Deadlocked 6 (15 page)

"That's not fair," said Abe.

"What? I killed my target."

He pointed in the direction of the approaching creatures. "You killed the other one too. You didn't just hit your target. That's not fair."

"If you didn't want me to kill the one in front, you should've said so."

He stood up and handed the binoculars to Dante, who was grinning in his seat high above us. "That's not fair, and you know it," said Abe as he climbed down from the truck.

"I expect a carton," I called down after him while still lying on top of the truck.

"Your daughter's being a pain in the ass," said Abe.

"Thanks for the news flash," said my mother. "How's it going up there?"

"Fine," I said as I lined up another shot.

"Can I come up?"

I sighed and relaxed my aim. "Sure."

She climbed up and gazed out at the distant zombies. "Does this make you feel better?"

"Does what make me feel better?"

"Shooting things from this far off," she said. "Does it make you feel better to know that you're an expert shot?"

"I'm just trying to stay in practice." I went back to lining up another shot.

"There's no one in the camp that could hit these targets as easily as you can. Everyone knows that." She was quiet for a moment as she stood above me. Then she added, "No one blames you for anything."

I took another shot, but missed. I just wanted her to shut up, and the sudden blare of gunfire did the trick. She climbed back down and left me alone.

I wouldn't miss again.

Laura Conrad

I let Annie do what she needed. It felt like she was slipping away, despite there being nowhere for her to go. We were bound together, along with the rest of the Rollers, and she couldn't leave me behind, at least for the time being. Knowing that Annie and Kim had both sided with Billy about the future of our group made it more important for me to settle our differences.

There was a large group of Rollers that thought like I did, and wanted to put an end to the constant fighting that we'd endured. All of us agreed that patrols should be set up to maintain security from the raiders, but actively seeking out military establishments wasn't a priority for me. I'd been able to convince most of the Rollers to agree with me, but now that would all change. The recent attacks meant that we would all have to face a difficult choice, and I couldn't fathom how our group would manage to stay together through it.

I entertained the idea of fully supporting Billy. Many of my friends and compatriots in the Rollers would look at this as me abandoning my principles, but it would also mean that I would be able to stay with my daughters. The thought of our group splitting, and my girls going off with Billy, broke my heart. My desire for peace was insignificant compared to my need to be with Kim and Annie.

Her rifle fired again and I was jolted by the sound.

I was visibly tense, and the men around me could see it. They gave me a wide berth, and didn't express their concerns to me directly, although it was plain on their faces. Everyone was waiting for me to call a meeting with the lieutenants and come to a decision about the future of the Rollers.

"How're you doing?" asked a pleasant, familiar voice.

It was Zack Laporte, the uncle of Kim's husband. He'd been a part of the Rollers since the early days, and we'd been partners for several years. He was tall and thick, with wiry facial hair that he tried to keep shaved, but was too tenacious to get rid of for long. He had a square jaw, wide nose, and kind eyes. There was rarely a time that he wasn't soiled with grease or oil from working on the trucks, and had become an invaluable asset to our group because of his mechanical skills.

He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. His wide grip was comforting, as if I were a little girl again with my father tenderly consoling me. I smiled at him and was genuinely happy he was here. "I've been better."

Zack put his arm over my shoulder and pulled me closer. He kissed the top of my head and then ruffled my hair. "Don't let these guys get you down, beautiful. No matter what happens, you've always got my support."

"Thanks, that means a lot." It sounded like I was being derisive, but I meant it.

"You seen Arty around anywhere?" He asked about his nephew.

"Not yet. He's out with Dustin, on patrol in Boulder. He knows that we'd come here if we left the last campsite. I'm sure he's on his way here now."

"Yeah, I bet you're right. Can't help but worry though. You know how that goes."

We walked towards the Capta
in's Tent. Zack was one of the lieutenants, and my closest ally. "I thought it was supposed to be easier when they became adults."

Zack laughed and pulled me closer as he squeezed my shoulder. Arthur's parents had died at the outset of the apocalypse, and Zack was his guardian now. He was as nurturing as any parent could ever hope to be, and Arthur had grown into a fine man under Zack's care. "I thought that too. Turns out you worry about them even more when they grow up. It's our curse, I guess."

We stopped at the entrance of the tent and I glanced back at the truck that Annie was perched upon. I could see her feet as she lay on the top of the vehicle, aiming to take another shot.

"Wouldn't trade it for the world."

"Me neither." He pulled aside the tent flap and stood aside so that I could go in first. I reluctantly entered, leaving Annie behind to take care of the encroaching horde so that I could conduct business.

"What's the plan?" Zack had to duck when he walked into the tent. "I've heard a bunch of rumors about what's going on from everyone. The natives are getting restless out there."

"I know," I said as I walked over to the map in the center of the tent. I put my hands against my temples and tried to massage away the headache that'd plagued me all day. I had frequent headaches, which were the least of my old body's pains. Most of the health issues I had could be hidden from everyone, but the headaches were impossible not to reveal. "I just want to gather as much information as I can before I get everyone else involved."

"I understand," said Zack. "I know how you are, Ms. Organization. You're just like your daughter."

"Annie?" I asked, bewildered.

"No, Kim."

"Oh," I nodded. "I guess I can see that. Christ, Zack, we're in trouble here."

He agreed and approached the map. "I had a lot of friends in those towns." We both stared at the red 'X's that had been drawn across Juniper, Hanger, and Vineyard.

"Me too. They were good people."

