Adrian's Eagles: Book Four (Life After War) (20 page)

Kenn ignored Angela’s look of respect as he sat down.

Adrian took back over, thinking he would have the Marine MC the next meeting.

“Next are changes and improvements.” He felt their need for more hope and was able to answer it. “We live like gypsies. No homes or any of the things that come with them. No curtains blowing in the breeze, just annoying tent flaps slapping you awake at odd hours. No light on over the sink, just a candle that burns too fast and too dim. No mattress, no kitchens, no walls.”

His face glowed with happiness that he could give them hope for a better way of life. “That’s almost over for us. It will never be the way it was, especially not for those here and those still on their way, but I’d have back what we can. Over the next months, we’re going to trade in these canvas homes for RVs.”

There was a huge cheer at that and it swelled into the night. During the happiness, apple juice ended up spilling on a few of those in the very back, namely Matt and Charlie. Only two of the Eagles noticed. Zack, who grinned and went back to guarding, and Billy, who thought it was about time Zack’s bully-prone boys were taught a lesson.

“We have a great idea for getting water quicker, and if it pans out, that’ll mean we can all use campers. Men will be three to a tin can. Women need a bit more room.”

Gaffs and snorts echoed at this, but died down quickly as the wind increased.

”They’ll be 2 in a camper. Women and elderly will get them first, as with anything here, by alphabetic last name.”

There were words of thanks and whispers, and Adrian waited for them to settle down before continuing. “We’re also putting awnings over most of the camp areas, so there will be no more waiting in the rain for bathrooms or Mess.”

As if on cue, thunder cracked in the distance and two shoe-sized ants raiding the camp’s garbage dove for cover unseen.

Adrian chuckled through his sudden tension. “We’ll hurry up on that one.”

His eyes went over Rick, seeing his glare at someone in the back of the crowd, and stored it for later. “There are a lot of us here now and I’m also working on a better schedule setup. Only those who have duty that week will be given a copy.” He cracked a grin. “Scheduling for 200 people twice a month sucks and Kenn and I are working on a quicker system.”

While Adrian was talking, Doug had been installing a large wallboard onto the hard side of the Mess truck. There were a lot of smiles and whispered repeats of what he wrote on it.

Point
:
The Guardian
.

The Irishman drew a quick US flag in the far corner and sat back down, grinning. Only Angela noticed his slight shake as he lit a smoke.

“We’re starting a fire crew, a garden, a newspaper, and a radio station. That last one will be called After War Airwaves and I’d prefer people with experience, even if it’s only the basics.”

Adrian sighed, voice resigned. “Now, for the part we all hate - a rule change.”

Tension flew through the crowd and Adrian kept his tones level. “We agreed every able person would pull four - 6 hour shifts a month but it’s not enough to cover us. Our size keeps growing and people already have their time in by 28 days, which leaves almost a week where we have to run a light watch or hope for volunteers.” Adrian turned the page. “We came up with 3 solutions. First, we raise it to five shifts and maybe even six if our population keeps expanding. I honestly hate that idea, loathe it even. I want the number of shifts to go lower as we get more people, not higher.”

The groans and complaints had turned to nods of agreement.

“Our second way is to change the structure a little. Everyone who passes a class has to take a week at helping teach it. That would free up enough Eagles to cover those extra days even when we have a double watch posted.” His tone grew cold. “The last way is to do nothing and hope we have a full shift on duty if something happens. I won’t vote for that.”

“Neither will I,” Kenn spoke up, doing his job this time without being told. ”I’d rather work an extra shift or teach a class to know I’m safe when I sleep.” He didn’t look at the smoldering man sitting across from him, sure Brady was thinking something ugly at the remark.

“Agreed. Okay, we’ll be voting on shift change or teaching change and also on some places to head next since all the reports of mutations are north. You’ll notice I favored dropping back down the way we came in. To the east are Badlands and open country, nothing we really need. If we get back down into Nebraska, we might find more farms, maybe even a field with corn ready to be smeared with butter.” That drew more smiles. Corn, other than canned, was a thing of the past for most of the country.

