Hammer crossed his arms and stared down at the smaller man. “And you want us here…just in case?”
Simon shrugged slightly. “Like I said, I’m not gonna stop you from doing your own thing. But it would be nice if I had backup, should one of the beta males down there decided to try something behind my back.”
Hammer slowly nodded. “I can see that.” He glanced to the far end of the circle and the campers that his boys stayed in. “I’ll talk to the others. If they want to take off though…”
Simon nodded. “Then I wish you safe travels, my friend.” He extended his good hand and Hammer gripped it.
Hammer winked at him. “I think that once they know you’re about to pull a power play, they’ll want to stay.” His smile widened. “To watch, if nothing else.”
“My man has a way of fucking people up that don’t play by his rules,” Lana purred. “Don’tcha honey?”
Simon gave her a gentle smile then pulled her to him for a kiss. “You know it, baby.”
Hammer slapped his shoulder as he turned, putting his weight on the thick walking stick. “I’ll get back to you.”
The pair watched him hobble off and Lana spun around, facing him. “You’re not gonna wait, are you?”
Simon continued to stare over the top of her head. “That’s up to Trent.” He glanced down at her and smiled again. “But something tells me he’s too stupid to stay gone long.” He pulled her tightly to him. “I’d bet good money that it’ll go down a lot sooner than you think.”
26
At first light Hatcher and Missy began to load supplies. They drove back to the station and prepped the second ATV, loading it with their gear as the engine idled, slowly charging the battery.
Hatcher held up a survival shovel. “Will we need to dig?”
She shook her head. “They were just laid out the last time I went by there.” She paused and set the duffel bag down. “What’s strange is, I know there’s some wildlife left, but nothing had predated the bodies.” She met his surprised look and shrugged. “Not even the buzzards.”
Hatcher set the short handled shovel in the rear storage anyway and latched it. He picked up the 30.30 lever action rifle and slipped it into the scabbard. “Okay, I’m loaded.”
Missy slapped at her body, checking that she had her personal items then double-checked her bags. “I think I’m ready.” She lifted the helmet and began to strap it on as Hatcher straddled the saddle and started his four wheeler. She did a double take as he zipped by her, no helmet.
“Hey!” she called and pointed to her head. “Safety first!”
Hatcher smiled at her then motioned her forward. “I’ll be alright.”
She pulled alongside and idled. “Afraid you’ll mess up your hair?”
He gave her an innocent smile and shook his head. “They give me headaches. Besides, I don’t want the distraction.”
She tsk’d at him then pulled ahead, taking the lead.
Hatcher goosed the accelerator and caught up with her, doing his best to avoid the dust and debris kicked up by the rear tires as they drove deeper into the park.
She slowed and motioned him alongside, pointing to the right. “There are a number of downed bison down there. I found their remains the last time I was up in this area.”
“How many?” he asked.
She gave him a slow shrug. “Maybe seven.”
His eyes widened as he tried to consider the number of people it would take to bring down and kill seven of the huge creatures. They weren’t gentle, and they were all as strong as…well, an ox.
“All in the same area?”
She nodded. “Looked to happen about the same time, too.”
Hatcher blew his breath out and peered into the shadows of the woods. “Head on a swivel, Rookie.”
“What are you thinking?” she asked, her hand reaching out to grab his arm.
“I’m thinking that they’d need at least ten people per buffalo to pull one down and kill it.” He turned and raised a brow at her. “Times seven carcasses. That’s at least seventy people.”
Her eyes widened and realization struck her. “That’s a herd.”
Hatcher nodded and reached to his saddle bag for a pair of binoculars. “If they haven’t been exposed to the cure yet, we could be rolling into a metric shit ton of trouble.”
She swallowed hard and had to force herself to start breathing again. “Okay.” She pulled the chin strap of the helmet tighter and squared her shoulders. “But if they’re still Snappers, then odds are they’ll stay out of direct sunlight, right?”
Hatcher shrugged. “I’ve seen stranger things.” He scanned the area then hung the binoculars around his neck. “Just stay alert.” He motioned her forward. “Lead on.”
Missy kicked the ATV into gear and pulled away slowly, putting as much distance as she could between the two stands of trees and herself. She could almost feel the Snappers’ eyes on her as she drove the little off road vehicle around obstacles.
Hatcher continued to follow her, unsure that she actually knew where she was going. After far too long of a ride, she slowed her ATV and pointed. “Just the other side of that ridge. The rainwater formed a gully-wash and that’s where I saw them.”
He stared in the direction she pointed then turned to her. “What were you doing this far out?”
She gave him a sheepish grin. “Exploring.” She shrugged slightly. “It’s been forever since the Snappers attacked and…” She sighed heavily. “I was going stir crazy locked up alone. I figured I’d do my job…rather, part of it anyway. I’d look for wildlife, patrol the park…just see what was out there.”
Hatcher accelerated slowly, his eyes searching for signs that animals had been scavenging. Bones dragged away from the area or shards of clothing would have been an obvious sign. He scanned the sky for birds when the wind shifted. The stench of rot and decay struck him almost like a wall.
“Holy shit.” He gagged and pulled his t-shirt up to cover his mouth and
