overnight.”
While Kath was making arrangements for Elliot and Cindy to be alone, the Tall Man, Mulhaven, and Bob had wanted a better picture of the approaching fire. The Tall Man was surprised when Chess had volunteered to take the Hummer up the rise toward Prince George to the spot just before the road intersected with Highway 97, the best vantage point close to their position. The Tall Man had been hesitant to let Chess go at first, but was reassured when Chess had no objections to Mulhaven and David tagging along.
“That’s good to know, but we can’t let our guard down. Fire is a complication we don’t want to fuck with.”
“I agree with you, Chuck, I do,” Chess said. “I also think the cooler weather will keep it at bay.”
“Not so sure on that.” Mulhaven looked around him at the tree tops, then the sky. “We might feel the chill here, but where the fire is, you can be sure the temperature has changed dramatically. The ambient heat would dry out the trees and the undergrowth. The fire may not move as fast as it did, but it’ll still move. With no active measures taken against it, this fire will only stop when it rains—or when there’s nothing left to burn.”
“Let’s hope it burns all the foamers and those other things, then.”
Chess waited for an explanation of what “those other things” might be, but when none came, he took it upon himself to find out.
“What are these ‘other things” you mention?” He immediately noticed the tension in the exchange of looks between the Tall Man and Mulhaven.
“If you haven’t encountered them, it’s hard to describe their appearance in a way that you’d believe. For now, all you need to know is they’re worse than the foamers—much worse!” Mulhaven informed him.
Chess was intrigued. What could possibly be worse than the foamers? He didn’t press the issue. If neither of these men wanted to say, then they probably had good reasons.
Maybe you don’t trust me enough now, but you will, you will.
Chess understood what it was like to be outside of the group, the clique. He was Special Forces, for Christ’s sakes, and any soldier who wasn’t, wasn’t trusted. It was that simple. Mulhaven was the one who had set him straight, though he may not be aware of it. Chess would let him know when the time came.
“Chess, why don’t you put all the vehicles into this clearing and have them face the exit, just in case we need to make a quick dash.”
“Good idea, Chuck. Right on it.” Chess noted how the Tall Man used a few British phrases. Considering the way he conducted himself and his tactical knowledge, Chess supposed he had British military experience.
“What did you say to him while you were gone, Riley?” the Tall Man asked when Chess was out of earshot.
“Not a great deal. I just think he understands this isn’t the army anymore, and none of us are about to tolerate any macho war hero bullshit. You should cut him some slack. He’s just witnessed the country collapse, and came under attack by an army of foamers for the first time, which wasn’t exactly pleasant.”
“Sure, I can do that.” But I’ll keep my eyes on him all the same, after the run-ins we’ve had with ex-military . “Glad to, Riley.”
“And I think our new friend Sam brought some humor out of him.”
“Yeah, that guy is in a class of his own, isn’t he?”
The two shared a quick laugh before Mulhaven went to move the motor home while the Tall Man did the same with the bus. The motor home would be used as a guard house for everyone on duty. It had a couple of beds to sack out on, and water could be boiled for coffee or tea—or Mulhaven’s favorite noodles. Regular patrols in pairs would be conducted from now until it was time for them to leave.
----
I nside the house , Kath, Samantha, and Margaret occupied themselves gathering items usually not found at the top of most survival lists: needles and thread, plastic bags, extra bandages, staples and a
While Kath was making arrangements for Elliot and Cindy to be alone, the Tall Man, Mulhaven, and Bob had wanted a better picture of the approaching fire. The Tall Man was surprised when Chess had volunteered to take the Hummer up the rise toward Prince George to the spot just before the road intersected with Highway 97, the best vantage point close to their position. The Tall Man had been hesitant to let Chess go at first, but was reassured when Chess had no objections to Mulhaven and David tagging along.
“That’s good to know, but we can’t let our guard down. Fire is a complication we don’t want to fuck with.”
“I agree with you, Chuck, I do,” Chess said. “I also think the cooler weather will keep it at bay.”
“Not so sure on that.” Mulhaven looked around him at the tree tops, then the sky. “We might feel the chill here, but where the fire is, you can be sure the temperature has changed dramatically. The ambient heat would dry out the trees and the undergrowth. The fire may not move as fast as it did, but it’ll still move. With no active measures taken against it, this fire will only stop when it rains—or when there’s nothing left to burn.”
“Let’s hope it burns all the foamers and those other things, then.”
Chess waited for an explanation of what “those other things” might be, but when none came, he took it upon himself to find out.
“What are these ‘other things” you mention?” He immediately noticed the tension in the exchange of looks between the Tall Man and Mulhaven.
“If you haven’t encountered them, it’s hard to describe their appearance in a way that you’d believe. For now, all you need to know is they’re worse than the foamers—much worse!” Mulhaven informed him.
Chess was intrigued. What could possibly be worse than the foamers? He didn’t press the issue. If neither of these men wanted to say, then they probably had good reasons.
Maybe you don’t trust me enough now, but you will, you will.
Chess understood what it was like to be outside of the group, the clique. He was Special Forces, for Christ’s sakes, and any soldier who wasn’t, wasn’t trusted. It was that simple. Mulhaven was the one who had set him straight, though he may not be aware of it. Chess would let him know when the time came.
“Chess, why don’t you put all the vehicles into this clearing and have them face the exit, just in case we need to make a quick dash.”
“Good idea, Chuck. Right on it.” Chess noted how the Tall Man used a few British phrases. Considering the way he conducted himself and his tactical knowledge, Chess supposed he had British military experience.
“What did you say to him while you were gone, Riley?” the Tall Man asked when Chess was out of earshot.
“Not a great deal. I just think he understands this isn’t the army anymore, and none of us are about to tolerate any macho war hero bullshit. You should cut him some slack. He’s just witnessed the country collapse, and came under attack by an army of foamers for the first time, which wasn’t exactly pleasant.”
“Sure, I can do that.” But I’ll keep my eyes on him all the same, after the run-ins we’ve had with ex-military . “Glad to, Riley.”
“And I think our new friend Sam brought some humor out of him.”
“Yeah, that guy is in a class of his own, isn’t he?”
The two shared a quick laugh before Mulhaven went to move the motor home while the Tall Man did the same with the bus. The motor home would be used as a guard house for everyone on duty. It had a couple of beds to sack out on, and water could be boiled for coffee or tea—or Mulhaven’s favorite noodles. Regular patrols in pairs would be conducted from now until it was time for them to leave.
----
I nside the house , Kath, Samantha, and Margaret occupied themselves gathering items usually not found at the top of most survival lists: needles and thread, plastic bags, extra bandages, staples and a
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