“The Outpost? Best of luck getting near there.”
“What?”
They looked nervously around before motioning for him to follow. The couple led him into the home they were near. Inside the kitchen, he continued, “My name is Paul. And you are?”
“Colby.” He looked at Paul’s wife. “Thank you for what you did back there.”
She gave a strained smile. “I’m Louise.”
“Thank you, Louise.” He looked at Paul. “You were saying?”
“The Outpost is the only place they haven’t taken. You’d be lucky to get two yards in front of that store without getting your skull blown off. The owner is an ex-army guy, who will die before he lets anyone step foot inside. Unless your friend knows them, she won’t be there.”
“Why are you still here?” he asked.
“Because this is our home. I won’t be run out by anyone.”
“Any others?”
“Most left.”
“How come you’re still alive?”
“As long as you do what they say, they don’t hurt you.”
“Is that so? Then what’s the deal with the bodies in the streets?”
“Others who stayed. People who pushed back.”
“And the cops?”
He scoffed. “Long gone.”
“So the National Guard did nothing?” Colby asked.
“Who? I’d heard they were in the area but I haven’t seen them.”
“But Santa Nella was evacuated. People have gone to Los Banos.”
Paul looked at his wife. “That’s what the emergency broadcast was saying. I’ve yet to see any soldiers here.”
“A friend of mine has gone to Los Banos. He plans to tell the cops about what’s happening here. Maybe they can help.”
Paul breathed in deeply. “Yeah. Okay.” He sounded as if he wasn’t holding out hope for them. Colby took a seat at the table.
“How are you coping? Food and whatnot?”
“We do all right. At least for now. People left in a hurry. I guess they figure Los Banos is the land of milk and honey. I’m sure they’ll be back. I go out at night, take what I can from homes in the area. I store it in different locations.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Louise asked. “You look a little out of sorts.”
He nodded, and she returned with a bottle of water. He unscrewed it and downed it in one gulp. “Thank you.”
“Where did you come from?” Paul asked.
“L.A.”
“You’re a long way from home.”
“It’s not home anymore. Garberville is. At least that’s where I was told I was heading.”
His recollection wasn’t fully back. He could recall small things but Garberville wasn’t one of them.
“I know that place,” Paul said. “Before this, I was a trucker. I used to do runs all up the north coast. It’s a pretty town. Small. Heard they have problems with people going missing there.” He waited as if Colby might fill in the gaps, validate what he’d learned, but he couldn’t tell him anything. Garberville was just a name, nothing more.
“Look, how many are there?” Colby asked.
“Assholes? I’m not sure. They keep rotating guys out from where they’re positioned. They’ve set up different roadblocks. I just know if you show any sign of trouble, it’s over. Are you sure you want to go to the Outpost?”
“I have to see.”
“The crossroads there is dangerous. There’s gunfire happening at all times of the day and night. You familiar with the town?”
“No.”
“Unless you know where they’re positioned, you won’t make it two blocks. You’ll find yourself being chased or shot dead.” Paul looked at his wife. “I’ll be back soon. Lock the doors. Don’t answer.”
She nodded and went to be with their young son, Nathan.
Paul put a jacket on and crossed to the stairs, opened a closet door, and reached inside for a hunting rifle that was concealed in a golf club cover and was among his clubs. “They take any weapons you have. Figured I would hold on to this.”
He loaded it.
“You don’t have to go, Paul,” Colby said. “I appreciate the offer but if you just tell me, I’ll take my chances.”
“My wife says you looked as if you were about to help my son. A man who risks his life for a stranger deserves a little help. Besides, I can’t have you telling folks that the people of Gustine are all bad. We’re not. We’re good people. I don’t approve of these unorganized assholes. But what can you do?”
He loaded the Benelli LUPO bolt-action rifle and said, “All right, let’s go.”
It was a five-minute walk from where they were, but they wouldn’t be able to go down any of the main streets due to roadblocks. Paul said they’d done it to prevent the gun store owner from attempting to escape, and so they could be ready if cops from the county showed up.
“How quickly did it happen?” Colby asked.
“Fast enough. It wasn’t in the first five days, I can tell you that. People were a little taken aback by the blackout but we all made do, waiting, expecting the power to turn back on. They held a city hall meeting and told us about Los Banos. It wasn’t a mandatory evacuation but for most it made sense. There was talk about the Red Cross, more food, and assistance. They pumped it up as being some great thing. Not everyone bought into it. I certainly didn’t. After the first cop was shot, it went downhill from there.”
They crossed through a parking lot and came out behind a cell phone store. Paul raised a fist and crouched at the corner. “We need to keep conversation low from here on out. When I signal to move, move fast and quietly.”
“The owner of the Outpost. You know him?”
“I’ve met him a few times. Good guy. His name’s Jackson Hartridge. Rumor had it this Spider fella thought he was going to waltz in there and take over the damn place. Jackson shot four of his guys, right there in his store. After that, he locked it down. As far as I know, he’s still there. Him and his family of four.”
Paul went quiet and focused on a large group farther down the street. They were patrolling with assault
