The Dying of the Light (Book 3): Beginning (62 page)

“Don’t forget we’re having dinner with Mom and my brother tonight!” she heard Donald yell and turned to him with a thumbs up. She loved Morena but was glad the woman lived in the city proper. With only her two sons left—one adopted, one not—she was filling up her retirement by “helping” with their lives. But Rachel always enjoyed getting together with Michael Forrest, her new brother-in-law and the adopted son of Morena and Frank Anderson. Mike was the medical director of Bunker Eight and super busy all the time, so Rachael made allowances for Morena to see him.

“—kness says he saw—” The voice from the phone sounded tired, or maybe it was just tired of dealing with old man Harkness.

“Yeah, I know,” she answered with a fond smile for her husband as he walked into their farmhouse. “Donald said. I’ll head up there in a minute. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Main Research Lab
Bunker Seven
Wheeler Peak, New Mexico

Jim Atkins sat on a stool next to his wife’s desk and watched the flurry of activity in the room with her. They would just get in the way at this point, and they both knew it. Mary Maxwell had joined them, for posterity if nothing else. None of them were particularly busy these days, and this was the end of an era, so to speak.

Jim wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.

“Everything’s properly labeled, isn’t it?” Sabrina asked for what Jim was sure was the five thousandth time. “I just don’t want to lose anything.”

Mary and Jim shared a quick glance and smirk as Sabrina looked the other way. Jim answered the same as he had several thousand times before. “Yes, Sabrina, everything is labeled correctly, and no, we won’t lose anything.”

Their technicians were boxing up the remaining samples, testing results, unused supplies, and myriad other items with great care. Everything was going into permanent cold storage in the specially-designed vault sunk into the core of the mountain. This was one reason they’d chosen this site, Mary had explained after Jim had arrived from McMurdo. Near-impervious long-term storage for just about anything they’d need.

And the cure for the zombie prion was something everyone wanted to protect. Just in case.

Of course, they’d probably never need it again, since all the doses had been distributed, with extras, to all the bunkers, but you never knew. Always good to have a backup, at least from Jim’s perspective.

He laughed, and both women turned to him, curious. He waved a hand. “I was just thinking, if we wanted
real
cold storage, we could just send the stuff back south with the
Texas
. They could leave it down there with Warner’s corpse.” When he realized both women were frowning at him, he shrugged. “What? I thought it was funny.”

“Have you decided on your next area of research yet, boss?” Sabrina asked Mary. “All of AEGIS’s science resources at your disposal. What’s it going to be?”

Mary shrugged, then rested her chin in her hand as she watched the techs work. “I have absolutely no idea. I’ve been focused on this for thirty years. I don’t know if I would know
how
to do any other research.” She didn’t even try to hide her yawn. “I’m tired, and I’m old,” she continued, touching the grey streaks in her hair. “I’ve been thinking about retiring and going to live near Rachel.”

Jim nodded. “Austin’s a great place to live. Visited there once before Z-Day. Had lobster tacos at the Iron Cactus on 6th Street. Best tacos I ever had.”

Sabrina gaped at him. “You can’t remember to put on a belt in the morning, but you can remember tacos you had thirty years ago in a place that doesn’t exist anymore?”

Jim shrugged. “They were that good.”

Mary laughed. “I somehow doubt they’re still around, Jim, but I’ll keep it in mind.”

One of the techs walked up and held out a clipboard to Sabrina. “We’re almost finished, Mrs. Atkins. If you could sign this, I’d appreciate it.”

Sabrina took the clipboard. “Lobster tacos. Ha!”

Jim grinned and started to say something, but Sabrina turned to glare at him. In her thickest Aussie accent, she growled, “If you say anything about shrimp and barbies, I’m going to divorce you, Jim Atkins.” She sniffed and turned her nose up at him. “Besides, they’re called prawns.”

Jim closed his mouth with a snap, and Mary just laughed.

Police Station
Angel Fire Free Zone

“I understand that, Mr. Creel, but you can’t just drive as fast as you please. We have laws now. Again. Whatever.” Jennifer Shaw massaged her temples as she spoke into the phone, and her assistant Tracy passed her one of the rationed aspirin that they’d recently discovered in the depths of Bunker Seven’s storage.

