The Survivors

Safe Haven Refugee Camp

Utah

1

The end of the world has given us a harsh, merciless existence, where nature tries hard to push humankind to the brink of extinction. Everything is against us, between us... Untold miles of lawless, apocalyptic roads wait for our feet. The future, cold and dark, offers little comfort. Without change, there can be no peace–only survivors. And I am determined to be one of them.

It’s been almost a week. I can’t believe my luck. Joe, a senior Greenpeace member, arrived late and heard me trying to dig out. There were no other survivors of that meeting. Why was I spared? I deserve to be dead. My dreams always start with me back in that basement. Maybe I’ll find answers there.

Joe and I are sheltering in a barn, waiting out the storms. I wonder if my companion hears any of what I dream about. It doesn’t matter, I guess. Not much does except making it to Little Rock. My grief for America is almost unbearable. If I were stronger, I would shoot myself

Adrian stopped reading his journal to drink from his canteen. The first depressing weeks had been hard days of backbreaking labor and eerie nights of broken dreams where he was in charge of a small group of survivors, fighting to keep them alive. Instead of fading as his concussion healed, the images had gotten stronger, clearer.

He’d found himself stewing on it constantly when he was awake. Thanks to his rebel mother, he’d already known how to set the foundation for a new republic. The refugees would have nothing but their lives. They would depend on him for everything. Desperate, grateful people didn’t usually ask questions about how their leaders were meeting those needs. He’d realized all it would take was working himself to death. He’d chosen to try, sure the guilt of knowing he might have prevented the war would keep him working even after the twenty-hour days began to wear him down.

I was right, Adrian thought. He was well into one of those now, the third this week. He went back to reading his journal.

January 4th

We hit Nellis today. There’s nothing left.

We got drunk and I talked too much about some of the things I want to do now, and about some of the things I can see and hear. When he just stared, I played it off by worrying that I’m going crazy. He really feels that way, so he bought it.

I have to be more careful about what I say. If Joe finds out I’m a descendant, he’ll kill me in my sleep. He won’t understand. I went through an evolution in that basement. My gifts are growing again, for the first time in a decade. It’s been so long I forgot what it felt like. I also forgot how to hide it.

January 5th

It’s getting worse. The people we’re discovering, the awful, pain-filled refugees trying to find each other, haunt me. They fall to their knees at my feet; they beg me with outstretched hands to help, to save them. Then I blink and they never even looked at us! What the hell is happening to me? An effect of the experiments? It’s not a normal evolution for my kind. Am I in a coma somewhere and this is just one of my horrid nightmares? How I wish that were true. I’d gladly trade my life for America.

I should have revealed who I was back when there might have been a chance to stop it. The need to atone is overwhelming. I can’t make enough progress each day to be satisfied.

January 7th

The dreams are convincing me this is the perfect time. I owe the entire world a debt, but to my country, I owe everything I am. Even the one waiting for me in Arkansas. My mother was right all along. I have to try to save America.

I’ve decided to start in the morning when we reach Las Vegas. That infamous skyline is dark now, but in the city that never sleeps, life survives. I know. I can see them from here.

Adrian crushed out his smoke. He’d been right and wrong on that one. He had found refugees who were grateful for his help, but he’d also found Tonya, who killed Joe.

Adrian flipped the page. The topless dancer had pounced on who she wanted in charge. By the time Tonya had understood the goodhearted firefighter was only interested in drinking, screwing, and forgetting, she was sleeping in his bed and fetching his bottles.

Adrian had wanted to kick her out for helping Joe become a drunk, but even one life lost on his watch was more than he could handle. He’d thrown himself into caring for his small, shell-shocked herd instead, hoping Joe would eventually recognize her for the scheming bitch she was.

They’d set out for a base in Montana not long after. Adrian’s words of the secret bunker there were easy to believe. He’d been allowed to live because it was his duty to rebuild the world; he wasn’t afraid to lie to achieve that goal.

