that need medical attention. We need to get them somewhere they can relax.”
“Wait a minute,” said Arthur. “You don’t think Jules is going to take them in, do you? He keeps his numbers light. He’s never going to go for this.”
“He’s going to have to,” said Laura.
“No,” said Billy. “Arthur’s right. Jules will be willing to help us with DIA, but he’s not going to take these people in.”
“If we charge into his area with all these people, he’ll never show his face,” said Arthur. “He’ll hole up and we’ll never find them.”
“Do you really think he’d just leave these people stranded?” asked Laura.
“Yes,” said Billy. “Jules and The Department are about survival, no matter the cost. We can’t expect him to change just because we need him to.”
“Damn it,” said Laura. “I’ve always hated that piece of shit.”
“Hate him all you want,” said Billy. “He’s still alive, and so are the ones that follow him.”
“There’s a rehab clinic near Castle Rock that we could camp at,” said Arthur. “When I was working with Jules, we spent some time raiding the place. It was walled, and was still in pretty good shape. As long as no raiders took it over we should be able to camp there for a bit. Then Billy and I could head out to find Jules.”
“You’re in no shape for that,” said Laura.
“Jules knows me,” said Arthur. “He wanted me to stay with his crew. I’m our best shot at finding him.”
“You two gimps won’t make it twenty feet by yourselves,” said Zack. “Billy’s back is fucked and Arthur, that leg of yours is in worse shape than you’re admitting. I agree that you two are probably the only ones that Jules will talk to these days, but you’ll need someone to go out there with you. I can go with them if you want, Laura.”
“Let’s worry about that when the time comes,” said Laura. “First we need to find this rehab center. Also, we’ve got another problem to deal with.”
“What’s that?” asked Arthur.
“The guy that Harrison came with, Ben,” said Laura. “I don’t want to just send the guy out there by himself, but there’s a chance that the military was able to track him somehow. We’d be better off dumping him and his brother.”
“The guy saved everyone at Vineyard,” said Billy.
“I know,” said Laura, penitent. “I don’t want to abandon him, but I’m not sure he’s worth the risk.”
“Then why did we just make a stand against Jerald if we were just planning on dumping the guy anyhow?” asked Billy.
“Let’s get the lieutenants and take a vote,” said Zack.
“No,” said Laura. “With Kim and Hero gone, that’ll give Kayla, Clyde, and Dustin too much power.”
“What are you saying?” asked Zack.
“I’m saying we’re ending the old structure. You two are the only lieutenant s now.” Laura pointed at Zack and Billy. “Sorry Arthur, no offense, but I need to cut out all the chatter I can.”
“I understand,” said Arthur.
“Zack, you and Billy are polar opposites, which is why I need you at my side. But you’ve both got to promise me that you won’t question what I say.”
They both agreed.
“Before we leave, I promise I’ll talk to Ben. I’ll see if I can find any tracking device on the pilot, but if we can’t then we’d be better off leaving them both behind. I hate the idea as much as you, but we’ve got no choice. But I promise I won’t leave either of them here to die until I get a chance to check them out. I owe the guy that at least for what he did in Vineyard. Let’s get going.”
“ Kayla and Dustin are going to be pissed,” said Billy.
“I know,” said Laura. “They’re welcome to walk out on us if they want to. As long as I’ve got the two of you here, I feel good that you’ll help me make the right decisions. That means I don’t want either of you going off to look for Jules either. We can let Arthur take Dustin and Abe.”
“But, Laura…”
“Wait a minute,” said Arthur. “You don’t think Jules is going to take them in, do you? He keeps his numbers light. He’s never going to go for this.”
“He’s going to have to,” said Laura.
“No,” said Billy. “Arthur’s right. Jules will be willing to help us with DIA, but he’s not going to take these people in.”
“If we charge into his area with all these people, he’ll never show his face,” said Arthur. “He’ll hole up and we’ll never find them.”
“Do you really think he’d just leave these people stranded?” asked Laura.
“Yes,” said Billy. “Jules and The Department are about survival, no matter the cost. We can’t expect him to change just because we need him to.”
“Damn it,” said Laura. “I’ve always hated that piece of shit.”
“Hate him all you want,” said Billy. “He’s still alive, and so are the ones that follow him.”
“There’s a rehab clinic near Castle Rock that we could camp at,” said Arthur. “When I was working with Jules, we spent some time raiding the place. It was walled, and was still in pretty good shape. As long as no raiders took it over we should be able to camp there for a bit. Then Billy and I could head out to find Jules.”
“You’re in no shape for that,” said Laura.
“Jules knows me,” said Arthur. “He wanted me to stay with his crew. I’m our best shot at finding him.”
“You two gimps won’t make it twenty feet by yourselves,” said Zack. “Billy’s back is fucked and Arthur, that leg of yours is in worse shape than you’re admitting. I agree that you two are probably the only ones that Jules will talk to these days, but you’ll need someone to go out there with you. I can go with them if you want, Laura.”
“Let’s worry about that when the time comes,” said Laura. “First we need to find this rehab center. Also, we’ve got another problem to deal with.”
“What’s that?” asked Arthur.
“The guy that Harrison came with, Ben,” said Laura. “I don’t want to just send the guy out there by himself, but there’s a chance that the military was able to track him somehow. We’d be better off dumping him and his brother.”
“The guy saved everyone at Vineyard,” said Billy.
“I know,” said Laura, penitent. “I don’t want to abandon him, but I’m not sure he’s worth the risk.”
“Then why did we just make a stand against Jerald if we were just planning on dumping the guy anyhow?” asked Billy.
“Let’s get the lieutenants and take a vote,” said Zack.
“No,” said Laura. “With Kim and Hero gone, that’ll give Kayla, Clyde, and Dustin too much power.”
“What are you saying?” asked Zack.
“I’m saying we’re ending the old structure. You two are the only lieutenant s now.” Laura pointed at Zack and Billy. “Sorry Arthur, no offense, but I need to cut out all the chatter I can.”
“I understand,” said Arthur.
“Zack, you and Billy are polar opposites, which is why I need you at my side. But you’ve both got to promise me that you won’t question what I say.”
They both agreed.
“Before we leave, I promise I’ll talk to Ben. I’ll see if I can find any tracking device on the pilot, but if we can’t then we’d be better off leaving them both behind. I hate the idea as much as you, but we’ve got no choice. But I promise I won’t leave either of them here to die until I get a chance to check them out. I owe the guy that at least for what he did in Vineyard. Let’s get going.”
“ Kayla and Dustin are going to be pissed,” said Billy.
“I know,” said Laura. “They’re welcome to walk out on us if they want to. As long as I’ve got the two of you here, I feel good that you’ll help me make the right decisions. That means I don’t want either of you going off to look for Jules either. We can let Arthur take Dustin and Abe.”
“But, Laura…”
Similar Books
