“I’ll go and see if he’s ready for you George” she smiled and entered the captains off with a small knock at the door.
A few moments later she returned “Please go in, can I get you anything?”
“Perhaps some water please?” my throat was starting to get dry. It wasn’t this hot in the hospital.
“Ah George, thanks for coming so quickly” the captain stood and extended his hand. I shook it and sat opposite him in the chair her gestured to.
“No problem Captain, how can I help you?”
There was a small knock at the door and Rachel entered carrying a tray, with a jug of water and two glasses on it. I could see the condensation running down the outside of the jug, meaning that the water was cold. I looked forward to tasting it.
She placed the tray on the table and poured water into each glass handing one to myself and one to the captain, with minimal sound.
“Thank you, Rochelle,” the captain smiled.
Ah so it was Rochelle not Rachel, I’d have to remember it for next time.
I took a long drink “Yes, thank you, that’s very nice. It’s so hot in here compared to the hospital.”
Rochelle left the room and closed the door tightly behind her.
“Yes, so far we have managed to keep the air conditioning running in the medical area although it’s on very low and only for an hour or so per day.”
“Ah, that explains it, well you know where to find me when it gets really hot then” I joked.
“Indeed, we shall both be sat in the waiting area” he laughed. His friendly manner mixed with his air of confidence and the authority that exuded from him demanded respect and I found that I liked him a lot. More than that I trusted him, and that went a long way in this world.
“Now, for the reason that I called for you. The doctor has sent a message that you and Will have agreed to lead a team to the facility where she used to work to see if there are still medicines and equipment there?”
“Yes, anything that will help Nia and the rest of our fellow survivors” I agreed, putting Nia’s name before the others to let him know that she was the main reason that we had agreed to go.
“Let me be straight with you George I don’t like this mission one bit, its why I keep putting it off. The center you’d be headed to is here” he pointed to an area on his map.
“Now we have come as far as here and here and encountered road blocks both ways. We felt that maybe it was an ambush so we turned around and came back.” He pointed at another two roads, I studied the map.
“How about this way?” I asked pointing at a backroad.
“It’s a possibility but unknown territory to us, I can only spare, two maybe three men. Medicine is highly important to us but my men are spread thin as it is. A team went out three days ago and haven’t returned from what should have been a few hours recon mission at the most. I need the rest of my men to make sure that the compound is secure for the civilians we have here. Where is Will?”
“Ok, I know of a few men that will accompany us also, if you could spare two men I’ll take a six-man team?” I was thinking, myself, Will, Adam and Billy. “Will is still in the hospital with Nia, she was hurt in the attack yesterday”
“as long as you’re sure and Will is happy with the plan, you leave first thing in the morning, lets meet back here at 1900 hours with your team, and we can go over the mission and the route.”
“Ok I’ll go and talk to the men now.”
“Thank you, George,” he nodded and began looking through the maps again. I guessed that it was my way of being dismissed.
I walked from the Captains office, giving Rochelle a little wave as I passed. She smiled back and trotted into the captain’s office. I was feeling a little more positive. I needed time outside of these walls and fences and really wanted to kick some undead ass. Plus, it felt good to be useful. I knew that Will and Billy would probably still be around the hospital area, and I had a good idea where to find Adam.
I walked around the outside of the compound towards the back and where the quarantine areas were. Taking the long way. In truth, the captain’s office was a short distance from the quarantine area. But I needed a breath of fresh air after being in that stuffy office. The quarantine rooms were no more than the rest of the offices in the warehouse. Currently there were five areas that were safe enough but also comfy enough for the people suspected to be infected. Each room had a bed and a portable toilet.
As I entered the large doors I saw movement on my left. John was there with another military guy that I didn’t recognise, working on a jeep.
“Hey John, how’s things?” I smiled, it was nice to see a familiar face.
“Aww George, it’s so good to see you. I’m sorry about… well you know” he looked awkwardly to the floor. I knew he meant well.
“I know, and thank you. Have you seen Adam?”
“Yeah, he’s with Amelia.” His face lit up, “He’s not left her”
I chuckled “Ah young love huh?” I joked and walked towards the direction that John had pointed. I tried to fight the pain in my chest, telling me that I’d never again get to visit Kelly anywhere but her grave.
I focused on Adam who I could now see was sat outside of the room where Amelia was being
