Duck for Cover by Harley Tate

Author:Harley Tate [Tate, Harley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harley Tate
Published: 2019-04-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

MIDGE

Tuesday, 8:00 am CST

The Heritage Arms Apartments

Gary, Indiana

“Something has to be done.” Mark crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “We can’t all just stay here and starve.”

“That’s why I’ve called this meeting,” Tito said as he looked around the room.

Midge shifted as she sat on the now-empty table. Two days of waiting had almost driven her insane. The fifteen remaining people, newborn included, huddled in a lopsided circle near the door. They had finished off the last of the water and the scraps of food the night before. Morning hunger combined with the stench of a bucket-turned-bathroom in the hall and the stain of Mikey’s blood all over the concrete was enough to put even Tito on edge.

He cracked his knuckles. “We need to figure out our next steps.”

“Someone could go out and bring supplies back,” Gretchen suggested. “Maybe it’s safe to go out now. Didn’t someone say it was the first two days that were so important?”

Mark agreed. “One or two people could go on an expedition and bring back what they can.”

“And what will everyone else do?” Jack shifted next to Cassandra while April slept in his arms. “Just wait around?”

Mark frowned. “There’s no sense in all of us going if it’s still dangerous.”

“But you’re willing to send someone else?” Cassandra’s voice picked up and April squeaked. “So you’re too important to risk your life, but one of us, we’re expendable?”

“That isn’t what I said,” Mark snapped back.

Jack made a move to stand, but his wife waved him off. She lowered her voice. “He isn’t worth it.”

Midge smiled to herself. Cassandra had that right.

“Daddy, I want to leave.” Emily pinched her nose. “It’s stinky in here.”

Jacob smiled at his daughter. “I know, sweetie. But we need to make sure it’s safe.” He glanced up at Danny. “You’re the one with the knowledge, right?”

Danny squirmed beneath Jacob’s stare until he couldn’t take it anymore. “I took a class last year on World War II, but I’m no expert.”

Jacob pressed. “If we leave now, will we be all right?”

“From what I remember, and again, my memory’s a bit hazy, I think the worst is over. If we had a bigger supply of food or water, we might want to last a bit longer down here, but—” He paused and cleared his throat. “From what I can tell, there’s no real ventilation on this level. If we stay in the shelter too much more, we might run out of clean air to breathe.”

Gretchen gave a start. “You mean oxygen?”

“Pretty much. Without a transfer of air from somewhere, we’re on borrowed time.” He glanced at Midge. “I think if you’re willing to take a chance, now is a good time to go.”

Tito clapped his hands to cut off any further discussion. “How about we put it up to a vote? A show of hands for who’s staying and who’s leaving.” He stood and eased into the middle of the group. “I’ve got a bit of food up on the main floor that I didn’t have time to bring down here when the bomb detonated.

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