Dr. McAlester didn’t hear a word he said as his mind raced to his own bedding and all the secrets they held.
Simon stared at the wall surrounding the facility where the Cagers now enjoyed the high life. He could see the yellowish glow of electric lights and he could hear the murmur of conversations and soft music playing. If he closed his eyes and concentrated, he could almost remember a time when this was the norm. What’d the bitch call it? The ‘before’?
He crept along the low brush and tried to keep to the few trees next to the vacant lot across from the entrance. He watched as men sauntered across the gateways, weapons in hand, and he knew that they weren’t paying attention to anything beyond their borders.
He motioned to Clyde and the taller hunter slipped in next to him. “How many did you count?”
Clyde held up a hand, all five fingers splayed. “On that side.” He pointed to the West side near the alley.
Simon nodded as he sat back, using a small tree as a rest. “We put Quee along the trees. Lob arrows over the fences all at once…we might get the grand majority of the guards.”
Clyde simply stared at him.
Simon tried to imagine any scenario where the sticks and rocks and arrows could overpower their armed watch stations.
None came to mind.
He made a motion with his hand. “We go. Now.” He waited a moment until the other hunters had closed ranks then slipped silently through the brush. As the group headed back to the grocery store and a solid day’s rest, he played out the attacks in his mind.
“There’s got to be a way.”
“For what?” Clyde asked.
“To lure them out.” Simon sucked at his teeth as his mind probed the limited possibilities with his diminished mental capacity. He could feel his head begin to hurt again and he fished a bottle of the bitter white pills out. He quickly chewed a handful and washed it down with the ever present brown liquor.
“Fire,” Clyde stated simply.
Simon paused and stared at him. “Say what?”
“Fire.” Clyde stared at him blankly. “Fire make them leave.”
Simon felt the corners of his mouth slowly curl into a smile. “Clyde, my friend, you’re a hell of a lot smarter than you look.”
As the group rounded the corner and aimed for home, Simon was already devising ways of launching fire over the walls and praying that some part of the mud brick structure was flammable.
Chapter 20
“Danny, I’m a trauma nurse, not a neurologist. Even if I could perform an MRI or CT scan, I wouldn’t have a clue what I was looking at.” Vicky planted her elbows on her desk and dropped her head into her hands. “From what I can tell, they’re all perfectly normal.”
“Something must be causing this, sis.” Hatcher took the seat opposite her desk and stared at her. “Do you think this could be a side effect of the cure?”
Vicky gave a slight shrug and rolled her eyes. “Danny, it could be a side effect of life. We’re all trapped behind these walls, rubbing elbows with people we may not even like. Forced to eat, sleep and survive under the same roof.” She sighed heavily and leaned back in her seat. “Or it could be what you’re thinking.”
“Or any number of things,” Hatcher muttered.
“Exactly.” She stood and stretched her lower back. “All that I can tell you for sure is that they appear normal. Key word there is ‘appear’. I’m sorry but that’s the best I can do.”
With a groan, Hatcher came to his feet. “Thanks.” He stepped out of her office and glanced toward the recovery room where Coop stared at a tiny television, a DVD playing quietly. He knocked lightly on the door. “Busy?”
“If you’re not interrupting sleep, you’re interrupting a movie.” Coop clicked pause on the DVD player and turned his attention to Hatcher. “What now?”
Hatcher leaned against the door and crossed his arms. “How much longer are you gonna be a bed potato?”
“Until my future wife decides to release me.” He shot Hatcher a quick wink.
“That’s a nervous thought.” He pushed off the door and turned for the exit. “Get better soon.”
“You interrupted my movie for that?” Cooper pushed himself more upright and gave him a wave. “Come on. Spill it.”
Hatcher cleared his throat, wincing slightly. “People are turning on each other for no reason. You’re stuck in the corner of the infirmary but you tend to hear more rumors than I do. Any ideas?”
Coop shook his head. “Not offhand, but I have my theories.” He nodded toward Vicky’s office. “I heard you two in there and I tend to agree with her. People need to stretch their legs more. Get out, do things besides work toward the common good.”
“So you think it’s cabin fever?”
Coop shrugged again. “You ain’t never been on a submarine, have you?”
Hatcher snorted a laugh. “You won’t find me boarding a ship that’s designed to sink.”
“Right. Well, I had buddies that used to and trust me, you need to be able to get out and away from shit once in a while.” He turned his attention back to the miniature TV. “I’m just saying.”
“Understood.” Hatcher gave him a mock salute then turned out to the hallway. He went straight to his office and glanced around. A sentry walked by carrying his weapon and Hatcher caught his attention. “Have you seen Roger?”
The man paused then pointed down the hallway. “I saw him and Candy heading that way about a half hour ago.”
“Thanks.” Hatcher trotted toward their shared room and knocked lightly on the door. “Are you decent?”
Roger chuckled as he answered. “I’m never decent. What’s up?”
Hatcher rubbed at his jaw as he tried to find the right words. “When was the last time we actually saw a Zulu?”
Roger shook his head. “Their last failed attack.” He shrugged and turned to Candy. “Babe?”
Candy appeared by his side and gave Hatcher a worried look. “Weeks. Why?”
“I’ve
