The Day After Never - Covenant (Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Thriller - Book 3) (14 page)

“Tarak,” Colt confirmed.

Elliot eyed the guide. “We’re readying your payment. You are our honored guest this evening and are invited to our celebratory feast. When you get back to your territory, be sure to thank your council for their cooperation in this matter. I’m sorry you lost a man. It’s never easy.”

Tarak nodded wordlessly.

Elliot twisted to his fellow riders. “I’m sorry. In my excitement I neglected to introduce my colleagues.” He indicated the man to his right. “This is Arnold Sheer. He’s our head of security. And this is Michael Bailey, my second-in-command.” The pair tipped the brims of their hats in unison. “Beside them are Toby, Ken, and Richard, our operations directors – they’re actually the ones who keep things running, not me.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Toby said, and the others nodded.

“Let’s get you to the compound so you can get oriented and then rest. This must have been grueling. I can only imagine how hard it’s been.”

“If you have hot water, I’d sell my soul for a bath,” Ruby said.

“Of course we do. Solar heaters, courtesy of Los Alamos. I think we can arrange something bearable.”

Lucas shifted in his saddle. “You’re a medical doctor?” he asked.

“Well, yes, but mainly research. Been quite some time since I saw patients. Why?”

“Your man here got bit by a rattler, and his leg’s something of a mess. Got him on antibiotics, but he needs a checkup.”

“Good Lord. That’s right. Our fellow in Albuquerque mentioned something about that.”

“It’s getting better,” Colt said.

“Sarah will look you over first thing.”

Colt made a face. “Sarah’s the camp doc. The butcher, they call her.”

“Nonsense. The woman’s a national treasure.”

“Not really generous with the pain meds, is she?” Colt countered.

“I’ll ensure she’s less parsimonious in your case,” said Elliot, with another infectious grin. “Now come. Everyone’s anxious to meet you.”

They followed the riders across the grass-covered expanse through a gap between a pair of small peaks. When they arrived at the compound, a crowd had already formed: healthy-looking men and women, their skin bronzed from the sun, most Lucas’s age or younger. Lucas’s party dismounted, and several young men approached and took their reins.

“See to it that these animals receive our platinum treatment,” Elliot instructed. “They’ve done a noble job.” He turned to the assembly and executed a small bow. “Ladies and gentlemen, our covenant to make the world livable again is nearly a reality. Our prayers have been answered, and our hope for the future has been delivered to us by these fine men and women.” Elliot introduced Lucas, Sierra, and Ruby. “They’ve ridden countless miles and been through the mill, so they’re to be afforded every courtesy.” Elliot turned to them next. “We’ll show you to your quarters, and someone will explain how everything works. Get cleaned up, and then eat your fill and catch up on your rest. I imagine you’re knackered, as they used to say in the old country.”

Lucas nodded. “I’ll want my saddlebags.”

“They’re safe with us,” Arnold said.

“No doubt. I’d still like them with me.”

“I’ll have someone bring them to your room.”

“Barn’s right over there. I can get them myself.”

Arnold’s expression hardened, but he merely nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll give you a hand.”

Lucas followed the security head to the massive barn and noted dozens of horses. “This all your animals?” he asked.

“No. We have three other holding areas.”

“What about in winter? You keep them here?”

Arnold nodded. “The barns have heat. And we built them with insulation. Same with all the buildings, although it can get hairy with a big snowfall. Lot of shoveling.”

“Why did you choose this location?”

“I didn’t. The Doc did. I joined up after they were already established.”

“Huh. What’s your background?”

“Marines. Captain. Three tours of combat.” Arnold studied Lucas’s face. “You?”

“Texas Ranger.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Why?” Lucas asked as he retrieved his saddlebags from where one of the youths had placed them with his saddle.

“I’ll be honest. When I heard Colt was bringing a mess of people with him, I wasn’t thrilled. We got plenty of mouths to feed already, and some of them don’t know a whole lot about guns and the like.” Arnold noted Lucas’s M4. “I’m guessing you’re not one of those.”

Lucas nodded. He could understand the man’s concerns. “I can handle myself.”

“What about the rest?”

“Sierra’s coming along. So’s Ruby.” He gave Arnold a brief rundown of their battles with the Crew. “Neither of them is dead weight.”

“I don’t like that the Apache knows our location.”

