'They were repulsive,' Stern finished for him. 'He was having sex with captive zombies-necrophilia in the absolute worst sense. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself. I don't know how any of this happened without our knowledge. Apparently, Joseph covered his tracks exceedingly well.'
'How is the young man who shot him?'
'Carson? He's fine, aside from a broken nose.'
'Which he sustained during a confrontation with another young man?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Who leapt to his death?'
Bates nodded again.
'And the woman whom Maynard was about to kill- the new arrival? She's fine?'
'She came through surgery okay, but she's not out of the woods yet,' Stern answered. 'Kelli and I will continue monitoring her condition. She needs rest more than anything else.'
'My children aren't happy,' Ramsey whispered. 'They are not content.'
'Excuse me, sir?' Bates cast a wary glance at Forrest and Stern. They stared back at him in confusion.
'We need more people.' Ramsey's tone was decisive. 'That's why all of this is happening, Bates. Our people
are lonely-they grow dissatisfied. They are beginning to turn on one another. We need more people for our community, so that it may grow.
Send another patrol out to look for survivors, immediately.'
Forrest opened his mouth to protest, but Bates cut him off.
'Begging your pardon, Mr. Ramsey,' Bates paused, choosing his words carefully, 'but DiMassi is still sick, and Quinn and Steve were out all night looking for survivors, and didn't get to bed until later today, after they'd briefed me. They need to rest and recuperate first.'
'Then send out a ground force.'
'A ground force?' The blood drained from Bates's face.
'Yes. You read me a list of our weaponry last night, so I know we have the capability. Arm them well and send them out. I want the city searched. We mustn't leave anybody out there, Bates. We must save each and every one of them. That is our calling. We must save as many as we can.'
'Sir, it's nighttime. And even if it were daylight, they'd be slaughtered before they got three steps away from the building, no matter how well armed.'
Ramsey stood up and waved his hand in disdain.
'Nonsense, Bates. You personally trained them all. They'll be fine. Now get it done. I'll expect a full report when they've returned.'
He walked to the door, and then turned back to them.
'Have the patrol look for some yarn as well.'
'Yarn, sir?' Bates was incredulous.
'Yes, yarn. I want to do some knitting. I'm going to knit a cake. And cucumbers. I've got a craving for fresh cucumbers. See if they can find some of those too.'
'Knit a cake. Yes, sir.' Bates felt a twinge of real, undiluted fear.
'Anything else?'
'Have the tapes that Dr. Maynard recorded sent up to my room. I'll need to study them in detail.'
Ramsey left the room, and the three men gaped at each other.
'Bates,' Forrest said carefully, 'I know he's the boss and all, and I know you've worked for him a long time- but that motherfucker has lost it, man. He's completely whacked. Over the fucking rainbow! Knit a fucking cake? What the hell is that about?'
'I concur,' Stern agreed. 'Obviously, Mr. Ramsey has suffered some form of mental breakdown. He's a danger both to himself and others. We need to do something.'
Bates put his face in his hands and rubbed his tired eyes. Then he looked at them. His expression was grave.
'Okay. Now you both know what I've been dealing with for the past few weeks. What do you suggest we do about it?'
'Confine him,' Stern said. 'We lock him up and you assume command, at least temporarily. We have several mental-health specialists in the building. They can work with him, diagnose the problem.'
'I can diagnose the problem,' Bates answered. 'He's suffering from delusions of grandeur. He feels like it's his personal duty to save every living person still out there. He's got some kind of messiah complex.'
'Well, I ain't drinking no purple Kool-Aid,' Forrest vowed.
'Mr. Ramsey is only part of the problem,' Bates said, ignoring the soldier. 'We need to seriously start thinking about getting out of this city. We can't stay here much longer.'
'Why not?' Stern asked. 'We're relatively secure, aren't we?'
'Sure-until those things outside get their hands on a
tank or some artillery. They think and plan, Doctor. What happens when they find some fertilizer and cook up
