by Angela White
“Grab that box and come on.”
The first stop was the mess, where thirty or so people were in line or already sitting down to canned chili, crackers, and applesauce. Adrian stopped near the flagpole ropes.
“Raise our colors, boy.”
Charlie and Adrian saluted, as did others, and Adrian searched for those who looked like they’d done it before. It meant they might have military training or a history of service. He spied two, maybe three, and mentally added them to the list of interviews for the next set of Eagles. There was work for them if they still had the desire to serve. He wouldn’t respect them as much if they didn’t. In the Corps, in for life, but he definitely understood and wouldn’t treat them differently.
Kenn fell in on Adrian’s right as they moved on, and Adrian noticed Charlie dropping out of eye but not earshot. He was pretending to be very involved in kicking a path through the sand that had blown back in during the night.
“I have a great idea.” Kenn handed Adrian a slip of paper. “That’s our next supply run. Everything we need for a while, depending on how lucky we get.”
Adrian clapped Kenn on the arm. He should have already thought of this.
“Great, is an understatement. Kyle’s men will be your escort. Leave tomorrow. I’ll need a list of people and supplies by tonight.”
“You know it,” Kenn answered, writing the directions down.
Adrian saw satisfaction flash across young Charlie’s face. Had the boy helped Kenn? It was a brilliant idea. Over half of America’s goods were once transported by rail, and the massive boxcars would be sitting there, waiting to be found and emptied. Some, say half even, would already be cleaned out or too damaged, but the rest would still be on the tracks where the EMPs or lack of employees had shut them down. It was a terrific idea. Kenn’s or the boy?
“What else?”
They moved to the parking area, Charlie trailing them.
“Last thing. I know you do fuel-ups by yourself on days when we’re shorthanded, like at the end of the month. I thought that maybe you could change things a little. Like for the Eagles to graduate to the next level, they have to put in hours on a teaching class. That would free up six or seven short shifts.”
“We are always short ten men,” Adrian agreed.
Kenn ran a beefy hand over his short black hair as the gritty wind ruffled it. “Give me one of the extras. That’ll still leave you two.”
Adrian laughed. “Two, instead of ten. I won’t know what to do with the extra time.”
“Sleep,” Kenn said immediately, and they shared a grin of commiseration. Both of them averaged less than five hours a night.
“I’ve given your boy a full-time job.”
Kenn was okay with Charlie being distracted. The constant whining about his mother was relentless, and Kenn had found himself spending as much time away from the sulky teenager as he could. “He’s a hard worker.”
“I’ve noticed. You take the hand-to-hand test yet?”
“No.” Kenn didn’t remind him that they’d both passed one in basic training. What had happened before the war was mostly that: before.
“Doug’s class should still be going. Tell him I said to give you a quick run, but you should watch for a bit first, so you know what you’re up against.”
Kenn snapped off a quick salute as he left, and the boy moved back to Adrian’s side.
Adrian frowned. Kenn couldn’t help him teach the guards unless he was willing to go through the same things they did. He’d decided Kenn wouldn’t have his own team of Eagles. He would serve the boss instead. Kenn couldn’t do both, but he still had to do everything the teams did in order to help teach them.
A little less confidence for the match tonight wouldn’t hurt either, Adrian thought. Kenn was sharp and had only lost last time because the wind had gusted at the wrong second and ruined his shot.
Charlie felt sorry for whomever Kenn was cursing in his thoughts. When he did that, someone (usually his mom) ended up bleeding.
“Come on. Grab that box,” Adrian instructed.
Charlie did as he was told, clamping down on the request for his schedule that wanted to fly out of his mouth. Adrian would give it to him. Unlike most people, he never went back on what he said.
6
An hour later, Adrian was almost sure the rail yard had been the smart, observant boy’s idea, was coming to think that the magic that fate had hinted at was already here–had been for a while. It was just too young, too raw, to be useful yet.
“So what’s this box for?” Charlie asked as they moved to the mess line for bowls of soup and fresh biscuits.
