Skull's Shadows (Plague Wars Series)

by David VanDyke

  No, it won’t, Skull agreed silently.

  Chapter 18

  Kevin watched Anson and felt an odd combination of pride and resentment. Everything seemed to come easily to his older brother. Sports, school, girls, and now even soldiering. Kevin had wanted nothing more than to follow Anson his entire life. Now, he had been left behind again.

  Anson had gained the admiration of the other recruits and the trainers. He was now a trainee squad leader and entrusted with more and more responsibility. Kevin could tell his brother was having the time of his life.

  Kevin, on the other hand, was miserable. He missed his family and didn’t fit in here. Nothing he did was right and the constant harassment and disdain threatened to crush his spirit. Worse yet, Anson who had always taken up for him, wasn’t protecting him anymore. Kevin knew if he asked his brother about this, he would explain that it was for Kevin’s own good. To make him tougher and a better soldier. To help him grow up.

  Kevin thought that was a load of bull.

  Kevin thought Anson was ashamed of him.

  It was a hard thing to think and harder to accept. The brother he had idolized all his life no longer helped him. Still, in many ways he realized it freed him. If his brother had given up on him anyway, then there was nothing he could do, and he had nothing to lose.

  That meant he was free to leave. He could go back to his family.

  “Keep digging, maggot,” said Sergeant Talbot, kicking dirt into his face.

  Kevin bent his aching back and lifted another spade full of tough soil. He looked over and saw Anson talking with the other NCOs, likely discussing real army stuff. Things Kevin obviously wouldn’t understand or relate to. Not the inadequate little brother.

  He wondered where his father and mother and the girls were now. Were they safe somewhere, worrying about and sending up daily prayers for their two sons? Were they still on the road, refugees seeking a place of rest? Were they in some prison camp? Were they even alive? Not for the first time, he wondered why he had ever left. If he’d stayed, he’d be the oldest son. His dad would have to treat him like a grownup.

  Pushing the thought aside, he began to dig harder. These worries were with him often now and he had nightmares where his family had been caught and interned, or worse, slaughtered. Kevin had tried to talk to Anson about his nightmares, but his brother wouldn’t even listen to him, just told him, “Shut up and soldier.”

  What am I staying here for? Kevin wondered. He realized that was a good question. Maybe the question. Why was he still here? He so very obviously did not belong.

  Turning the question over and over in his head while he dug the ditch, it took him a long time to come up with the answer, but when he did there was no denying its truth.

  He was here because he wanted Anson to love him again. The way he had when they were younger.

  But it wasn’t working. It wouldn’t. If anything, Kevin’s presence was driving them further apart.

  Kevin wiped tears away from his cheeks before anyone could see. He’d followed Anson’s lead in everything as long as he could remember, but maybe it was time to stop. The thought frightened him, but it felt right.

  At lunch he tried to talk to his brother, but the older boy was busy. Same at afternoon break and dinner. Just before lights out, he finally had a chance.

  “What is it, Kevin?” Anson asked impatiently. “You’ve been hounding me all day to talk about something.”

  “It’s important,” Kevin said.

  “I’m sure you think it’s important,” said Anson, “but I doubt it’s more important than getting a good night’s rest. We got training tomorrow and you need to start picking it up.”

  “There is no picking it up,” Kevin said flatly. “This is all I’ve got.”

  Anson looked at him with surprise and realized his little brother was sincere. “Don’t tell me that. You just need to dig deeper and work harder.”

  “Why?” asked Kevin. “Aren’t they just going to kick me out?”

  “They just might,” said Anson. “Don’t tempt them. They could send you home to momma like a little boy.”

  “Good,” said Kevin.

  “What did you say?” Anson asked. For the first time he gave his full attention to his little brother.

  “I said ‘good.’ If they want to send me home, that’s fine by me.”

  “Don’t say that,” said Anson, “you’re already making me look...” The older boy ground to a halt.

  “Go on. Say it.”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “I’m making you look bad in front of your new friends,” Kevin said. He couldn’t remember ever not caring what Anson thought of him, but realized with a surge of strength that now he didn’t give a rat’s ass.

  “I don’t belong here,” Kevin continued. “You know it and so does everyone else.”

  “You just need to stick it out a little while longer,” Anson insisted. “Father was a soldier. We’ll be soldiers too. You said so yourself.”

  “Why?” asked Kevin. “Why is it so important that I be a soldier? And why do I have to make up my mind now? I’m fourteen, Anson. I wish I was older, but I ain’t. I can’t carry as much, run as far or dig as deep as anyone else here.”

  Anson seemed at a loss for an answer. He finally said, “I always wanted to be like Father.”

  “I get that,” said Kevin, “but what does that have to do with me? Why do I have to be like Father? Maybe I just want to be with Father?”

  “So you want to go home, is that it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Just run off and leave us in our time of need?” Anson asked. “How could you do that to us?”

  “Come with me,” Kevin pleaded. “We can go together tonight. I’ve been watching. Security isn’t tight. We could slip right through and go find our family.”