January 11th

There are thirty-one of us now. Most of them are elderly men. I doubt half will survive. Their injuries are so bad I can’t help them, other than providing drugs to dull the pain or a comforting hand to hold while they pass on. Each death kills something in me. I fear I’m sacrificing family for these strangers, but I can’t walk away. They need me too. I haven’t abandoned my son. I’m just very late.

January 12th

We sleep in vans and buses. We don’t have enough workers for erecting tents each night, but I have an idea for two common setups. When the new man, Doug, recovers, that’ll be his first chore.

Doug’s important to me. I just don’t know how yet. I found him by accident, or maybe by fate leading me. He was trapped under a collapsed bridge in a national forest near the Nevada state line. A pack of coyotes were keeping him from escaping the crushed car that landed in shallow water. It’s amazing he survived, despite his huge size. Retired Army, he’s one of my kind, but a little too old for what I need the most.

A tremor took out the bridge while Doug was crossing it. That made me decide to keep track of more things now, like the weather. If the temperatures continue to drop–and this is wintertime, so they should–then we won’t make it to Montana before we have to hole up somewhere. That keeps me awake at night, even when the guilt isn’t burning.

January 13th

Damn, I’m tired. These people are depending on me for everything. I’m encouraging it to show them I can handle the weight, but standing guard at night on third shift, doing rescue or supply runs during the day, plus helping set up camp and break it down has me beat. I have to have help, preferably the magic my dreams hinted of last night. My own gifts are limited to sleep charms and mental calls, which I make whenever I have the spare energy. Will fate send me what I need?

January 15th

We’ve spent the last two days in a mall, snowed in. The black flakes fell for almost twenty-four hours. It left over five feet of nasty slush. I kept everyone in until it melted. It felt wrong, as if contact might sicken us. I wonder if Mother Nature might be helping our extinction along. It’s a crazy notion, but in this new hell, anything is possible.

January 20th

We heard foreign voices on a military channel yesterday. I ordered the camp to relocate. No one argued. That makes it official for me. I’m the boss. I know they were scared–the man was calling for everyone to surrender to the Mexican draft–but for me, it’s real now. I’m in charge of forty-eight terrified, hurting refugees.

I’ve started wearing a radio to listen for trouble. Gangs are attacking towns in New Mexico and Colorado. The stories are awful. Some of my newest refugees are survivors of two wars. The threat of the gangs is a serious one that will require a harsh plan and a lot of defensive chores these people will have to help with. We’ve had a comfortable ride so far when it comes to other groups, but that will change.

The first mandatory camp meeting is coming in a few days. I’ll find out then if I’ve done enough to get their official support.

January 25th

They’ve agreed to all the things I want. We even have a name now: Safe Haven.

We set up the two big tents, along with a center bonfire in a big metal pool. Then we celebrated by barbecuing the chickens Doug found on a nearby farm. Tomorrow, I’ll show them the mess truck a few of us put together. It has it all, including a hot water heater. We also have a cafeteria cook now, Hilda, so we’ll have regular meals.

We have more supplies on the way. Kyle and Neil found an undamaged sports store. I’m glad to have those two men. They both volunteered for the police force. I decided to have them each lead their own team. Kyle started first. I’m encouraged. I’m okay leaving the camp in his hands on third shift while I sleep. These men will not be trained as guards or Marines, but as soldiers in my army. The Eagles.

January 26th

My leadership is official. I know some of them are already watching for me to become like the politicians of the past, but I won’t use that authority until I have to. I plan to keep returning what was stolen from them. Slowly, things will come together. I see a better time of it when I have the help my dreams keep hinting of. Five or six more like me will take us to much better places.

Adrian paused again, this time to listen to the wind… He sighed at an obvious shadow outside his flap. That was Dale. He could tell by the shadowy hips that wore a tool belt without tools. The rookie was trying to pass his first level test and didn’t know he’d already failed. The police force was new. This group of nine was the second to try out. It wasn’t promising, but they were going fast out of need.

