“Appreciate the tip,” Lucas said.
The deputy continued riding toward the checkpoint barrier, and Lucas drew Tango to a halt until the lawman disappeared into the center of the tent city. Ray, the young man Lucas had spoken with the prior day, wended through the hovels and neared, a smile in place.
“I found some drugs,” he announced in a whisper when he was at Lucas’s side. “Antibiotics.”
“That’s great. Where are they?”
“Not so fast. I need to negotiate the price. The guy wants an arm and a leg, and I need to get your okay first.”
“How expensive?”
“Three rifles and a couple of full magazines with each.”
Lucas whistled softly. “How many pills?”
“A full ten-day course.”
“Expiration date?”
“Last January.”
“How do I know they’re real?”
“They’re still in their original packaging. The seal’s unbroken.”
Lucas frowned. “That’s about five times the going rate.”
Ray’s smile never faltered. “It’s the only game around.” He paused. “A little bird told me your friend’s in a seriously bad way.”
“How long will it take to get them?”
“I can meet you in town within two hours.”
“It’ll take me a while to get the guns. I don’t have them with me.”
“My source knows I’m good for it if I say it’s a done deal.” Ray eyed Lucas. “You are good for it, right?”
“No question. Did your little bird tell you where my friend’s being treated?”
“At the hospital. I’ll meet you there in a couple hours with the pills.”
Lucas held Ray’s stare. “This better be for real.”
The younger man glanced around before patting Tango’s neck. “It is. Have the guns ready when I show.”
“You won’t have a problem getting through the gate?”
“They think the perimeter’s secure, but like most of their ideas, they’re not really paying attention. I can get in and out with no issues.”
Lucas watched Ray melt back into the tents, dusk now rendering everything the same shade of gray, and shook his head. If the border was so insecure that Ray could cross it easily, then all the assurances of safety, and especially the assumptions he’d made about the doctor’s drugs disappearing, were potentially meaningless.
Which gave Lucas pause.
He was lost in the possibilities raised by Ray’s disclosure when he arrived at the checkpoint, where four armed men with somber expressions looked Lucas over like he’d come to rape their children. After identifying himself and passing through the gate, Lucas directed Tango toward the hospital and the nearby stable, and was drawing near when he spotted movement on the perimeter of his vision. He turned to see what had attracted his attention just as a figure ducked into the shadows between two clapboard houses.
Lucas’s eyes narrowed and he steered Tango toward the alley, his M4 in hand in a fluid motion. The light was nearly gone as he dismounted and whispered a few words to Tango, who stood stock-still, watching his master. Lucas stepped away from the stallion and inched toward the gap between the houses, scanning the ground for footprints.
He paused at the alley and swept the narrow passageway with his rifle, but saw nothing. Lucas waited, heart hammering in his chest, but it was too dark. He cursed not having his night scope on the M4 and slowly stepped away from the opening, a coil of anxiety tightening in his stomach. It could have just been a curious townsperson, nothing more; but there had been something about the figure’s furtive movements that had triggered Lucas’s alarm, and he’d learned from harsh experience not to ignore his instincts. After a final glance between the houses, he retraced his steps to Tango and took the horse’s reins to lead him on foot, weapon in hand, keenly aware that he was an easy target out in the open should his secret admirer take a potshot at him. He adjusted his flak jacket and murmured to the horse, who sensed his agitation.
“Don’t worry, boy. Probably nothing,” he said, but Lucas’s tone was unconvincing to his ear, and he was on edge as he led the stallion down the street, the tranquil seaside town suddenly decidedly more menacing than it had been only hours before.
Chapter 23
Lucas shouldered his saddlebags at the stable and, leaving Tango to his dinner, made his way to the house and the weapons he’d confiscated from the scavengers who’d attacked them on the way to Astoria. Even though Ray’s price was exorbitant, the rifles had been found goods, and as such were unimportant to Lucas other than as barter. If they could save Ruby’s life, they were a bargain.
