said, pulling a pack of cigarettes from a pocket.
They drove perhaps another mile before Ron turned to him, a half-cocked smile on his face.
"You know that bus could keep you and your friends living quite comfortable."
"Forget it." Matt said. "I already told you we are out of here as soon as Zack is better."
"I know. But that could take a little while."
"How do you know? You don't even know what his injuries were."
"They must be pretty serious if you brought him here. You said earlier he was shot. If it was a simple flesh wound, you could have taken care of it yourself. My guess is he's shot up pretty bad." He gave Matt a smug grin, waiting for him to respond.
"There's a bullet in his side. And it nicked his lung."
"Like I said, it could take a while before he was better."
"I still don't want to go down into the city."
"Well then where the hell are you going to go?" Jenkins asked, his eyes hard. You don't want to go into the city. You don't want to stay here. Where the hell you going to go?" his voice was mocking and arrogant.
"A friend of mine has a place up in the mountains. We were headed there until Zack was shot."
"If you’re going up into the mountains you're going to need things." Ron piped in. "Things you can only get down there in the city."
Matt knew he was right. They planned on staying at the cabin until things were back to normal. Matt knew that wouldn't be for a long time. There might be enough to get them by for a while, but not for the duration Matt had in mind. And food was the least of their worries. They could hunt and fish to eat. He was thinking more along the lines of blankets, bandages, medicine, and clothes. Especially winter clothing. If they were going to hunt and fish they would need as much extra tackle and bullets as they could carry.
"I know you know what I'm talking about." Ron said triumphantly. He had him. And he knew it.
"You're right." Matt said reluctantly. "But how can I get what I'll need for myself if I'm too busy supplying the hospital?"
"When you go out, it's with specific items in mind. They know what they need. Besides, it's standard practice to reserve one quarter of your cargo space for your own take."
"Standard practice huh?" Matt repeated sourly.
"Hell yes. We all gotta get paid." Ron said with a chuckle.
"If I go, it has to wait until tomorrow morning." Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Matt cut him off. "I need some sleep, and I'm not going anywhere until I find out about Zack. The doctor said I could find out tomorrow morning. I'm meeting Susan at the parking lot entrance at first light."
"But after that you’re in?"
"A couple of more things. I want my companions and our gear put someplace safe. And I don't mean in that refugee camp. You told me a while ago that there were soldiers at Fort Douglas. Take us there. And I want proper medical treatment given to Zack. I know you have doctors and a hospital on the base. Those are my conditions." He waited for either of them to argue so he could tell them both to shove it straight up their Asses! But they only nodded to one another.
"I think I can arrange to have them moved to Fort Douglas." Jenkins said.
"Today? As soon as we get back?"
"I'll take care of it." Jenkins’s said.
"What about medical treatment for Zack?" It was a long shot. He wasn’t supposed to meet Susan until the morning.
"I don't see any problem their either." Matt was amazed at how easily they had met his demands.
"Why are you guys being so helpful? One run down into the city can't be that helpful."
Ron and Sgt. Jenkins gave each other an amused glance.
"If only you knew." Ron said, chuckling as if to a private joke.
"Well why don't you fill me in?" Matt asked.
"HEADS UP!" the Comtech called. "WE GOT DEADFUCKS!" The Humvee skidded to a halt.
"Talk to me!" Jenkins called to the front seat. They were all peering out the windshield.
"Four deadfucks, Sarge." the Comtech said. "Two hundred feet ahead." Jenkins patted the top gunner on the
They drove perhaps another mile before Ron turned to him, a half-cocked smile on his face.
"You know that bus could keep you and your friends living quite comfortable."
"Forget it." Matt said. "I already told you we are out of here as soon as Zack is better."
"I know. But that could take a little while."
"How do you know? You don't even know what his injuries were."
"They must be pretty serious if you brought him here. You said earlier he was shot. If it was a simple flesh wound, you could have taken care of it yourself. My guess is he's shot up pretty bad." He gave Matt a smug grin, waiting for him to respond.
"There's a bullet in his side. And it nicked his lung."
"Like I said, it could take a while before he was better."
"I still don't want to go down into the city."
"Well then where the hell are you going to go?" Jenkins asked, his eyes hard. You don't want to go into the city. You don't want to stay here. Where the hell you going to go?" his voice was mocking and arrogant.
"A friend of mine has a place up in the mountains. We were headed there until Zack was shot."
"If you’re going up into the mountains you're going to need things." Ron piped in. "Things you can only get down there in the city."
Matt knew he was right. They planned on staying at the cabin until things were back to normal. Matt knew that wouldn't be for a long time. There might be enough to get them by for a while, but not for the duration Matt had in mind. And food was the least of their worries. They could hunt and fish to eat. He was thinking more along the lines of blankets, bandages, medicine, and clothes. Especially winter clothing. If they were going to hunt and fish they would need as much extra tackle and bullets as they could carry.
"I know you know what I'm talking about." Ron said triumphantly. He had him. And he knew it.
"You're right." Matt said reluctantly. "But how can I get what I'll need for myself if I'm too busy supplying the hospital?"
"When you go out, it's with specific items in mind. They know what they need. Besides, it's standard practice to reserve one quarter of your cargo space for your own take."
"Standard practice huh?" Matt repeated sourly.
"Hell yes. We all gotta get paid." Ron said with a chuckle.
"If I go, it has to wait until tomorrow morning." Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Matt cut him off. "I need some sleep, and I'm not going anywhere until I find out about Zack. The doctor said I could find out tomorrow morning. I'm meeting Susan at the parking lot entrance at first light."
"But after that you’re in?"
"A couple of more things. I want my companions and our gear put someplace safe. And I don't mean in that refugee camp. You told me a while ago that there were soldiers at Fort Douglas. Take us there. And I want proper medical treatment given to Zack. I know you have doctors and a hospital on the base. Those are my conditions." He waited for either of them to argue so he could tell them both to shove it straight up their Asses! But they only nodded to one another.
"I think I can arrange to have them moved to Fort Douglas." Jenkins said.
"Today? As soon as we get back?"
"I'll take care of it." Jenkins’s said.
"What about medical treatment for Zack?" It was a long shot. He wasn’t supposed to meet Susan until the morning.
"I don't see any problem their either." Matt was amazed at how easily they had met his demands.
"Why are you guys being so helpful? One run down into the city can't be that helpful."
Ron and Sgt. Jenkins gave each other an amused glance.
"If only you knew." Ron said, chuckling as if to a private joke.
"Well why don't you fill me in?" Matt asked.
"HEADS UP!" the Comtech called. "WE GOT DEADFUCKS!" The Humvee skidded to a halt.
"Talk to me!" Jenkins called to the front seat. They were all peering out the windshield.
"Four deadfucks, Sarge." the Comtech said. "Two hundred feet ahead." Jenkins patted the top gunner on the
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