She scoffed as she reached for the landing door. “I beg to differ.” She let it pull closed behind them as they made their way towards the offices. “I think we’ve done remarkably well.”
He paused and gave her a questioning look. “Pray, tell.”
She flopped onto the couch and pulled her legs up under her. “Think about it. The world pretty much ended, but here we are. We saved what little was left of humanity, then we found a way to fix an unforeseen problem with the cure.” She shrugged. “All things considered, I think we’ve been quite fortunate.”
He grunted as he sat next to her. “Always the optimist.”
“Beats being a pessimist.” She pushed at his shoulder playfully.
He gave her a sideways glance then smiled. “I forgot something downstairs.” He snapped his fingers as he came to his feet. “Damn the luck.”
She came up from the couch and stepped in front of him. “I can get it.”
“No, I wouldn’t dream of—”
“I really don’t mind. Besides you’ve been on your feet most of the day.”
“As have you.” He stepped around her and reached for his keys. He paused then turned to her. “Why don’t you accompany me? You can tell me again how lucky we’ve been.”
She chuckled as she followed him out. She prattled on about how different their situation was based entirely on perspective. He half listened as he led her downstairs and towards the cold room. “I take it you’re definitely a glass half full kind of person.”
She planted her hands on her hips and gave him a look that was hard to discern in the low light. “You’re just now figuring that out?”
He nodded slowly as he pulled the door open to the cold room. “So…would this be a half full or half empty situation?” He held the door fully open and shone a flashlight inside.
Carol stepped around him and froze in her tracks. Her hand lifted to her mouth and she stifled a squeal. “Where did you find this?” She practically jumped up and down as she took in the scene.
Andre pulled the door shut behind him and gave her a broad smile. “I asked Lieutenant Davis to procure this for you. I hope it makes you happy.”
She spun and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer for a kiss. “You are the bestest!”
“I hoped it fits.”
She reached toward the stacks of Dr Pepper and pulled a can from the top. She snapped the top open and inhaled deeply of the carbonated bubbles. “It fits PERFECTLY!” She tilted the can back and emptied it.
Andre gave her a surprised look as she crushed the can in her hand and turned to him triumphantly. She opened her mouth wide and belched loudly. “That hit the spot!”
“I can see that.” He took a half step back and watched her grab another can. “You…you’re not planning on drinking them all tonight?”
She laughed as she tucked it into her lab coat pocket. “Of course not.” She turned again and did a quick count. “What…five pallets?”
“I thought if it would save me from having to replace Irene…”
She elbowed him in the ribs just before the sound of quickly approaching feet had them both turning.
“Dr. Broussard!”
He watched as a soldier slid to a stop in front of them. “What’s wrong?”
“Topside, sir. We have a problem.”
Andre slammed the door to the cold room and took off at a trot. “What’s happening?”
“Screamers, sir. Tons of them.” The soldier held to the door to the stairs as the researchers darted through. “Maybe too many!”
Andre huffed as he took the stairs two and three at a time. “Gather the others!” he called to Carol. He ran past the offices and slid to a stop at the glass doors.
“We think the perimeter lights attracted them, sir.” The soldier paused and pointed to the people attempting to climb the outer fences. “There’s gotta be hundreds of them.”
“Nom de Dieu…”
“That’s a helluva story, son.” Hammer bent forward and slipped his leg brace on, pulling the straps tight.
“It’s god’s honest truth,” Simon replied, his eyes probing the other man.
“I’ve no doubt that it’s true.” Hammer sat back and sighed heavily. “But I’ve known Big Tony for…close to twelve years now. What you’re asking is a big ask.”
“I understand that.” Simon glanced to the other old bikers gathered in Hammer’s living room. Most were too old to be worth much in a fist fight, but they were all capable of pulling a trigger. “And if it was just Tony, I’d handle it myself.” He lowered his eyes and sighed. “But the woman he’s with—”
“Your woman,” Hammer interrupted. Simon looked up at him, his mouth opened to argue. “You brought her here. She was clinging to your hip from the moment you stepped out of that fancy rig of yours.” He pointed an accusing finger at him. “You brung her here.”
Simon nodded. “That I did. But in my own defense, that was before I knew she was looney tunes.”
One of the older bikers snorted a laugh. “She’s a female, son. They’s all nuttier than squirrel shit.”
“To a point,” Simon said. He glanced out of the window and noted the setting sun. “Look, if you fellas aren’t game to help me out, that’s fine. I just don’t trust what Lana might convince Tony to do.” He came to his feet and turned for the door. “I’ll just pray that they only come after me.”
“Wait…what are you saying?” Hammer asked.
Simon lowered his head and turned slowly. “When I say she’s crazy, I mean it. She’s the type that if she can’t have ALL the toys, she’ll burn them to the ground so that nobody else can play with them either.” He raised a brow and eyed each man. “I wouldn’t put it past her to do something to the other campers while they slept.”
“Like what?”
Simon swallowed hard. “She has a thing for fire,” he shrugged. “A gallon of gas and a match
