Read Online The Survivors Book III: Winter by V. L. Dreyer - Free Book Online
Authors: V. L. Dreyer
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face that looked twice my age. The years had not been kind to her, but her eyes were alert and intelligent despite her weather-worn skin. I gave her a faint smile, and pointedly changed the subject.
" So, you guys already figured out that we're going to be leaving," I said, glancing back and forth between them. "That's good. It's going to be dangerous, but it'll be safer if we stick together."
" I don't think we have much of a choice, to be honest," Skye answered, her demeanour changing from playful to serious. "Those things have already killed six people, and from Michael's stoic silence I gather that they almost got a seventh today. You've mentioned gangs in the south, but we can deal with those. These things are just… monsters."
" I'm concerned that the mutated virus may be spreading," I admitted, shooting a glance back over my shoulder towards the heavily-barricaded front door. "There were so many of them out there. At least nine, by my count."
" Yeah," Skye agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "I doubt you're the only one thinking that, either. Speaking of which, we better get everyone inside. It's starting to get dark. Elly, can you grab the bullhorn?"
" Bullhorn? We have a bullhorn?" I asked curiously, but Skye just gave me a grin and said nothing.
Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out one of our walkie-talkies, and spoke into it. "Home-time, guys. Everyone start heading back to base."
A chorus of agreement came back to her from the holders of the other radios. When Elly returned with the bullhorn, she stuck her head out the door and repeated the message loudly enough for anyone without a radio to hear. Within a few minutes, the other survivors began to return.
The first to return were the men who had been involved in the salvage operation at the old motel, covered in soot and looking exhausted. I was a little surprised to see Anahera's men among them at first glance, but after a moment of thought I realised that it made perfect sense. One of the many things that had changed since the fall of the human empire was the average person's attitude towards group effort.
Back when we could rely on a steady food source and a roof over our heads, it was okay to be fully focused on your individual wants and needs, or those of your direct family. Now, it had become second nature to do your part for everyone in the group, regardless of how you were feeling. Helping the group was helping yourself. If you didn't work, you didn't eat. They'd been through a lot of trauma and were grieving for their lost friends, but they were still willing to work for their supper. I understood that, and I respected it.
As they filtered through the door, I took a moment to greet them. I could see the deep sadness in their eyes, but also relief and gratitude. All of them had a smile for me, even if it was a little weak. One by one, we sent them upstairs to the loft.
" It's going to get pretty crowded up there tonight," I commented. Just at that moment, Doc arrived with a huge armful of sooty blankets and pillows. The three of us rushed over to help him.
" Yeah," Skye agreed as we unfolded the blankets, and shook them out the door to get the worst of the soot off them. "We've retrieved as much bedding as we can, but it's still going to be a bit uncomfortable for everyone. Better safe than sorry, though."
" Well, we're going to need to have some people on night watch, anyway," I answered, glancing around the little building for inspiration. "I'm thinking two watching upstairs, two downstairs. We don't want those things sneaking up on us while we're sleeping."
" Now, that is an awful thought," Elly commented quietly; I glanced at her just in time to see her shudder. "It frightens me to think how close they came to taking my children from me."
" I won't let them," I said firmly. "I'll protect your kids to the death, if I have to. I'll protect all of the kids,
" So, you guys already figured out that we're going to be leaving," I said, glancing back and forth between them. "That's good. It's going to be dangerous, but it'll be safer if we stick together."
" I don't think we have much of a choice, to be honest," Skye answered, her demeanour changing from playful to serious. "Those things have already killed six people, and from Michael's stoic silence I gather that they almost got a seventh today. You've mentioned gangs in the south, but we can deal with those. These things are just… monsters."
" I'm concerned that the mutated virus may be spreading," I admitted, shooting a glance back over my shoulder towards the heavily-barricaded front door. "There were so many of them out there. At least nine, by my count."
" Yeah," Skye agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "I doubt you're the only one thinking that, either. Speaking of which, we better get everyone inside. It's starting to get dark. Elly, can you grab the bullhorn?"
" Bullhorn? We have a bullhorn?" I asked curiously, but Skye just gave me a grin and said nothing.
Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out one of our walkie-talkies, and spoke into it. "Home-time, guys. Everyone start heading back to base."
A chorus of agreement came back to her from the holders of the other radios. When Elly returned with the bullhorn, she stuck her head out the door and repeated the message loudly enough for anyone without a radio to hear. Within a few minutes, the other survivors began to return.
The first to return were the men who had been involved in the salvage operation at the old motel, covered in soot and looking exhausted. I was a little surprised to see Anahera's men among them at first glance, but after a moment of thought I realised that it made perfect sense. One of the many things that had changed since the fall of the human empire was the average person's attitude towards group effort.
Back when we could rely on a steady food source and a roof over our heads, it was okay to be fully focused on your individual wants and needs, or those of your direct family. Now, it had become second nature to do your part for everyone in the group, regardless of how you were feeling. Helping the group was helping yourself. If you didn't work, you didn't eat. They'd been through a lot of trauma and were grieving for their lost friends, but they were still willing to work for their supper. I understood that, and I respected it.
As they filtered through the door, I took a moment to greet them. I could see the deep sadness in their eyes, but also relief and gratitude. All of them had a smile for me, even if it was a little weak. One by one, we sent them upstairs to the loft.
" It's going to get pretty crowded up there tonight," I commented. Just at that moment, Doc arrived with a huge armful of sooty blankets and pillows. The three of us rushed over to help him.
" Yeah," Skye agreed as we unfolded the blankets, and shook them out the door to get the worst of the soot off them. "We've retrieved as much bedding as we can, but it's still going to be a bit uncomfortable for everyone. Better safe than sorry, though."
" Well, we're going to need to have some people on night watch, anyway," I answered, glancing around the little building for inspiration. "I'm thinking two watching upstairs, two downstairs. We don't want those things sneaking up on us while we're sleeping."
" Now, that is an awful thought," Elly commented quietly; I glanced at her just in time to see her shudder. "It frightens me to think how close they came to taking my children from me."
" I won't let them," I said firmly. "I'll protect your kids to the death, if I have to. I'll protect all of the kids,
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