  Anson looked around startled. “Don’t say that. Someone could hear.”

  “I’m serious, Anson. I’ve always followed you no matter where you led. For just this once, follow me.”

  Anson’s face got hard. “I can’t do that.”

  Kevin stared at him for a long moment before looking away and wiping his eyes. “Fine. Then I’ll go without you.”

  “No you won’t,” said Anson. “I won’t let you.”

  “You can’t stop me.”

  “The hell I can’t,” insisted Anson. “I’ll tell them what you’re planning.”

  “Why do you even care?” asked Kevin. “This is supposed to be a volunteer army. Well, I’m un-volunteering now. It’s not like I’m going to make any difference in the fighting.”

  Anson didn’t answer, but his eyes flicked involuntarily to the NCOs talking at the end of the tent.

  Kevin looked at them, and then turned back to Anson. “So that’s it?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You don’t want me to go because it might make you look bad?”

  Anson turned away. “That’s ridiculous. This whole conversation is ridiculous. Get to your bunk and go to sleep before I report you.”

  Kevin stared silently at his brother’s back for a long time. It was as if he saw him for the first time. Finally he turned and walked away.

  ***

  After watching Kevin return to his bunk, Anson let out his breath and turned around.

  He found that tall thin scary man, Sergeant Winslow with the face like a skull, looking at him. Looking deep into him.

  “What?”

  Winslow shook his head sadly. “He was right about most everything.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Anson said turning from those penetrating eyes.

  Winslow continued to stare at him until the boy had no choice but to look back. Once he had Anson’s attention he said, “You should let him go. Not everyone’s cut out for this.”

  “He wanted to join up. He followed me against Father’s wishes, and he swore an oath!”

  “So it’s all right to desert your family, but no
t your State?”

  Anson started to say something, anything, but then the lights went off and the tent quieted down for sleep.

  The darkness was pleasant. It hid and covered him, concealing his confusion.

  The silence would have been welcome except for a persistent sound from the other end of the long tent.

  It was the sound of Kevin sobbing.

  Chapter 19

  Skull was surprised to be summoned for a senior leader’s meeting, but by now most of the officers and NCOs considered him one of the cadre. Arriving at the courthouse, he sat near the back. It became apparent from the curious looks and questions that this was not a normal meeting, and no one in the room seemed to know the purpose for the gathering.

  “Stand by,” announced the sergeant major and everyone in the room rose. “The commander,” he announced as Lieutenant Colonel Deets walked in.

  “Take your seats, please,” Deets said while still walking toward the front of the room. “Thank you all for coming.” He looked out over the group with his hands clasped behind his back. “I’ve asked Doctor Abraham to brief you on a development that he made me aware of only recently. Doctor Abraham?”

  Deets sat on the edge of the stage as a bespectacled, hunched man stood and looked at them critically.

  “I’m sure it comes as no surprise to many in this room,” he said slowly, “that there are prostitutes operating out of an abandoned house just to the south of camp. Sometimes they even make their way to the morale tent, I’m told.”

  There were some whistles and murmurs of appreciation.

  “As I suspected,” he continued, “some of you are personally acquainted with the Porter sisters, Mary and Molly, and their friends.”

  More cries and whistles.

  The doctor’s expression did not change and he continued. “I have of late noticed an unexpected rise in the number of individuals in this camp who have been infected by the Eden virus.”

  The courtroom was suddenly silent, with many looking around at each other.

  “The commander has decided to keep confidential the identities of those infected,” the doctor said. “But it might come as a surprise to you to know that Edens now comprise a significant proportion of the HDL. I estimate over one third.”

  Murmurs of agitation filled the room.

  “How?” asked one officer from the front. “Who is doing this and how are they being infected?”

  The doctor smiled for the first time. “I thought I made that plain. The winsome Porter sisters and their happy contingent, of course.”

  There was stunned silence for a full second before pandemonium broke out.

  “At ease! Shut the hell up!” bellowed the sergeant major and the noise died down. “Please continue, doctor.”

  “Thank you,” said Abraham. “I’m sure there are many of you in the room who have availed yourselves of the girls’ services and are now wondering if you are infected. After this meeting you may set up a time to come get tested. You will have my discretion in this matter. Additionally, I have treated hundreds of infectees and can assure you that it is not the end of the world should you test positive. There are many who even consider it a good thing.”

  “What about the girls?” asked an NCO from the back.

  Lieutenant Colonel Deets stood up and took the podium. “They have all been arrested, questioned, and sent back to Texas where they came from.”

  “But why did they do it?” asked someone close to Skull.

  “There were both part of an organized group,” explained Deets. “There motives were, at least in their own minds, charitable. They were part of a larger group called Eden’s Eves, prostitutes who use their services to spread the Eden virus.”

  “You mean those whores did this to us on purpose?”

  “Yes,” answered Deets. “Their intentions were to spread the virus to as many people as they could. The stated goal of Eden’s Eves is to help people.”

  “Why were they released?” asked a first sergeant. “They should be prosecuted.”

  “Stand down, First Sergeant,” yelled the sergeant major.

