Homestead by L. Douglas Hogan

Author:L. Douglas Hogan [Hogan, L. Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Post-Apocalyptic | EMP | Survival
Publisher: Disgruntled Dystopian Publications
Published: 2018-08-09T04:00:00+00:00

SNITCHES END UP IN DITCHES

Enclave Camp

August 15th

Cornelius was leaning against the corner of the barn with his right leg folded over his left and a piece of grass hanging from his lips. He tried to make a habit of making everybody’s business his own. When he wasn’t sulking in his own thoughts, he would watch others. Cornelius had an understanding that most people in the Enclave did not have. Knowledge is power. Watch people and learn everything you can. You never know when you might need something on someone. Some little piece of dirt, some piece of information might be a treasure trove, and holding it, the power of life and death.

On this particular occasion Cornelius saw Carl and Mark coming back from their scouting routine. But something was different. Russell wasn’t there. They knew the rules. Never, never separate from the team. They went out in scouting parties of three people for a reason. They supported each other, they assisted each other, and they made sure they came back with as many people as went out. Here was where Cornelius excelled. He wasn’t going to approach the two men. He was going to listen.

“Remember, just stick to the story, and everything will be fine,” Mark said.

“I know, I know!” Carl replied. “Russell didn’t like what you had to say, so he ran off on his own. There’s nothing we can do about that.”

Marcus looked up and saw Cornelius leaning against the barn. It was nothing new to them to see him standing there. Everybody thought Cornelius was shady, but they never questioned him. He had Rueben’s favor,and to mess with him meant flirting with disaster. Making eye contact with Cornelius caused a nervous sensation to fill Marcus with worry. It was the look that he gave. That cocky “I know something you don’t know” look. Marcus ignored it, broke eye contact, and continued on.

Carl followed close behind him, being careful not to make eye contact with anybody. Carl was not a very confident man to begin with. It was especially easy to tell if something was bothering him because of the way he behaved. He would look down, not make eye contact, or excessively scratch his nose.

Marcus and Carl were careful in their approach. Rueben was sitting at a table outside in the shade of one of the corrals. He had his pistol disassembled and a cleaning brush that he was using to scrape off the carbon. There was no cleaning lubricant or gun oil in his possession. So he did what most people did to clean their weapons. He used motor oil. Anything to smooth the operation of the gun was viable. Rueben saw them coming and knew immediately they were one person short. “Where’s your third man?”

“Ran into a problem, Rueben.”

“What kind of problem?”

“We went searching for Larry, Shawn, and Max. We stumbled on an old farmhouse. They weren’t there, but there were some pretty ladies. Russell was looking for action, but I wouldn’t have it. We got into an argument, he said he was done with it all, and he left.

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