No person shooed the scavenger out, or greeted them.
Her knees shook. “That can’t be good.”
Night blanketed the camp just as thunder rolled.
“Where is everyone?” Stuart’s words fogged the glass. The headlamps from the buses behind them swept over the camp.
“I don’t know.” She locked her trembling legs. This was not the time for timidity. “But I intend to find out.”
“Not by yourself.” Eddie parked next to a wooden sign painted with the words check-in in neon green. He killed the engine but kept the lights on.
Stuart scooted to the edge of his seat. “What’s the plan?”
She shook out her handkerchief and tied it over her face. “I need a flashlight.”
Stuart pulled the penlight from his pocket and twisted the barrel. A round of light encircled her belly button. “I’ll go with you.”
Eddie yanked the keys from the ignition. “I’ll go with her. Prince Charming’s job is to ride to the rescue.”
Stuart’s blue eyes narrowed. “It’s my light.”
Audra sneezed. Testosterone was a bit like day-old fish in the Arizona summer; both stank. “You’ll both go with me.”
She eyed the jeans pocket duct-taped to the dash. Too bad the batteries had died in the walkie four hours ago.
Leaning over the driver’s seat, Eddie removed the shotgun from behind the back and rested it on his shoulder. “You’re right, Stuie. You should carry the light. It makes you an easy target.”
Stuart paled and turned off the light.
She snapped the straps of Eddie’s gasmask. “Cover up.”
Eddie winced and jerked away from her. “Damn it. That hurt.”
“Not as much as getting anthrax.”
He rubbed his cheek and set the mask over his face. His brown eyes twinkled. “You have a sadistic streak, don’t you, Princess?”
“I’m a teacher.” Which made her more of a masochist than sadist.
Stuart cleared his throat. “Are we ready now?”
“Not yet.” Grabbing her wadded up jacket that she’d used as a pillow from the seat, she shook it out and stabbed her arms through the sleeves. She zipped it closed and turned up her collar.
Stuart held the flashlight in his mouth while adjusting his green slicker. “What are we waiting for?”
A sharp rap rattled the door.
Stuart fell back onto the seat and the penlight tumbled from his mouth to the floor.
“Relax, Stuie. It’s just our group.” Eddie grinned as he pulled the bar opening the door.
“It’s a regular cloud burst out there.” Mrs. Rodriguez shook her bright yellow slicker as she stomped up the steps. Rain dripped from her matching hat and plopped on the sunflowers decorating her flip flops.
Audra retreated a few steps so the older woman could squeeze into the front seat.
Principal Dunn shook water droplets from his hair as he climbed in. “I brought my gun.” He lifted the garbage bag he’d cut holes in for his arm and flashed the revolver tucked in his waist band. “I don’t want the soldiers to shoot me, but…”
“But there aren’t any soldiers here.” Deputy Pecos took off his hat and ran his fingers through his short hair. “Are we supposed to be wearing our masks? I thought, given the rain and all, we weren’t going to encounter any anthrax.”
Audra’s mother paused on the bottom step to shake out her pink floral umbrella. “It is most disheartening. I had hoped for a warm meal and a soft bed.”
“Plenty of tents.” Stuart dodged Eddie’s hand when he shrugged into his jacket. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t make use of them.”
“They might be occupied.” Audra scooped up the flashlight from the floor. “Who has a working light?”
Principal Dunn raised his hand. “One of Mr. Graham’s folks gave it to me.”
Added to hers, that made two flashlights. Searching for more than the necessities would have to wait until morning. “Alright, we’re going to break into two groups. Eddie, Stuart and Mrs. Rodriquez will accompany me to search the check-in. Principal Dunn, Deputy, and my mother will search the first set of barracks after locating the latrines.”
“What about dinner?” Stuart licked his lips.
He was worried about food? Wasn’t her bread enough for him? She glared at the thief.
“I’m sure some of the children are hungry.”
Mrs. Rodriquez shifted. “I know that last batch of people we picked up hadn’t eaten in a day. If this rain had come a day or two earlier, folks wouldn’t be in such a tight spot.”
Audra sighed. They were all in a tight spot. Food would last only another two days and she didn’t want to think about fuel. “Barracks and check in first, then we’ll get everyone settled and prioritize our needs.”
Her mother unfurled her umbrella with a snap of her wrist. “Who do you have to drive the bus in case…”
“I can do it.” Faye Eichmann stretched to a stand then sauntered down the aisle. Diamonds winked from her ears. “I didn’t do too badly leaving Burgers in a Basket.”
Audra bit her tongue. She’d rather have almost anyone than Faye behind the wheel.
Stuart shook his head so hard his mask slipped. “She almost left us behind last time.”
“Hello!” Faye flapped her skinny arms. “They were shooting at us and I had a bus load of children.”
She’d like to think Faye meant it. Unfortunately, working with teenagers had deprived her of that naiveté. Yet, she’d come up with the rule that had almost left her stranded. “She was just following orders.”
Stuart snorted. “You’re in charge. Did you order her to peel rubber out of the restaurant?”
She nodded. “We’d decided that if things became too dangerous we’d have to leave some folks behind. The children are our priority.”
Eddie’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “We’re all prepared to make the sacrifice to protect the children.”
Struggling for breath, she set her hand on his. God only knew what it had cost him to drive away while his brother was taken out to be shot. She owed him her life for sticking to the agreement.
“That’s a messed up rule!” Tendons roped Stuart’s neck. “Who’s going to raise your precious children if all the adults are dead?”
Eddie snapped open the shotgun and checked the cartridges. “If you don’t like the rules, you can stay here.”
“I can’t stay here.” Stuart stomped his foot. “Phoenix and the valley have to be evacuated because of the anthrax threat.”
“We can discuss this in the morning.” She squeezed Eddie’s hand, hoping for understanding. “There are a lot of new folks who don’t know the rules, so they should be informed.”
“Some decision. You have the buses, fuel and food.”
But she didn’t have time for his tantrum. Pushing up her sleeve, she checked her watch. “I have ten after seven. I say we report back here in ten minutes.”
Principal Dunn checked the gold watch on his wrist. “Seven twenty. Got it. Let’s go.”
Her mother dissolved in the storm. The principal switched on the flashlight; he and the deputy followed.
“Turn off the lights, Eddie. We can’t afford for the battery to die.” Audra turned the barrel and the penlight came to life.
With a push of a button, darkness swallowed everything but the small beam in her hand.
Keys jingled.
“You know what to do, Faye,” Eddie whispered.
“Let’s go.” Pressing against the steering wheel, Audra shined the light on the steps.
Eddie led the way, followed by Stuart. Mrs. Rodriquez’s shoes squeaked as she passed.
Heart pounding in her ears, Audra stumbled down the steps. The door swished closed behind her. She resisted the urge to shove it back open. Faye was following protocol. Rain cut cold paths across her scalp. She fell into step next to Eddie, leaving Stuart and Mrs. Rodriquez to follow.