Deadland Rising (Deadland Saga) (S) (11 page)

Clutch pursed his lips. “A sergeant isn’t exactly senior ranking. There’s a reason sergeants aren’t commanders.”

Griz chuckled. “Yeah, they’re too cranky to be one.”

Clutch flipped him the bird. “It’s yours. You’re the only other soldier in this place.”

“Oh, hell no,” Griz said. “I might have more of a personality, but the last thing I want to do is babysit amateurs. That’s up your alley.”

I scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Griz smirked.

“This is important,” Justin said, not giving Griz time for a witty comeback. “After losing Marco’s squadron to the Black Sheep and the capital claiming our other squadrons to locate survivors in the south, it’s crucial we keep our only squadron running in tip-top shape. This is our only crew equipped to travel out of New Eden.”

“You can count on me,” Clutch said, any humor gone from his voice.

“Well, that covers the squadron then,” Justin said.

My brows rose. “What, you’re not letting Jase or me serve as scouts?”

Justin watched me for a moment before turning to Jase. “Jase, I’d like you to meet Zach. Zach runs the New Eden security forces, and you’ll be on his team.”

Zach held out his hand. “Welcome to the force.”

Jase didn’t shake it. Instead, confused, Jase looked from Clutch to me and then to Justin. “But, I’m with these guys. We work together.”

Justin spoke first. “I know you’re more than capable to have survived out there for so long, but it’s New Eden policy to not allow anyone under the age of eighteen to serve on the squadron. It’s safer within the fence,” Justin said.

“That’s bullshit,” Jase said. “I’m as good as anyone else out there.”

“I’m not doing this to be difficult,” Justin said. “I can’t break policy for you. You—the youth—are our future. If we don’t work toward our future, we won’t have a future.”

“The force isn’t some place for lackeys,” Zach said. “Our job is as important—if not more so—than the squadron’s. We’re the last line of defense for New Eden. These people are trusting their lives to our ability to keep them safe. We take out any danger that comes up to our fences as well as handle any problems within the fences. We also serve as backup support to the squadron. So, you see, it’s not going to be a walk in the park. You’ll see plenty of action, I can guarantee it.”

Jase frowned.

“Give the force a shot,” Clutch said. “Maybe they’ll reconsider later.”

“We have more guns and more ammo than the squadron,” Zach added. “Marco mentioned you were pretty good with a motorcycle. We have ATVs on the force, but I happen to have a Honda 250 bike sitting in the garage that’s yours as a sign-on bonus if you want it. I won’t ever lie to you, we’re in desperate need of personnel. You won’t be treated like a kid here, I swear it.”

Jase’s frown disappeared as he tried not to look excited. “Well, I suppose I could give it a shot.”

Zach smiled and held out his hand again.

This time, Jase shook it.

“What about me?” I asked with narrow eyes.

Justin’s lips pursed. “Just like we have a rule in place to protect our youth, we have a rule in place to protect our women. Have you considered an administrative job? Marco said you’re good with numbers. I could use help with the supplies tracking.”

“That’s bullshit. You don’t need me behind a desk.” I pointed. “You need me out there. I can fly over the area and identify problems before they get close.”

Justin shrugged. “We don’t have an airplane anywhere near here.”

“I can find one. Then, all I’ll need is a fuel tank and a decent mechanic.”

“Two things we have in very short supply,” he countered.

I pursed my lips. “Okay, then. If I stay on the ground, I can still help. I can take down a zed from over a hundred meters away.”

Clutch spoke first. “She’s right. Cash is the best sniper around. You’d be doing New Eden a disservice by not leveraging her talent.”

“Unfortunately, we’re running desperately low on ammunition,” Justin said. “We’re down to our last boxes, and we’ve cleared every known armory and supply store in the area. None of us will have any ammo before long.”

Exasperated, I nearly rolled my eyes. “Fine, Then use me to scout for supplies, survivors, and trouble. Just because I’m a woman, I’m just as capable in my own right.”

It was the first time I’d seen Justin uncomfortable. "Look at it this way. Men survivors outnumber women over three to one here. Any loss of a woman or child kills morale. It makes sense for women to choose the safer jobs, and we have plenty of openings—”

“No,” I said, and took a deep breath. “Listen. I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m only trying to be where I can provide the most value.”

