Rotter World by Scott R. Baker

time. Meanwhile, the idiots here managed to survive in spite of themselves. Even worse, they coddled the creatures that had brought this onto mankind, and would eventually get his son killed. He wanted to get as far away from these people as possible, and would have already set out on his own if he did not have an obligation to keep Compton alive. He had reached the end of his patience. Once the colonel ensured that the vaccine got to the government-in-exile in Omaha, he would request a transfer to a combat unit to get some payback on the rotters for what they did to Michael. If he lived that long.
    “Is everything all right, Colonel?”
    Thompson glanced over to see Compton standing beside him. He had been so consumed by his own thoughts he had not even heard the doctor approach. Shit , he chastised himself. Screw up like that in the field and you’ll become dinner for the living dead.
    “We’re all ready to go, doctor.”
    “Good to hear. But that’s not what I asked.”
    At first Thompson wanted to keep quiet, but that would not work since Compton knew that he was upset. “To tell you the truth, I’ve got some bad vibes about going back to Site R.”
    “Because Mad Dog’s part of the team?”
    “I can handle that little coward. I just don’t like bringing the bloodsuckers with us.”
    Compton rested his forearms on the railing. “They’re the least of my worries right now.”
    “You’re not afraid they’ll turn on us while on the road?”
    “They need us to get to Site R alive as much as we need them.”
    For a moment, Thompson was taken aback. “It sounds like you want the bloodsuckers along.”
    “Actually, I don’t mind. Paul may be an idiot about a lot of things, but he’s right about the bloodsuckers greatly increasing the fighting strength of his group. Having them along improves our chances of success.” Compton pushed himself off the railing, turned around, and leaned back against it. He glanced around to make certain no one was in earshot, and then spoke softly so only the colonel could hear. “And I like the idea of knowing where they are at all times.”
    Thompson grinned. “You mean keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
    “Something like that. Besides, bringing the bloodsuckers along with us makes it that much easier to finally deal with them once we reach Site R.”

Chapter Thirteen

    “I wonder what it’s like out there.” Ari stated it not as a question but as a way to fill the gap in the conversation as she loaded 8 millimeter rounds into the ten-cartridge magazine.
    “Same as before,” responded Leila, “only much more hellish.”
    “How so?” asked Doreen, brushing a long strand of red hair out of her face and back behind her ear.
    “There are no people out there now.” Leila looked up from loading ammunition into a Mauser magazine. She had a pretty face, with emerald eyes and dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders, but her expression had hardened, the result of her experiences before arriving at camp. “Right after the outbreak, you could find survivors all over the place. It didn’t matter if they were friendly or not. They were human, and when we were out there we didn’t feel alone. Most of them didn’t survive the last eight months, so when we go out there tonight we’re entering a dead land. Literally. There’s nothing out there but rotters.”
    “You’re a cheery bitch.” The comment came from Stephanie, the oldest member of the Angels.
    “It’s true,” said Leila.
    Stephanie cleaned her Mauser, never once looking at Leila. “Stop trying to undermine morale.”
    “You have a problem with the truth?”
    “The truth is you have no clue what it’s like out there.”
    Leila threw the half-filled magazine into the box of 8 millimeter rounds. “Considering what I went through out there—”
    “We’ve all heard it before. ‘I had to fuck ten guys a night every night in order to survive’.” Stephanie slid the Mauser’s bolt back