“No infected in this town?” Melly asked, watching the vidscreens. “That’s odd.”
“If there aren’t any living humans to infect,” Jeff said with a shrug, “Maybe they move on.”
“I wish someone had done a study on the infected’s behavior,” Melly said. “The focus of the report we did collect was all about the disease progression itself. I guess no one had time to even contemplate observing the swarms.”
“You can write the report, doc. I’m sure the Sectors will be interested in all the intel they can get. It won’t get the planetary quarantine lifted but we might be able to use it as leverage to get something we want, medical supplies for you maybe.” Jeff’s answer was quick.
So many things to consider. Tamsyn leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes against the death and destruction outside the vehicle. Try as hard as she could, visualizing a future was impossible. Day to day was the best she could manage right now and pray to the Lords of Space Cody was at her side. It was such a completely different mindset from her life running the ranch when she’d been all wrapped up in growing the planet’s specialized beef industry.
Chapter Fifteen
The com crackled and she snapped to attention.
“Tamsyn, that really you?”
It was Perry’s voice all right and she took two steps to accept the microphone from Zach again. “It’s me, big as life and twice as ornery.”
“Your new friends ride around in pretty fancy vehicles,” he said. “You joined the military since we last talked?”
“Kind of,” she said with a grin, looking at the people surrounding her. “But not the Randal Four military exactly. You doing okay?”
“Locked up tight at my ranch,” he said with audible pride. “Got my family and friends and employees and their families all safe. Had to run off a bunch of infected early on. Things go bad at your place?”
She swallowed hard. “You could say that. No one’s left. I had to shoot Rasty my foreman when he turned and he was the last of my crew. I couldn’t survive staying there alone.”
“Hard times. Sorry about your losses.” Perry fell silent for a moment. “Had two buses full of your Rosewater people come through here not too long ago, said you sent them.”
Tamsyn exhaled. “That’s the best news I’ve had in ages, that they made it this far at least. None of them stayed with you?”
“I don’t adopt strays.” His voice wasn’t unkind but it was uncompromising.
Jeff gestured to her, making a motion to indicate she should speed this up and get to the point he was interested in, sharing intel.
“We’re on our way somewhere,” she said, “So we’re not searching for a home. We would like to stop over with you and have face to face conversation.” Remembering Jeff’s earlier comments about bargaining, she added, “We have a doctor with us if you have anyone in need of medical help.”
“Got a nurse practitioner who does just fine,” he answered.
“Perry, what the fuck?” she exploded. “I thought you and I were old friends and now you won’t even let us on your land for a night or two? For goodness sake, what is the damn world coming to?”
”No good.” She heard him chuckle though. “All right, if you’ll vouch for your new friends, I’ll send a volunteer to meet you on the highway and guide you up to the house. There’s a few interesting obstacles in the way you might not see without help. You can stay two nights and that’s all.”
“Thank you. We have our own supplies if that’s what you’re worried about. We’re not going to drain your resources.”
“Look for the rider. Take care, Tamsyn.” There was a click and the link went dead.
“Not what you expected from him?” Jeff asked in the silence that followed.
“I knew he was a crusty old bastard but for a while there I was sure he was going to refuse to even meet with us,” she said. “I hope it was okay to mention the doctor?”
“You did fine,” Jeff said. “Cody, anything from the drones?”
“Lot of nothing. Found his ranch house though, way up in the foothills. He’s got a superb defensive position.”
They got out of the depressing town of Verder’s Ford and onto the open highway. After about an hour of driving, Cody announced, “We’ve got company. Or rather my drones do.”
“Any threat?” Jeff asked.
“I don’t think so. Big ugly agri drones, meant to keep watch on crops. I don’t think they’ve detected my drones.”
