The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)(85)

“What do you mean you’re not sure?” Vaja disdainfully regarded Dwayne, his lip slightly curled.

“We don’t have the full story yet. We don’t know exactly what the SWD has done. When we uncover the whole truth, we will decide what our next step will be.” Dwayne would never risk Maria. The timing would have to be perfect if he were to use this information against the SWD. Maybe this was what Commandant Pierce wanted him to do.

“Can we trust you?” Vaja asked, his eyes narrowed.

“You can,” Lindsey assured him. Tears were brimming in her eyes. “He has more at stake than you realize.”

“We’ll talk soon,” Dwayne said, then let himself out. The night was cool and he tugged his collar up around his ears as he walked. He had only a short amount of time before the city went dark.

He wished he could tell Maria what he knew.

She was in more danger than she realized.





Chapter 24


It was comforting to be seated in the carrier at her work console once more. Cormier was in torpor in the driver’s seat and the rest of the squad was scattered around the interior of the carrier. Denman was slumped at his station. Maria toyed with the idea of waking him after she spoke with Dwayne. She wanted to discuss Jameson’s condition in further detail, but their mission was so mentally taxing she felt too guilty to rob Denman of any of his downtime.

Her conversation with Chief Defender Omondi had been brief. He had appeared rushed and not interested in discussing Jameson’s condition. Maria had spun the incident with Jameson as a mental breakdown. Omondi had readily accepted this explanation. She supposed Jameson’s recent behavior had given credence to her story. She hated lying, but she was having grave misgivings about their situation. She mollified her guilty feelings over not fully reporting the details of the incident to Omondi because she was telling Dwayne, the Castellan of The Bastion.

Her wristlet chimed and she hastily answered. Dwayne’s face appeared and she noted how much more silver was threaded into his hair. He had aged in the last few months. It was arrogant of her to think it was just because he was worried about her, but it made her feel loved nonetheless.

“Thank God,” Dwayne said, obviously relieved. “Every night I fear you won’t be able to pick up.”

Maria slightly smiled at him. “If I can, I will. You know that.”

“Remember those resources I said I was going to confer with over the recent events out there?”

Her smile faded. Dwayne’s expression was quite grim. “What is it?”

“What we’re calling the Inferi Anomalies are far more dangerous than you think. I have a feeling that Omondi and his squad are actively trying to track them down. You said they were headed to the hydroelectric station, right?”

“Yeah. But why is that significant?”

As Dwayne related the information he had acquired from Lindsey, Maria grew very still. Mind spinning, she swiftly pieced together the data he had uncovered with her own experiences on the field.

“Intelligent, speaking, cannibalistic Scrags…” Maria shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

“It has to be what we’re calling the Inferi Anomalies. A human couldn’t survive out there all this time,” Dwayne answered.

“I agree. There is no way a human could have survived out here. Impossible. It has to be the Anomalies, but the ones that attacked us didn’t show any great intelligence. Cunning, yes. Ryan was obviously hunting us. But they only spoke one word.”

“Hungry, huh?” Dwayne’s frown deepened.

“Yes, and it gets worse.” She told him about Jameson.

“The Anomaly bit him and only him?”

“Yes, and now he’s suffering hunger pains.”

“Maybe the altered virus from the Anomaly infected him? Can that happen?”

“Denman says it’s possible. If we spoke to Dr. Curran, maybe she could determine if it is, but…” Maria sighed. “I don’t trust her. I don’t trust any of them.”

“And you shouldn’t,” Dwayne said guiltily. “Not completely. There’s something I haven’t told you.” In even tones, he told her about Gideon’s death.

“They lied to me and Omondi! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“To keep you focused on your mission. I knew you wanted to be on this mission. I felt that to tell you that the SWD was lying in some regards would affect you adversely.”

“It would have,” Maria admitted, but she was still annoyed. “I wish you would have told me last week.”

“Would it have made a difference?”

Maria shook her head. “It really doesn’t now either. I knew all along that something was wrong. I was lying to myself as much as they were. The question is does the SWD know what the Inferi Anomalies are?”

“Unknown. I assume Omondi hasn’t kept you briefed on what he and his squad are doing?”

“Correct.”

“I have my contacts searching for more information. As soon as I know something I will relay that information to you.”

“Thanks, Dwayne. Knowing that you’re working on my behalf makes this…bearable.” She could see the concern in his keen blue eyes and knew that he could see the emotional devastation in her own.