  “No, it’s fine,” answered Deets. “It was my call. I didn’t see any malice in them and was afraid what might happen if they were still around when you all found out.”

  “They should be executed for this,” someone cried. “They infected us against our will.”

  “And you disobeyed my standing order against prostitution,” said Deets calmly. “Every one of you should be prosecuted for that, but I’d say you got what you deserve. Best as I can tell, the effects are far better than gonorrhea or herpes, which is what you typically get from camp prostitutes.”

  Deets is taking this rather easily, thought Skull. Maybe a little too much in stride...unless he’s an Eden. He looked around and saw a large number of men with stunned looks on their faces. Others seemed to be trying a bit too hard to appear relaxed and casual.

  Doctor Abraham’s estimate might be on the low side, he thought.

  “What’s done is done,” Deets continued. “If you think you might be infected, go see Doctor Abraham. Or don’t. It’s a private affair, as I’ve always said. One of the reasons the HDL even exists is to stop the persecutions of people with the virus. Let me also remind you that my standing order against patronizing prostitutes is still in force. If you NCOs and officers can’t follow policy, how do you expect the rank and file to do so?”

  Murmurs and ashamed noises swept through the crowd.

  “Each of you also has an important role to play,” continued Deets. “I’ll post an official notice explaining in much less detail what we have talked about here tonight on the bulletin boards for the troops. As you might imagine, there could be concern and confusion. Your job as leaders is to calm them down. Reassure them of their duty and why they are here. We can’t afford any distractions with the Federal Army moving to the northeast.”

  “Do we know anything more about the Texans?” asked an officer. “Are they moving to help us?”

  Deets shook his head. “Nothing yet, but our leadership is in Austin trying to broker a deal for support. They’ve already sent us weapons and supplies, unofficially. We expect word any day now.”

  Don’t hold your breath, thought Skull.

  “What about the U.S. Army?” asked another officer. “Do we know how much time we have until they try to attack?”

  “First of all,” said Deets, “we don’t know if they will attack. With that said, I think you have the right attitude. We have to prepare for the worst and assume they will come against us at some point. That could be in two hours or two months or never. We just don’t know. The only thing we can do is prepare as well as possible. Everyone got that?”

  Flurries of yes, sir and roger, sir bounced from person to person

  “Good,” he said. “Now if there are no further questions, carry on.”

  Everyone in the room stood at attention as the commander walked out. As soon as he cleared the doors, there came a loud buzz of conversation accompanied by worried looks.

  Skull slipped out the back and thought as he made his way toward his tent. He had never heard of Eden’s Eves and was impressed by the women’s dedication. He also found himself glad he’d never taken advantage of the working girls’ services. Skull wondered if Markis was behind this and quickly decided against it. Daniel was too idealistic and would consider it to be exploiting women even if they volunteered.

  Now, Spooky on the other hand...

  As he approached the tent he mentally checked off the men and their bunks. Living in such tight quarters, most everyone knew what everyone else did in their free time, to include visiting prostitutes. Time off was limited for the recruits, but there was still some opportunity to engage in recreational activities. Maybe even more of an opportunity for the new recruits to visit the prostitutes, since they were banned from the morale tent.

  Thinking deeply, Skull figured all the men who had come with him from Arkansas had visited the girls
with the exception of Evans. The small man was so exhausted at the end of each day that he went straight to bed and collapsed. The two young brothers were a question mark, but if he would have to guess, he would put a yes next to both of them. Kevin, the youngest had been acting differently of late.

  But the oldest wasn’t acting differently at all. Skull stopped. It was almost inconceivable that the younger boy would do anything so significant without following his older brother’s lead. Maybe the younger had gotten infected and not the older. Maybe the effects simply acted at different rates. Or perhaps some of the rumors were true and the normal “virtue effect” varied far more wildly than most thought. Some said a few who got infected went cold, turning into psychopaths.

  Who truly knew? Probably only someone like Elise Markis, studying the pathogen and its effects on people.

  Skull kept walking. He knew he didn’t want to be in this camp when the U.S. Army arrived and the shooting started. Being among a bunch of undertrained and inexperienced young men and boys with a hyped-up moral aversion to killing seemed a really bad idea. He imagined these troops trying to shoot the attackers in the leg or shoulder or the weapons from out of their hands like some ridiculous old time Western movie because they couldn’t stand to kill. Maybe they would try to reason with the attackers, or even surrender en masse out of a sense of responsibility to the human race.

  You just can’t trust Edens, Skull thought. Too much moral certitude. Too much impulse toward personal sacrifice. Too little predictability. Too little practicality.

  Nope. He would need to be long gone before these boys even got close to busting their combat cherry.

  He just needed a little more time to finalize a plan.

  Chapter 20

  The high-pitched wail of air raid sirens jerked Skull from sleep, a blessing. In his dream, he’d been back on the winding road up Mount Tamalpais, staring at Linde’s body spitted on that post as she reached for him with one weak hand. No matter how many times he had the same nightmare, he could never reach her fingers, could never even touch her before life fled, leaving him forever desolate and alone.