Adrian grinned at him. “I thought you’d ask long before now. Line it with a garbage bag from the truck and put a note on it. ‘Food only.’ Set it by the cans. It’s for the pregnant dogs.”
The boy had finished and joined Adrian at the table when excited voices echoed, causing people to turn and gawk. A small group of talking men came by, helping a bloody Doug toward the medical tent.
Adrian snorted. He had underestimated Kenn. He wouldn’t do it again.
A second group of noisemakers arrived a couple minutes later, Kenn happily in their midst.
“Damnedest thing I ever saw.”
“Shoulda seen it!”
“Two hits! Just two hits!”
“Broke it. I heard it snap.”
Kenn was grinning as they got in line, and Adrian glanced at Charlie, noticing how he’d tensed. “Ready?”
The boy immediately got up, and they slipped out before Kenn was even halfway through the long, loud line.
Their next stop was the new livestock trailers and even newer veterinarian, Chris. The Utah man had only been out of the QZ for a week and hard at work most of that time–alone, because of his surly attitude and smart mouth.
“Anybody home?”
There was movement from inside, but no answer, and Charlie raised his hand to open the semi’s faded white door.
“Not a good idea boy, but you do what you want.”
Charlie dropped his hand, and they turned to find the tall, thin veterinarian coming from a nearby tent. His neat white coat and handsome face didn’t hide the frosty attitude of a born loner.
“Star’s in there giving birth. She’s not in the mood for company.”
Adrian stepped over to him. “You see them yet?”
Chris tossed a small, white package into the teenager’s hands. “One, normal as far as I can tell. When she’s done, we’ll knock her out and run the blood work.”
“Good.” Adrian denied the offered envelope. “Kenn’s chore now. He’ll be by.”
Adrian focused on Charlie. “What’s your job that matters, son?”
“I’m a dog handler. Or at least I will be.”
“And do you know why this is a job that matters?”
Charlie’s brow furrowed in thought. “No, sir.”
Adrian smiled, pleased. Charlie would end up being helpful in the future. Reminded him of…Adrian stopped the thought. Not until they hit Arkansas. He wasn’t allowed to think of it (be distracted by it) until then, and that was still a lifetime away.
“When you do, come talk to me. In the meantime, Chris is the boss and teacher, so pay attention.”
Charlie snapped off a salute. “You know it.”
The smart teenager approached Chris with his hand out. “Hi. I’m Charlie, your new slave. What should I do first?”
Adrian chuckled, and even the stern-faced vet hid a smile.
“That’s a real good start, boy. Put on the clothes in the bag and then come in the truck. I’ll have her chained up by then. Today, we help dogs repopulate the earth.”
“Cool!”
7
On his way to the next stop, Adrian caught sight of movement in the gritty sky and watched an eagle fly over. It glided at an odd angle on the wind, swooping in sickly circles, as if it were lost. Adrian mourned the bird and the country it unknowingly represented. Like the eagle, Ameri
ca wasn’t doing well.
Suddenly feeling weighed down with the burdens he was carrying, Adrian went to the medical area, not happy to discover all the seats empty. People were afraid to hear what might be wrong, and soon he would have to enforce the testing law unless he thought of another way to get them in. Too bad Anne wasn’t a doctor too. Being female would automatically draw the women.
“Coming in.” He ducked inside and chuckled at the uniformed doctor and nurse kissing in a dim corner. They parted slowly and Adrian smiled when Anne blushed and left to give them privacy without being asked.
“Guess you’ve been a good boy,” Adrian joked.
John was grateful. “Me and you both. She’s glad we came now, and it does my heart good to see her happy.”
Adrian perched on a stool, noting the slight shake of scarred hands as the stocky man sat down across from him. “I’m glad too, John. We need you both. I guess by now you’ve pretty much got things figured out?”
The doctor shrugged. “Enough to know we came to the right people, the right leadership.”
