From The Ashes (Life After War) (28 page)

Twenty minutes later, the two women were still talking, but not about Matt.

“
I wondered if it was something like that. You don’t seem the type to play two ends against the middle,” Cynthia stated.

“
I’m not, but this damn heat! It’s in the food here, or something. I’ve never…”

Samantha stopped, staring at the lone camp member now climbing the stairs to the shower camper.

Cynthia followed her line of sight, but neither of them acknowledged the woman, even though she flashed longing their way. Lexa was one of them, Sam and Cyn knew it, but until the gun shop owner accepted the rules and asked to be signed up, they couldn’t treat her like it.

Lexa vanished into the shower camper, and the two Eagles returned to their conversation, one that now included thoughts and comparisons on multiple areas of camp life. Both of them still wanted that XO slot, but it was put aside for the moment, and magic took its place as the women began to communicate like team members need to.

“
No, I never would have expected that either.”

“
And it's so simple, the way he controls them all.”

“
And they ask him for it.”

“
Exactly. You can't have leadership like...” Samantha trailed off, distracted again.

Cynthia watched the storm tracker's face tighten in the light from the burnt-down can fire.

“
Something...”

“
Are you okay?”

Sam shook her head. “No, I don't think so.”

She moved toward the tents and Cynthia didn't hesitate to follow.

5

On Point over the camp, Kyle was occupied with finding a replacement for Mitch and tracking down Zack’s youngest boy, whom he suspected was the one now stealing bottles for Matt. He missed the sight of the two rookie females heading for camp at a fast pace.

Kyle’s mood was ugly. He’d gotten used to being with Jennifer at night, to watching her sleep after she drifted off against her will, and he was loathing the time away. It made for a surly Point man that only his right hand was able to approach without fear. Since he’d given Kyle the solution, Daryl and his team leader had gotten closer.

“
Point man to the supply truck.”

Kyle switched directions, grunting. After the fight with his dad, Kyle could guess who had just shown up wanting a bottle. The highest Eagle stormed that way with a scathing lecture ready.

He heard them before he got there.

“
No.”

“
Just-t let me have it. No one g-g-gives a shit about me anyway.”

Kevin frowned. He hated third shift duty. “That’s not true. Go sleep it off, Matt.”

Matt punched the side of the truck. “I want a d-drink!”

“
You’re asking to be banished. Go to your tent, little boy,” Kyle ordered harshly.

Matt spun around with a raised arm and the mobster gave him a solid clip to the jaw that sent him to the ground.

The boy groaned, holding his mouth. “Oww!”

Kyle knelt down to talk some sense into Matt whether he was ready to listen or not.

“
Ssscchhhhhh!”

Thick static went through every radio in Safe Haven that was turned on, jarring an entire camp of refugees from sleep. The leaders inside its borders waited tensely for the next sound.

“
SScchhh-ssshhhccc!”

The second wave was stronger. Electrical components began to short out.

Kyle ripped his radio from his belt and hit the button. “Shut ‘em off! Electrical storm!”

“
Schhrr!”

The radio sparked, and Kyle dropped it, using his feet to stomp out the small flames trying to grow. Dogs began to bark and birds fled from the trees above them in a flurry of panicked wings. There was a clear sense of danger, heavy and unavoidable, coming closer.

Kyle looked at Kevin in horror as the squelching sound echoed through the darkness again, further upsetting their herd. The sky above them was dark and calm except for the retreating wildlife.

Kevin's return glance was just as terrified. This was no electrical storm.

“
Fire!”

The shout echoed across camp.

Matt slowly picked himself up as the Eagles ran toward the call, full of bitter, self-pitying hatred. He heard the chaos starting, but his gaze was on the now unguarded door of the supply truck. What did he care if there was a storm?

Matt slipped inside the rig, and no one noticed.

6

Beneath the ground near the edge of the protective shield, a quarter-sized hole opened up and started to fall in on itself. An old mining shaft below provided no foundation, no brace to stop the sinking. The hole began to grow by inches on all sides, sending ripples through the dirt that quickly fell in. A minute after it opened up, the hole was five feet wide, and still expanding as the dirt continued to cave in on all sides.

Crunchh...

On guard over new arrivals in the QZ, Doug registered the newest menacing noise with concern, but didn’t leave his post. He kept people from breaking quarantine by holding up his gun, glad the small group was being reasonable. They were all gathered at the edge of the tape, watching fearfully, but not running blindly like many in the main camp were doing.

Thud…thud…crunnccchhh!

Doug swung toward the tilting shower camper that he could barely distinguish through the trees.
Tilting?

His feet shifted against his will as the ground rumbled. Doug grabbed the side of a tree and hung on as the ground directly under his feet suddenly swayed. The new arrivals were thrown to the ground as the tremors under the earth grew stronger.

Trees shook, sending down stiff, moldy leaves.

Thudddd! Riiipppp!

A full row of port-o-lets next to the tilting shower camper dropped into the ground.

Doug’s mouth fell open in shock. Had he really seen that?

Grrriiinnndddd! Craaassshhhh!

Doug stumbled as the ground shifted again.

The shower camper plunged down into the sinkhole next, sending up a thick cloud of dirt. Behind that, a line of moldy trees followed with ear-splitting grinds and cracks. Dust showered the area, obscuring it even with the light of the fires.

“
Help at the showers!”