Jennifer mouthed the words “thank you” at Tracy and swallowed the pill with a sip of water from the glass on her desk. She’d about had it with Mr. Creel at this point. “Look, Louis, either stop driving so fast or I’m going to take away your damn car! Yes, that’s right, your car. I don’t give a shit who you are in this town and you know it! Now knock it the fuck off!”

She slammed the phone down and nearly threw it across the room. She was sick and tired of dealing with people like him and found herself longing for the days of being a U.S. Marshal stuck at the bottom of the world. What she wouldn’t give to be able to just turn everything off for a few days. But no, she’d stupidly agreed to be both the police chief and the internal security director for Bunker Seven. They still housed thousands of people in the bunker, as well as using it for storage and emergency shelter.

Fifteen thousand plus people and more refugees every day and she had to fight to find people willing to be police officers and do their damn jobs.

The phone rang again, and this time, she
did
throw it across the room. Tracy ducked, this not being her first rodeo, and retrieved the phone with a calm Jennifer found disturbing. It continued to ring when Tracy put it back on the desk, but Jennifer had calmed down by then—somewhat, at least.

“Angel Fire Police, how can—”

“Hey, beautiful,” her husband, Bill, said, and suddenly, all Jennifer’s annoyance was gone. What the man did to her was unconscionable, but since she had the same effect on him, she wasn’t too keen on arguing about it. At least he
said
she had the same effect, anyway.

“Hi,” she said, and Tracy smirked as Jennifer’s tone changed. Jennifer stuck her tongue out at her assistant to complete the image and continued. “How’s your day?”

“Good, but busy. Got reports of walker activity out near Arroyo Seco. I’ll need to be here for a little while longer. Can you pick up Arturo?”

Tracy was nodding as Jennifer looked over at her.

“Yeah, I can get him. Just be safe and get home in time for dinner. I’m making linguini.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Love you.”

“Love you back.” She hung up the phone.

“You need to pick up the kiddo?” Tracy asked, confirming what she’d overheard.

“Yeah, can you call the school to let them know I’m on my way?”

“Will do. When’s his birthday? Next week, week after? Craig wanted to know when the party was.”

Jennifer laughed. “Tell him it’s next week, and yes, there’s a sleepover. He’ll need a sleeping bag.” She stood up, grabbed her bag, and put on her duty belt. “You’re okay to cover?”

“I’m a deputy, aren’t I? Creel’s terrible driving is about all the activity we’ve had in months! I think we’ll be good.”

Jennifer nodded and smiled. “I think so too. And ‘good’ sounds nice.”

EPILOGUE

Z-Day + 29 years

Presidential Command Center
Bunker Five
Mount Davis, Pennsylvania

The presidential command center had been upgraded several times over the years, and the technicians had just finished their latest iteration. Some tech wiz somewhere had resurrected an old Air Force operation and launched gigantic “space balloons” into the upper atmosphere. These semi-permanent drone balloons provided long-distance communications and visual coverage of a giant swath of the country to the bunkers and their people.

Since the last satellite had failed the year before and no new ones were going up anytime soon, they had to make do with what they had. But at least now they had somewhat reliable communications nationwide.

Eden Blake looked up from her paperwork as the last technician left. Then she spoke into the mic on her shoulder. “We’re ready. Send her in.” A moment later, she stood as President Angela Gates entered the room. “Mrs. President, we’re all patched in, ma’am, and ready for the test.”

“Very good, Ms. Blake. Thank you for taking the time away from your normal duties for this.”

Eden shrugged. “My normal duties are whatever you say they are, Mrs. President.”

Angela smiled. “Fair enough.” The president and her retinue took their seats, and Eden took her position behind and to the left of the president, watchful of everything and everyone in the room. The vice president, Darnell Lane, and his people were also present. Eden was looking forward to the upcoming inauguration, if only for the rest she’d get.