Adrian frowned. It was a necessity driven home by Tonya. She and Joe had been a couple, but the drunkard, who was considered his unofficial second in command, had fallen deeper into hell the farther they’d traveled. To his credit, Joe had stubbornly ignored Tonya when she encouraged him to fight for the leadership everyone saw Adrian earning, but it hadn’t mattered.

“Too late by then.” Adrian sighed. He was in charge. Tonya hated it, mainly because he wouldn’t give her the time of day, let alone any authority. She had turned a hero into a drunkard, slept around on Joe in her quest for power, and tried to manipulate all of them. She didn’t understand loyalty had to be earned, not stolen. While Adrian had been busy keeping them all alive, she had been plotting. Joe wasn’t going to get her what she wanted, but instead of breaking it off, she’d convinced one of her lovers to fight for her while Adrian was out of camp on a supply run. Her motive? Adrian still wasn’t sure. Had she really believed the camp would just give Joe’s place to her lover?

Adrian’s mind flashed to the death. His grip on the notebook tightened.

“You have been found guilty. I sentence you to death!” Adrian grabbed Caleb by his jacket and dragged him out of the tent, leaving a wide, bloody smear. He handcuffed the screaming man to the door of Joe’s lime green convertible, then stomped toward a nearby supply truck. He tossed the key into the dirt just out of the killer’s reach. “You can set him free when he’s dead.”

His mind raced furiously. Tonya did this. Caleb is one of her lovers.

Minutes later, Adrian left the tent with Joe’s stiffening body over one broad shoulder, a shovel in his other hand. People stayed by him as he dug the grave. Many of them begged forgiveness for not stopping it. Point man when it happened, Neil had been the most ashamed. No one had wanted to get involved, even former state troopers.

Adrian sank the cross into the thick dirt. “I’m getting tired, and there are survivors out there who care enough to really try again. If you guys can’t get it together enough to do what’s right, then I’ll find another group to help. You’ll be on your own again.”

Adrian shut the notebook. The panicked promises had told him he had their loyalty. Except for Tonya. Never one to follow blindly, her twisted logic had become clear when she’d arrived at Joe’s tent after the burial, where Adrian was packing up. She had begged him not to be banished; he had let her stay because of one sentence.

“If I had known Caleb was nuts, I woulda told someone!”

That had stopped him. He too had missed it; they had let in a remorseless killer. Because of Tonya’s lust for power, two men were dead, but he couldn’t punish her due to his strict rules concerning the treatment of women.

So Adrian had devised his own line of justice.

Scratch…scratch…

Adrian grinned, setting the notebook aside. Revenge was best served cold. He’d only waited for that reason. He could have had her the same day as Joe’s murder if he’d wanted. He had waited almost two months out of respect for Joe. “Come in.”

Tonya ducked inside, reading his mood. When he smiled and leaned over to blow out the candle, she started pushing off her boots.

Barely lit by the shadows of the center fire, the sexy redhead didn’t witness his smile merge into a greedy leer of lust.

Tonya was in ecstasy already. Half an hour from now, she would be Adrian’s legal mate! She went to him in the darkness, determined to make sure he enjoyed himself. When he met her, hands jerking her close, she melted against him.

“Oh! I’ve wanted ya so badly!” Tonya moaned, pressing closer to his hard body in the dark tent as the cold Utah wind beat against the camouflage vinyl.

Her light Southern accent was fake but sexy. Adrian’s body throbbed with need.

Tonya groaned in delight as his mouth slanted over hers, hands roaming her soft body, discovering she wore no panties to slow him down. He grabbed a handful of thick red curls and ground his hardness against her belly.

Adrian pushed the camp whore down by her shoulder, pulling at her dress as she slid to her knees; her fingers went to the buckle of his jeans. When her hot mouth closed over him, he arched forward.

Her head began an aggressive movement that sent heat rolling into his toes, and then he pushed her back, following her down onto the cold, canvas floor.

He kissed her deeply, loving it that her gasps weren’t faked like some women he’d been with. He moved inside her, shallow at first. He pushed passionate vibes over her, groaning.

