“Now isn’t the time to get frisky, Milly, let’s wait till the kids have gone to bed.” He grinned up at her.
“You ass, it’s a good thing you got such a goddamned hard head. Can you sit up, dear?” She grinned down at him. She looked up when she heard another shot and saw that Quinn had finished the bastard off. She grinned down at her husband.
“How many were there babe?” She asked, helping Bart to sit up.
“Five of the fuckers. I got two, and Quinn got one, but that bastard got me in the head. Those other two kept us pinned down.” He grinned up at her. She looked up when Quinn came to stand over them.
“That’s some damned fine shooting Marine.” He laughed down at her.
“Oorah!” Milly barked and Quinn helped her get Bart to his feet. He was a little unstable, but they walked him up to the porch and into the house.
“Laura, honey, come on up sweety. It’s all clear and your dad has got a booboo, cause he don’t know when to duck.” Milly called. She could hear the stomping of the girls on the stairs coming up from the basement.
“I’ll go get the tractor, let’s see if we can’t get rid of our guests.” Quinn said, getting up.
“I’ll help. Girls, help your mom take care of grampy, and tell grampy next time to keep low.” Milly laughed getting up. A wide grin split her face when she heard her granddaughters cooing over their grandfather. Alexa’s voice stern, was loud and she was lecturing him on keeping low. Milly sniggered.
Ӝ
Topeka, KS
The bus jolted and rocked as it drove to the next planting site. Ian looked out the window and watched as miles of empty fields and homes passed by. He turned to Megan, who sat beside him.
“We’ve got to leave today. They’re starting to chip everyone.” He whispered.
Megan’s head jerked toward him, her eyes large and fearful.
“What? What the hell are you talking about?” She hissed in a low voice, her eyes looking around to make sure no one was listening.
“Look, it’s already started. They are taking each level and rounding up the people and injecting microchips into them. Just behind the upper shoulder, in the meaty part. We’ve got to leave. We can’t be chipped. I don’t know if they have satellite tracking, but they identify us as living in the Hive. We have got to leave today.”
“Jesus Christ.” Megan said and her face lost its color, and her moss green eyes filling with tears, making them a brilliant emerald color.
“Don’t worry, I took all of our coupons and gave them to Anthony. I told him to pick a fight just after everyone started getting their equipment and unloading the bus. He’ll get bitched at, but he’ll also have a hell of a lot of coupons to spend at the trading post.”
Megan looked over at the large man, who was in his mid-forties. Ian had chosen Anthony, because he was amiable enough and didn’t seem to mind living in the Hive. They’d talked on a few occasions and to Anthony, this place was better than his last living situation and he was getting food on a regular basis. Ian hadn’t understood how the man would willingly give up his freedom for food. The work didn’t bother Ian, it was the loss of freedom. He supposed for each person there, they gave up or gained something.
Last night, they’d all three stood at the railing on their floor and looked down at the milling people around them. Thousands were talking in low voices and it sounded like the buzz or hum of a beehive. He’d even heard laughter from lower floors, floating up. Many of these people were satisfied, to be taken care of.
“I don’t understand how these people can be happy?” He’d said in a low voice. At the railing, they could not be overheard and were free to talk in low voices.
“I don’t either. I ran into Karen, she’s a woman we met when we first got here. She seemed so happy here, smiling and laughing. She had a small group of friends and they were knitting. I guess they’d gotten some yarn in at the trading post. But, from what I could tell, she was content.” Megan had said, mystified. It mystified him as well.
“I think I understand.” Tilly had said and both had looked at her in surprise. She’d flushed and shrugged.
“It’s hard, I won’t lie. But we do have a place to live. We have a job, and we eat. I honestly feel safe here. I know I’m not going to get raped or murdered.” She said defensively.
“Unless you break a rule.” Megan had reminded her.
“But that’s just it. I’m not going to murder or rape or take drugs. I don’t steal. Out there, beyond the fence is now not fit to live in. You saw it.” Tilly had argued softly.
“So, if we leave, are you coming with us?” Ian asked softly, looking around. There was no one near them by the railings.
“I can’t, I’m afraid. Here, I know I’m safe. There are strict rules, but I can live with that. Maybe one day I’ll meet someone here. But, if I leave, I could very well die of starvation, rape or murder. I just don’t think it’s worth it. I won’t say anything if you two leave. I’ll play dumb. Just don’t tell me when you’re going to do it, because I don’t think I’ll be able to hide the sadness.” She’d said, her blue eyes tearing up.
Both he and Megan had been stunned. She’d been institutionalized. She’d bought the loss of freedom for shelter, hook, line and sinker. She’d gone back to their cell and he and Megan had stayed at the railing.
Ian was brought back
