Tony kept the light on him for another few seconds, then lowered it, his mouth pressing into a line. Logan wasn’t carrying the usual rifle I saw soldiers toting around, and his hands were well away from the dual pistols at his hips. Apparently he hadn’t viewed us as much of a threat when he barged in.
I guess I couldn’t blame him. Our merry trio might strike fear into the hearts of irradiated bikers and the living dead, but professional soldiers were completely different beasts.
“Guessing you want to raise Elderwood,” he said.
I nodded.
“Didn’t realize we still had this thing. I figured they pulled it open for parts.” He made his way between the group of us, wedged himself between me and Dax, and studied the unit. “This thing is a little more advanced than what they trained me on, but I think I can get it going. Turn on the jenny, kid.”
Dax flicked the switch. A soft hum filled the room, and Evie nosed toward it with great interest.
“How is she?” I asked Logan.
“Worse. The whole tent is worse. That idiot Pete is running around screaming about Spanish flu and bubonic plague and Renati says it’s just a new plague…then Lattimore tells him to shut up and then everyone sees them fight.” He glanced at me. “Sorry about that verbal bitchslapping Keller gave you. Not much I could do. He really hates giving guns to civilians.”
I shrugged. As long as he didn’t bring up the bedpan.
“Alyssa said you clocked a dead girl with a bedpan.”
Dammit.
“Whatever knocks them down,” I mumbled.
He switched on the radio. The narrow screen across the top lit up. “We got power,” he announced. “What channel?”
“Try three,” Tony said. “Three is what they were on last time, but they jumped around.”
Logan made the necessary change, and then pushed the microphone to Tony. “They’ll know your voice, not mine.”
Tony took the mic, then cleared his throat. “Elderwood? This is Hastings. Elderwood, are you there? This is McKnight.” He paused. “Over?” He twisted around to look at us. “Is that what I’m supposed to say? I’m not sure how to—”
Static crackled. The dog jumped.
At least it was static. I figured that was better than nothing…at least, that was how it worked in the movies.
“How long are we supposed to wait?” Tony asked.
Logan shrugged. “They manning that thing constantly?”
“They were—mostly while trying to reach you. They may have given up.” Tony returned his attention to the mic. “Elderwood, Hammond, anyone, this is McKnight, we’ve reached Hastings, please answer us. Please? You guys there?”
I imagined an empty radio room at the top of one of Elderwood’s older buildings. Dust and spiderwebs covered everything, and a single zombie sat in front of the radio, staring at it in confusion.
“Switch it to four,” Dax said. “Maybe they moved channels.”
Logan pushed buttons on the keypad. “Okay. We’re on four.”
Tony clicked the mic again. “Elderwood, this is McKnight at Hastings, please say you copy or some shit. I walked through revenant-infested territory to get here.”
“There were no revenants,” I said.
“Shut up, Vibby.”
“Don’t jinx us!”
“I’m trying to talk to these people—”
“Hello? Yes, Hastings? Is that you?” A sleepy voice broke into our chatter.
Tony dropped the microphone. It landed on the ground with a thump.
“Hastings?” The voice sounded clearer now. Stronger. “What are you arguing about?”
We all sat there gawking at each other for a full three seconds.
Tony fumbled around for the microphone, clasped it, and yanked it back upward. “This is McKnight at Hastings,” he said, managing to sound both calm and composed despite looking ready to jump out of his skin. “Is, uh, General Hammond there?”
“McKnight?” Astonishment crept into the operator’s voice. “You’re in Hastings?”
“Yes.”
Forget astonishment; the operator sounded downright awed. “Alive?”
Tony glanced down at himself, then at us. “Last I checked.”
“Shit! Stay on. I’ll be right back with the general.”
I clapped my hands. “Hammond’s still there!”
“We don’t know that.” Tony shifted from one foot to the other, his hands clenched tightly around the microphone. “Someone else could’ve gotten a field promotion. Shit! I wasn’t ready for this. I need a speech.”
“Why do you need a speech?”
“So I don’t sound like Dax talking to the dog!”
Dax held up his middle finger. “Fuck you, too.”
“McKnight?”
I half-expected Tony to blurt out Who’s a good girl? to the radio.
Instead, he gulped down whatever emotions he may or may not have been feeling, and said, in a thick voice, “General.”
I heard the sound of a gusting, relieved sigh pour out through the speakers, and instantly pictured Hammond nearly collapsing over Elderwood’s radio unit. “McKnight, you fuckwit, where the hell have you been?”
“Your general calls people fuckwits?” Logan asked.
“It’s a term of endearment,” I said. “I think.”
“We ran into some trouble.” Tony paused. “A lot of trouble.”
Another deep sigh came through the speakers. “I can’t say how glad I am to hear from you, Tony. Who’s in charge there?”
“Some kid named Keller.”