She climaxed, nails raking his shoulder, body tightening, pulsing, exploding. Adrian thrust harder, dog tag clinking against the chain.

Tonya let her hands roam his hard, tanned skin and soft, blond spikes. “We’ll be good together. I’ll be a good mate to ya.” She moaned again as he started long, hard strokes that slid her up on the floor and drew a surprising rush of wetness. Few men could pull two from her.

Adrian tangled his hands in her thick curls and pushed in deeper, on fire as he watched triumph and need melt together on her face.

“Finally, mine!” She growled, giving him a chill as she pulled him down to kiss his sexy mouth.

Coming up for air, Adrian smiled cruelly, leaning his weight into each thrust. “Oh no, baby. This is a one time deal. Enjoy it.”

He swelled, almost snapping when she understood, but her body refused to listen. Her slender hips kept perfect rhythm as he rutted between her long legs.

“Bastard!” On the edge, Tonya pulled him down for another hot kiss that shoved her into a second world of rivers and light. She began to struggle almost immediately.

He let her. The pain in her expression was a bigger turn-on than even her mouth. Adrian ground their lips together, kissing her, touching her, mocking her as he thrust.

Used to being the one who was cold and in control, Tonya was horrified to feel her traitorous body responding yet again. She wanted his touch, no matter the intent. She twisted, almost rolling them over.

Adrian dropped his full weight on her. “Be still!” he growled harshly, hips pounding into hers. “You’ve begged for it enough!”

Her fists slammed into his shoulders; he lowered his head to avoid telling marks on his face, enjoying the fight she couldn’t win. When her nails raked his spine, drawing blood this time, he shoved forward, grunting.

A final “Uhh!” and then he was on his knees in a quick movement, squirting on her thighs as she scrambled to get away.

Adrian was up a second after her, aware that this was the moment she might be her most dangerous. He bent over to pull up his jeans, unable to keep from grinning in satisfaction.

A thick medical book sailed over him and slapped the side of the tent before sliding down the canvas wall in front of him.

He laughed, fishing in his pockets for a smoke.

Tonya had jerked her dress over wild curls and was pulling on a calf high black boot. Tears of rage blurred her vision. “You’ll pay for this! I’ll tell!”

Her fake accent was gone. She snarled when his confident smile remained in place.

“You’re a whore. They already know that.”

“Even you can’t get away with rape!” She pulled on her other boot.

Adrian shrugged at her. “Don’t know of any rape conviction where the woman got two orgasms before she started complaining.”

“If these people knew what kind of man you honestly are, they wouldn’t follow you anywhere!” Tonya stomped from the tent with sticky thighs and Adrian’s mocking voice following her out into the chilly air.

“But they don’t know, Red, and from you, they’ll never believe it.”

Adrian returned to his notebook with a smirking expression few people in camp would have recognized. There might be a skirmish or two left, but the war between him and Tonya was over now. She was an outcast. The camp treated her the same way he did, and tomorrow, when she claimed they were sleeping together, he would deny the nasty lie. It would drive her crazy that she was telling the truth, and no one would believe her.

Was it really rape?

Adrian shook his head. I didn’t promise her a relationship or any other type of commitment. She came to my tent and I delivered two orgasms. No court in the country would have convicted me.

Adrian pushed away the slight edge of guilt and went back to studying his notebook entries. Tonya was a snake who hadn’t been punished for Joe’s murder. Now, she had. Adrian’s smile faded. His leadership hadn’t been questioned once after Joe’s death. Later, Neil had told him his brutal execution of the killer had gotten the camp’s final approval. Adrian had stopped himself from telling the trooper how morally wrong it was to earn respect by taking a life. This was a hard, new world. They were all adjusting as best they could.

Sure would be easier with a few more of the men from my dreams. Adrian pulled on his boots. Just a few. He had a couple of go-to guys who were showing promise, but frankly, he needed a lot more than those here could give.