Doug's shout was swallowed by the static and he tossed his headset away as it sparked, catching his vest on fire. Slapping at it, he rushed toward the shower camper that he could no longer see any part of through the falling grit.

Above Safe Haven, the invisible shield glowed brilliant red.

7

Strapping on her gun, Angela hurried out of the tent to find Samantha and Cynthia rushing her way.

“
Look after Adrian so the Eagles can work.”

Samantha motioned to the reporter, and Cynthia changed directions, going to the boss. Samantha stayed on Angela’s right.

Angela tossed an arm around Charlie’s tense shoulders as he and Marc arrived, concentrating. Together, they swept the camp and found the biggest problems.

“
Shower campers, mess for control, fire crew to the tent area.”

She sent Charlie to the Mess to help care for the camp members, sure that’s where they would go. Adrian’s drills had them trained to take shelter there together.

Angela rattled off instructions, and Sam copied them down, making her own notes as she went.

Without radios, the Eagles were using hand motions, but those on the outer perimeter were moving in. People were stumbling, fleeing–radios were sparking, burning, being stomped out–and the ground under the entire camp rumbled ominously.

Angela turned to Marc. “They’re leaving posts!”

Marc immediately went into security mode and began grabbing running Eagles, sending them out to keep those places covered.

Sscchhhrrrippp!

Around them, panicked camp members were fleeing, some screaming as another crack tore through the ground. Animals began to run by, telling them there was also trouble in the vet area.

Seeing Adrian starting to move through the din was a comfort, and his men fell in around him, waiting to be told what to do. He headed for the area that had enough grit hanging over it to make people start whispering they'd been bombed again.

Before Angela could go to him, too, Sam shook her head.

“
Hang on. Something's not right.”

“
Can you tell what?” Angela asked over the new noise of Eagles shooting the wilder animals that were chasing camp members.

Samantha shook her head, eyes closed to concentrate. “I get sensations, not images.”

Angela grabbed Samantha's wrist. Maybe they could merge...

Samantha jerked like she'd been stung and the door opened. “Trap!”

Damn it!

Angela followed Sam as she took off running.
“Adrian! Brady!”

“
Get this under control,” Adrian ordered, spinning around to take up a place behind the running women. He didn't know where the trouble was, but Angela's call had been urgent.

Kenn didn't bother answering, instead stepping forward to flank Doug as the calmer camp members began to crowd each other for a view of the still-growing sinkhole.

Doug waved a hand. “I might be able to lift that corner enough to move it.”

Kenn paused in determining where to make his descent. The shower camper was only partially in the hole, the front end crushed against the jagged dirt edge.

Kenn agreed. He wanted to be able to tell Adrian there hadn’t been anyone inside.

8

“
Shit!”

Crruussshhh!

Sam and Angela arrived in time to see the kids’ camper drop heavily into the new sinkhole... and then keep going.

The ground shifted on all sides, falling in on itself, and the young screams from the swallowed camper echoed across their hearts.

Adrian and a group of Eagles rushed straight into the danger. They grabbed whatever they could reach–bumper, door handles, window frames–pulling, trying to stop the camper from sinking further. Inside, women and kids cried for help.

“
We need Doug!”

Crunchhh!

“
I'm here!” The big man had come as soon as he'd lifted the shower camper, leaving Kenn to supervise bringing up the body.

Another large chunk of dirt broke off near them and disappeared into the black hole.

“
Help us!”

“
Please!”

Surrounded by helping Eagles,
Doug
grunted in effort, lifting with his legs. The small camper slowly came up enough for them to slide a concrete plate underneath.

Almost the entire kids’ area had been lost, but only this one camper was in danger of being devoured. Alert Eagles had driven the other campers away from the second sinkhole with their precious cargo still inside.

“
Get them out of there!” Adrian ordered as the camper was dragged away from the danger.

He put a hand on Angela’s arm when she would have gone in. “No.”

Covered in axle grease, Marc nodded his approval and went to finish securing the perimeter.

Angela didn’t like it, but didn’t argue as Kyle and Daryl began calling for what they needed to get the crushed door open.

Minutes later, bruised and bleeding kids were being carried out to John.

Doug came forward as a small Mexican boy was brought out, taking him from Kyle’s surprised arms with a gentleness everyone noticed.

“
Come here, boy. We’ll wait for your brother.”

The four-year-old hid under Doug’s big arm, and the man patted his shoulder comfortingly as they waited for Kyle to bring out the rest.

The females of the camp were gathering here, too, and taking the children to the Mess as they were cleared–offering what comfort they could get the kids to accept. Most were stunned, too dazed to keep crying, but a few were already laughing, telling their guardians they were strong.

Doug took the shaking boys toward the Mess when the elder one was led out, and Adrian watched them go. Another gentle giant in his army.

Searching for her charges, Peggy also saw them and crossed the pair off her list. She spared a quick glare for Adrian and then went to help Kyle and Daryl. Adrian had refused her request to make Becky talk to her, and the mother was still steaming over it.

Angela smiled at Doug, who was calming the two boys that may not have gotten much consideration from the others. They were Cesar's sons with Maria. “He’s good with them. Maybe they should stay together?”

Adrian shrugged. “Maybe.”

Angela pointed. “Speaking of changes–check that out.”

Adrian turned, expecting another challenge to be conquered.

Tonya approached the fire crew hesitantly, making sure not to get in their way as they put out tent fires caused by sparking radios and panicking residents.

She darted closer before she could lose her nerve. “Is there something I can do?”