Carol sneered. “It’s the same air we’ve been breathing…only now we have official escorts.” She eyed the three armed men standing a few paces behind them.
Broussard looked around and noted the other CDC personnel milling about near the parking lot. “They don’t appear happy to be out.”
Carol shook her head. “I heard some of them complaining about being exposed to the same cure the politicians were.”
Broussard nodded knowingly. “A false presumption.”
“How can you be certain?”
“They all claimed to have gotten strep at the same time that the area was treated. I am certain they’ve been inoculated to the rage virus.”
Carol turned her back to the guards and lowered her voice. “I’m not seeing anything promising.”
Andre lowered his own voice. “Just make note of our surroundings. We will continue to do so until we have the place memorized.” He smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Perhaps we should take up jogging.”
She stared at him, confused. “Excuse me?”
“Jogging, ma cherie. It is very beneficial exercise, non? And we can explore more of the land surrounding the base.”
“Ah.” She nodded. “For a moment there I thought you were making a fat joke.”
He looked down at her and patted his own midsection. “Trust me, I have more to worry about than you ever will.” He glanced back at the guards. “Of course, they might feel the need to send armed escorts. I don’t think these soldiers would have trouble keeping up with us.”
She scoffed. “Of course they wouldn’t.” She looked back at the CDC personnel. “They’d probably make us run circles in the parking lot with a sniper watching us the whole time.”
“Do not speak such things into existence,” he chided. He stared off into the woods and smiled. “Surely they would want to keep the saviors of mankind healthy and happy, non?”
She shrugged. “I can’t second guess any of their thought processes.” She crossed her arms and glared at the men watching them. “Anybody who could condone the behavior they’ve allowed is—”
“Time’s up!”
All heads turned to see a uniformed soldier marching into their midst. “Your hour is up. Let’s move. Back to work.”
Broussard stared at the man then stepped toward him. “Your tone indicates that we are nothing more than prisoners here.”
The soldier squared up and glared at the man. “My tone indicates that we don’t have the manpower to properly guard you people. We still can’t know for certain what threats are out here.”
Broussard sighed and stepped closer, doing his best to keep his voice friendly and level. “We are certain that the cure had been properly dispersed in the area and—”
“And you saw what that cure did to the people below,” the soldier stated matter-of-factly. “I’m sorry, sir, but your health and wellbeing is far too important to risk. Please…” He motioned back to the steel blast doors. “Time to return to base.”
Broussard gave him a soft smile then waved Carol ahead of him. “Of course.”
Carol muttered as she marched past the pair, “That’s the fastest hour I think I’ve ever experienced.”
“There is always tomorrow, cherie.”
Simon rolled over and smiled at Lana. “Good morning.”
“You stink of pot.” She raised a brow at him. “I was going to say something last night, but I don’t think you would have remembered.”
His smile widened. “It was purely medicinal.” He reached over and touched the tip of her nose. “Doc gave it to me.”
She raised a brow at him. “Thanks for sharing, dickhead.”
He pulled her closer and she lay in the crook of his arm. “I bet I can get ya some.”
“You seemed awfully chummy with Vee last night.”
Simon chuckled lightly. “And you seemed awfully chummy with those ladies.”
“They started out being all friendly. Before I knew it, they were grilling me on what it was like.”
“Huh?”
“Being infected.” Her voice was low and sad.
“What did you tell them?”
She shrugged. “The truth.” She sighed and adjusted her head on his shoulder. “The headaches, the anger…the confusion.”
Simon nodded knowingly. “Then the absolute clarity.”
She closed her eyes. “I didn’t tell them everything.”
“Of course not.” He patted her shoulder. “And you were right not to. They couldn’t understand.”
“They seemed shocked that you were infected too.” She glanced up at him then continued, “I didn’t mention that you were the alpha, though.”
“Doc laughed when I told her,” he stated softly. “I don’t think she believes me.”
“That you were the alpha?”
“No.” He swallowed hard. “I told her about how I used to be, and how the whole thing changed me. I don’t think she believed any of it.”
“You both were pretty stoned.”
He chuckled again and nodded. “It’s been a while. I think my tolerance is a bit low.”
She rolled off of him and sat up. “I did find out a few things though.”
“Like what?”
She sat up straight and crossed her legs, Indian style. “There’s not a real leader here. Everybody sort of does their own thing, but they look out for each other.”
“What about that big hairy guy?”
“Trent?” She shrugged. “The ladies seem to like him. Did you notice the redhead with the bob haircut? I think she’s sweet on him.”
Simon shook his head. “The only woman I noticed was you.”
She felt her cheeks flush and she fought back the smile that formed. “Seriously…I talked all night with them and they kind of filled me in.”
“Gossip,” Simon laughed.
Lana shrugged. “I prefer to call it intel.” She raised a brow at him. “So, like I was saying…that Trent guy…he’s the closest thing they have to a leader.”
“Really?” Simon stuffed the pillow up under his head so that he sat more upright. “Go on.”
“He’s not really a leader, exactly, but almost all of the suggestions he makes, they go along with. It was his idea to put up the roadblock and the signs.”
“Ya don’t say?”
She nodded. “And when stuff breaks, he’s sort of the go-to guy. They say he’s quite handy.”
“Anybody else got pull around here?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Seems like they