Just after midnight now, it had been seven weeks since the war. They were spending four days in the wooded Fish Lake National Forest near Milford, Utah. Safe Haven was waiting for a small group to get back from a run to a nearby food warehouse. The storms had slowed them.

Adrian’s relentless mind moved on to where they would call home for the next winter. He’d already checked a list of places. When they broke camp in the morning, they would continue north, toward the base in Montana, but he already knew what they’d find there–nothing. His followers were hoping for authority. Adrian was taking them to the bunker under the compound for lack of a better option, but if they kept picking up survivors regularly, that small shelter wouldn’t hold them all. They would figure it out before he got them there. It was another layer of stress. Their choice of destination had been left to him. The camp had indicated they had faith in his decisions. Though that had been the plan all along, it was still a large burden.

“It’s like sheep.” He knew they were scared, but Adrian was unable to imagine a situation where he would give over control of his own life so easily. They had no problem being told where to sit and stand. It made things a lot easier, but it also revealed how weak they were and how much had to be done.

I’ll go do rounds again; maybe I can sleep then. Adrian exited into windy darkness, pulling on a heavy jacket with a fading eagle on the back. He was grateful for the salty wind that slapped his nose. Even with a hint of shit from their portable bathrooms, it was heaven compared to the reeking odors of smoke, decay, and blood hanging over the cities.

Eager to make rounds of the perimeter, Adrian still took time to listen. He heard soft murmurs of chatter and rustling flaps. His herd wasn’t settled yet. He wouldn’t hit his own rack until they were.

Adrian checked on the guards first. He heard the almost constant crunch of boots as the Eagles prowled, sweeping the darkness. Few, if any, of his new army would slack off. He had chosen them because they understood it might be just one man’s dream, but it was America’s future. They were nine-man teams of safety in the darkness. He was teaching them as fast as he could.

Adrian scanned the area. He spotted Dale again, but not the other new trainees. This new group of rookies was in the middle of individual challenges. He allowed himself a rare, brief flash of pride at having made it this far. It was their final test to be level one Eagles in his army. Only his approval on this would pass them.

Adrian ignored the glittering green eyes burning holes into him from the female section of the tents. He slid a red bandana into his front pocket, leaving the end dangling. Was the radio quiet? It hadn’t been last night, though understanding the words through the loud storm raging around them had been impossible. The screams had been clear. It still bothered Adrian that he couldn’t help.

They heard survivors regularly on the CB. Those close enough, he sought out, leaving on supply runs with a few of the more promising guards and returning with survivors. Those with him knew he had planned it that way, down to the last detail. They were his people; he wanted them all.

Adrian eased toward the north end of the half mile wide camp, listening to a clumsy rookie following. He needed ten more alert minded men to put on duty at night. Hell, another five observant bodies would let him get four hours of sleep instead of the three he was averaging now as he struggled to keep his end of the deal. It was a strange, dangerous life.

He didn’t baby the refugees, but he did try to distract them from some of the things that might have caused rebellion–like training his army. He gave them soccer and football games, poker nights, and shooting contests. Eventually they would start feeling like Americans again. Once that happened, they would wake up to the unpleasant reality that it was going to be a rough trip. They had to work together.

The guard on the north end of the dim parking area was Doug, now recovered from his trial under the bridge. The 6’4” Army veteran had red hair and a red vest under a raggedy green jacket. He was hard to miss, even in a crowd, but he was nowhere to be seen as Adrian stepped between the dented, muddy vehicles. Doug had been years out of service due to an injury that had left him with a limp; he was a great comfort to have during this time of chaos.

“Anything moving?” The blond leader knew he had been heard despite the unguarded appearance of the parking area. He saw tattered flags flapping in the heavy wind from nearly every antenna. That had been Kyle’s doing, he was sure.

“Same as last night. The wind, my boots, and Tonya.” Doug unfolded from behind a small, blue Mustang.

He came closer, leaving big prints in the gravel. Adrian had saved his life. He’d given Doug work that made him feel useful again, but he wasn’t really a part of these people yet. The big man wasn’t comfortable enough to joke, let alone ask questions.

