Pushing On

17

The group of new people was happily eating their dinner, asking for second helpings of everything. While Kara had already grown tired of the food, the newcomers were happy to gobble it up as if it was the best thing they’d ever eaten.

“Excuse me for a minute, will you?” said Kara. “I’ve got some business to attend to.”

“This is amazing,” said Mandy, smiling up at Kara.

“Glad you like it,” said Kara, her professional smile on her face.

Kara saw Max glancing at her. There was suspicion in his eyes, and a dark look on his face. And that was aside from all the bruises.

Max didn’t trust her. And that might turn out to be a problem.

Kara took her plates to the wash station in the mess hall, and made her way to the exit. On the way out, she passed by Jeff, who was eating at the end of a long table filled with men.

“I’ve got to talk to you. Meet me outside,” she whispered, leaning down and speaking right into his ear.

As soon as Kara exited the mess hall, that smile she’d been flashing all day fell away. Her face was serious.

In her pre-EMP life, she’d learned how to put on what she’d always called the “client face.” It was a good way to earn trust and inspire confidence. But she’d always found it exhausting, and at the end of the day, it always fell away and she was left with her normal somber face.

She knew she was a good-looking woman. To Kara, her body was just another tool at her disposal. Sure, she liked it just fine for what it was, a body. She knew that her appearance was a big reason that she came across as trustworthy. Before the EMP, she had dressed professionally for work, but in a way that didn’t hide her curves.

Kara was glad that she’d been able to use her abilities bring this new group to the compound. They’d be useful. They were exactly what the group needed.

“What is it?” said Jeff, sidling up next to her.

Unless he was on the radio, he always came across as incredibly low energy. Almost like a sloth. Or worse. But if you could look beyond that slovenly body of his, and the slow-moving eyes, you’d see that in that skull of his, there was a brain that was always running at top speed. He was always calculating, always thinking, always scheming. He wasn’t a bad guy. He certainly wasn’t evil. And neither was Kara. But they both shared a common interest, and that was the continuation of their community. At any cost. No matter what the others thought.

“I’m worried about that one guy.”

“Max?”

“Yeah, the one who always has that brooding look on his face.”

“He could be trouble.”

“You picked up on it too?”

“He doesn’t trust us.”

“And should he?”

“We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”

“You think the others will go along with it?”

“The others in the compound?”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll make them think it’s a democracy. Just as our constitution says.”

“But you and I know how to get things done, how to arrange everything just right.”

“Exactly.”

“We’re going to make a good team.”

“We already do.”

“So what’s the plan?”

Kara paused for a moment, staring out into the woods. This was the perfect spot for the compound. There was nothing around for miles. It was community-owned land, an old forgotten tract of land that had once, long ago, belonged to some railroad baron. They’d all chipped in, some of them more than others, and purchased the land about ten years ago. As the numbers of the group grew, the newcomers had chipped in more money, lowering the cost for anyone.

Not that money mattered anymore. It didn’t matter who had paid for what. At least not in the minds of many. Kara, on the other hand, thought differently. She’d earned an easy six figures year in and year out, and she’d paid more than most in their group. And she felt that she deserved to have more say in matters, rather than exist as a single voice in a democracy of dozens, each with an equal amount of power. That was where her scheming with Jeff came in. He thought along the same lines.

“You really think everyone will vote to keep them captive? Against their will?” Jeff’s voice interrupted Kara’s thoughts.

“Look, everyone’s a realist. They just don’t always admit it to themselves. That’s where we come in. There are dozens of men. I’m the only woman. We knew it was a problem all along, but no one took it seriously.”

“I think no one really thought something like the EMP would happen.”

“Exactly. We all talked like we believed it. Like we really did. But people are more comfortable just going along with normal life. We can’t continue this community with just men. It’s not going to work with me as the only woman.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I don’t know if the older one…”

“Georgia, you mean.”

“Yeah, Georgia. I don’t know if she’s of childbearing age.”

“I don’t know either. But it doesn’t hurt to try.”

“And other one is too young.”

“But in a few years, she’d make a fine mother.”

“Others might come along.”

“Good, we need more. We need to start collecting women now.”

“Collecting? I don’t think fellow members of your gender would appreciate the way you’re talking.”

Kara laughed. “I’ve never been into all that stuff. I’m a realist.”

“That’s why I like you."

“I’ll take care of the voting,” said Kara. “I’ll get the newcomers in the showers and out of the way, and I’ll hold an emergency meeting. They’ll vote for forced conscription.”

“You do have a way with words. But what about the troublesome one, Max?”

“He might try to interfere.”

“I’ve got an idea.”

“Tell me what’s cooking in that beautiful brain of yours.”

“Nothing complicated,” said Jeff. “I’ll take him out on the grounds to show him the surrounding area. I’ll make up some excuse.”

“That’s good, get him away from the others.”

“That’s just the start.”

“You’re going to put him out of commission, you mean?”

“It’ll be easy. A bullet in the back. Put him out of his own suspicious misery. He won’t feel much.”

“I’m not that concerned with his suffering.”

Dinner was over, and people were starting to exit the mess hall.

The newcomers came out.

Kara put her professional smile back on.

“You all get enough?” she said, keeping her tone pleasant.

“More than enough,” said Mandy, smiling happily.

Kara took an opportunity to take a glance at Mandy’s body. She looked healthy, with a good body. She was just the right age to bear children. She’d do well.

“Why don’t I show you all the bathing facilities again?” said Kara. “There’s a little trick to get just the right amount of hot water.”

“We’re probably filthy, aren’t we?” said Georgia’s daughter.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Kara. “You’ve been through a rough time. But you can get clean here.”

“I’m sure I stink like crazy,” said Mandy.

“Follow me,” said Kara. “We’re going to have our regular nightly meeting, and you can all get cleaned up while we’re busy with that. Just boring regulatory stuff. Who does the dishes and that sort of thing. You’ll feel like a new person once you’re clean.”

Kara started to lead them away.

“Hey Max,” said Jeff. “Can I talk to you a minute? I wanted to get your opinion on some traps we’ve set up in the forest.”

“I’d rather stay with the others,” said Max.

“Come on,” said Mandy. With a full belly, she was jovial. “We’ll be fine.”

Max hesitated, but only for a moment.

“What kind of traps?” he said, joining Jeff off to the side.

So far, the plan was going perfectly. Kara wouldn’t have to worry about Max’s suspicions much longer.