The Survivors: Book One

"Sitrep whenever you're ready," Adrian guided, relighting the joint he'd been ignoring with his worried thoughts.

"Perimeter's good, no serious injuries, radio's quiet, everyone's accounted for. The pictures from Cheyenne Mountain are in your tent."

Adrian frowned, sure they'd be worse than those from Salt Lake City. "Anything?"

"No."

When he didn't ask for details, Kenn didn't offer them, thinking their leader was depressed enough already. Adrian didn't need to hear about the fry-room at NORAD they had forced open, but Kenn was sure he would have recognized the clever way it had been done. Someone among the Slavers had military knowledge and that didn't bode well. Kenn planned to give Adrian the full in the report he'd been asked to deliver nightly about various camp issues and setups.

"Neil see 'em yet?"

"No."

Adrian nodded, unhappy the state trooper hadn't gotten to go, but it had been Kenn's mission and he hadn't intervened. To make it up a bit, Adrian would let the loyal cop see the awful photos before the camp did. They didn't have access to all the pictures he and the Eagles took, but the big places still gave people hope. He had to show them or they would go off on their own to check and maybe not come back. Some did anyway. Adrian wasn't offended, only relieved when they returned. He needed them all.

"We have two new arrivals who weren't with the group that's following us. Wanted to know if we had any use for a doctor?"

Adrian's happily surprised eyes swung to his, and Kenn grinned back, loving this feeling of pleasing the blond leader. "I knew you'd like that. John and Anne Harmon are husband and wife of almost forty years, had their own office in Rawlins. They were going to NORAD, but they saw the smoke. Then, they heard Mitch on the CB and chose to come see if we're good or bad. They'd like to trade their medical skills for a place with us."

"Damn, that's great! It's exactly what we need. Give 'em a couple days to settle in, and then put them to work."

Kenn was still grinning, sure his next words would also please the boss, and they did. "Too late. He saw Zack's arm and insisted on cleaning and stitching it right then, along with any other serious injuries. Neil's setting him up in the corner near the livestock. Right now, they're looking over the scratches some of the kids got. He says the birds were likely American Gulls."