“Where was she going?”

Doug stretched his wide shoulders, scanning the dark shapes of sick fir trees lining the taped off area. He kept his left hand in his pocket. It was shaking slightly. He didn’t know if the hard leader would pull him off duty for it or not, so he wasn’t taking the chance. “Her tent. She’s pissed again.”

Adrian gave a small smile of satisfaction. “Isn’t she always?”

Doug grinned, but he kept a tight leash on his mouth. Doug had joined the service to keep from being another Irish potato farmer in Idaho. Once in, he’d found a way of life and a moral code that had allowed him to keep his hope. The same was true of Adrian, who had enough faith to save the world. Doug had witnessed Tonya coming from Adrian’s tent, but Doug wasn’t about to begrudge him a piece of ass that many in camp had already had. Adrian was sacrificing everything to save some of this country. Doug, who had given most of his life for the same thing, had a lot of respect for Safe Haven’s leader. It made Doug willing to overlook anything that might interfere with the dream. Like the camp finding out Adrian was screwing the woman they all suspected was a black widow, or at least an accomplice to murder. That information was dangerous. He would guard it well.

Adrian slipped out of camp through the parking area, hating the blackness around them. It said mankind was in trouble. As he approached the men guarding the rear of the camp, Adrian stalked them like an intruder would. These guards were bouncers, factory workers, store owners, restaurant employees, and they were on drag–the area farthest from the safe haven he’d tried to create. Being the warning system put them in the most danger. Because of that, and many other things he had foreseen, Adrian had been working them hard–some more than others, like Kyle and Neil. This was a test of their alertness. He planned on many more in the future. It was essential–

Click.

Adrian stilled at the sound of a safety being flipped off. He was pleased when the same noise came from behind him.

“This is a US military refugee camp. State your business!” A faint, static-ridden crunch of a handheld radio followed the icy warning. The guard had let the others know they had a problem, as he’d been taught.

“Mister, I’ve got a clear shot. I will take it unless you state your business!”

“Stand down, Neil.” The trees were vague shadows shifting in the wind. Adrian didn’t see Neil at all. He’s very good at hiding.

The sigh was audible. “Damn, Adrian!” Neil slid his Beretta into the holster as he emerged from behind a nearby tree.

Neil lifted his night vision goggles and flipped on the light around his neck, illuminating the thick fir trees he’d chosen to take cover in.

Adrian pinned him with a searching stare. “Would you have fired if I hadn’t spoken up?”

Neil nodded right away, tall, thin shadow not quite leaning against the tree as the wind blew harder. “Affirmative. We can’t take chances now.”

Boots crunched from two directions and arrived at the same time, telling Adrian they had been where they were supposed to be.

“What’s wrong?”

“You okay?”

Neil waited for Adrian to address the arriving guards. When he didn’t, Neil did, keying his walkie talkie so the other men on duty around camp could hear too. “Disregard; false alarm. Resume your posts.”

The two men went without question or complaint, nodding to Adrian.

They were probably glad to have something to keep them awake. He had put the right man in charge of this shift, though. That was clear. The trooper, who everyone called Neil, wasn’t your average cop. Despite his young age of not quite thirty, people had begun to wonder if Neil was being looked over for second in command.

He wasn’t. He didn’t have the special spark Adrian was searching for, but Neil was still valuable. It hurt no one to let the camp assume that, and it encouraged them to follow the trooper’s every order. Neil already knew Adrian was holding that place for someone they hadn’t found yet.

Adrian noted Neil’s respect; he waited for the boss to begin. “Hearing anything?”

“Negative. Lights again, though. A few campfires.” Neil glanced around, hunting for the trainees who were shadowing Adrian. He didn’t spot them, but Neil was sure they were there. He and Kyle had recently passed their own level tests.

Adrian’s mind went to the slavers. “How many fires tonight?”

“Two northwest. Same ones we’ve spotted all week, following us. Kyle thinks they’ll make contact tomorrow. I agree.”

