“Sorry,” she offered, fighting her own gag reflex. “The air is kinda heavy around here.”
Hatcher dug through his bag of supplies and pulled out a small blue jar of Vicks. He dabbed a gob under his nose then handed her the jar. “It doesn’t mask all of it, but it helps.”
She quickly applied a dab then slowly approached the area on her ATV. She turned the vehicle and pointed over the ridge. Hatcher approached and parked beside her, his eyes scanning the area below. “Good God. There must be hundreds of them.”
Missy nodded. “And the predators won’t touch ‘em.” She looked to him with concern in her eyes. “Something tells me we should be worried, too.”
The steel blast door swung open and Dr. Higgins rushed into the room, excitedly yelling and pointing. “See! I told you! And they aren’t even prepping the vice president.” He spun and gave General Green an “I told you so” look. “They should be shot.”
Green rolled his eyes as he marched past the blathering man. He entered the acrylic walled laboratory and glared at Dr. Broussard. “Tell me he’s lying.”
Broussard lowered the clipboard he held and slowly removed his reading glasses. “I’d love to, but I have no idea what he’s even talking about.”
“He’s found the cure and he won’t—’
General Green spun and pointed at Higgins. “Get him the hell out of here!” He spun back to Broussard before the soldiers grabbed Higgins’ arms and began to drag him backward, away from the lab.
“The cure?” Broussard repeated. He slowly shook his head. “A treatment, perhaps, but I cannot say we have found a cure.”
Senator Winegard spun around on the exam table and gave the general a hateful stare. “I’d really appreciate being allowed to my room, General.”
“Not my call, ma’am,” General Green barked. He glanced at Broussard, a lone brow slowly raising. “Not a cure?” He glanced at the senator.
Broussard shook his head. “Possibly a treatment, though.”
Dr. Benedict stepped forward, “Forgive me, General…Green?” He read the man’s name tag. “It is far too early to tell if—”
“Who the hell is this man and why is he inside my facility?” Green bellowed.
Broussard stiffened and his jaw quivered slightly as his anger rose. “This is Dr. Benedict. A virologist from the university.” He shoved his reading glasses into his lab coat pocket and approached the general. “He agreed to assist us, and at this point, I’d take help from a base janitor if he knew what the hell he was talking about!”
Carol stepped between the two men and gently pushed Andre back. “General, we’re attempting to reset their systems using a psychedelic that mimics the same—”
“You’re doping them?” Green asked incredulously.
Carol nodded. “Their systems create something similar. You might say that their anger and aggression is the result of…a bad trip.”
Green rolled his eyes. “For the love of…” He spun a slow circle. “My men could have doped these mouth breathing sacks of shit!”
Senator Winegard slid off of the exam table and squared up with the man. “You might watch what you say, General. These people found a way to bring me out of that…state.” She narrowed her eyes at him and thrust out her finger. “I am STILL a United States Senator.”
Green stared down at the tiny woman. “You really think there’s still a United States?” His voice was low and soft. “Lady, the only government that exists right now is floating off shore in a Navy flotilla.”
“Actually,” Broussard interrupted, holding his finger up to make a point. “They’ve docked. San Diego, I believe.”
Green’s eyes widened with anger for just a moment before he turned his attention back to the woman before him. “As far as you’re concerned, I am the only government that exists now. This is my facility. I am God here.” He bent lower and glared at her. “The only reason they treated you is because you are considered disposable.”
She went pale as she stared at the man. “That…that can’t be.” She glanced to Carol then Broussard. “Tell me that isn’t true.”
Carol stepped closer. “I can assure you that we consider all life to be—”
“Oh my god!” she cried. “It is true.” Her legs buckled under her and she fell to the floor.
Broussard raised a brow at the general. “As I was trying to explain, this is only a treatment. We can’t know if it could be a cure or even a part of a cure.”
Green’s eyes narrowed. “How soon?”
“For?”
“Before you’ll know if doping them up will cure them?” he barked.
Broussard shrugged. “Perhaps a few days.”
The general narrowed his gaze at the researchers then glanced down at the Senator weeping in the floor. “Clean up this mess.” He spun and marched out of the lab.
Eddie stepped forward and watched as the general and his escorts left the area. “Okay...” He glanced at Broussard. “That went well.”
Simon watched Lana sleep and gently ran his hand over her head. Stubble from her hair was growing out and he felt confident that soon she’d be sporting a thick mane once again.
He pulled the covers back and gently rolled out of bed, stretching his arm as he sat on the edge of the mattress. He glanced at the pain pills and had to think hard about the last time he had to have one.
He smirked to himself as he came to his feet and stumbled out to the living room. He reached toward the top of the closet and pulled down a small box. He set it out at the small dinette table and spread out a towel.
He gathered his weapons and laid them out. Knives to be sharpened, firearms to clean and lube; he loved sharpening knives. It gave his mind time to wander as his body went through the motions.
He smeared a small dab of oil on the whetstone and began going through the motions. The slick sound of steel on novaculite was like a lullaby to his conscious mind.
He remembered how he used to be. How
