CHAPTER 147

Logan spied through a narrow window on the front face of the emergency bunker as he worked a fresh wad of tobacco against his cheek. He squinted and then turned and spit into a paper cup he was holding. "They're comin' in hot, Marcus." Logan mumbled over his shoulder. Setting the cup in the window sill he balanced a shotgun over his shoulder and opened the heavy metal door to the bunker. Stepping into the foggy floodlights Logan pumped his shotgun and waited as the pickup truck raced at him.

From within the door frame a firm index finger grabbed out and yanked on the adjustable strap of Logan's baseball cap. "Watch the roof, shit head. I've seen these bastards jump. You want your kidneys ripped out from behind?" Marcus shook his head and pointed his own shotgun out at the motor pool.

"Don't get your Dickies all in a knot," Logan adjusted the grimy baseball cap on his scalp. Squeezing the tobacco against his teeth he spit in the dirt and backed up a couple of steps.

The truck swerved sideways as it approached, throwing mud against the walls of the bunker. Marcus and Logan turned away as a spray of wet dirt hit them and the rear of the truck rocked their way. The two mechanics leaned aside while everyone rushed in, and then they pulled the door shut behind them.

Dr. Johnson immediately went to Shelly who was laying on a cot in the corner next to another bed where Hector was laying in a half coma. "Gary!" she snapped her fingers. "We're going to have to stitch her wound. We need antibiotics. See if there's any morphine. Shit." She looked down at her filthy hands and ran to the bathroom sink. "Anyone who's helping needs to scrub up!"

Gary went for the supply shelves and began to rummage.

Dr. Conners appeared at the cot ready to assist.

Carrie had limped over and was crouched near shelly's face. "It's ok. Everything's going to be alright. You're safe now."

Shelly was barely conscious. Her eyes fluttered and she moaned a little.

Seth found Kyra sitting in a chair balled over what looked like burn marks on her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" Seth leaned down.

Kyra sniffled and nodded. "Don't ever run off on us like that again. That was stupid."

Seth hung his head. "I'm sorry. It seemed like the right thing to do."

"It was still stupid." Kyra paused. "I'm glad you're ok."

Bill was fishing in his pockets for a pack of cigarettes that turned out to be sopping with rain water. "Damn it." He looked at them dismally.

A hand popped in front of his face holding a can of chewing tobacco.

"A little dip will do ya," Logan offered.

"No thanks. I don't dip." Bill frowned and put his wet cigarettes back in his pocket.

"Because smoking is so much healthier?" Logan shrugged and spit in his paper cup.

Bill eyed up a nearby table with sodas, chips, jerky, a bottle of whiskey, and a half finished card game strewn over it. "You two have been here all night?"

"Mm hm," Logan murmured.

"While the rest of us were getting our asses kicked to hell?"

Marcus cut in. "You all made a choice, one that Logan here, and myself thought was just plain stupid."

"So you two were sitting cozy while the rest of us were in the meat grinder."

"Hey," Marcus got in Bill's face. "The door is right there. You got a problem. You can leave."

Dr. Conners shouted over his shoulder, "Everybody just calm the hell down. Jesus."

Bill stared into Marcus' face wishing he had a cigarette to take a long hard drag on as he did so.

Marcus turned away mumbling, "I've seen this movie before. Man creates monster. Monster eats man… end of movie. We're all screwed anyway."

From the cot where Shelly was being stitched and bandaged Dr. Conners called out, "Joan, we need a hand here. After several moments passed Dr. Conners shouted, "Ms. Murdock!"

It was then that Bill said, "She's not here, man."

Heads began to raise from the cot. Eyes panned the bunker with unanimous disbelief. The commotion of people working over Shelly muted for just a moment.

"Shit." Dr. Conners shook his head. "Gary, your hand." He nodded with his chin. "Here."

Gary's arms were already full, and he dropped a roll of gauze as he juggled to make it happen.

In seconds everyone had turned back to the cot and kept working.

TO BE CONTINUED