“You’re just messing with me now, aren’t you?”
“No.” She fought to keep a straight face. “You are a walking firehose.”
Simon groaned and followed her into the store. “ELO was right,” he scoffed. “Evil Woman.”
27
“Anything?” Hatcher asked.
The sentry looked down at him and shook his head. “All quiet out there.”
Hatcher rubbed at his chin and glanced back up at the crow’s nest. “I’m thinking we might ought to stand down from so many security watches.”
The sentry gave him a confused and frightened look. “Why would we do that?”
Hatcher sighed and reached out to grip the wooden ladder. He climbed up into the nest and stood next to the sentry. “We’ve seen a few of the cured Zulus out there. I’m thinking that whatever the government developed has probably cut their ranks down significantly.” He glanced at the sentry and shrugged. “As much as I might rest easy knowing we had you boys doing your thing, I hate the idea of wasting manpower if it’s not needed.”
“I get that.” The sentry picked up his binoculars and scanned the horizon as he spoke. “But I feel safer knowing we’re out here, if it’s all the same to you.” He lowered the binoculars and shook his head. “It may be quiet, but it’s always quiet before the storm.”
Hatcher patted the man’s shoulder. “I’m not gonna force you to step down. I’m just letting you know what I’m thinking.”
“I appreciate it. And I’m sure some of the other guys would gladly stand down.” He gave him a solemn look. “I’m just not certain that it’s a good idea right now.”
“You say ‘right now’ like there’s something else I should be considering.”
The sentry shrugged. “You had to deal with the two knuckleheads that went at each other.” He raised a brow at Hatcher. “What if there are more like those two out there? What if they happen upon us?”
Hatcher nodded knowingly. “I’ve considered that. I think the gate guards could handle them just fine.”
“And if it’s more than one or two that show up?”
Hatcher sighed. “After seeing the way they went at each other, I don’t see them forming up into roving bands of crazies to come after groups like us.”
The sentry sobered and turned to him. “I don’t think there are any other groups of people like us.” He grew quiet and somber. “I think we’re it.”
“Why would you say that?” Hatcher asked. “We’re one small town out of the whole world.”
The sentry set his spy glasses down and sighed. “I’ve been to big cities and tiny towns. I’ve lived just about all the different places a person can live.” He shook his head slowly as he remembered the people in the places that he had called home. “I could see a few rural farming areas still having people there. But no place of any real size.” He leaned forward and planted his hands on the rail of the lookout. “I really think we’re it.”
Hatcher gave him a pat on the back. “Humans are tenacious sons of bitches. If there is any way to survive, they’ll find it.” He gave him a smile as he turned for the ladder. “I’ll bet real money that there’s a lot more out there than you could imagine.”
In Hatcher’s own mind, he didn’t believe a word he had just said, but he also noted the man’s expression when he considered that they were alone. He couldn’t allow that kind of despair to take root. Not when they were this close to removing the largest threat to the living.
“And what is ‘real money’ these days, Hatch?”
He grinned up at the man. “Probably whiskey.”
“I’ll take that bet!” the sentry chuckled. “I’ll let you know if we see anything. Threat or otherwise.”
Hatcher gave him a nod before disappearing down the ladder. As his feet touched ground he glanced at all of the men hard at work rebuilding the compound. He watched each go about their duties, focused on the tasks at hand. He glanced back towards the sentries, their eyes on the horizon, their hands idle. “Too much time to think up there,” he muttered to himself. “Maybe it’s time we pull them from their watches and get them busy with something else.”
“I could certainly use more bodies,” Will said from behind, causing Hatcher to startle.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on people.”
“I wasn’t sneaking.” Will handed Hatcher the list. “We’ve knocked off the structural. The aesthetics are another matter.”
“Meaning?”
Will gave him a knowing look. “The world may be our oyster, but without someone replenishing the supplies available out there, resources are still limited.” He cleared his throat and turned to look at the buildings. “They’re structurally sound now. Repairs have been made. But if you are seriously considering us moving to a larger place, you need to make up your mind soon. Otherwise any further work here could hinder the repairs and fabrication needed at the new places.”
“Shit or get off the pot, right?”
“Crude, but accurate.” Will took the list back from him. “If you are moving everybody, so be it. If you plan to allow some to stay here if they so choose, then there are some things that still need to be addressed.”
“Allow them to stay?” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t force anybody to do anything.”
“Then you might want to hold a meeting and let people know what you are considering.” Will pushed his glasses up on his nose and gave him a knowing look. “Some might rather stay here.”
Hatcher patted his shoulder. “Noted.”
“I have an unusual feeling about this.” Broussard mumbled quietly as he walked to his cabin. “I don’t think they’re telling us the whole story.”
Carol paused outside his room and looked up at him. “Why would you say that?”
He shook his head and glanced to the side to ensure nobody else was nearby. “Call it a gut feeling, but why would surviving CDC personnel