"But what happened isn't your fault. You know that, right?"

I was reminded of the conversation I'd had with Annie earlier, about her inability to snipe the helicopter pilot that killed so many people in Vineyard. "Doesn't matter what I think. It matters what they think." I pointed out of the tent, referring to the members of the Rollers.

"They elected you the c
aptain because they believe in you, Laura. They trust you, and look up to you."

"And look what it's gotten them."

"Stop it," he said.

"There's no such thing as peace anymore. It was a mistake to even think it was possible. We're all just going to keep on killing each other till the end of time. There's nothing anyone can do about it. That's the nature of man. I'm pretty sure Einstein said that, or something to the effect. We're all going to keep on killing each other, because that's just the way we are."

"You're sure a beam of sunshine today, aren't you?" He settled into one of the chairs around the center table.

"I'm just being honest. We've only got two options here. Either we split up the Rollers, or we go with Billy's plan and continue trying to stamp out the military bases."

"We tried that for eighteen years, and look where it's gotten us."

"Maybe the reason we were safe was because Billy kept the pressure on them," I said as I adjusted some of the pins in the map. "Maybe if he'd been re-elected then they would've been subdued."

"Let me get this straight," said Zack as he leaned forward and set his elbows on the table. "You're suggesting that a massive worldwide military organization's plans have been, up until this past year, completely thwarted by the pestering strikes of a tiny band of people in the middle of nowhere? That's what you're suggesting?"

"I know it seems silly…"

"Yes it does," he said.

"But they never tried to wipe out any of the towns. They never attacked anyone with a squadron of helicopters like they did in Vineyard. They never tried to do anything like that while Billy was in charge."

"That might be true," said Zack. "But I don't see how anything Billy was doing before you were elected was preventing this from happening."

I shook my head and stared at the closed door of the tent. "It doesn't really matter one way or the other. All that matters is what they think." Part of me was referring to the entire group of Rollers, but another part of me was talking about my daughters.

Zack nodded in agreement. "Are you giving up?"

"Giving up what?"

"Giving up control of the Rollers to Billy."

I shook my head. "No, not unless I have to. I'm willing to run this
like a democracy, and let the lieutenants vote on what direction we go. I don't think anyone wants my head on a stick or anything. At least not yet. If I agree to let Billy start up his attacks again, then I think most people will be okay with that." I rolled my eyes and added, "It's not like he ever stopped anyhow."

"What do you mean?" asked Zack.

I shouldn't have said anything, but Zack and I had become close over the years, and I valued his friendship, as well as his opinion. I'd planned on keeping Billy's treason a secret, but I needed to talk about it with someone that would understand my position. And while Clyde certainly agreed with my desire to set up a colony, Zack's mindset was closer to my own on matters like this. I'd just have to be careful not to let him get too angry at Billy over this.

"Billy and some of the others have been continuing to attack military bases." I blurted it out and was anxious to hear what he thought.

He nodded and closed his eyes as if he'd already suspected as much. "And by others, you're talking about Kim. Right?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

"Artie said something a while ago that made me suspect something was up," said Zack. "He never admitted anything in particular, but he said that Kim was doing things that he couldn't condone. It was one of the reasons the two of them stopped trying to patch things up." He shook his head and scowled. "God damn you, Billy. Doesn't he see how he's tearing this place apart? And for what? If he already had his goons out there attacking the military bases, despite being told not to, then why would any of them think that your desire for peace had anything to do with making us susceptible to attack? Don't you see how damn stupid that is?"

I hadn't thought of that, and hearing him explain it bolstered my confidence. "That's a good point."

"No shit it is." He tapped his index finger to his temple. "There's more than air up here, beautiful. When you explain to the lieutenants that Billy's been sneaking around, behind our backs, and attacking the bases, then they're going to have to agree that the attacks on the towns had nothing to do with our drawdown."

I considered his idea, but then winced when I thought of a problem with it. "I can't do that."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because Kim, Annie, and Hero are all in on it."

"So?" he asked.

"They're guilty of treason."

"I fail to see the problem here." He crossed his arms over his barrel chest.

"They'll all get demoted.
Kim, Hero, and Billy will lose their seat at the table."

"Darling, I know you care for them, but so the hell what? They did the deed, now it's time to pay the price."

"I don't want that, Zack."

I expected him to be angry, but his mild demeanor didn't change. "Your heart's bigger than your head. That's one of the reasons I love ya."

"Stop it," I said, dismissing his affection. He frequently flirted with me, but I always ignored his advances. It wasn't that I found him unattractive, on the contrary, his large frame and burly voice were very alluring to me, but I'd long ago pledged my devotion to my late husband. As I frequently said, 'David was married to me all of his life, so I plan on being married to him all of mine.'

"How are we going to deal with this?" I asked, ignoring Zack's advance.

"You know my vote: Tell everyone what Billy's been up to and go from there."

"And then risk the l
ieutenants voting to exile my daughters? Come on, Zack, you know I can't do that."

"Then you're complicit in this." His relaxed position belied his stern warning. "If you protect them by keeping this a secret, then you're just as guilty as they are."

"I know."

He sighed and then took a long breath before rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to ease a tense muscle. "I don't think anyone would be callous enough to try and exile your daughters. Where would they be sent to? The towns were destroyed. In the past, when we kicked someone out of the Rollers they always had the option of going to one of the nearby settlements. That's not an option anymore. Exile is a death sentence, and I can't believe anyone would do that."