Deadland's Harves(78)

Clutch’s lips thinned. “People aren’t going to like to hear it.”

I winced. They weren’t going to like to hear that news at all, but we had no other option. Heading to the mainland was out of the question. Worse, enough zeds had fallen in the water and scared the fish away, not that I could yet take a bite of fish without gagging. More and more zeds were washing ashore and now lingered on our island.

As long as the zeds were out there, we were stuck in what could easily become our tomb. “We need to get the zeds away from the Aurora,” I said my thoughts aloud.

Tyler chuckled. “Want me to get on the bullhorn and order the zeds to leave?”

Clutch was watching me all too closely.

“I’ll do it,” I said after a moment. “I’ll lead the herds away from the river barge.”

“Cash…” Clutch warned.

I gave him a pleading look. I knew the odds. I’d been an actuary before the outbreak, but I figured the odds out on the river couldn’t be any worse than staying on the boat. Staying on the boat was only delaying the odds. “If we don’t do something, who knows how long the herds will stay. If we wait until we are out of food, it’ll be too late. You know how long it took to build up the reserves we’re burning through. The winter may kill the zeds, but without our livestock, it’s going to kill us, too. I’ll take a boat and run the Pied Piper plan.”

“We’ve only tried that with tiny herds, a few dozen zeds at most,” Tyler said.

“The plan hasn’t failed yet,” I countered.

Clutch watched me for a moment—it was a calculating gaze—and then turned to Tyler. “I’ll lead the mission. I want Cash and Jase to stay on the Aurora.”

“Like hell,” I said. “Camp Fox needs you more than it needs me.”

Clutch grabbed my arms. “What happens when you come up against a lock or a dam?”

“I’ll figure out something. What would you do?”

He shook his head. “Leading them away is one thing. How are you going to turn around and get past them and back to the boat?”

“I’ll bring plenty of supplies and hide out until the coast is clear.”

His brows rose and his lips tightened.

“The idea could work,” Tyler mused. “But it’s dangerous. It’s awfully dangerous.”

“What other option do we have?” I asked. “If I fail, you still have time to figure out other options.”

“If we fail,” Clutch added. “We’re a team.”

I tried not to look relieved, but the idea of not having Clutch along terrified me. I smiled and gave a single nod.

“I’m in,” Jase said, and I looked around, realizing we’d drawn the attention of everyone in the room.

Clutch glared at Jase. “Now, hold on a minute.”

“This is a Charlie team mission, right?” Jase asked. “I’m a Coyote. You’re not going to make me sit this one out. We’re in this together.”

Part of me wanted to scream at Jase to stay behind where it was safer, and I suspected it was exactly how Clutch felt about both Jase and me. But Jase was right. We were in it together.

Clutch sighed. “We don’t even know if the plan could work on this scale.”

“What could work?” Manny asked as he entered the quarters.

“We’re forming a small team to lead the zeds away,” Tyler said.

“I’m in if the kid ponies up a candy bar from his stash,” Griz said.

“Heck, no,” Jase said, and the two poked jabs at each other.

“This is not something to take lightly,” Tyler said harshly. “I won’t order anyone on this mission. It will be volunteers only.”

“Well, son of a bitch. You guys can’t go without me,” Wes said. “I’m the best mechanic around here. With a herd that big, you can’t afford to break down.”

Tyler held up his hands. “Whoa. That’s enough. Five of you will fill a boat and have eyes in every direction. Clutch, you’re senior officer so you have lead. Now, we all need to take time to think through this. If anyone backs out, I won’t hold it against you. Everyone, take sixty. We’ll meet in the galley in an hour to work out the mission details.”

Clutch nodded. His features were still set hard, so I rubbed his back. He sighed and looked from Jase to me. “I know trying to talk you two out of this is a waste of breath, so either of you want to spar instead?”