The Survivors: Book One

"You wanna hit this, man?"

Kenn turned to see Zack, the black and gray headed truck driver that the new doctor had just patched up, holding out a thick blunt. The man was unarmed, alone, and carried himself like a fellow controller.

Eyes calm, knowing, arm in a white sling, Kenn thought he smelled new. It took a while for that to fade and the Marine's sharp eyes assessed him. Like Adrian, he too would need a right hand. Was this it?

"Sure, thanks." Kenn hit it hard, keeping it for a long moment, waiting, and the career driver didn't disappoint.

"I hear you handle the big man's shit and your own. Interested in some backup?"

Kenn handed back the smoldering blunt, stubbing out the part of the cherry that had landed in the trampled needle grass at their feet. "I'll get back to you on that."

Zack's green eyes darkened. It was clear to Kenn that the prematurely graying trucker was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.

"And, in the meantime?"

Kenn shrugged, turned away. "Anyone who wanted to watch my six would have to be an Eagle and in charge of his own team. That's a deal breaker."

Kenn was in his sleeping bag three hours later, cold, uncomfortable, and aware that his past was catching up to him. He could feel Angela looking for her boy at night, searching the vast darkness for their location, and he was furious with her for coming, but livid that she wouldn't answer him even though he knew she'd heard him calling to her. He was no stranger to what she could do, had done his homework before dating (trapping) her, but he couldn't accept it with her in control. She couldn't come here, not ever.

"She's already on her way," his mind insisted brutally. "When she gets here, she'll not only rock your boat, she'll sink it. When Adrian finds out what kind of man you were before, how you dishonored the Corps over and over, you'll be banished." The voice was cruel, and Kenn hated her at that moment for the tiny worm of fear that began to grow deep in his heart. If Angela made it to Safe Haven, he would lose everything.

4

Monthly camp meetings were mandatory for everyone but those on guard duty, and after dinner, Adrian called his sheep together. It was held in the Mess, and Kenn was impressed with the tarp roof that gave extra room, the snacks and drinks, the neat orderliness of it all.