There was no other sound on the night street save the steady pounding of his boots. When he reached the house, he was relieved to see the glow of an electric light inside, the home’s limited solar array and four ancient batteries sufficient to power a few LED lamps to stave off the gloom.
Joel was seated in the living room when Lucas entered, guarding at least in name the bags containing the vaccine by the bookcase on the far wall, his expression radiating boredom and ennui. Lucas nodded to him and set his load down in the hall.
“How did it go?” Joel asked.
“About what I expected. Somebody planned to blow them straight to hell and pulled it off about as well as I’ve ever seen.”
“No idea why?”
Lucas shook his head. “They didn’t leave a card. But I doubt it was just a random bushwhacking. I brought back what was left of the IED. Looks military to me.”
“Lot of ordnance around,” Joel observed. “You thinking the Portland gang?”
“Maybe.” Lucas removed the slug of twisted metal and set it on the coffee table. Joel stood and came over to study it in the dim light.
“Could be a car fender for all I know.”
“I’m hoping they have some ex-military who could narrow it down for us tomorrow.” Lucas paused. “Anything happen here?”
“Negative. Just a lot of sitting.” Joel eyed Lucas. “When are you planning to tell them that they’re not going to be able to make any vaccine? I mean, you haven’t yet, have you?”
“No. Town strikes me as pretty volatile with the different factions. I don’t know how they’ll react to that news, so I’m holding off until I have a better read on them. I’ll probably tell the mayor and let him figure out how to break it to the rest.” Lucas hesitated. “I was hoping to talk to Elliot and find out how he wants to handle it before we had our chat. But with the radio out of commission, that isn’t going to happen.”
“When I talked to him, he told me he’s sending another culture.”
“Did you tell him about the radiation?”
Joel looked sheepish. “Not really. We talked about the doctor and the culture, mostly.”
“You didn’t think it was important that there probably won’t be an Astoria here by the time the next party arrives with the culture? He’s wasting his time sending it.” Lucas paused. “I need to find a radio and see what he wants to do.”
“Maybe there’s another one around.”
“The deputy said they got the call about the marauders from a trading post on the road to Portland. That’ll be my next stop. I’ll fill Elliot in on our situation, and then it will be up to him.”
Joel frowned. “I think we should just tell them. They might not react well if they think we’ve been holding out.”
Lucas regarded the younger man. “That’s not your call to make. We’ve got Ruby in the hospital and some ugly goings-on with the doc, the ambush, and now the fire at the radio house. I’m not feeling real lucky at the moment, so we’ll keep this quiet until I talk to Elliot.”
“It’s a mistake. I’d be pissed if it was me.”
Lucas issued an exasperated sigh. “Joel, once they know there’s a limited amount of vaccine, it’s going to be pandemonium, what with half the town saying the tent people shouldn’t get any and the rest leaning toward a fairer approach. Let’s not lig
ht the fuse on that bomb before I’ve had a chance to let Elliot know what’s happened, okay? Don’t mean to overrule you, but I am.” Lucas brushed some dust from his jeans and gave Joel a hard stare. “Now I want to get cleaned up, and then I have to run out. Got a line on some drugs for Ruby.”
Joel’s face fell. “I thought you were taking over for me so I could stretch my legs some. I’m going stir-crazy in here.”
Lucas shook his head. “Got to meet my contact. So you’re still on guard duty. Sorry.”
“It’s a waste of time. Nobody’s stopped by all day.”
“Maybe. But that’s how we’re going to play it.”
Lucas turned on his heel and made for the stairs without giving Joel an opportunity to argue. Joel watched him mount the steps, his face twitching with barely contained anger, and then he returned to his post in the easy chair, cursing Lucas’s name under his breath.
