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Jonas Marshall checked and rechecked his rifle, wearing a line through clumps of snow with his pacing. Every chance he got, he wandered close to Quinn. As if no one would notice.
Liam made a note to keep an eye on the kid. With those baby-blue eyes and that swooping blond hair, he was too handsome for his own good.
Lol! Dad patrol.
It camouflaged them from night vision and anything with infrared capability searching for body heat signatures.
They watched the figure approach. The size and gait suggested a male rather than a female. He moved in jerky, shambling movements. “He’s like a zombie,” Quinn said. “Please tell me our apocalypse hasn’t just shifted to a new level of horror.”
Right! Like if the EMP wasn't enough now we had virus carrying human eaters to it.
“You ever heard the phrase ‘worth his weight in salt’?” Hannah asked.
“In ancient Roman times, salt was such a precious commodity that they used it as currency. Slaves were bought and sold with salt. Soldiers were paid in salt. Like then, salt will be in high demand soon. We’re getting a jump on things before everyone else realizes it, too.”
“But Evelyn using that salt solution to clean your wounds reminded me. Salt has so many uses. It inhibits bacteria in wounds, which is becoming more crucial as antibiotics get scarce. The body needs sodium to function. We need salt to preserve meat and fish without refrigeration. “Somehow, it’s never at the top of people’s usual survival lists. We’ve become so used to its ubiquity that it’s hard to imagine that people could die without it. But who’s manufacturing salt? What will we do once the container in our pantry runs out?”
“I had supplies pre-positioned within two days of arriving at Fall Creek. I’ve added as I’m able.” His expression hardened. “I have a way out prepped. Should all else fail, I can get you and the children out.”
Quinn was like a daughter to her; Molly, the grandmother she’d never had. Bishop meant more to her than words could say. Dave and Annette were dear friends. She loved this place, these people, as much as she loved herself.
Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t.
I had to stop. Are they going to offer up Luther? Omg. I have a feeling that is what's about to happen.
She’d sacrificed too much to get back to this place, to build a home for herself and her children. She wasn’t running now. She wouldn’t run.
Liam said, “If you stay, I stay.”
For two days, he’d been working on his newest version of Wolverine—featuring Liam’s face.
She rolled her eyes. “We need a distraction.”
I think she is going to suggest it.
Quinn would find her way, too. He would help her as best he could. If he was still around.
“Good thing, too. That looks like a tangle of hair in a shower drain.”
My hubs handwriting lol. Now I know how to describe it.
Corinne paused. “Fall Creek refuses to submit to his demands.” Liam gaped at them. “You know what this means. What you’re saying.” “We’re letting the deadline pass,” Annette said. “We’re not giving you up.” “You’re one of us, Liam,” Dave said. “No way we’re sending you to your death. Not gonna happen.”
Yes he is!
“If it comes to it, we’re going to fight. Whatever you need us to do to prepare further, we’ll do it. All of us. Together.”
“Now do you believe it?” Liam couldn’t answer around the sudden lump in his throat.
“So, what do we do next?” Annette asked. As one, all eyes flicked to Liam. Liam turned from the window. “You won’t like it.” Dave raised both hands, palms out. “You’re our expert, Liam. We’ll defer to your judgement.” “We need to be more than ready,” Liam said. “We need to strike first.”
Perez leaned forward, her black hair slicked behind her ears, her expression intent. “Hell yeah. I’m in.”
Lol Perez a ride or die lol I know that's right.
“Don’t forget about the Syndicate,” Perez said. “They’re still out there, too.” Liam clenched his jaw. “I haven’t forgotten. Not for one second.”
“We’ve got a hell of a lot of work ahead of us. First, there’s someone I need to see.”
Ok maybe I was wrong… but he could be going to Luther.
Liam shined the flashlight in James Luther’s face. “Looks like I have a use for you after all.”
Lol never mind I was right.
The last vestiges of his sickness and lethargy had disappeared. With Molly’s home remedies, Evelyn’s medical expertise, and Hannah’s generous donation of breast milk, L.J. had transformed into a healthy, cheerful baby.
“I want to do something to make up for…for before. Tell me what to do.”
Liam said, “I want you to join General Sinclair.” Luther choked and almost spit out the cornbread. He swallowed and wiped his dirty face with the back of his hand. “What did you say?” “I need a spy.” Luther gaped at him. “You’re it.”
“Sutter is your way in. I need eyes on the inside. I need intel. If you present yourself to General Sinclair and offer information, he’ll take you in. He needs updated intelligence, too. Boots on the ground. Even if Sutter gave him information before he died, the General won’t know whether that intel is still valid. You can give him that vital information.”
“Hopefully, Sutter mentioned you before he died. In that case, you’ll be a shoo-in. If not, you’ll just have to make sure you sell your story.” “What story?” “That you escaped our custody. You want revenge for the murder of your compatriots, just like Sutter did.”
“Did you not just hear me? I have a list of intel I want, plus what disinformation I
need you to disseminate.”
“Okay. I’ll do it.” “Leave at first light.” “I won’t let you down,” Luther said. “I believe you.” Hopefully, Liam hadn’t just made a huge mistake.
I hope not. I feel like Luther is genuine.
He wasn’t facing an army. He didn’t need to worry about drones, air raids, artillery, or missiles.
So you think! Always underestimating.
He didn’t have enough men to secure the surrounding buildings.
“Go find me something to drink,”
That's your problem and your daughters. Supposed to be so bad but you just as weak as any emotion driven man.
Fear had a way of escalating and intensifying the desired results. The anticipation of the punishment was often worse than the pain itself.
“No, you listen!” The governor’s voice went low and hard. “Listen to me closely. I have already given you everything I have. There is nothing else. You must make do. You said you could produce results. Now do it!”
“You know anything?” Flynn asked. “I do. And I’m willing to share that information with you. Quid pro quo. That’s how this should work.” Flynn mumbled something unintelligible. “What was that?” He sounded like it was pulling teeth to respond, but he did. “I—I would appreciate the information.”
Yeah now you need help with yo stubborn behind. Ugh!
She looked down at the radio. Turned it on and off. Replaced it with a new solar-charged battery. It didn’t help. The radio was dead.
Spring was in the air, and despite the looming threats, people were emerging from their winter shelters, stepping blinking into the sunshine.
"NANS'INGWENYAM A BAKITHI BABA"!
Okay, Lion King!
“They’ve made their bed—now they can lie in it.” “They’re our neighbors,” Hannah reminded her. “And we could use their help.”
“They could use our help, you mean. Face it, we’re on our own, but that doesn’t mean we’re not gonna kick some righteous ass.”
Liam exited Vinson’s pharmacy across the street, took a moment to scan the area, then approached them.
At the sight of him, her stomach fluttered.
“Got reports from the scouts that the General’s men destroyed a couple of our repeater stations. It’s gonna make communicating with our forward observers a real pain.”
“Anything that can go wrong, will.”
“When I was your age—” “I know, I know. You walked five miles to school uphill both ways. In the snow. Barefoot.” Gran cackled. “You forgot naked.”
Lol! A mess… but this is so like grandparents. Everything was worse in their day.
Quinn and Jonas had made it happen. He hung around a lot. She didn’t dislike it.
Since they would transfer seedlings soon, they’d planted them in plastic grocery bags hung on poles of PVC pipe. This way, it would be simple to move them without damaging the fragile roots.
Ooooh! Good to know.
Several volunteers taught mathematics alongside survival skills like map-reading, using a compass, and orienteering. Yesterday, they’d worked on reading, writing, and fire starting.
Honestly, this should be taught nowadays.
