Fighting to Survive (39 page)

“
You
have to believe Katie,
”
Travis protested.
“
You
have to believe us. You know those guys are trouble.
”

“
They
are entitled to some sort of due process, Travis,
”
Bill said determinedly.
“
Whatever
the hell that is. I
’
m
not even sure anymore, but we gotta come up with something.
”

Curtis
snorted.
“
They
gave that up when they attacked Katie.
”

“
And
who makes that choice?
”
Bill looked around the room.
“
When
did we decide that? And by
‘
we,'
I mean the whole damn fort. I thought we were trying to make a new
civilization for ourselves, not chaos. I do not want that much
power. The power to put a man over the wall because a bunch of
people believe he did something wrong.
”

Travis
winced at his words and rubbed his hands over his face trying to
focus himself and not let his deep anger overwhelm him.

Peggy
sighed and fumbled with her collar nervously.
“
I
won't feel comfortable if they stay here.
”

“
But
they do contribute to our society as a whole,
”
Manny interjected.
“
They've
brought us many supplies. We have food to eat because they risked
their lives to bring it back into the fort. They are not bad men.
Maybe stupid, but not ba-
”

“
Manny,
rape is bad! Okay! It
’
s
bad. Stop being an idiot,
”
Peggy snapped.

The Mayor winced and
drew back in his chair. Before he could answer, the door opened
unexpectedly.

Calhoun
shuffled in with his camera.
“
I
am now filming a top secret city council meeting that was not
announced in the public notices. I am filming all conspirators--
”

“
Gawddammit,
Calhoun,
”
Curtis exclaimed.
“
This
is not a city council meeting.
”

“
And
it's not top secret,
”
Peggy added.
“
The
Mayor announced it in the lobby.
”

“
The
city secretary speaks. She is devious and the secret power of this
town. She controls the Mayors as they come in and out of office. She
is the one that sets the true agenda. Now Peggy, the Amazonian who
controls all we see, speaks-
”

“
Gawddammit,
Calhoun, anyone worth their salt knows the true power in small town
Texas is the city secretary,
”
Peggy responded.
“
Shit,
it
’
s
the big joke when I go to Austin with all the city secretaries for
election school. Most of them don
’
t
even see the Mayor except for when they phone
‘
em
up to sign paperwork. Manny wasn't in the office but for a few hours
each damn day. So stop jabbering about what everyone knows!
”

Calhoun
looked speechless, then turned the camera toward himself.
“
I
now have her full confession of an Amazonian take over of all the
small towns in Texas…except the messed up clones did it
first.
”

“
I
so give up on him,
”
Peggy drawled out and threw out one hand.
“
Someone
else deal with the ol
’
coot.
”

“
Calhoun,
we
’
re
just discussing what happened tonight,
”
Travis said.
“
Why
don
’
t
you just sit down, film it, and keep quiet?
”

Calhoun
turned and aimed the camera at his face.
“
...is
the man who beat the alien-possessed men into submission. I have yet
to determine if he is human or not...As this top secret meeting
continues-
”

“
It
’
s
not top secret!
”
Peggy looked ready to bust a blood vessel.

“
Then
if it is not top secret, you won't mind us attending,
”
Steven Mann said from behind Calhoun, dragging his wife Blanche with
him.
“
We
do have a say in these proceedings.
”

Blanche
drew away from her husband and took a chair far away from Calhoun.
She smoothed out her silk dress and crossed her legs.
“
We
have always had a say in the town's politics. My sister is a state
senator.
”

“
And
we feel Shane and Phillip are valuable resources to our community,
”
Steven added.

“
So
the rumors that they went out to ya'll's place and snagged some of
ya'll's goodies is true, huh?
”
Curtis' eyes were very cold and fierce.

“
What?
”
Travis blinked.

“
We
need essentials to survive.
”
Blanche waved her hand as if to dismiss any argument.
“
They
were kind enough to secure them.
”
She frowned as Calhoun zoomed in on her face and shoved him away
with one foot.

Manny
looked shocked.
“
But
we said that all the runs into town were for supplies, not for
personal reasons. We swore that to everyone who wanted to go home
and get their things.
”

“
We
’
re
not just anyone, Manny,
”
Blanche said with a light laugh.

“
I
paid them for their time,
”
Steven added.

“…
a
full confession is caught on tape…” Calhoun muttered,
circling Steven.

Travis
felt his anger growing once more. He turned toward Steven and said
in a harsh voice,
“
People
die on the supply runs. We
’
ve
lost good people to the zombies. Going all the way out to your
fucking ranch for your personal stuff-
”

“
It
was necessary,
”
Blanche cut him off.

“
We
can
’
t
go around risking people
’
s
lives just so you can sit pretty,
”
Juan retorted.

Travis
shook his head.
“
Look,
this is tough enough without you coming in here and spouting off
about what good goons Phil and Shane are. Lord knows how many lives
they put at risk going out there into the deadlands to get your fancy
shit.
”

Manny
rubbed his face with one hand.
“
This
is not acceptable.
”

“
No,
what is not acceptable was that Katie woman obviously acting like a
complete tart in the ballroom and it was obvious to all she was
intoxicated,
”
Steven said in a tight, controlled voice.
“
I'm
sure she did lead Shane on.
”

“
What?
”
Travis stood up sharply. He was close to losing his temper.

Calhoun whipped
around to zoom in on Travis. Travis forced himself not to shove the
old man away.

“
I
mean that dress...that awful dress...with such nice shoes,
”
Blanche sniffed.

Juan
moved to Travis' side.
“
Look,
bitch, you have no right to say-
“

“
Shane
is a good man and she is smearing his name in an effort to get him
thrown over the wall,
”
Steven said, cutting off Juan
’
s
comment.

Travis took a step
forward and Juan grabbed his arm. He was sure he was looking furious
if Juan felt the need to rein him in. And he was furious, beyond
furious. He had been trying to be rational, but he was not going to
be able to keep from punching Steven in the mouth if the man kept it
up.

Manny
looked at Bill and said,
“
There
are conflicting stories.
”

“
Yes,
there are, but we should consider-
”
Bill started to answer.

“
Just
do a vote,
”
Peggy said simply.

“
...the
Amazonian speaks her words...
”
Calhoun narrated.
“
All
fall silent to listen.
”

Blanche snorted.

“
A
vote?
”
Bill blinked.

“
Just
type up their statements and let everyone in the fort read them, then
vote.
”
Peggy looked determined, tired, and pissed off.
“
Let
the people of the fort decide what to do. You
’
re
saying you don
’
t
want us with all the power. Fine. Give it back to the people. Let
them decide.
”

“
And
what are the options for punishment?
”
Juan demanded.

“
We
could give them a car, weapons, ammo and food and set them on their
way if guilty,
”
Bill offered.

Curtis
shook his head.
“
Why
waste our supplies on criminals?
”

“
Because
it
’
s
humane,
”
Bill retorted.

“
And
what is the other option? Letting them go?
”
Travis could feel Juan
’
s
grip tightening on his arm. Travis was so overwhelmed with emotion,
he wasn
’
t
sure what the hell he wanted other than Katie safe.

“
Of
course,
”
Steven and Blanche chorused.

“
With
a restraining order against him to steer clear of Katie,
”
Bill added.

“
So
basically Katie's safety is dependent on how people vote,
”
Travis said with frustration. He wasn
’
t
sure if he liked that idea or not. It made him feel helpless.