“I appreciate that. There’s a question I need to ask. Any idea?”
John agreed without hesitation, glad that he could. “Yes, and you have it. We’re with you. I’m with you.”
Adrian handed him a glossy black notebook and an envelope from the unusually light inside pocket of his jacket. He was used to it being full of papers to decipher later. “These are some things I need answers to. I’ll get the equipment; just tell me exactly what you need. Most importantly, this stays between us.”
John took it, slipping his glasses on to read the paper. “These are smart questions. I have some of my own things I’ve wanted to try that might help you, especially treatments. I’ll need specimens.”
Adrian moved toward the flap. “I have a few coolers in the rear of my semi. I’ll tell Kyle to give you access.”
As he left, John hid the paperwork. Adrian was being careful. He knew how to sing to his herd and still get things done, and the doctor was sure that their young leader bent out of shape would be something to behold.
As Adrian left the medical tent, Kenn was there.
“Kyle’s three hours out. Mitch talked to them.”
“Good. He mention where they are?”
“No. Call them back?” Kenn made a note to never give the same answer again. From now on, he would have the information.
“No.” Adrian climbed under the broken fence, moving steadily through the sand he’d already had two boys rake and clear of debris. The dust storm would be the burial for those who wouldn’t otherwise get one.
“Game?” Adrian asked.
Kenn shrugged, a bit disappointed that Adrian hadn’t said anything about him beating Doug. “If you like.”
Adrian dug through the dusty but otherwise untouched box of sports equipment that they had put out this morning and came up with a football. “Go long.”
Kenn immediately took off running, and Adrian threw the ball high and hard, hoping to draw some interest from his people. These games were good for them, but hard to get going. Most of the refugees kept to themselves as they dealt with their grief, and Adrian scheduled regular times for things like this, knowing they needed it as part of their recovery.
Kenn hurled the ball with a hard spin that made Adrian pay attention, and for the next few minutes, he left the heaviness of leadership on the sidelines and lost himself in having fun. The passes were hard and long, the catches punishing, and the echo of their laughter and taunts drew people. A small crowd slowly gathered, and when there was enough for teams, Adrian moved toward them. “Game?”
He and Kenn were the quarterbacks, and it got rough from the start. Kenn, who still struggled to hide his true nature, slammed his way through three other players, knocking them aside to run by for a score.
“If you bleed, you’re out. Eagle Two’s team has six points. Our turn.”
Adrian’s team let out a shout of approval and the game became an outlet for them as they tripped, shoved, elbowed, and harassed each other. Sweating, shirts coming off, they drew in more of the people who were sensitive to loud noises now. When Adrian glanced up, nearly fifty people were watching, with about half waiting to play.
“Time out!”
Adrian signaled Kenn over as he headed for the sidelines, stiff wind cooling his sweaty skin. “Pick your replacement. We’ve got a level test to give.”
Adrian threw the ball to Zack, knowing it would please Kenn. “Take my place, will ya? I’ve been knocked down enough.”
Everyone was laughing as the two men left. The leader had been tripped and hurried, but hadn’t hit the ground even once due to great protection, deft footwork, and respect.
The game continued behind them, and both men were pleased, Kenn mostly because his side had been up by twelve points when they stopped.
“Gather the Level Ones. Seth, too. Send ‘em to that barn half a mile back and have them put on the vests. Neil is the supervisor, not their leader. We’ll find out who that is today. Their mission begins with securing a two hundred foot perimeter and staying out of sight. If anyone sees them leave, they fail. Meet me at the house next to the barn in half an hour.”
Kenn agreed eagerly, hoping the boss would like his plan, and handed him the paper as he left. It was his first attempt at tests like these, though he had worked with The Man, before the war. Nobody had been better than Marc Brady at high-casualty ambushes.
Adrian gave it a quick skim, and then put it away, going to his tent. In and out, he was in the parking area a few minutes later talking to Daryl, the only Level Three Eagle not out of camp with Kyle.
“Anyone come in?”