“Why?”

Neil frowned, settling his cover on more firmly as thick flurries rained over them. “The other campfire, the one northeast, is big and loud. That’ll push the smaller groups our way out of fear.”

Adrian was glad they’d found the equipment shed at Pine Valley untouched. They had a lot of weapons and defensive choices most survivors wouldn’t. If the loud group became a threat, they might disappear. “That’s exactly what I hope will happen. How many?”

Neil shook his head, worrying. “Can’t tell yet.”

“Was it the group we heard yesterday, screaming for all Americans to die?”

“Yeah… They’re bigger than us.”

Adrian wasn’t surprised. The bad people would always gather faster than the good. They would always outnumber them too if things continued like they were going now. “Can you find a few more men? Double the guard.”

Neil glanced at his watch. “After the check in?”

“Yes.” Adrian scanned the hat Neil insisted on wearing. It fit well with the solid black uniforms he’d put together for everyone, including himself. The eagle on the rear of his jacket was a necessary concession. Later, it would be dangerous to announce who he was so openly, but for now, he needed to be easily picked out of a crowd for the comfort of his camp.

Neil offered him the walkie talkie.

Adrian shook his head. “I’m not here.”

Neil keyed the mike. “Check in time. Let’s try to remember how to count. Point is clear.”

Adrian smothered a grin at the cocky tone, glad Neil wasn’t as tight assed as his words often suggested. Getting each shift to talk in the right order, using the right wording, was frustrating–especially for Neil. He was used to the smooth organization of a police radio. Being the end of five generations of officers made it doubly annoying whenever someone called out of order, or worse, forgot their area number.

“Area two, nothing here.” That was Kyle at the communications center.

“Area three, clear.” Doug, at the parking lot.

“Four, clear.” Chris, at the mess tent.

Everyone waited for Danny, the guard on the water tankers. When he didn’t check in, Neil frowned. Isn’t there anything that guy can do right? “Check in now, area five!”

Silence again… Then the handset crackled. “Five, sorry. All’s fine here.” The voice was groggy.

Neil handed the set to Adrian. This was his chore.

Adrian keyed the mike. “Area five, is my cat in the barn?”

“No, sir! Nature call.”

“Copy. Five is clear. Next?” The check in continued as Adrian handed the set back to Neil.

Neil huffed. “Think he fell asleep again?”

“Probably. Call in his relief when you get the extra men. Let’s have Danny put lime dust around the johns each day before he can have a bottle. We shouldn’t get into the habit of being careless.” Neil recapped thick brown curls under his hat. “Most of the men said okay to the mountains, if we can’t find anything better along the way and the bunker’s too small for us by then.”

Adrian understood the reluctance. He also wanted to rebuild on top of the earth, not inside it, but confessing to Neil about the size of the bunker had definitely been an excellent choice. Wish I could have told him everything, but Neil’s too uptight to understand the other choices I’ve made.

Neil wondered what Adrian’s shadows thought of all the conversations they were overhearing, remembering his own revelations about their supposedly altruistic leader. “I should be doing more, to help you.”

Adrian stared, yanked from his thoughts.

Neil clarified when Adrian only kept staring. “Is there something else I can do?”

Adrian studied Neil’s narrow profile as the frigid wind blew a fresh dusting of flurries over their boots. “Is there something else you want to do?”

Neil lifted his chin, trying not to be intimidated. “I have some ideas–mostly about the guards…and security.”

Adrian’s face split into a grin. He clapped the surprised man on the shoulder. “It took you long enough to ask!”

Neil didn’t know what to say.

Adrian did. “I can’t ask for it; it has to be offered.”

Neil filed that rule. “I’m offering.”

“Excellent. I want you as my chief of security.”

They were the words everyone wanted to hear. He had earned a position by Adrian, one that proved to the camp he was useful. Neil was speechless again.

Adrian made sure the man understood the details. “It’ll probably be ninth or tenth in the final chain of command, but for a while, it will be third or fourth, and you’ll always be in the loop. My word.”