The election had gone quite well, with several good candidates, but Lane’s tireless campaigning and endorsements from many of the governors and military commanders had also helped him secure the win. It hadn’t hurt that former President Norman had thrown his considerable weight behind the man’s campaign before he had passed on.

Eden had voted for him herself, having seen up close and personal what kind of man he was. She felt good about the country’s future in his hands, and that was all anyone could ask for.

President Gates motioned to her aide, and the screens came up with video signals from various points around the country. Some were bunkers, but there had also been a handful of systems provided to certain high-placed and important people around the country.

Eden recognized her parents in one corner and smiled as they noticed her and waved. She didn’t wave back, but they’d understand why. She pretended not to see the glances from the others around the room, but most everyone here was friendly, so she didn’t think very much of it.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, the last test was successful, and we now have nationwide long-distance communication again. It’s been a long eighteen months.” A general cheer and some applause broke out but died off as the president held up a hand. “We’ve accomplished a great deal, but there’s still more work to do. I wanted to check in with some of you, including some of our honored guests, to let you know some of our plans moving forward.”

Gates referred to her paperwork and then looked up at Eden’s parents. “David, Kimberly, please let me be the first to congratulate you on your retirement. I understand you’ve moved to the Tacoma area?”

Eden was pained to see her father looking older than his early fifties. Time, stress, and a zombie war had taken a toll on him. She was glad they were going to have some time to rest and relax. She knew the Hunters who had been assigned to them as guards, and she trusted them with her parents’ lives.

“Yes, Mrs. President,” David said as he looked over at her mother. “We’ve calmed down a bit since we handed everything over, and it’s taking some getting used to, but we like it so far. Gives us time to play with the grandchildren.”

“If I remember Ms. Blake’s last report, you’ve got three now, correct?”

“Yes, sir,” Kimberly said. “George and Julie have been busy.”

“One wonders where they find the time,” Gates said with a chuckle. “Being mayor of the Seattle Free Zone has to be time consuming.”

“Julie keeps him on the straight and narrow, Mrs. President. Just like her father.” Kim grinned at another part of the screen, and Dalton and Marcie Gaines chuckled. They’d been military commander and governor of Bunker One, respectively, for nearly two years.

“I heard that, Mrs. Blake,” Dalton growled, but everyone could tell his heart wasn’t really in it. That and the smile gave him away.

“Aye, we’re fine up here, Mrs. President,” Marcie said in her Scottish brogue, softened somewhat by her time in the Pacific Northwest. “Tis good to see ya again.”

“And you, Marcy.” Gates turned her attention to Bunker Seven’s feed. “Captain Masters, Major Reynolds. How fares Angel Fire?”

“We’re good here as well, Mrs. President,” Masters said. “It’s been quiet here, and we’re just fine with that, ma’am.”

“I think we’ve all seen enough action to last a lifetime, Captain. As to the rest of you…”

Eden tuned out, not interested in listening to plans for the upcoming thirty-year celebration or inventory reports or the half dozen other things that the bunkers and associated persons were briefing the president on. Since being recruited personally to the president’s detail two years prior, she had learned to block out the more boring stuff while still paying enough attention to do her job.

It took a lot more out of her than people realized. She wasn’t made to be still and quiet for this long, even with her Hunter training, but she had her penance to make, and this was part of it. Eden tuned back in as the president went off on another tangent, and she smiled.

Gates broke off as Eden leaned down with a hand on her shoulder and a whisper in her ear.

“Ma’am, you asked me to tell you when you were, um, ‘speechifying,’ ma’am.” She stood back and smiled again as Gates turned to look at her.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Mrs. President.”

Gates faced forward again and pretended not to notice the grins around the table. “Well, if no one has anything further, I think we’re done here. We’ll meet again in a month to finalize plans for the State of the Union. Agreed?”

A general chorus of agreement and “Thank you, Mrs. President” sounded off, and the retinue drifted out. Eden stayed with the president, as was her duty, and looked at her as she turned back toward Eden.

“I’ve been busy lately, and we haven’t had much time to chat. How have you been? How’s Walter?”

Eden blushed and looked down. “He’s fine, ma’am. I… I think he’s going to ask me to marry him.”