Last Stand (The Survivalist Book 7) (27 page)

The air caught in Tanner’s throat, and he found himself unable to speak.

Samantha recovered a bit quicker and stepped forward to do a little curtsy.

“Pleased to meet you, Mother. I’m Samantha, and this is my father, Tanner.”

The woman’s black eyes closed briefly, acknowledging the introduction.

“Where have you come from?” Unlike many of the infected, her voice was smooth to the point of being beautiful.

 “From up there,” Samantha said, pointing. “Not from the ceiling, of course. From outside.”

“You came from the surface?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And how, may I ask, did you did you do that?”

Samantha glanced back at Tanner, wondering if she should reveal what was to be their way out.

“We came down a collapsible staircase,” Tanner said, finally shaking himself free.

“There are precious few exits remaining. You will, of course, show us this one.”

“We would, but they closed up the stairs behind us,” he said, stretching the truth a bit. “I’m not sure we could find it anymore, and even if we could, I doubt we could open it from down here.”

“Soldiers did this?”

“Yes, ma’am. Two of them.”

She closed her eyes, and they were slow to reopen.

“They are trying to seal us in this underground tomb.” One of the babies popped off a teat and began to cry.  “Hush now,” she said, gently lifting it back into place. “Mother’s got you.”

Tanner and Samantha gazed in awe, like people do a carnival freak show—the bearded lady, the dwarf with two heads, and now, for the grand finale, the mutant blob with six breasts.

Once Mother had the baby quieted, she turned back to Tanner.

“You’ve told me how you came to be here, but not why.”

He debated on how much to reveal. Any lie he dreamed up would be thinner than the sheet covering her crotch, and Mother did not seem easily fooled.

“We’re on our way to Mount Weather.”

That seemed to interest her.

“Why would you go there?”

When he was slow to answer, Samantha spoke up.

“There’s a bad man there, and we’re going to kill him.”

She studied Samantha. “They’re all bad men, dear.”

“This one’s particularly bad. He destroyed a city and murdered the marshals.”

Mother looked to Tanner for a better explanation.

“We’re going to kill the President.”

“The President is at Mount Weather?”

“Yes.”

She took a deep breath, as if letting the information soak into her enormous body.

“And how do you plan to get through the gate?”

Tanner knew nothing of a gate.

When she saw the blank look on his face, she said, “The entrance to Mount Weather is sealed with a heavy gate and protected by guards with machine guns. There is also a strange weapon that generates sound. My people refer to it as the noisemaker. We’ve tried a few times to penetrate the gate, but it’s proved impossible.”

Tanner thought for a moment.

“Difficult, yes, but maybe not impossible.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I have something that you don’t.”

She tipped her head. “What?”

He patted the satchel. “Explosives.”

Once again, she studied him carefully.

“Do you know how to use them?”

“Are you kidding? I’m a regular Blaster Bates.”

Not following the World War II reference, Mother looked confused.

“What I’m saying is that I’m practically a demolitions expert.”

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Samantha mumbled under her breath.

Mother thought long and hard before speaking.

“I believe what you’re saying, but I don’t believe that you will succeed. There are simply too many soldiers. Even if you destroy the gate, you will not be able to get past them. You will die in the tunnel like many others who have tried. No,” she said softly, “it is better if you stay here with us.”

Her words sounded dangerously like a proclamation that was not going to be open to debate.

“Your Highness,” said Samantha, “if I may?”

“Go on.”

“What if you helped us?”

“Me?”

“Why not? You want the soldiers to stop sealing the exits, and we want to get past them.”

Mother said nothing.

“If you sent some of your…” she hunted for the right word as she glanced at the troglodytes, “warriors with us, they could help to fight the soldiers.”

“Even if I agreed to that, it would require a huge force. Hundreds of men, and several days’ walk through the tunnels, at that.”

“I don’t know how many men it would take,” Samantha said with a smile, “but I do know they wouldn’t have to walk.”

“Why not?”

“Because we have a train.”

Mother looked over at Tanner, and he gave a short nod.

“She’s right. We could transport several hundred people to Mount Weather within a few hours.”

Mother looked down at the babies suckling her breasts.

“I don’t know… These babies need fathers too.”

Tanner saw the window closing fast and decided to press.

“You said they’re sealing you in. What happens when all of the exits are closed?”

Mother didn’t answer.

“I can tell you what. You and your people will die a slow miserable death. Including those babies lying on your stomach.”

Mother said nothing.

“You need to clear Mount Weather as much as we do.”

Mother’s face was slowly turning red, and Tanner stepped back, fearing that he had angered her. She laid a palm on her swollen stomach, and when she spoke, her voice was pained.

“Leave me while I think on this. Birth is close at hand.”

The surface of her stomach began to bulge as small hands and feet pressed against the gelatinous flesh. The two troglodytes behind Tanner and Samantha quickly ushered them from the room. Before they knew what was happening, they were once again standing outside the large tent. Marlo awaited them, but her less than friendly compatriots were gone. The rest of the camp also seemed to have lost interest.

A column of women rushed past them, pushing their way into the tent. Samantha glanced back, watching as the last one disappeared behind the flap.

“Do you think Mother’s going to have a baby?”

As if on cue, a baby’s cry sounded from inside the tent, followed by another, and another, and then another. Soon they lost track as the wailing of newborns grew and grew.

“More like a litter,” he said with a laugh.

Marlo growled and turned toward him with fire in her eyes.

“Mother is our salvation. Our beloved. An unkind word can never be said about her.”

“Easy, tiger,” he said, raising both hands. “I didn’t mean to offend. It’s just a little different than what we’re used to, that’s all.”

