I couldn't fathom how calm she appeared after losing her oldest son and a best friend and knowing her husband was only feet away being operated on.
My gaze met Kira's eyes, and I winked at her and nodded encouragement. She said, "Thanks, Tom," and grinned weakly at me. Then I hurried out still appreciating the beautiful lady's warm attention.
Shooting finally stopped. I assumed the zombies were down and our invaders had been killed or run off. I looked through a south gunport and saw Nate cautiously raise his head to look around. Eerie silence pervaded as he got up on his knees and used the links in the chain-link fence to pull himself up with his left hand. I grabbed Jeff Tanka and Sam Williams and headed for the front gate.
On the radio, I called Ed. "Ed, will you get the cleanup started until I get back? I also need someone to go to the southeast watch tower and open the gate so we can bring Nate inside. Then the people assigned to this shift's watch duty need to man the towers or have someone fill in for them. Tell them to stay low until we scour the woods for any lingering outlaws."
The three of us reached the gate seconds after the ten-foot high section began to slide open. Both burning military vehicles emitted dense black smoke that slowly rose and drifted to blot out the nearby line of trees.
Nate sheepishly approached us, a worried look and stooped posture evidence he was hurting more than just physically. Cuts and bruises crisscrossed his face. A swollen black eye and a large yellowish-purple bruise marred the left side of his face. He limped, favoring his right leg.
Sam said, "Oh oh. Two fast-runners are coming at us from the west through the alfalfa.” All three of us dropped to our knees, aimed and fired until the attackers dropped. Again, there were no warning sounds to announce their presence. That caused great alarm for our future.
I took Nate by the shoulder, and he flinched from the rough handling. I walked him through the gate to safety before signaling the tower for the gate to be closed.
We walked inside together. I told Nate, "Go to the dining room and wait for me. We'll decide then what I'm to do with you."
Nate opened his mouth to talk, "Tom, I'm—"
"Not now, Nate. I've got too many other things to attend to. Four people died, and at least two are injured that I know of. We'll talk later. If you're hungry, go to the kitchen and they'll get you something."
I called Ed to learn his location and told him I'd meet him where he was. Then I called John. "As we clear the woods, I'd like you to inspect the inside of the building and evaluate any damage you find. Later, when the woods have been cleared, you'll have to survey the outside damage and schedule repairs to be completed before rainstorms hit. If you want help, use Anthony Margherio. He's experienced in building maintenance."
Ed was overseeing the transfer of heavy weapons to the armory for cleaning and inspection before they'd be returned to the underground storage. I asked him to appoint a group leader over twelve people and have them sweep a fifty-foot wide line into the woods around our perimeter for any injured but live outlaws. I cautioned him to ensure everyone would be on the lookout for fast zombies that might be silently lying in wait to attack. He called Martin Radcliff Sr. to lead the party through the woods.
I got back to Ira and Marcie at the temporary clinic. He had taken his surgical mask off and was cleansing his hands and arms in a pan of water when I entered. Morgan lay in a bed across the room, and Verlie and his kids and grandkids were standing at the foot of the bed. Barney, the Halcom family patriarch, stood beside Morgan's bed. Morgan smiled weakly but threw me a thumbs up sign. Then he closed his eyes and let the sedative work. Verlie stood in the middle of her family members, so I knew she and Morgan would be okay. They'd lost a son and a close friend, but the family had closed ranks to support each other.
I noticed Janice's body had been removed from the room. It was time I found Shane and gave proper condolences for his loss.
People scurried through the upstairs hallways as I made a trip around the perimeter and looked down crossways. Bloodstains were being scrubbed from the floor and walls where our people had been gunned down and where Morgan and Kira were wounded. Two others refilled the ammunition storage boxes to be ready for the next unexpected siege that would surely come. I had no idea how many rogue outfits like William's were out there, but I guessed his wasn't the only one. Sadly, some people always became the aggressors and tried to intimidate others.
I didn't yet know how many attackers we'd faced but felt we were fortunate to have won without bigger losses. If the attackers were in fact well-trained, disciplined and experienced soldiers, our casualties could have been much greater. Eli didn't have family members with us, but he would be missed by all who had known him and appreciated his subdued sense of humor and easy going nature. Janice was another story. Her boundless energy and warm personality were positive fixtures in all our lives. She would be sorely missed. I hadn’t formed
