Siege (As the World Dies #3)(87)

Families were to register in one notebook. Elderly singles in another. Orphans in another. Singles in the last. Jenni carefully translated for the immigrants that were confused and promised them that they were not going to be reduced to non-citizens. Meanwhile, Katie kept assuring the elderly that they would be taken care of and the helicopter ride wouldn’t be all that bad.



“Child, after nearly having to run from those damn zombies, that helicopter will be like a ride to heaven,” Ethel had assured her. Travis and Kevin spoke with the soldiers that filed in from outside to make sure their allegiance was known. Most of them were relieved at the prospect of something more stable than the mall. They were weary and rundown. They had been keeping the zombies at bay for months with no chance of relief or to mourn all that they had lost. It had been hard and some men and women had broken. There were five soldiers that had disappeared over the last few months. It was tempting to try to make a break for it and try to make it home. But the zombie threat was all too real beyond the walls and too much of a risk if you were in your right mind.



But then again, who was truly in their right mind anymore? “Jenni, I really do wanna make sure my kids and I get on the same helicopter, okay?” Amy’s face was drawn with concern as she sat to write down her name and those of her kids. “Losing their Daddy like they did was so hard and I don’t want them to think they’re alone.”



Jenni looked up to see a little boy with thick, straight bangs staring at her with the biggest chocolate brown eyes she had ever seen. She couldn’t help but smile. The boy’s older sisters were both blondes with eyes the color of the morning sea. All three were holding hands and the oldest girl, around eight, was holding her mother’s shirt firmly in one hand. “Don’t worry. We want to make sure to keep families together if we can,” Jenni assured her.

Amy scrunched up her face and sighed. “Just so hard, Jenni. Having faith again. After all that went down at the civic center and here.”

Jenni leaned toward Amy and took her hand gently. “It’ll be okay. I promise. Your kids are gonna get a good life. Okay? And somewhere far from here.”

Amy forced a smile and clutched Jenni’s hand. “Okay. I believe you.”

With a smile, Jenni reached out and ruffled the little boy’s hair. “You’re going to have a big adventure tomorrow.”



He just stared at her, blinking those huge dark eyes. “He doesn’t talk no more. Not since his Daddy died,” Amy said softly.



Jenni sighed. “I understand. It’s not easy.” She thought of her own kids and brushed her hair back from her face, trying to regain her composure. Amy stood and gathered her kids around her. “Thanks for doing this, Jenni. We needed it. Bad.”



“Guadalupe Garcia,” the old Mexican woman said to Katie. She wielded her cane like a sword. “Let the puta stay here and die.” With a laugh, Katie wrote down the woman’s name. “Well, she can come along if she promises to behave.”



Mumbling in Spanish, the old woman gave Katie a hard stare. “Not that I think she will come along,” Katie assured her.



“She won’t give up control. She’ll do something. That is her way. She’s not a good person,” Guadalupe said firmly.

“I know,” Katie said softly. “I know.”

The announcement from the Senator came about an hour before dinner.

“I realize that many of you have chosen to depart for the fort. This is understandable since you are desperate to escape the zombie scourge and the conditions here have not been easy. But what you need to consider is that you may be exchanging one haven you are not completely happy with for one that is in a worse condition. The reason why I want to take over the fort is to ensure that all the surviving citizens of this great State and this great Country are given a fair and equal chance to fulfill their patriotic duty. To ensure that all the citizens of this mall and the fort have strong and capable leadership in the coming years. I have worked hard for this State and its people. I am an experienced and strong leader. I believe in this country and its people. I know that this has been a rough time for all of us, but help me appeal to the fledgling leaders of the fort and help them see that true leadership will be best for all of us. I am in contact with the President and what remains of our government. They care about what happens to you and they have assured me that they will do all they can to assist us once we are at the fort.”

“So why aren’t they helping us now,” Guadalupe said loudly, waving her cane at the nearest speaker A few people laughed as the Senator’s voice droned on.

“…together, unified, we can withstand all that comes against us. Do not give up hope. America will rise again and the President and the remains of the government are dedicated to helping you.”

More laughter.



Jenni rolled her eyes. Bill just shook his head.

“Come stand with me. Come to the top floor and let the leaders of the fort see that you want a strong, powerful new home. To be part of the rebuilding of America and the great state of Texas. Come, join me, and let’s begin a new world together.”



There were murmurs from the people crowded down on the first floor. A few people made jokes, others looked serious. No one seemed anxious to join the Senator. “I think this is a pretty good answer,” Katie said after ten minutes and still no one had attempted to go upstairs.