Neil felt careful gratitude and a small flare of guilt. His life was better now than it had been before the war. In this awful new world, he was finally serving the true greater good. “Is this the official offer?”

“No, that comes later. For now, work hard and learn.” Adrian hesitated, then continued. “And keep your eyes open for anyone else I should talk to.”

Neil studied him. “You mean people like you.”

It wasn’t a question. Adrian frowned, hoping he hadn’t offended the trooper. “Like me?”

“It’s hard to explain. Something draws us to you.” Neil shrugged. “I’ll know it when I feel it.”

Adrian put a hand on his shoulder. “Your loyalty means a great deal to me, Neil. You’ve been by my side almost since the beginning. All the responsibility you’re hoping for will happen.”

Neil was eager for that time to come. “I recognize the sacrifices you’re making. We all do. We’re grateful you stuck by us when everyone else split.”

A little uncomfortable–his guilt was whispering insults again–Adrian opened his mouth; he was immediately disappointed with what came out. “We’ll make it. God will help us find our way now.”

Neil’s face darkened. He turned away. “Why didn’t he help before we got lost?”

2

Adrian took his time going back. He skirted the nervous mule deer huddled together for warmth, encouraged to see them. Except for the amount of debris rolling with the wind, it was normal here. Plastic bags, fast food wrappers, bits of paper, mildewed clothes–it was the same garbage that had always littered America, but the amount of it had grown drastically without litter patrols and trash services. The war had affected every aspect of American life, even their waste.

Still, other than the debris and the occasional rotting fox or rabbit, it was as if nothing bad had happened. That was the whole point of him choosing parks. How could his refugees heal if they were constantly being reminded of all they’d lost?

Back in the heart of camp now, Adrian heard snores. He was glad to find no one passed out around the bonfire. They were all finally adjusting to being under canvas.

Adrian nodded to Jeremy, who was now guarding the water tankers in place of Danny. It pleased him that the new guard on the hundred-gallon portable tankers was wearing the entire black outfit, but Adrian didn’t stop to talk.

Two shadows now following, Adrian got a cup of coffee from the deserted mess, then strode to the tow truck they had converted into Safe Haven’s communication center. The guard here was his most promising man. A former captain in the infamous Genovese mob family, Kyle had also dressed in the suggested gear, even down to the cap over his short, curly black hair. Adrian had convinced the mobster to make a clean break instead of trying to go back to New York for any family who might have survived. “Hear anything?”

Kyle frowned. “Nothing but static, Boss. Storm whacked the antenna good.”

“Did Mitch pass the radio test?”

“Yep. Only one who did.”

“I want him on the radio full time come morning. Tell him to get comfortable there.”

Kyle swept the landscape around them. “You know it.” Content for the moment that all in their kingdom was secure, Kyle took the opportunity to share his thoughts. “Something’s coming. I feel it in the wind.”

Adrian had the same worries. “Good or bad?”

“It’s hard to tell. A little of both?”

Before Kyle could add anything, Adrian spun. The movement was so fast, his hand was there before the action registered to the witnesses.

Adrian let go of the fingers that had been about to snatch the dangling bandana from his front pocket.

“Damn!”

“Pass.”

The Eagle, a plumber from Oregon, swallowed his surprise and snapped off a smart salute before vanishing into the darkness.

Kyle grinned. “Daryl thought he had you.”

“That’s how he failed. Rushed the end and made a noise as he went for it. Chris also passed. Dale needs to do it all again.”

Kyle wrote it in his small notebook, not questioning. Adrian was a sharp judge of character. Kyle trusted him completely.

“I’ll be in my tent.”

Kyle subtly trailed Adrian to make sure he got there. These people were lucky to have the natural born leader. Adrian was hitting on all eight; he knew what was coming and was preparing to handle it. Because of him, most of these refugees would probably survive. If they got some of the help Adrian had all his top men on the lookout for, there might be a chance for more than just surviving.