Hank opened the door and stepped out. He glanced down the street and waved when Wally stuck his head out of the garage. “We’re back!”
“Announce it to the world, why don’t ya?” Wally flipped him the bird then disappeared into the garage again.
“He’s got a point.” Trevor stated as he pulled out a siphoning hose. “Probably shouldn’t be yelling like that.”
Hank gave him a “duh” look. “Like they wouldn’t hear us pulling up. Or Wally beating on that dozer.”
Trevor shrugged. “Whatever.” He stuffed the hose into the tank of the broken RV and sucked on the end. Once the fuel started to flow he stuffed it into the tank of the smaller RV and spat the gasoline from his mouth. He stood for a moment, feeling the fuel transfer through the hose. “I gotta hold this up for the siphon to keep working.”
“Good thing that one died on the median. The tank’s higher than this one,” Hank stated.
“Captain Obvious,” Trevor murmured. “Just grab the boxes of stuff from this one, please. You don’t have to worry about stowing it. I don’t want you to bother Patricia.”
Hank stepped out of the RV with a box of canned goods. “So, was that her name…you know. Before? Or did you just start calling her that?”
Trevor shot him a dirty look. “What difference does it make?”
Hank set the box down at the side door of the RV and stretched his back. “I was just curious.” He walked back to the old RV and paused in the doorway. “Wondering did you know her before all of this happened?”
“What the fuck? Is this twenty questions?”
“Just making conversation, man. No need to get defensive.”
“We’re not friends. We’re not neighbors.” Trevor continued to hold the hose, his face reddening with anger. “Our kids aren’t going to play together and I’m not bringing her into your damned compound.”
Hank held his hands up then disappeared into the RV. He reappeared a moment later, another box in his arms. “I’m curious is all, man. I wasn’t trying to pry.”
Trevor hung his head and shook it. “We’ll be out of your hair in no time. Then, please, just forget that you ever met us.”
Hank stacked the box on top of the other one then stepped back to the other RV. “Okay. I’ll do that.” He paused at the door. “But you need to ask yourself this…are you doing what’s best for her?”
Trevor shot him another dirty look. “How dare you?” He heard the gurgling sound from the hose then realized the fuel was no longer transferring. He pulled the hose out and began to roll it up. “You don’t know us. You don’t know what she’s been through. You have no right to question my parenting skills.”
“Dude, you’re not her parent.” Hank shifted the heavy can filled box in his arms. “You said so yourself.”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t raise her as my own.” He forced himself to lower his voice and he pointed to the rear of the RV. “She couldn’t make it alone out there. Not without me.”
“Or you, without her.” Hank raised a brow at him. “But is this truly the best thing for her?”
“What would you have me do?” Trevor threw the hose at his feet. “Move her in to your little hippie commune and then what? Have her be locked up in a tiny dark room all by herself? She deserves better than that.”
Hank set the box down with the others then turned to him. “What if she didn’t have to be?”
“Huh?” Trevor gave him a puzzled look. “Why wouldn’t they?”
Hank shrugged. “I have no idea. They may tell us both to go pound sand.” He stretched his back again and hooked a thumb toward the rear of the RV. “But I’ve seen for myself that she isn’t a threat. Not when you’re around.”
“So?”
“So…maybe they take that into consideration.” He stepped closer to Trevor and lowered his voice. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have your own bed to sleep in?”
“I’ve got that.”
“Hot and cold running water?”
“Got that, too.”
Hank sighed. “Other people to interact with?”
“I’ve got Patricia.”
“You know what I mean.” Hank put his hands on his hips. “How about a nurse who can help you keep an eye on her? I’m telling ya man, that smell? That ain’t normal.”
Trevor shrugged. “We don’t know what’s normal for her kind.”
Hank nodded. “True enough.” Hank sighed. “I’m gonna toss out one more thing and then I’ll drop it.”
Trevor crossed his arms and stared at him. “Give it your best shot.”
“My guy, Hatcher? He’s the one who sorta runs our little group.” Hank paused, his mind trying to find the right words. “He escorted the military back to Yellowstone to get the original virus. Said they were working on a cure.” He lowered his voice again and gave Trevor a solemn stare. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a solid support group if that cure comes through? Both of you would have a whole community to fall back on. You’d have…friends.”
Trevor gave him a curious stare. “You’re serious?”
Hank nodded. “I ain’t saying that they’ll find that cure anytime soon. Just that they’re looking. And if what Hatcher helped them get is really what they need…?” He let his last statement hang between them.
Trevor rubbed at his chin. “I ain’t saying we’ll go back.” He glanced at the RV and where Patricia lay in bed. “But…I’ll think about it.”
Chapter 10
Hatcher held his fingers in his ears and felt the concussive wave that struck like a wall when the explosives went off. Windows rattled and doors shook as the wave struck the exposed side of the assisted living center. A thick cloud of dirt and dust rose into the air and blew bits of debris in every direction.
“Son of a…” Roger shook his head and worked his jaw to get his ears to pop.
“You saw the small amount of plastic that was used,” Will Stanton practically yelled.
Hatcher nodded and worked
