to the corner cabinet where he hastily pulled out a rifle and ran back. "What is it. Thieves?"
"Definitely. Our old friend Carla."
"I hope not," said Fred, swallowing hard and shaking his head. He pulled the door open wider for a better view. "Damn! You're right. Who is that with her?" He squinted, trying to get a better look.
"That kid of hers. The one she calls 'Little John'. You don't figger that's really John's kid, do you?"
Fred shook his head and placed the rifle back in its place in the cabinet. "John says the boy's not his. He was born over a year after John last saw Carla."
"Do we have to go out to see her, or will someone from the lodge go out?"
Fred looked at George and smiled. "If by someone, you mean John, you can forget it. He's not here now. He and Hans are out looking for the government or other survivors or mutants. I'm not sure what John's up to. I'm surprised he goes out alone with Hans. I've never trusted Hans. Not from the beginning."
The Weak Shall Die: Complete Collection (Four Volume Set) Page 67