“I also included a shortlist of places to spend the winter. It’s not the final vote by far, but it will give us an idea of the supplies we’ll need so we can start gathering. I left an empty line for other ideas. All right. Any new business before we spend some time on the Slavers and our defenses?”

There was a tense quiet while he closed his book and waited. He couldn’t tell them they were safe here, but he had to make them feel it just the same. Some of the most recent of Cesar’s refugees had recognized Rick. There was no avoiding the topic and he had chosen to handle it as openly as he could.

“They’re still in northeastern Wyoming as far as we know. The radio has been quiet, but we’ve all seen the smoke trails and damage they leave, even if we weren’t in one of the towns they attacked. They seem to be moving along Interstate 25 and east of it, so I’ve only included places south.” He glanced around at all the uneasy eyes. “Eventually, they’ll catch up or we’ll have a delay, and we’ll have to make a choice. That’s later. For right now, here’s what we’ve been doing: Marc, Neil, Kyle.”

There were frowns at the order of the names, most people now understanding it wasn’t random, and Marc steeled himself as Neil and Kyle held up a drawing so good they’d made the Trooper sign his name to it.

“We made up some emergency plans,” Marc told the watching crowd, starting with the one labeled,
While Camped - Daylight
.

“He thought; I drew,” Neil cracked, grinning. “And Kyle made fun of us in support.”

There was light laughter, and Marc saw Adrian give Seth a pointed nod that said they’d demonstrated the proper use for running off at the mouth.

“If we’re camped, the guards will sound the alarm we hooked up to run the length of camp.” Marc looked at Kenn, who angrily hit a button on his wrist watch.

“Incoming! Seek shelter! Incoming!”

It blared from all corners of the dark camp around them, horribly loud, and everyone was glad when the Marine slapped another button and made it stop.

Marc wiggled a finger in his ear. “Okay, since we’ll all be deaf from the alarm, pay attention to where you should be.”

He began to explain, leaving Adrian free to judge the reactions of his herd. The Leader was hoping this would be enough to temporarily erase the quiet worry he saw lurking.

“We’re steel-plating things, Neil will get into that. All of these semis here will be nearly bullet proof. If the alarm goes off, get to the Mess or one of these trucks. They have three drivers assigned at all times, and supplies inside in case you get pinned down or want to make a run for it,” he stated, not hiding the fact that he wouldn’t. “How you know which truck to go to will be covered in a minute. The plan would be to circle around the Mess and make our stand if we were out in the open, or move into a nearby building and defend it. If we’re on the road, it’s a little more complicated.”

He waited for the two Eagles to flip the picture over to the side labeled,
On the Road
.

“We’ll be practicing during travel time, so you’ll get the hang of it. Basically, the lead semi will pull sideways across the road and each of the cars behind will pull all the way up to form a barrier wall. Pull in with a hard right or left, leave your doors open, and line up nice and tight. We’ll be steel-plating car doors too, so you’ll have cover if you stay low. Head for the Mess and help each other.” Almost finished and glad, Marc moved back. “Copies of these plans and what to do are being put into each glove box. Now, for a nighttime attack, Neil’s
gonna
fill you in.”

Marc switched places with the Trooper, grateful his tongue and brain had stayed on the same page.

Neil switched to a 3
^rd
drawing.
While Camped - Night

 
“After listening to the stories, we think it will be a night attack, so we based most of our plans on that. When the sirens go off, the trucks you should go to will light up. Headlights, signals, etc… The highest levels of Eagles will escort the kids; the next two will clear the tent areas. The next will sweep the showers, bathrooms, and parking areas. Rookies will help with livestock.” Neil held up his arm to show a shiny new wrist watch. “You’ll know the Eagles by these. They flash red, white, and blue. For a daylight attack, the plan is the same, except you’ll know the right trucks by the red cross on the back.”

