Pax led the group down to the bar, and let Robert show them the rest of the way to the radio room.
“All right, fire it up,” Pax said. “There’s a plane out there. We need to find out who they are.”
“A plane?” Chuck said. “More of your people?”
“Let’s hope so, but I doubt it.”
Robert activated the radio and pushed the talk button. “This is Isabella Island calling unidentified aircraft. Do you read me?”
Static.
“Try again,” Pax said.
“Isabella Island calling unidentified aircraft. Come in, please.”
No response.
“You sure you have it set right?” Pax asked.
“This is the same frequency we used to talk to your plane and the one that said it was from the UN the other day,” Robert told him.
Pax looked like it was the answer he was expecting but didn’t want. “Do you have any duct tape? Plastic sheeting?”
“What?”
“Do you have any?”
“Um, there’s probably duct tape in the maintenance room, but no sheeting that I know of. Pax, what the hell’s going on?”
“What about tarps?”
“Yeah. We have tarps, but—”
“You and I will go to the maintenance room.” Pax turned to the others. “You four grab as much food as you can and take it up to the restaurant, things that will be easy to make and can stretch for a couple of days for everyone. You probably have time for two trips at most.”
“You’ve got to tell us what’s going on!” Robert said.
“That plane,” Pax said. “I’m pretty sure that’s your ‘UN’ friends coming back. And I can guarantee you if it is, they’re not bringing you vaccine.”
The Isabella Island survivors nearly went into full revolt when they saw all the supplies being carried in.
“Listen up,” Pax said. “I realize many of you don’t believe a word I told Robert, but here’s your chance to get your proof to see whether I’m lying or not. We have a plane heading this way. If it just flies by and doesn’t cause any problems, then you can lock me up or put me in a boat and shove me out to sea.”
“What do you think they’re going to do?” someone asked.
“If I’m right, your island is about to be doused with the Sage Flu,” Pax said. “Now, if some of you would be so kind as to help us seal up the room, that would be appreciated.”
“That’s ridiculous!” someone yelled.
“Why are we even listening to him?”
“What if he’s telling the truth?”
Robert jumped up on a chair. “Seems to me we’ll know soon enough if he’s lying or not, so it’s not going to hurt us any to do as he asks. Who’s going to help?”
Several hands shot up. After Robert divided them into groups of three, they began working their way through the room.
They were nearly finished with the last window when they heard the drone of the approaching plane. Pax applied the last bit of tape, and then he and Robert went over to where the others were sitting.
The sound of the plane continued to grow louder and louder until it passed not more than a hundred feet directly above them. After it flew by, one of the survivors cocked his head to the side, and then several others did the same.
The sound was soft, almost nonexistent, like the gentlest of rains.
Pax moved over to one of the windows and peeled back the corner of the tarp. Liquid dripped down the outside of the glass. As he motioned for Robert to join him, the plane approached the island again.
“Don’t get too close,” Pax said. “Just a quick look.”
He lifted the flap again.
“Is that it?” Robert asked.
Pax nodded. “All wrapped up in a nice little liquid delivery system the people you thought were from the UN developed for stubborn locations like yours.”
The plane flew overhead again, spattering more of the liquid onto the window.
Pax looked up toward the noise. “Another fifteen minutes and they’ll have covered every inch.”
“Why would they do that?” one of the guests asked.
“They’re in charge now,” Pax said. “You’re excess humanity, and not part of their plan.”
Robert was quiet for a second. “The flu won’t hurt us, though. We’ve been inoculated.”
“You have, and chances are you’d be fine, but you only received your shots a few hours ago. It’s better if we let your immunity build up a bit more. Besides, that’s quite a concentration they’re dumping out there right now. We need to let it thin.”
“So how long do we have to stay in here?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll check in with the medical team. They can give us a timeline.”
Robert scanned the room “You think this place is safe?”
“Safer than being out there.”
29
Ash had been positive they would find the Resistance convoy in Truth or Consequences, but they had searched all the logical places the others could have been, and there was no sign of them.
Having no choice but to move on, they headed for Alamogordo, a trip that took them two and a half hours. When they arrived, they began working their way through town.
“Try this one,” Chloe said as they approached 10th Street.
“Yes, ma’am,” Sorrento said, and took the turn.
“Anything?” Ash asked a few moments later.
“Nothing over here,” Chloe said.
“I don’t see anything,” Gardiner threw in.
Ash looked toward the back of the truck. “What about you?”
“All looks the same to me,” Rick said.
Ash hadn’t wanted to bring the kid along, but leaving him behind with Brandon didn’t seem like a good idea, either. Davis would have probably been able to keep Rick in check, but Ash thought it was better not to tempt fate. When Brandon asked why Rick was allowed to go but he wasn’t, Ash had said, “Because he’s sixteen and you’re not.”
“Hey, what’s that?” Gardiner said.
He was sitting behind Sorrento, his gaze locked on a parking lot, left of the vehicle. While Sorrento slowed the truck, both Ash and Chloe adjusted their positions so they could see out Gardiner’s side.
“What are you looking at?” Chloe asked.
“Up there, near the building. Gas cans, I think.”
He was right. In the floodlights that still lit up the parking lot, Ash could see over a dozen cans stacked side by side.
“Let’s check it out,” he ordered.
Sorrento pulled into the lot and stopped. As Ash and Chloe hopped out, they were greeted by a blast of frigid air, the temperature having taken a drastic downturn since their last stop. The only question now was whether they would have a wet snow or an icy rain when the storm decided it was time to open up.
Chloe knelt next to one of the cans and tilted it toward her. “These look like the same type we picked up in Sheridan.” She unscrewed the cap and gave it a sniff. “This one was full recently.”
“Looks like they were here,” Ash said.
“Only one way they could have gone.”
“Yep.”
Wicks read through the report again, but still found he couldn’t focus on the words, his mind understandably preoccupied. Knowing it wouldn’t be any better if he tried again, he clicked the box indicating he’d read and approved it, and sent it on its way.
He glanced at the clock in the top corner of his screen. It was time to go. He opened the bottom desk drawer, reached underneath it, and pulled off the envelope he’d taped there. He stood up, stuffed the envelope in his pocket, and left his office.