Twenty minutes later Lucas reappeared, his hair wet, holding his M4 in one hand and three of the scavengers’ folding-stock AK-47s under his arm. He emptied his oversized saddlebags of everything but his flak jacket and some spare magazines, and then stuffed the weapons into the saddlebags without comment. When he was done, he counted six magazines from the pile in the dining room and slid them in with the rifles. Joel watched him in silence, not offering to help.
Lucas finished his errand and checked the time before carting the saddlebags to the door.
“Someone was watching me on the way to the house. Keep an eye peeled, Joel. Don’t know what it was about, but it’s got me twitchy.”
Joel’s eyebrows rose. “You get a look at them?”
“No. They disappeared before I could.”
“Probably one of the townspeople. The deputy told me they patrol regularly.”
Lucas didn’t sound convinced. “That’s probably it.”
“Any idea when you’ll be back?”
“Might spend the night at the hospital. Depends on whether I can get some sleep there. I’m going to ride to the trading post tomorrow now that I know where it is.” Lucas opened the door and carried his saddlebags onto the porch. “Lock it behind me,” he said, and then pulled the door closed, eyes adjusting to the darkness as night enveloped him. Lucas heard the latch snick behind him and set off toward the hospital, tired after the day in the saddle but hopeful for the first time since they’d arrived that Ruby might get a second lease on life.
Alex watched from the shadows across the street, taking care not to move, and when Lucas disappeared from view, waited a few minutes before making his way to the house.
Joel answered his knock and his face broke into a grin as Alex held up his bottle of moonshine.
“Trick or treat,” Alex said. “Can you come out and play?”
Joel’s smile soured. “Nope. Got to watch my saddlebags do nothing.”
“That sucks. What’s the big deal? Nobody’s going to take them. This place is as safe as Fort Knox.”
“Orders.”
The deputy frowned. “That Lucas is a hard-ass, isn’t he?”
“You figured that out after spending the day with him?”
“Complete waste of time. Not real friendly, either.”
“That’s the understatement of the year,” Joel agreed.
Alex unscrewed the bottle top and took a swig before handing it to Joel. “No point in going through it sober, is there?”
Joel eyed the bottle’s inch of remaining alcohol and took a long pull. He passed the bottle back to Alex, his eyes moistening. “Almost gone.”
“I know where to get more.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course. I’m the law, aren’t I?” Alex took another drink and smacked his lips. “Your boss is gone for a while. Let’s head over to The General’s and get a refill. Lucas will never know you were gone.”
Joel appeared unsure. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea…”
“Come on. He left you here all day. You deserve at least a little break.”
“He did say he’d be gone for a while.”
“The bar’s just outside town. We’ll be back in a few minutes. Come on. Live a little.” Alex paused. “Unless you’re afraid of him or something.”
That drew a strained laugh from Joel. “Hardly.”
“Then it’s decided. Stash your bags wherever, and let’s hit it. We’ll have a drink, and then you can come back and stare at your navel to your heart’s content.”
Joel seemed torn and then gave in. “As long as it’s not that long, I suppose it won’t do any harm.”
Alex smiled and held the empty bottle aloft. “That’s the spirit.”
Chapter 24
The trek to the hospital seemed to take much longer than the distance warranted. Lucas was tired after a fruitless day on the trail, and the guns and ammo sat heavy in his saddlebags as he marched the final block to the main building. Tendrils of fog seeped across the untrimmed grounds like spilt milk, distorting the sound from the tent city along the waterfront, where an occasional shout or laugh would echo through the town before fading into the night.
Lucas spotted two locals with rifles moving in his direction, and he continued without slowing, his destination in sight.
One of the men raised his weapon and called out, “Identify yourself.”
Luca stopped and waited for the pair to draw near before answering, “Name’s Lucas. I’m a guest of the mayor.”
“What are you doing out at this hour?” the man demanded, his tone wary.
“One of my people’s wounded. She’s at the hospital, and I’m going to see her.”