Lucas nodded. “Neither do I. But it wasn’t my call.”

Arnold moved a step closer. “Need some help?”

“No. I got it.” Lucas looked at where a youth was brushing Tango. “Horse could use some food and water.”

“He’ll probably get a massage, too. We’ll take good care of him.”

They exited the barn and Lucas walked to where Sierra was waiting with Eve, speaking to Tarak. Colt and Ruby were nowhere to be seen. Sierra spotted Lucas and her face lit up, even though it was obvious she was tired. Lucas’s heart beat faster at the sight. Arnold leaned a little closer. “Fine-looking woman.”

“That she is,” Lucas agreed.

“Judging by the way she’s eyeing you, you’re a lucky man.”

Lucas remained silent, the only sound his boots on the dirt path.

Elliot came out of one of the long, low buildings with Michael as Lucas approached Sierra. “There you are. Good. I’ll show you to your rooms. Eve, you get your own. Will that be acceptable?”

Eve nodded and smiled at the idea.

“Of course, you all will as well,” Elliot added as he registered the fatigue on Lucas’s face. “My apologies. We’ve taken up far too much of your time. It’s just that this is an exciting moment for us.”

“Where’s Ruby?” Lucas asked.

“Your friend got a head start on you.”

“And Colt?” Lucas asked.

“Sarah whisked him away. Didn’t like the way he looks.”

“We did what we could.”

“Oh, you undoubtedly saved his life. He mentioned that we owe you some gold, as well.”

“You can put it against my bill.”

Elliot laughed at that. “I think you underestimate our gratitude for all you’ve done. You’ll be able to drink out on your good deeds for the duration, I assure you.” Elliot motioned to the second building to their left. “These will be your sleeping quarters until we can arrange something more permanent. And we’ll see if we can find you some clean things to wear. I imagine you’re tired of those after weeks on the road.”

“Did the job,” Lucas said.

“That will be wonderful. Thank you, Doctor,” Sierra said.

“Please – Elliot to you.”

Sierra held out her hand to Eve, who took it. “Well, Elliot, let’s get this youngster scrubbed off and see if she has an appetite, shall we?”

“Indeed,” Elliot agreed.

She threw a thousand-watt smile at Lucas, which wasn’t lost on Arnold or Elliot. “Lead the way.”

Chapter 24

The sleeping quarters were snug – Lucas’s room was a twelve-by-ten box with an efficiency bathroom attached, but to his eye it was a suite at the Ritz. He set his saddlebags down by the door, sat on the bed to remove his boots, and nearly fainted at the feel of a real mattress. He’d almost forgotten what a bed felt like after so many nights on the road, and it was all he could do to resist lying down, but the coating of road dust on him was the deciding factor.

The gravity-fed shower provided enough warm water to last fifteen wondrous minutes, and the unfamiliar luxury of soap and shampoo was almost too much for his senses. When the water finally cooled, he stepped from the stall and studied his face in the mirror: the dark lines beneath his eyes provided mute testament to the ordeal they’d been through.

Five minutes later he was outside in the sunshine, wearing his last clean shirt and jeans; earlier a young man had appeared at his door and taken his soiled clothes to wash them. Sierra appeared moments later and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her in a simple white summer dress, Eve in a miniature long-sleeved version by her side.

“I could get used to this,” she said as she joined him and tiptoed to kiss his cheek.

“Me too,” Lucas said, taking her hand and trying not to fixate on the tattoo of the eye of Providence on her bare arm.

“They took my clothes,” Eve said.

“Probably needed a cleaning,” Lucas replied.

“Hope they bring them back.”

Sierra smiled down at the little girl. “If all their clothes are as pretty as your dress, maybe we can trade them for our old stuff.”

Elliot reappeared from the larger building, trailed by Arnold and Michael. The two subordinates couldn’t have been more different in appearance – Arnold a hardened veteran with the lean, no-nonsense physique and features of a professional combatant, Michael a slender younger man with birdlike features and quick eyes. Elliot moved toward them just as Ruby emerged from the sleeping quarters, her hair brushed, also wearing a white dress.

“I hope everything fit,” Elliot said. “We only have so much fabric, but what we have is white, as you no doubt surmised.”

“It’s lovely,” Ruby said. “You make these here?”

“Yes, but only recently. It’s one of the additional products we’ve found we can trade.”

