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“Take this. I’ll lock the door behind you and use the radio if anything happens here.”
“Why am I leaving you?”
I smiled at his calm question, liking the fact that he didn’t tell me no and trusted I had a good reason.
“I’m going to repeat the message like he asked. There are other people out there who need to know what’s happening. And you need to scout this base and take inventory of the food, vehicles, weapons, and fuel that was left behind. We both know you can move faster alone. And the sooner we leave, the sooner we can reach Whiteman. We need that cure before the infected reach the coast and turn around for everyone they’ve missed.”
He grunted and looked down at the radio in his hand for a second before his gaze swept the room. I removed my sidearm and set it on the desk. Then I turned the chair so I’d have my back to the wall while working the radio and watching the door.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “But my life isn’t the only one depending on you now. We brought these people here with a promise. We need to deliver. Go.”
He took my hand and led me to the door where he tested the lock first before leaving.
“Lock it,” he said as soon as he was on the other side. Once I did, the knob rattled as he tested it from his side. “I will return soon.”
Then he was gone.
I returned to the radio and started repeating the message on the next channel. No one answered, but I refused to believe it was because no one was listening. After five minutes, I went to the next. Then the next. Eventually, my throat ran dry, and I stopped to look around for water. There wasn’t any. I glanced at the door then picked up the hand radio.
“How’s everything looking out there?” I asked.
“All clear,” Sid answered.
“Do you need me?” Molev asked next.
“Everything is fine here,” I said. “But if you happen to see a bottle of water, I wouldn’t mind a delivery.”
“Same,” Sid said.
“I will be there soon,” Molev answered.
I smiled at the exchange, knowing that Molev would stop what he was doing to find enough water for everyone. The fact that he cared for his people was evident in everything he did and said. And he considered us all his people now.
Turning back to the radio, I continued repeating the message at five-minute intervals until someone knocked on the door.
“What’s the password?” I called, already getting up.
“You never set one,” Molev answered.
Grinning, I unlocked the door and let him in.
“Hearing your voice is enough of a password.” I closed the door behind him and accepted the bottle. “How’s the search going?”
“Not well. The vehicles that remain inside this fence have no fuel. Even if they did, there are not enough of them to carry everyone.”
“What about food and weapons?”
He shook his head. “Very little food remains and no weapons other than the ones that came with us.”
“Well, that sucks.”
His pupils expanded, and he took a step toward me. I quickly held up my hand.
“Stop right there. I can see exactly where your mind went. And we both know that this isn’t the time or place for that.” I closed the distance between us and set my free hand on his chest. “Once we’re home, we can do all the things we’ve been missing since we’ve been apart.”
He studied me, and I knew he was trying to discern my sincerity.
“So much suspicion,” I said, lifting on my toes and offering my lips.
