“No.”
“His name’s golden when it comes to long range ammo. Each armory keeps 500 rounds for their snipers.”
“Why you still have so many?”
“Not so many now. I had almost 300 rounds weighing me down when I left Seattle. There was nothing left there for me any more… you know, after the Sickness, um,… after the Sickness… ah, after it took… um…” Marty stared hard into the fire.
“Marty?” said Amanda, concerned at his sudden change. “Are you okay?”
Marty turned their way, dazed and bewildered. His mouth opened and closed before he was able to speak any further. He wet his lips and his shoulders dropped.
“I lost… my wife Sandy. And my little girl—my Sarah.” Marty was weeping softly now, the tracks of his tears glistening in the firelight. He dropped his face into his hands. Amanda and Connor stared.
“I’m so sorry, Marty,” said Amanda, reaching out and touching his shoulder.
“Yeah, man, I’m sorry to hear that, Marty,” added Connor. Caught off guard, his voice held the weight of experience in losing a loved one.
Marty gained some control of his emotions and gestured to Connor for the black bag. Grasping it hard, he replaced it inside his backpack before glancing at them both.
“It’s done and gone, colonel. And not a fucking thing I can do about it.” The fire popped loudly as if it were an exclamation mark to Marty’s words.
“I know the pain, man,” said Connor. He leaned against Amanda and his eyes took on a faraway look. “I know the pain.”
Marty grabbed the brass fire poker and stirred the fire. He kept his back to them both, wiping his nose with his shirtsleeve, sniffling.
“I’m sorry, guys,” he said, clearing his throat. “I didn’t mean to start crying like a fuckin’ baby.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Marty,” said Connor. Feeling the urgent squeeze on his shoulder, he turned to Amanda and she flicked her head toward Marty, her eyes suggested she should go to him, to comfort him. Connor nodded.
“I’m, uh, not used to talking about… about, um, Sarah. Sandy. Oh.”
Distracted, Marty prodded a log in the fire and did not hear Amanda rise and approach him. He continued trying to apologize.
“I, ah, um, sorry. I still get…”
Without a word, Amanda slipped in front of Marty. Face to face, she wrapped her arms around him in a strong embrace; stiffening, Marty turned toward Connor, not yet moving. After a moment, he gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders, letting his face slip into her thick, black hair. A brief moan escaped, before he straightened, placing Amanda at arm’s length. Connor stood, taking the few steps toward them. Softly, he placed his hands on Marty’s shoulders.
“Marty, there’s nothing to be sorry about. You’re a part of our team now. Your pain is our pain. You understand?”
“Copy that,” said Marty. His voice was just above a whisper.
“Amanda and I decided we want you to join up with us and that means that, at times, our lives will be in your hands. At other times, your life will be in ours. We’re a team and the only way this can work is if there’s complete trust in one another. When there’s pain, we’ll share that pain and when there’s happiness, we’ll share that.”
“Yes, sir. Thanks, colonel. Thanks, Amanda.”
“Okay then.”
“That’s all?”
“Those are the only ground rules you need to know. We can deal with any other questions as they come along.”
“Uh, huh,”
“Does that explain the rules of this unit sufficiently for you, Marty?”
“Yeah, it does, sir.”
“Good. We take four-hour night shifts. You’re first up. Wake Snuff when you come in.”
“Quit callin’ me that.”
CHAPTER 2.18-Shopping at FedX
“Major, please instruct Captain Daubney to secure the perimeter a hundred yards north of the FedEx. Tell Shamus to prepare for an Option Four emergency liftoff. Primary mission objectives remain in force.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Hannah? Can I come out to the FedEx?” asked Nicole. She tucked CJ into the small makeshift safety seat anchored next to her on the helicopter bay floor. He had remained asleep throughout the entire trip which had left Nicole well rested herself. The helicopter door stood open and Nicole studied the strip mall parking lot. A few abandoned cars were surrounded by weeds and trash and, at the far end of the lot, there was a thirty-foot high ‘burn pile’ of human remains, remnants of this community’s attempt to ease the effects of the accumulating dead.
“No, Nicole, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You should remain in the ’copter.”
“Can I ask why?”
“You and CJ are under protective guard. Too many unknowns out there.”
“Hannah, I can handle myself. You should know that by now.”
“Yes, I don’t doubt that, Nicole. I really don’t, but unfortunately the safety of you and CJ is our primary objective. I brought you along today because there are not many safer places than this helicopter. My job as president is to return you safely to Camp David where we can keep you from harm and evaluate the incredible potential that both you and CJ have to offer.”
“But, I’d like to help, Hannah.”
“You are helping. You’re allowing us to take you and CJ to Camp David for evaluation—that’s help enough. You wanna help more? Make sure you keep your head down and out of harm’s way. Our little reconnoiter of this target is not your concern.”
“But, Hannah—“
“It’s not Hannah right now. I’m speaking to you as the President of the United States.”
Nicole studied the president’s insistent and serious face. “Okay, I understand, Madam President.” She offered the colonel an impertinent salute. “Make sure you take good care of the major—I’ve grown quite fond of him.”
“Nicole, I ensure the safety of all my men,” said Colonel Starkes. She leaned out the helicopter door. “Major O’Malley?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Proceed. There’s plenty of daylight left, but we’re a bit exposed here. Be quick about it.”
“Understood, colonel. C’mon, guys. Let’s do some shopping at FedEx.”
CHAPTER 2.19-Was that you?
“Snuff, I found you and Mac by following the sounds of the gunfire at that subdivision. That was you guys, wasn’t it? What happened there? It sounded intense?”
They walked side-by-side due east, Marty scanning the horizon from north to east and Amanda scanning it from south to east. Connor was running overwatch somewhere behind them. It was early morning and they had decided that this arrangement would work well for the next few days as they got to know one another. Amanda found that she liked Marty’s easy style of walking, an almost effortless glide. She noticed too, his roving eyes and intense attentiveness to the forest sounds.
“C’mon,” he said, “I asked you a question.”
Amanda ignored him and increased her pace. After a few minutes, Amanda stopped and turned to Marty. “Only Mac can call me Snuff, alright? And I don’t even like it from him. You haven’t earned the right to call me that.” She continued her fast pace.
Marty hurried to catch up. “I hear ya, Amanda. I’m sorry, I forgot, okay? I understand and you’re right, but I just forgot. Besides, I like the name Amanda. It fits you. I promise to call you that from now on.”
“Right.”
“To be honest, it’s good to know that it bugs you. I guess I can’t promise not to forget again.”
Despite a budding anger, she grinned at his honesty. She slipped the Remington into a more comfortable travel position. “Be careful, Marty,” she warned. “I already have a nickname picked out for you.”