“Where do you barter?” Lucas asked.

“Santa Fe’s the closest outpost. But of course nobody knows it’s us. We do only small lots through different people to keep from leaving a trail. Not that anyone suspects a thing. We’ve been very careful to keep our presence a secret, as you probably know. We used to have our own trading post, but we shut it down a couple years ago so we wouldn’t draw too much interest.”

Ruby nodded. “Smart. You’d be overrun if people suspected how nice this is.”

“Yes, a regrettable byproduct of the crisis. One would hope that civilization would return, but it’s showing great reluctance. And now, with the threat of a new virus…well, let’s just say Mother Nature’s won every round so far.”

“But you believe you can create a working vaccine?” Ruby asked.

“That’s the hope. Which reminds me – do you have the USB drive with young Eve’s information?” Michael said, stepping into the conversation before Elliot could reply.

Lucas fished it out of the front pocket of his jeans and handed it to Michael. “That’s it.”

“Brilliant,” Elliot said. “Thank God for small miracles – or in this case, big ones.” He crouched down and smiled at Eve. “Want to look around at all the cool stuff?”

Eve nodded shyly, and Elliot chuckled as he straightened. “We can start with the layout, and then I’ll show you the growing areas and the underground bunkers.”

“Colt mentioned you have gardens,” Ruby said.

“That’s right. Over on the far side of the valley, where the sun’s optimal. Tomatoes, carrots, other vegetables, some fruits and herbs…”

“I’d love to see them. I have somewhat of a green thumb.”

“Marvelous. A woman after my own heart.”

The tour lasted an hour and ended at what was obviously Elliot’s pride and joy as well as his lair: the laboratory that he’d built in a subterranean bunker, connected to the other storage bunkers and equipment rooms by a series of passages. Elliot’s living quarters were adjacent to the lab, which he explained was at his orders so he could work odd hours whenever an idea sprang to mind.

“I came up with the concept the second year here – something that would stay constant temperature year round with minimal heat or cooling, wouldn’t be affected by unusually heavy snowfall, and would be defendable if attacked. There’s no sign of it from above, and the only entrance is through the cave we passed through,” Elliot said. “We’ve since created a whole complex of subterranean dorms for winter. Came in handy last year, which was especially brutal.”

“Don’t you have a problem living underground?” Sierra asked. “I couldn’t do it.”

“Like everything, one adapts. It’s not so bad. I’m not a mole or anything, and I tend to work best at night, so often it’s dark out when I’m in here anyway.”

“The Doc is one of those rare birds who only needs four or five hours of sleep,” Michael added.

“One of the benefits of old age,” Elliot said.

“Ruby used to live in a bunker too,” Sierra said. “Isn’t that right?”

“Did you really?” Elliot exclaimed.

“Yes, well, it did the job.” Ruby told him about her bunker. When she was finished, Elliot was frowning.

“What a tragedy that you lost it,” he said. “We owe you so much.”

“Spilt milk,” Ruby said with a shrug, although her eyes were moist.

Elliot showed them around the laboratory, explaining the different pieces of equipment, including a level 4 clean room setup where he could work with pathogens like the virus. Lucas was uncomfortable being in the same area with something so virulent and deadly, but Elliot assured them that it was perfectly safe.

“Another reason I stuck this under a mountain – very little chance of anything damaging the vault and letting our bug escape. We poured three feet of high-density concrete in the floors, walls, and ceilings of the lab to ensure nothing nature threw at us would cause a problem.”

“It’s very impressive. But why not use the facilities at Los Alamos?” Ruby asked.

“Too obvious and out in the open. And too many ghosts,” Elliot said with a shudder. “Or rather, bad memories.”

Ruby let the subject drop, as Elliot was obviously agitated by the question.

“There’s much more to show you. The computer area, for one. Ruby, I think you’ll approve. Then the communications room, the mess facility…”

Arnold nodded. “Speaking of which, it’s way beyond lunchtime. Let’s go grab something to eat.”

“That sounds great,” Lucas said.

The dining area was in one of the aboveground buildings, large enough to seat a hundred and fifty at the long bench tables in one sitting. Elliot led them past a few scattered groups of late diners to the service counter, where they scooped out helpings of chicken stew and rice with vegetables. A woman brought them pitchers of freshly made fruit punch, and they sat at the nearest table and dug in.