“I don’t know if I should be happy or sad that we couldn’t get it all.” Henry leaned against the side of the truck and shook his head. “We could make three more trips and still not get it all.”
Wally smiled. “So we come back again. And again, and—”
“No way Candy will let us. Not while she thinks there are marauders out there.” He looked sadly at the store as the last of the shoppers exited and people shoved the goods into their vehicles. “If those fuckers are coming, there ain’t nothing to stop them from raiding this place and picking it clean.”
Wally patted the man’s shoulder. “Cheer up, man. We have enough crap to last a year, and you’re worried somebody else might come upon this?”
Henry nodded. “And the realization that this place was untouched.” He glanced out toward the rest of the town. “Can we safely assume there are no more survivors out there?”
Wally shrugged. “Not our problem, man.” He pointed to the people loading up in their vehicles. “These people are our problem. And the way I see it, we just did good.”
Henry sighed and leaned his head back against the side of the box truck. “Maybe we can convince Candy we can squeeze in one more run?”
“Even if we can’t, it’s fuckin’ Christmas, dude!” Wally shot him a toothy grin, then disappeared around the side of the truck. Henry groaned and opened the cab. He climbed up into the seat and started the big diesel engine.
“Yay.” He muttered to himself as he realized that they still had to unload all of this. “Christmas.”
Chapter 11
To his credit, Hollis said little while Hatcher recounted his tale of dealing with Vickers. He seemed honestly surprised to learn it was the colonel’s recklessness that caused the shit storm the world was now trying to survive.
Hatcher paused his story while Captain Hollis barked orders and the two oversaw the men preparing the trucks. Just after they got the first Humvee started, Hatcher finished his tail and waited for Hollis to say something.
“That’s quite a story you have there, Mr. Hatcher.”
“It’s not just a story. It’s the truth.”
“I have no doubt that you believe that.”
Hatcher suddenly stiffened and glared at the military man.
“You don’t believe me.” It was a statement, not a question.
“I’m not saying I believe you or that I think you’re being less than honest.” Hollis slapped the dirt from his hands and turned to face the shorter man. “I just can’t wrap my mind around the idea this whole mess is because Colonel Vickers used force in…an unconventional manner.”
“Unconventional manner? He blew the top off the fucking mountain and got the virus airborne.” Hatcher ground his teeth while he studied the man. “If he’d done his job, instead of—”
“And what would you have had him do?” Hollis stared at him. “Precisely, what would you have had him do?”
“Oh, I dunno. Maybe cordon off the area, gather the survivors, try to contain the infected. Get them some help before things got out of hand.”
Hollis nodded thoughtfully. “I see. And how exactly does one cordon off…how many acres is this park?”
Hatcher swallowed hard and continued to glare at him. “Two and a quarter million.”
Hollis nodded. “I see. And Vickers had…what? Maybe two dozen men with him?” He glared back at Hatcher.
“He could have tried.”
“Mr. Hatcher, I’m not here to get into a pissing contest with you. Hindsight is blessedly 20/20. Could have, should have, would have…those are all nice to consider after the fact.” Hollis opened the door to the Humvee and stepped up into it. “But the fact remains there was a contagion and Colonel Vickers was ordered here to contain it. Did he make the wrong decision? Obviously. But did he do it out of ignorance or a desire to destroy the world?” He pulled the door shut and waved the man closer. “I think we both know the answer to that question.”
“He was warned.” Hatcher gripped the side of the window and leaned closer. “His own people told him the virus was…what was the word? It liked hot stuff. Dropping a bomb on it just made it more comfortable.”
“Perhaps.” Hollis motioned him to the other side of the transport. “But we can’t know what the man was thinking. And while I believe what you stated happened, it doesn’t mean that I believe Vickers did what he did to spite anybody’s warning. I have to believe he acted in what he thought was the best interest of everybody.”
Hatcher pulled the door shut and shook his head. “Then you’re as big a fool as he is.”
“Isn’t that obvious? I’m here, aren’t I?” Hollis gave him a crooked smile. “What say we grab this bug and get the hell out of here?”
“Just drop me off at my compound when we’re through.” Hatcher propped his arm on the open window rest. “If I saw Vickers again, I think I’d finish what we started in the center.”
“Understood.” Hollis pulled the Humvee around and allowed two of his troops to climb into the back seats. He watched through the side mirrors and when the second truck pulled in behind him, he accelerated. “Just point the way.”
“There’s probably a huge blockage of vehicles on the road to your right. Take the trail on the left.” Hatcher avoided the man’s eyes and stared out the window as Hollis turned and accelerated.
Hatcher’s eyes scanned the trees for movement. He didn’t realize how paranoid he’d become since the fall of civilization, but one simply could not be too careful these days. He nearly jumped when the roof began banging and a soldier dropped down from the gun turret and pointed over Hollis’ shoulder.
“We got movement.”
“Don’t fire until it’s identified. That fifty can be heard for miles, and we don’t need any more help
