“So you’re already making plans to expand.”
“While the materials are available and we have the manpower, yes.” He pulled Hatcher aside. “I spoke with your sister last evening.”
“Did she give you grief about me moving us so soon?”
Will gave him a confused look. “No…we discussed the creatures. I believe you call them Zulus.”
“What of them?”
“Well, if her hypothesis is correct and they are evolving into creatures of the night, then your plan to mount lights along the wall may also help with the greenhouses.”
Hatcher’s brows rose. “How is that?”
“We discussed using LED grow lights because they emit wavelengths similar to the sun. They would help to keep the Zulus at bay and they could provide the necessary light to help crops grow, especially in the fall and winter months when there is much less sunlight.”
“We just have to track them down.” Hatcher sighed and rubbed at his forehead. “I don’t guess you’d have any ideas where we’d find these ‘grow lights?’”
“Not offhand, but my first guesses would be agricultural supply stores.” Will turned and pointed to two men dragging cabling across the ground. “Lift, gentlemen. We can’t risk damaging the insulation.” He used his arms to indicate a lifting motion. The men hefted the cabling and nodded as they went by.
“You have a real knack with people.” Hatcher watched as the crews continued their labors, not one complaining.
“Mr. Cooper helps too. He’s a salty dog, but he knows how to motivate the men.”
“Dave? The guy with the grizzly grey beard?”
“Not as of this morning.” Will pointed.
Hatcher stared as a clean cut man with overalls directed workers. His beard was trimmed short and his hair was cut and combed.
“You’re kidding me.” Hatcher pointed. “That’s Coop?”
Will nodded. “He said something about a ‘hunt.’ He didn’t explain.”
Hatcher groaned and shook his head. “I better set him straight.”
“Excuse me?”
He blew his breath out hard and glanced at Dave. “He’s got the hots for my sister. Except…she’s probably still mourning her husband, so this is all a wasted effort.”
Will reached out and took Hatcher by the arm. “I’d really appreciate it if you let him learn on his own.” He gave Daniel a knowing look.
“Okay, but…why?”
Will seemed to stiffen a bit and cleared his throat. “As much as I appreciate Mr. Cooper’s help in keeping the men working since his newfound desire to woo your sister…” He paused, searching for the right words. “Let’s just say that his hygiene has improved.” He smiled at Hatcher.
“Oh…I get it.” He stifled a smile. “I take it that there was a peculiar ‘odor’ about him beforehand?”
“A quite strong one.” Will shrugged. “I suppose in the times we live, one can’t really blame another for a lack of…shall we say, attention to detail? However, now that we have an ample supply of water, and for now, plenty of soap, I would appreciate his using them regularly.”
“Understood.” Hatcher gave him a nod. He turned and watched as Coop barked orders and directed the men. He hated to admit it, but the old man really did clean up pretty good.
Carol flipped on the light switch and let loose a low whistle. “Wow. It must be nice to be the captain.”
Kevin pushed past her and stared wide eyed at the new laboratory. “And no glass doors.” He smiled appreciatively.
Dr. Broussard took in the space. “We are still lacking fundamental equipment.”
Carol patted his arm. “Captain said they would send a team of specialists to retrieve what they could from the Kauffman.”
“Who?” Broussard asked as he lifted the plastic covers from the equipment.
“The Kauffman. That was the name of the ship we were on.” Carol huffed as she moved a storage box and slid it under the steel workstation. “Kevin said it was pulled out of mothballs and put back into service for survivors.”
“This ship seems in good service to have been set aside…” Broussard paused and shook his head. “Tell me that they are retrieving everything.”
“Even my experiments?” Kevin frowned. “It may be too late. I needed to log their growth every four hours…”
Carol held her hands up. “I don’t know any more than you two. Captain Proctor said that the specialists would have to ‘clear the ship’ before they could retrieve our things.” She sighed. “I’m sure we can all imagine what that will entail.”
Broussard nodded knowingly. “Vivian will be no more.”
“Along with everyone she infected,” Kevin added.
Carol seemed to brighten. “However, I did convince him that if any of the people that she infected appear asymptomatic, that they should be brought to us for study.” She shrugged. “They could harbor a natural immunity.”
“Ah, yes. You had one such person, oui?”
Carol nodded sadly. “She caught some kind of infection while on board and…I suppose it was just too much for her immune system.” She shrugged. “But LaRue and Carpenter felt it was a non-starter because she was genetically predisposed and…well, they said that they couldn’t use her blood to create a cure.”
Broussard pursed his lips, his mind racing. “A cure, non. But a vaccine? Possibly.”
Carol’s curiosity piqued. “Really?”
“Anything is possible. We will need the data.”
Carol smiled. “We still had samples of her blood frozen in the lab. Would that work?”
“Possibly.” Broussard hefted a large crate and stacked it in the corner. “But first, let us look at the DNA and see what we can see, shall we?”
“Deal.”
Trevor “Stinky” Daniels had worked through the night. He cleaned up the little girl and dressed her. He led her downstairs, carefully avoiding the master bedroom, and placed her on the couch.
“You stay right here, okay? I’m gonna go back and pack us some gear.” He reached out and cupped the girl’s face. “You and me are getting the hell out of Dodge.”
He didn’t know why he did it, but he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. He’d realized what he’d done when he pulled back and she stared at him. Her skin had been so warm. Nearly hot to the touch, he thought. Like she had fever.
He backed