The guard eyed Lucas’s red armband and lowered his rifle. “That’s right. I heard about you. Sorry for the scare. Just making sure everything’s secure.”
“No problem.” Lucas paused. “I thought I saw someone earlier, but they ducked into an alleyway.”
“How much earlier, and where?”
“Over by the bay. We’re staying at a house near the water.” Lucas described the location. “About an hour, hour and fifteen minutes ago.”
The guard shook his head. “They could be anywhere by now. Did you get a look at them?”
“Not really. It was already dark.”
“That area’s on our route. We’ll keep an eye out. Thanks for the heads-up.”
“You have a lot of problems with perimeter breaches?”
The men eyed each other. “Not lately. The squatters know we’re on the streets. That keeps them out of our hair.”
“What do you do if you catch one?”
The second guard patted his rifle. “They all know the penalty. Zero tolerance. We’ve made it clear.”
Lucas nodded, wondering about Ray’s glib assurance that he could drift across the perimeter like smoke. He hoped the young grifter knew what he was doing. Ruby was depending on him.
The first guard gave Lucas a small salute. “Good luck at the hospital. We all owe you for bringing the vaccine.”
Lucas felt a pang of guilt. Would the reaction be as grateful when the town discovered the truth?
The men continued along the street, and Lucas entered the hospital, which, like the house, had a number of low-consumption LED lamps providing illumination. He peered at his watch as he neared Ruby’s room, calculating that he still had fifteen minutes before Ray showed up. When he pushed open the door, Sylvia was just finishing up changing Ruby’s dressing.
“How is she?”
The woman’s face softened. “About the same. Maybe a little worse.”
Lucas moved to Ruby’s bedside and set down the saddlebags. The nurse left them, and he took in Ruby’s haggard, pale countenance without reacting. Her eyes opened and she moaned softly.
“Oh, Lucas…I don’t know…”
Lucas shushed her. “Antibiotics are on the way, Ruby. You’re going to be fine.”
She didn’t seem to register his words and closed her eyes again, her breathing a rasp. Lucas patted her hand, but she gave no indication of feeling it. Aft
er a few moments he stepped away from the bed and gathered his saddlebags. He was turning to the door when he froze – Ray was standing at the threshold, silent as a ghost. The young man tilted his head at the bags.
“Those the guns?”
“That’s right.” Lucas hesitated. “Ran into a patrol outside. Seemed to mean business.”
“They’re a joke. A child could get past them.”
“You got the meds?”
Ray walked to Lucas, withdrew two plastic blister packs with ten pills each, and handed them over. Lucas inspected them, his gaze lingering on the expiration date, and grunted. Ray pulled a rolled-up burlap sack from his jacket and unfurled it expectantly. Lucas leaned down, opened the saddlebags, and removed the rifles, passing them to Ray for inspection. When Ray had looked them over and bagged the weapons, he repeated the process with the magazines.
“How frequently is she supposed to take these?” Lucas asked, indicating the drugs.
“That I don’t know. The nurse probably does–”
They were interrupted by Sylvia opening the door. Ray smiled at her. “Hey, Sylvia.”
Sylvia was having none of it. “What are you doing here, Ray?” she demanded.
“Just business. How are things?”
“If the patrols catch you, it’s over,” she warned.
“They won’t. As long as you don’t tell them.”
Sylvia’s face darkened. “If it weren’t for your family…”
“I know, I know. I’ve heard it all before.”
Lucas held up one of the packets of pills. “Do you have any idea how many of these she needs to take, and how often?”
Sylvia threw Ray another disapproving look as she approached Lucas. She eyed the packet and glared at Ray again before answering, “These are the doc’s pills.”
Lucas gave no reaction, having suspected as much. “How many does she need to take?”
“Probably one every six hours, given her condition. It would be best if we could dissolve them and inject her, but I don’t know enough about the dosage to do it. But that’s what the doc would have done.”
The Day After Never - Insurrection (Book 5) Page 12
