“Scarves up.” I pulled mine over my face, hiding the fresh black stripes I’d put on that morning. “Eyes open, ears alert. Let’s move people.”
11
Night had fallen by the time we reached the first pile of debris. A building had toppled into the street, quickly being taken over by dirt and weeds.
Groans rose from the group as men released the handles on the wagons. Without being told, they grabbed whatever they could use to dig and hoist and got to work. Kira and I stood guard. Lara moved small stones, tossing them into a pile with the speed of a sloth.
“This is ridiculous.” I shook my head. “Lara, switch jobs with Kira.” I lowered my voice. “It’s obvious she isn’t strong and an even weaker fighter. Do you mind letting her take over the cooking?”
“Not at all.” Kira grinned. “I’d rather have something more physical to do anyway.”
I informed Lara of her new position. “You stand guard with me. If we have to fight, step back out of the way.”
“I’m not completely worthless.” Her face darkened.
“Then prove it.” I hated to be mean, but we had too much work to do and far too much danger around us for someone unable to carry their weight.
Shrieks reached us from the other side of the debris. Jolt scrambled up, nimber as a goat. “Holy Cow! There’s way too many Malignants for us to clear.”
My blood ran cold. “How do we move forward?”
Fawke joined Jolt at the top. “We can pick off a lot of them from up here. Shoot them down, maybe scare some of them off.”
In my opinion, those things were too stupid to be scared off. “Everyone with a long range gun climb up. The rest of you guard down here.” I reached up a hand for Fawke to pull me alongside him.
Jolt hadn’t been kidding. A large horde of Malignants sprinted our way. It wouldn’t take them long to scale the pile of debris.
“Fire!” I aimed and pulled the trigger.
When our weapons slowed, needing to power back up, we returned to the safer side of the fallen building. I slumped against the wall. A fifteen-minute breather would be nice. “Eyes open. There’s time for some of them to make it over. Have your swords ready.” My breathing came in pants.
Without more fighters we’d never complete this mission handed to us. I pushed away from the wall and turned on the radio. Let Sharon hear the shrieks behind us. Let her see if a Malignant came over the top.
The radio sat silent. After five minutes, I turned it off, hoping Sharon would call back.
Lara screamed.
I whirled in time to see three Malignants leap toward us. Gripping my sword, I joined the others. Taking care of three was an easy task, but more ventured over, their yellow eyes glittering as they spotted their prey.
I glanced at my gun. The light showing its power had turned to yellow instead of red. Only a few more minutes until it glowed green. We could hold them off that long.
“Sure wish we had a flame thrower,” Jolt said. “I started to grab one, but I got ushered out of the supply room too fast.”
“They have flame throwers?” I widened my eyes.
“Yep. Maybe you could request a couple?”
I could sure try. Anger boiled at having to ask for everything. Those on the hill in Soriah should send us what we needed without us having to ask. If they lost us to the Malignants, the next group of Stalkers would be fresh and untrained. If the wheel landed on a black square. If someone broke the law. Too many ifs for me.
As more came over, Jolt grabbed the nearest weapon and mowed them down. A big grin split his face.
“You’re actually enjoying this.” How is that possible?
“It sure beats working in the mines.”
“The mines are safer.”
“Are they?” He glanced over his shoulder. “Working ten hours a day in the pitch dark, hoping and praying to the Supreme Being that it doesn’t cave in? Nah, I’ll take this over that anytime.”
“As much as I’m ready for my time here to be over,” Fawke said, “I agree with Jolt. If I survive this place, I’ll live in luxury on the hill. Those in the mines work there until they die.”
“I’d prefer being a maid over this.” I grabbed my gun. “Lara, mealtime, please. We’ll eat in shifts, then resume clearing this pile.” It would take us a few days. Until then, we’d also have to sleep in shifts.
After a quick bite of dried meat, washed down with tepid water, we resumed clearing, shooting, rinse and repeat. The task seemed hopeless.
Gage seemed to always be close to Fawke. I exhaled heavily, doing my best to ignore her loving gazes, and failing miserably. Of course, the two would be close. I was the newcomer here. Relationships would have been forged long before I arrived.
With ten of us, we paired up to take one-hour shifts, me and Dante being the first to guard while the others piled onto the larger wagon. With no threat of rain, I’d opted not to have the tent set up. If we were overrun, the others could fire without the impediment of canvas blocking their view.
“Is this the plan?” Dante asked, reclining against a pile of rocks. “To dig, shoot, sleep, and do the same the next day?”
“Unless you have a better idea.” I remained standing, keeping my eyes focused on the pile we’d barely made a dent in. “If we could find a way around this, we could move faster.”
“Send someone out in the morning to scout.” He stuck a twig in his mouth, working it around with his tongue. “It might be easier