“Cash…” Justin said.

Zach cut in. “C’mon, Justin. You know how short-staffed the force is. And, Cash has been out there, with these guys, for months. I’d be glad to have her on the force. It’s safer than the squadron, but she can still make a difference.”

I bit my lip. While I wanted to be outside the walls—with Clutch—I also didn’t want to burn my shot with Zach’s force. It would be better than shuffling paperwork. I didn’t enjoy our team being split up, but I knew we’d have to make concessions at New Eden. After all, we were the newcomers here and had to abide by their rules. Not that it made things sit any easier in my gut.

Justin finally relented. “Fine, fine. Cash and Jase will serve on the security force.” Then, he wagged a finger at me. “But, you will both be careful and do exactly what Zach says. I will not have you risk your lives unnecessarily.”

“I got it,” I said, trying not to frown, holding back the sting of disappointment of being judged just because I had tits.

Justin looked over each of us and then clapped his hands together. “We’re all set. Let’s get to work.”

* * *

When Zach had said we’d see plenty of action, what he’d meant was that our days would be filled with hotheaded disputes and fiery tempers. My first day on the job, Mary stole from Jim’s garden, the meal rations weren’t enough for Ron’s 260-pound frame, and Diesel caught a rabbit that Saul intended to eat. The second day, I learned most people used up their ration cards a day early, and they all believed they deserved extra rations for working.

My partner was Zach. Even though he chose me because I was the only woman on the force and he was being protective, he wasn’t a bad partner. He had far more patience than I did, but he didn’t take bullshit from anyone. Not even Bryn, the pretty woman who’d been caught at least five times before stealing from people’s houses. We caught her pilfering canned pumpkin from house twelve. I would’ve kicked her out of New Eden after the second time. But, Justin was too protective of any women in New Eden. And everyone knew it.

“It’s the ones like her who will make it so no one can trust anyone,” I grumbled after Zach locked Bryn up for the night.

He shrugged. “She’s a hard worker. Justin says as long as she’s adding more value to New Eden than taking away, she stays.”

“Locking her up overnight and giving her a free meal doesn’t do any good. She gets the same punishment after each offense, and she keeps on stealing. You need to up the ante each time. Make the punishment worse until she decides to be a team player or leaves New Eden.”

“What would you do?”

I thought for a moment. “I’d start by pulling her rations the next time she steals. Then, I’d try humiliation, such as those public stocks they used in the Middle Ages. After that, I’d send her outside the gates.”

“Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

I chuckled. “If you think that’s bad, you’re lucky you can’t read my mind as to what I’d really do.” A cold wind blew, and I shivered. “It’s hard enough the way it is to survive out here. We don’t need interminably selfish people to make it worse.”

I envied Clutch, Griz, and Marco. The squadron of twelve men hit the road each day and was home in time for dinner. While the only excitement we got was taking out every zed or sick animal that reached the fence. The zeds were easy. Most had rotted enough they moved slowly in the cold. When the temperatures dropped about ten degrees below freezing, they couldn’t move at all. Easy to take out with a quick stab.

The animals were another story. Between them and the zeds, the landscape was depleted of meat, making us walking around in New Eden look like a feast in their starved gazes. I could’ve sworn the damn things were taunting us. Running up to the fence, barking to get our attention, and then running back off into the surrounding woods. By day, they’d come out one or two at a time. By night, they numbered in the dozens, as they searched for weak spots at our fences. Our job was to scare them off. Kill them whenever we could. I hated that part of my job more than anything else. Not only because I was killing something that had once been a domesticated animal, but also because those dogs scared me a lot more than I was scaring them.

Zach pointed to the two men headed our way. “Our shift is done, and not a moment too soon.”

I rubbed my gloved hands together. “Good. It’s downright freezing out here.”

“It looks like a storm could be finally rolling in,” he added as we walked to the force’s headquarters, which was next door to the quarantine-slash-jail.

I glanced at the overcast sky blanketing everything in gray. “It’s looked like that for three days now.”

“Yeah, but the wind’s picked up. I bet something’s headed our way.” He stepped inside and held the door open for me.

I paused. “What month is this? Are we still in November?”

“Yeah,” he replied. “Thanksgiving is next week already.”

