War Without End (Surviving the Dead Book 9) by James Cook

War Without End (Surviving the Dead Book 9) by James Cook

Author:James Cook
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2021-01-31T00:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER THIRTY

Gabriel,

Outskirts of Southtown

Schule and Hastings Ironworks sat on the southern fringe of the city, only a hundred yards or so from the perimeter wall. It had been in business for less than a year, the equipment necessary to operate the facility having been imported from the far corners of the country. The ironworks was a joint venture between the federal government and numerous private investors, of which both Centurion National and BSC were a part. The factory had its own power plant fueled by coal being dug out of Kentucky and sent west aboard trains. The steel produced was sourced from abundant supplies of scrap metal that could be found anywhere in the country.

The air surrounding the plant was smoky and smelled of scorched iron. To one side was a scrapyard with great heaps of old cars, reclaimed steel girders, cables, heavy equipment, and ragged heaps of broken materials too shredded to recognize what they once were. To the other side lay a neat staging area with rolls of metal sheeting, stacks of steel bar stock, finished I-beams, and huge coils of braided cable. Beyond that lay a warehouse with enormous roll-up doors and a small fleet of forklifts carrying pallets in and out of the building.

Caleb turned the horses down a service road leading to the main entrance. The wagon’s bucking and rattling subsided as it rolled over smooth concrete laid down only a year ago. Great Hawk, sitting across from me in the back of the wagon, stared at the foundry with a slight frown.

“Something bothering you?” I asked.

“It is only a matter of time,” Great Hawk said.

“Until what?”

“Until places like that,” he pointed a finger at the smoking ironworks, “choke the air and poison the water in all corners of this land.”

I looked toward the smokestacks. “I know it’s ugly, Lincoln, but for the time being, it’s necessary.”

“Is it?” Great Hawk turned his thoughtful eyes toward me. “People lived here for more than ten thousand years before they knew of metal. They lived a clean existence, untainted by the poisons created from abusing the land. They could do so again.”

“If they were so inclined, yes. But they’re not. And they’re facing an enemy those ancient people you’re referring to never had to contend with.”

Great Hawk looked back at the factory. “That is true. But when the infected are gone, when they are cleansed from the world, what then? Do we go back to the way things were before?”

I shook my head, not feeling particularly philosophical. “I don’t know. Whatever the world looks like down the line, I’m willing to bet it’ll be a lot different from what it once was.”

Great Hawk did not respond. Hicks heard us talking and spoke over his shoulder. “Gabe, you mind telling me what we’re doing here?”

“Following up on a lead,” I replied.

“No shit. I was hoping you could be more specific.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

He started to say something else, but Eric tapped him on the shoulder.

“Stop. We’re here.”

Hicks turned around and reined in the horses.



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