“They’re the United States military. Sworn to serve and protect. Why should we fear them?” Eric looked up and stared at Nerit. “They’re our people.”
“I think we should start asking for our people back,” Peggy said. “Maybe now that they know we’re here, they’ll be listening for us. Looking for us. And we can start talking like civilized people instead of freaking out.”
With an angry sound, Curtis rose to his feet. “If Lenore had not blown the plan at the hospital and opened fire--”
“That is a moot point now,” Travis snapped. “Jenni and whoever else survived are in the hands of the military and we cannot be going off second guessing what Lenore did!”
“We cannot afford fuckups that cost us our people, Travis!” Curtis shouted.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” Katie said, stepping toward Curtis. “I love Jenni! And this is killing me, but Lenore did what I would have done in her place. I would have saved my best friend.” “Back down,” Katarina said in a low voice.
Curtis shot her a fierce look, but her gaze was so cold, so chilling, he visibly shrank away from her.
“We’re off topic. This isn’t about Lenore,” Eric said in a firm voice.
“I say we send the messages,” Nerit said after a beat. “Because if they have our people, they have a reason behind it. Let’s start talking.”
Katie felt tears threatening as she bobbed her head in agreement. “Yes, please, let’s do that. Let’s bring Jenni home.” Eric nodded. “I agree.”
“We gotta find out what is going on out there. I say send out an invite.” Katarina pushed her heavy red hair out of her face. “Won’t do us no good worrying and not doing.”
“I ain’t got no issue calling them up and asking them to give us our people back,” Peggy declared. “I am so sick of this bullshit.”
Travis took a deep breath. “Then let’s do it.”
Chapter 13
1. The Mall, Zombies, and the Alamo
Damn lot of zombies, Bill thought.
After an hour of listening to the Major General carry on about building a new tomorrow, a greater America, protecting the native soil, and on and on, he had finally escorted Bill up onto the roof of the mall.
“What do you think?” the Major General asked, sweeping his hand out in front of him.
Bill took in the white wall that surrounded the mall, the blockades over the entrances, the cars, buses, and a combination of army, marine and national guard vehicles of every shape and color. Every entrance into the mall parking lot was heavily fortified with multiple guards on duty.
But beyond the wall… Zombies…a whole lot of zombies...
“We can eradicate them,” the Major General said in a decisive voice.
“Or just get eaten,” Bill added.
The Major General frowned. “It’s happened before,” Bill said. “In at least two movies. Malls, just bad…bad news..”
“I’m not sure what you are talking about, but I can assure you, we can overcome the undead scourge,” the Major General declared. Bill wasn’t too sure. It looked like a lot of Madison was outside the walls. He glanced over the mall defenses, then back over toward the throng of zombies.
Yep, that was a whole lot of zombies…
Damn.
Now, he knew how the people in the Alamo felt.
Shit. He hoped he died well. For a moment, he wondered if the Major General, who spoke with a thick East Coast accent, would understand if he told him “You can go to hell -- I’m going to Texas.” He was tempted to paraphrase Davy Crockett’s famous words to “You can go to hell--I’m going to the fort.” Damn.
Whole lot of zombies...
“Once we take control of the fort, you will see that we can make things a lot better for everyone. The Senator has a definitive plan on how to build a new society on the ashes of the old one. The military forces will take over the security of the fort so your people can get out into the fields and start preparing for a new future.”
Bill squinted at the guy and wondered if he realized what the hell he was saying. “You want us out in the fields. Growing crops?” “And expanding the fort. Getting a cattle ranch secured. Everything that will be needed to create a new tomorrow. We can work out assignments for the men and create a schedule for the women.”
“Schedule?”
“Yes. Which ones will help with the fort household and which ones will have children.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Every woman that can have a child will need to produce a future citizen of the fort. We must get our population up so we can make sure to keep things moving toward a secure future.” The Major General gave him a warm smile. “It’ll be rough at first, but the good old American know how will get us through.”
“So, you guys will kinda divide us up, tell us what to do, take over the running of the fort?”
“Yes. Your people won’t have to worry about it. You’ll have an experienced Senator to govern and a trained military force. Sounds good doesn’t it?”
Tilting his head to one side, Bill took a deep breath, eyeing the throng of decaying dead outside the walls. “What do you think, Bill?”
Bill took a deep breath and in his deep Texan drawl, that he deliberately twanged out, answered,
“Born, raised, and lived as a Texan, sir. Aim to die as one. So, about America, she was good to me, but this is frontier land again. And if you don’t see it that way, yer fucked. This is Texas. We don’t take kindly to being told what to do.”
The Major General blinked at him. “I don’t understand.” “This is Texas, sir. We aim to do what is best for ourselves and our family. Your government, your military, they don’t exist anymore to us. We’ll do our own thing. Find our own way.”
“You’re saying the people at the fort won’t welcome our leadership?”
“No, sir. I am saying they will tell you to fuck off.”
The man’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Think I’m done now,” Bill said firmly.
The Major General slowly nodded and motioned to a soldier to lead Bill back into the mall. Bill was more than glad to get out of the view of all the zombies outside the walls, but the mall wasn’t that welcoming either. People were eating breakfast and heading off to their work assignments. The heat was off and the cold made him shiver. It felt more like a prison than a home. He didn’t know how the people had mentally survived so long in such a sterile and cold environment.
He spotted Jenni at a table, sitting down to breakfast, and headed over to her. “Well?” She flipped her long dark hair over one shoulder. “What was the big deal with that guy wanting to talk to you?”
“He wanted to talk my ear off and show me what is going on outside.” He slid onto the chair next to her and shook his head. “What is going on outside?” Jenni poked at her congealing oatmeal, her expression one of slight disgust.
“We’re in the gawddamn Alamo,” Bill answered gruffly.
“Seriously?” Jenni grimaced.
“Only difference, Mexicans didn’t eat the people in the Alamo,” Bill muttered.