I sighed and entered. “Well, I guess we’re lucky to have gone this long before Mother Nature reared her ugly head again. When we got hit last month with snow already, I was expecting a hell of a winter ahead of us.”

He nodded. “I was, too. Luckily, she’s been focusing on Canada so far.”

“Let’s keep it that way.”

When the next shift stepped inside, we quickly chatted and made notes in the daily log before heading our separate ways. The wind picked up, and I found myself jogging home. A block from my house, I found Jase walking home from his shift on the other side of town. Poor Jase was stuck with the deadbeat on the force, leaving Jase to do all the heavy lifting. A couple days ago, I’d found Jase walking his shift alone, his partner no doubt taking another “break.”

We met in front of the house. “You don’t look so hot. Are you feeling okay?” I asked.

He wiped his red nose. “Just tired. I didn’t sleep great last night. And, this cold weather doesn’t help.”

I put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll make you some tea. Hopefully you’ll sleep better tonight.”

He sniffled. “Yeah.”

“So, how’d Dick ditch you today?”

His partner’s name was actually Richard, and he went by Rich, but we quickly decided that “Dick” fit him better.

Jase rolled his eyes. “Dick was a no-show. Caught the flu.”

My brows rose. “And exactly how could Dick catch the flu in a fenced-in town?”

He shrugged.

I shook my head. “Gotta give the guy credit. He comes up with a new excuse every day. I bet he’s faking it. I haven’t heard any rumors about a flu going around. Geez, I hope he’s faking it. The flu would be miserable to catch. It’s not like we get sick days or time off around here.”

“You’re telling me,” he said and took the porch steps one at a time.

I frowned. Usually Jase leapt up the steps to get inside and eat. That he was practically dragging his feet today worried me.

Someone coughed daintily, and I froze. In slow motion, I stepped inside. Hali was lying on the couch. Several wadded tissues peppered the floor. Jase had sat down next to her and was rubbing her arm.

Vicki came in from the kitchen, carrying two steamy mugs. She gave me a knowing look before handing Jase and Hali a mug. I followed her into the kitchen.

“The flu’s here,” she said as she rinsed dishes in the sink. “Hali’s got it. Benji’s been in bed all day. You know how kids are. He probably picked it up at school and brought it home.”

I let out a deep breath. “How’s everyone else?”

“Okay for now.” She turned around and leaned against the sink. “But, I can tell I’m more tired than normal. I’m going to bed after a bit to try to fend it off. How are you doing?”

“I feel fine.”

“Good,” she said. “Deb is staying at the clinic. Marco’s with her. They’re quarantining her to make sure she doesn’t catch it. It’s probably your run-of-the-mill flu bug. Deb accused Justin of being overly careful. I have to admit, I’m siding with Justin this time.”

The sound of familiar, heavy boot steps on the porch pulled our attention to the foyer.

“I’ll put more tea on,” Vicki said.

“I can do it,” I said. “Get some rest.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Thank you,” she said and headed up the stairs.

I put on the water to boil, and heard Clutch enter the kitchen. He came up behind me, and I leaned back and into his warmth. “I was beginning to wonder where you were.”

“We were at Justin’s,” he said and reached around me and grabbed a handful of walnuts and pumpkin seeds from a bowl under the cabinet. “He had us scout the Omaha suburbs today.”

I turned around. “Why?”

He popped some nuts in his mouth and chewed. “Justin wants New Eden to have a Thanksgiving feast. He thinks it’s important for morale. Lincoln’s closer, but it was more heavily bombed. And, we did find a store in Omaha that hadn’t been destroyed.”

I frowned. “But, the cities are too dangerous. We learned that when we tried to camp in the store by Des Moines. There are way too many things that want to eat us in cities.”

He shook his head. “The zeds won’t be a problem. The temperature’s dropped enough that all the ones we’ve come across lately were popsicles. As for the dogs, except for the sick ones, the packs seem to come out only at night. They’re still too skittish to come out during the day.”

“Still…” I cautioned. “There could be a lot more of them around the larger city.”

He flashed one of his rare smiles and ran a thumb over my cheek. “It’ll be fine. The superstore we found isn’t too far into town. It should be an easy in-and-out. But, we have to move fast. If we don’t hurry and grab what we can, other survivors will get to these stores first. And, once we run out of gas, getting supplies out of the cities will be infinitely harder.”