Neil started to take Kyle’s end of the picture, and then stopped, removing a pencil from behind his ear. He carefully erased a smudge from the picture and then replaced it.

Neil looked at Kyle and his face reddened as he realized everyone was staring at him. “Sorry.”

Kyle laughed, trading places. “Perfectionist.”

Neil snorted. “Super-trooper.”

“You know it.”

The crowd laughed at their teasing and Adrian gave a subtle nod to Kyle that Marc wondered about. Was the joking staged too?

“Okay, details. We’re keeping boxes of vests and supplies around the camp at all times. We’re also doubling the number of guards on supply runs, so that means we need more Eagles. We have 9 places open. The signup sheet will be posted. We’re also going to train a little harder, so when you hear all the noise in the tents, you know it’s us.”

Kyle was ready to give back control, but the Boss had other plans.

“Kyle can handle questions now.”

Voices and hands went up as Neil and Marc sat down, leaving the Level Six Eagle to fend for himself.

“So, we’re going to fight?”

“When are they coming?”

“Shouldn’t we run?”

“Maybe we should think about their deal…”

“We do not negotiate with killers!” Kyle snapped back, causing the crowd to fall silent. “We don’t hide and we don’t hand over our people. We’re Americans!”

“Americans have been doing it since this country was formed!”

“Better a few than all of us!”

Kyle’s eyes were hot at their shouts, but he lowered his voice. “It’s better to face them now than during the winter, when we can’t get away if we need to.”

The Mess filled with protests and shouts, but quieted as soon as Adrian stood up.

Kyle was quick to find his seat, heart worried. They were so fast to be cowards with no thought of being heroes instead.

Adrian studied his sheep. “You’re afraid and you have every right to be. They are the worst of the old ways. So, what should we do?”

There was an uneasy silence while Adrian made his point. “There will come a time in every person’s life when they must choose to stand and fight and maybe die for what they believe in, or run and live and lose it all anyway through shame and guilt.”

He gestured, making sure he had each of them included. “You’ve got your lives. That’s a lot now, and you’re stronger, more able to care for yourselves. You might hole-up somewhere and even survive the winter alone, but you’ll have destroyed the future we’re building here. It’s not just one life in this camp, it’s all life… and alone, Safe Haven will die.”

Adrian saw faces that wanted him to fix it, make it go away. “I don’t want another useless war. No more bloodshed! Life matters more than it ever has and I’m so sick of death I could puke, but I’ve made my choice. When that time comes for us, I won’t run with you. I’ll stand.”

“Kick their asses, man!” Mitch shouted in a drunken slur and there was an immediate chorus of agreement that allowed Adrian’s closest men (and women) to breathe easier.

“Kill ‘em all!”

“We’ll show ‘em!”

“We’re with ya!”

Adrian grinned in relief like he’d been worried about losing leadership and those who knew the truth held still, trusting him to find them all a way out.

For the next few minutes, he and his men answered dozens of questions. It was loud and serious, and Angela was encouraged. She thought the
blond’s
words were flawless.

“So, let’s do some voting and go get some of you started on new classes. I personally can’t wait to see Neil and Hilda in Kai together.”

There was a lot of laughter at that and Adrian let them go for a minute with the remarks. Humor had a way of clearing a person’s heart of fear.

“Kenn and Seth will pass around the slips. Brady and Neil have the pens. Kyle and Jeremy are the counters and as usual, I expect you to watch the totals. Also, there’s a blank space at the end and I read each one, so if there’s something you need to tell me, that’s a good way to do it.”

Marc was impressed with the very official appearing ballot. He made his own choices quickly, but it was clear that Adrian didn’t mind people talking about it. Most of the camp hadn’t even looked at more than the first couple items yet, too busy listening to those around them talk about volunteering to take Neil’s lessons too. It was a wise man who knew you didn’t get anywhere with real Americans by pushing them around. The more they talked and agreed, the more likely it was that the votes would go in Adrian’s favor.
Smart
, Marc thought,
and sneaky
.