Her face softened. “Without Mother, there is no tomorrow. She’s the only one who adds to the family.”

He nodded, hoping a little conversation might help to undo his faux pas.

“And how often does she, uh, add to the family?”

“Every twelve days.”

“Twelve days!” exclaimed Samantha. When she saw Marlo’s stern expression, she added, “That must be really… convenient.”

“Can’t the other women give birth?” asked Tanner.

“No.” Marlo brought a hand to her stomach. “The virus left us barren. All women can be made to lactate, but only Mother gives life.”

“And the men… they…” He struggled to find a delicate way of saying it.

She nodded. “They service her when the time is right. It’s quite an honor, actually.”

Tanner tried to imagine what it might be like to “service” anything that looked like Mother, and his face wrinkled up.

“I bet.”

A ruckus sounded to their left, and everyone turned to see two men squaring off like prizefighters. Dozens of the infected had gathered in a wide circle, cheering for them to go at it. Both men were big and strong, but one was even more fearsome than the troglodytes guarding Mother. Each fighter carried one of their trademark nail boards, so at least the contest was fair in that regard.

“Why are they fighting?” asked Samantha.

“They’re settling a claim.”

“What’s that?”

“When a man wants to take a woman as his mate, he announces his claim. Another man can challenge, if he wants her for himself.”

“And what does the woman have to say about it?” asked Tanner.

“Nothing. She can only hope that a good man will lay claim to her.”

“And are
they
good men?” said Samantha.

“The weaker man, no. He killed his last mate.”

“Why would he do that?”

She shrugged. “I suppose she didn’t satisfy him.”

“What does that mean?”

She looked to Tanner. “It might be better if her father explained.”

Samantha turned to him. “Well?
Dad
?”

He thought for a moment. “You remember when you were sick and really wanted that chocolate drink?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So, if I’d brought you back a Coke, it wouldn’t have been the same, right?”

She furrowed her brow. “What are you saying? That he killed her because she was a Coke instead of a Yoo-hoo?”

He scratched his head. “Where was I going with this?”

“You’ve got me.”

“It’s not going to matter anyway,” interjected Marlo. “Korn will win the claim.”

“Korn?” said Samantha. “Is he the big ugly guy?”

Marlo squinted. “What do you know, child? Korn is a beautiful specimen.”

She shrugged. “Okay, but is he a good man?”

“I’ve never heard a complaint from his other mates.”

“Other mates? How many does each man get?”

Marlo seemed confused by the question.

“As many as he can take, of course.”

A cheer rang out. Korn had managed to knock the smaller man down and was closing in. He swung the board, swooshing it back and forth like it was a pendulum. Despite kicking and even stabbing his opponent in the shoulder with the nail board, it was clear that Korn wasn’t trying to kill him. The claim was more about strength and ego than it was a contest of survival.

Tanner, Marlo, and Samantha inched closer to watch.

The fight continued for a short time longer, but it ended up not being much of a fight at all. With sixty pounds to his advantage, Korn used his size and strength to dominate his smaller opponent. When it was finally over, the weaker man crawled away, moaning and bleeding.

On the opposite side of the circle stood Korn’s prize, a tall woman with long dark hair. Her hands were bound in front of her with a single strap of leather, not tied tightly enough to hold her, but acting as more of a ceremonial artifact. It was to make a statement. She was to become a man’s property, perhaps even his slave. Her face was turned down, as if she felt ashamed.

Samantha tugged on Tanner’s sleeve.

“Not very romantic, is it?” she whispered.

“Nope.”

“But it’s not our business, right?”

“Don’t worry, Sam. I’m not about to—” Tanner cut himself short. The woman had looked up, revealing her beautiful face. “No way.”

“What is it?”

He shook his head. “It can’t be.”

“What?”

Tanner couldn’t bring himself to answer. As impossible as it was, the woman they had been fighting over was Issa.

After Korn had vanquished his unworthy adversary, he stepped to the center of the circle, raised the nail board high above his head, and let out a war cry, loud and guttural, a final challenge to any who dared to question his claim. When none did, he turned to Issa and pointed to a nearby tent whose fabric had been splashed with paint of various colors. It was as close to a bridal suite as circumstances allowed.

Issa searched the crowd, silently pleading for someone, anyone, to fight for her.

None did.

“She’s a damned fool,” cursed Marlo.

Tanner glanced at her. “Why do you say that?”

“Look at him. Korn is our most powerful warrior, the general of our army. He could have chosen any woman here.” She unconsciously reached up and smoothed the few strands of hair that remained on her shaven head. “Issa should feel honored by his selection, not beg for someone weaker to claim her.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to be someone’s property,” said Samantha.

Marlo shrugged. “It’s not her choice to make, now is it?”

Tanner forced air out through his nose.

Samantha sensed the struggle building within him and said, “This is their way. Even if you go in there and bash his brains in, it’s not going to change that.”

“Maybe not, but it might make me feel better.”

“You should just let this happen. She’s no one to you.”

He tipped his head as if to suggest that she might not be right.

“What?”

“That’s her.”

“Her who?”

“The woman from the reservoir.”

She smirked. “Yeah, right.”

He waited for her to accept that he wasn’t joking.

Her eyes opened wide. “Are you serious?”

He nodded. “Afraid so.”

“You’re telling me that that’s the woman you kissed?”

“For the last time, I didn’t kiss her.” He looked across the circle at Issa. “But yes, it’s her. Weird coincidence, right?”

“That’s not a coincidence. That’s something right out of Romeo and Juliet. You have to go and save her.”