“And now here we are,” Jeff concluded. “On our way to our veterans’ acres claim to set ourselves up to survive the apocalypse.” No mention of his greater mission, to get to the root cause of the infected situation and take action to resolve it.
“How about you?” Tamsyn asked Perry as he toyed with his glass of wine. “What happened here?”
“First inkling of what was going on came when the buyer from Amalgamated Foods came on his regular quarterly trip,” Perry said. “We didn’t know it at the time but he’d been bitten. He was staying in the guest house and the maids reported he was terribly ill. Hadn’t turned yet of course. I drove him to the hospital in Millersville myself, took two of the hands with me. I didn’t care for the situation there, nor for how he was treated, or what we weren’t told. The hospital was overwhelmed with people bringing in sick family members and friends. Whole situation stunk to high heaven. When I got home I started putting the word out quietly to my family and a few close friends to get their asses up here to the ranch before it was too late.” His hand clenched around the stem of the wineglass and Tamysn was afraid it was going to snap. “Some people ignored me. Others didn’t make it. We had a couple arrive who’d been bitten or scratched, had to deal with that.” He swallowed a gulp of the wine like it was water. “New graves in the family cemetery up there on the bluff. Clearly the government was covering up the severity of the situation. I tried to warn you and the other ranchers, tried to get us connected as a group to organize the north here to survive.”
“I remember,” she said. “The holo network went down in the middle of what you were saying.”
“It was cut off. After that I concentrated on what I could control which was this place and my people. I gave the employees the option to bring their close family members in if they wanted to and then we closed up tight. No one else allowed in and if anyone leaves they know they can’t come back. I intend to hold onto what we have come hell or high water or swarms of infected.”
“From what I saw on the way in, you’ve got good defenses set up,” Jeff said. “We’ve been caught by a swarm a time or two so we’ve seen them in action. For all they shamble and stagger, get enough of them in one place and it’s like being swarmed by bugs. Relentless. Standard combat techniques don’t work on mindless killing things.”
“You didn’t see the full extent of what I’ve got ready,” Perry said, lips curving as if he’d pulled off a coup, keeping his secrets from their eyes. “I’m ready for that bastard Ruger to look my way, or the good people of Millersville to get covetous. What’s here is mine and I’ll defend it and my family and my people to the death.”
There was a strong murmur of approval from those at the table as his sons and daughters, in-laws and the ranch foreman agreed with the sentiment.
“Ruger? Is he the guy who committed atrocities in Verder’s Ford?” Jeff asked.
“The same. Blowhard from the south, came up here with a gang of bullies and established himself in the town at first. Took it over eventually, executed the mayor, the town council and a few others as you saw.” The old rancher made a sound of disgust. “Damn fools in the town were taking in refugees without a concern for who they might be allowing into their sheep pens. A wolf like Ruger had no problem getting in and then showing his true colors.”
“And what’s the situation in Millersville?” was Jeff’s follow-up question.
“They did take a lesson from what happened in Verder’s Ford,” Perry said with grudging approval. “Mayor in Millersville is pretty smart. He’s made it into a fortress town and they’re picky about who they let in. Once in, you don’t get out. He’d be happy to have you and your fancy vehicles.”
The captain laughed politely and drank his wine. “Not happening.”
“Road to Glastine goes through the town, as I’m guessing you know. Only other way is to try and make it around the town going overland. They’ve set up a corridor for passage through the edge of Millersville but hardly let anyone go through. They ain’t friendlies in that town, not now. Too many incidents. Ruger’s attacked them once, testing their defenses if you ask me and they fought him off.”
“And you sent my two buses full of innocent people there?” Tamsyn couldn’t disguise her anger.
“No, as it happens, I did not.” Perry chose to be amused. “In honor of you, I did an unprecedented act of charity and allowed them to bypass Ruger and Millersville by cutting across my land, using an old road the First Landing Norwoods built. Goes across the foothills.”
“They barely made it through, Dad,” said the AGcycle-riding daughter. “Tell the whole story.”
“Fleur there guided them a couple of times,” her father said with pride.
“Could the APC’s make it?” Jeff asked. “I’d rather avoid all the complications ahead on the highway.”
Shaking his head, Perry dashed his visitors’ hopes. “The buses barely made it, like Fleur said. One of them literally burned out, ignited a helluva brush fire.” He glanced at Tamsyn. “Don’t worry, all the passengers survived. Your APC’s couldn’t manage the narrow road. They’re a lot bigger than the school buses.”
“Thank you for letting my friends use the road,” Tamsyn said. Hope the Rosewater refugees had made it to Glastine was a warm spot in her heart.
“Like I said, did it in your honor.” Perry transferred his gaze to Jeff. “You don’t want to skip a trip to Millersville, captain. There are people there who can tell you a lot about conditions at Glastine. Best to know before you get there, am I right?”
“Of course you’ll have to trade them something they value to get passage, not to mention information,” Perry’s oldest son said from his seat beside Tamsyn.
“That might not be so hard.” Perry had the air of a man about to spill a secret. “Mayor’s wife is pregnant and having a hard time. They don’t have any doctors left in Millersville—they all pretty much died when the infected overran the hospital. Your Dr. Jericho here might be just what’s needed.”
“I’d be more than happy to do what I can for the mayor’s wife,” Melly said.
“But she’s not going to stay in Millersville.” Jeff was adamant.
Perry raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, simply passing along a useful tip. Not trying to tell you what to do.” He focused on Tamsyn so fast she blinked in surprise. “Come upstairs with me, sweetheart. We can talk business in my office.”
“Of—of course.” She swiped her lips with her napkin. “It was a fantastic dinner, thank you. So nice to see all of you again.” Rising, she stepped to where Perry was waiting, ignoring the way Cody half rose from his chair as if to join her. She wasn’t in any danger from her old friend. Looking at him, she said, “I’ll catch up to all of you in a bit.”
Hand resting on the small of her back Perry guided her out of the dining room and up the big staircase to the second floor. She remembered his office, having been there a few times when she came visiting with her father. “Still got the bottomless candy jar?” she asked with a grin. “Dessert was great but I could use a sugary chaser.”
His laugh boomed in the hallway as he unlocked the office door. “Sure do. My grandkids would revolt if I let it go empty. Laid in a big supply of candy when we were stocking up necessities for the long haul.” Perry strode to the desk and sat in the big chair, pushing the ornate candy jar across the polished wooden surface in her direction. “Help yourself.”