The tall, thin football coach responded, “No, it’s all quiet.”
Adrian sighed, not showing his disappointment. The help he needed wasn’t coming today. “Kenn will be by for the paperwork. That’s his job now. When’s Kyle due?”
Smothering a frown, Daryl checked his watch. “Little over an hour.”
“Great. Let’s give them a call. Message is to put on the vests and pay attention. Mission objective, shake my hand to pass to Level Four status.”
Daryl snickered and keyed his headset, one of a dozen Kenn had finished this week. “Base to Eagle Four.”
There was only a few seconds of silence, then Kyle’s calm voice, “This is Four, base.”
“I’ve been instructed to tell you to put on the noisemakers and look alive before you hit camp. Copy?”
“Copy. What is the mission objective?”
“Physical contact with Eagle One.”
“Copy. Four out.”
Daryl did a quick scan of the dusty landscape before turning back to Adrian. “Can I help?”
“Absolutely. You’re the instructor and then the hostage. The barn half a mile back. The rookies are going there now. Go and...entertain them–the way I did at your first test.”
Daryl grinned at the memory and the responsibility he’d been given, and Adrian slipped into his truck as the guard left. The leader changed clothes, made contact with the next shift coming on, then snuck away to play with his army.
8
An hour later, all the men entered camp the way they’d left, with Adrian and Kenn following more slowly.
“No one asked any questions. Big mistake. Seth’s team got lucky to win.”
Kenn was eager to help another of his picks. Zack was about to graduate to a Level One Eagle and had Kenn to thank for his name even being on the list. Now, all the truck driver had to do was live up to it. There would be no slacking off allowed. “True, that. Seth sure surprised ‘em all.”
Adrian lit a smoke. “Yes, he did. Give him a level test tonight. If he makes it, bump him to Level Four and we’ll catch him up. I always thought that team should have been ten strong, just didn’t know who went there. Do it after dinner.”
Kenn didn’t look up from writing, glad for Seth and hating the jealous part of himself that wanted to say he’d done well wi
th Doug and ask for a reward.
“Who’s our MC tonight?”
Kenn gave a tight smile, tone even. “Doug said he’d give that to you at mess.”
Adrian met his eye, feeling his man’s need, meeting it. “That’s your job now. Once an evening you’ll do rounds and collect envelopes. Organize it into something I can read quickly.”
Kenn realized he was being rewarded, and his heart eased. “Sure! That’s it for the list. See you at mess?”
“You know it.”
Their radios crackled to life. “Mitch to Eagle One. Just took a call, A-Man.”
Adrian’s heart thumped, and he and Kenn exchanged a look. The drunk’s tone wasn’t encouraging.
“Still on the air?”
“No, low battery. Said they’d call again.”
“Copy.”
Kenn stayed at Adrian’s side as they headed to the COM truck, where Kyle had taken up his post on sentry duty. The cabin reeked of whiskey, and Mitch rewound the tape without saying as much as usual, able to feel Adrian’s disapproval.
“This one sounds legit to me, but I just roll your waves.”
Adrian had to force himself not to grimace. Mitch Hopkins was one hell of a radioman, but he was too often loud, crude, arrogant, and intoxicated. All things Adrian and the camp had little tolerance for because it reminded them too much of what had been wrong with the old world when it had fallen.
“Play,” Adrian ordered.
The fat-faced man hit the button and smirked at all the people watching, seeing him with the boss.
“This is Safe Haven. We are a convoy of American Red Cross survivors who will help if we can, no matter your age, race, location, or injuries. Does anyone copy?”
There was silence after Mitch’s loud voice, and Adrian could feel the alcoholic fingering the button, wanting to be done with this round of calls. Then, there was a pause where Mitch had known instinctively that an answer was coming and waited, instead of garbling the transmission. Definitely one of the best before, and despite his glaring flaws, probably was the best now.
“SOS, Safe Haven! Need a military escort to the nearest compound! Will pay any price!”
