Two Alive, стр. 25
“What are our options?” Martyn sat up straight and tried to look less hesitant and uncertain.
“We trust two random kids to get rid of those infected before things get worse, or we wait and see if the hive leaves on its own and decide what to do with the boys,” Julia replied.
“Baker, where are your men? They can’t go out there and just kill the freaks outside?” Lesly was now biting her manicured thumbnail, which was the same color as her lips.
Baker stood behind Carver only a few feet away. “I sent them to check other sides of the building for any more infected. We don’t have enough fire power to take on something like that. And frankly, none of them want to. They’re all scared shitless. We have to do something about those freaks.”
“So, you think the kids can do it?” Martyn licked his lips and leaned forward in his chair.
“Hell no.” Baker said, “I don’t trust those kids at all.”
“So we have to decide what to do. Something that can appease everyone here.” Ben eyed the major, who looked indifferent.
“Well, things sure seem to be getting more interesting every day now, after we let that other family in a few days ago. What were their names, Karen and Joshua?” Manson was cleaning his glasses with his shirt and lifted them above his head in the light. “Coincidence, or no?”
Everyone in the room turned to Manson. “Do you think this is connected?” Martyn asked.
“Hmuh? I don’t know. There’s no way to tell, really.” Manson’s half smile wasn’t full enough to really be considered a smile. “But it is interesting that we let in that family and now we’re dealing with another, family, so to speak, coming into the compound. The boys, Antonio and Miles, showed up only a few days after Karen and Joshua.”
“That’s enough, Manson! We get it.” Martyn looked at Ben, concerned. “There’s no reason to even bring this up right now.”
“Do you always have to be an asshole?” Lesly snapped at the scientist.
Manson shrugged his shoulders and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I can’t help pointing out the obvious. Or at the very least, coincidental.”
“Manson has a point.” Carver continued to aim the discussion towards anything that would convince everyone the boys couldn’t be trusted. “This could be a giant conspiracy to infiltrate the compound. And let’s not forget who decided to let Karen and Joshua in.”
The room now couldn’t help but turn their attention to Ben, though some more subtle than others. Ben shook his head and sighed. “Alright. I know. I know ok. This all is on me; I won’t deny that. But I’m also not going to deny my own humanity. We shouldn’t turn people away when they need help. We can’t stay locked in this store forever! And let’s not forget what happened after I let them in! You worked everyone up into an uproar and drove them out!” Ben pointed his finger at Carver as though he was throwing a knife at the major.
Carver sneered at him and closed his eyes. “Julia and I both tried to calm the community down, but it couldn’t be helped. And then I agreed to send out people to find them even after the accident. So don’t start pointing fingers when I’ve done nothing but try to protect everyone in here, including you, from what’s out there.”
“At any price, right?”
“You’re goddamn right!” The major was fuming with his teeth gritted and his right fist balled at his side.
Julia threw her head back and cursed in Spanish. “Can the both of you, please, stop fucking going back and forth. We’ve got enough to deal with right now.”
“Understatement of the year.” Martyn was shaking his head.
“Accident?” Alana was looking around the room quizzical and wanting to add to the conversation. “You mean what happened with that boy? He was sick right? That’s why we kicked them out.”
Ben shushed his daughter and tried again to ask her to leave. She was becoming too privy to what was going on.
“So what are we doing? Are we kicking these new boys out? Are we dealing with the freaks outside? I’m just so confused.” Lesly’s eyes darted around the room as she whined in her high octave voice. “Let’s just vote on something to do.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Carver shot down her idea. “This isn’t picking a movie for movie night. We can’t vote on something like this.”
“Why not? We do it all the time for everything else.” Lesly whined some more.
“It’s not that simple now, Ms. Cooper. Things are a bit more complicated,” Manson said with a sigh.
“Well then, what do you think we should do, Bob?” she fired back.
Manson shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe go out and shoot ‘em all up like you suggested.” He looked up at the ceiling. “My mind’s a bit preoccupied at the moment, so I can’t really call it.” The scientist was too busy wondering when this meeting would be over, and he’d be able to return to his lab and examine the infected corpse he had Castle and Burrows move.
Lesly sat back in her seat and folded her arms, pouting.
In the docking area, Antonio was sitting near his brother with his eyes glued on the two striker corpses nearby, covered with sheets. Miles was rocking back and forth and stopped periodically, only to start again. The two soldiers stood watching them, from time to time looking at the steel door and knowing what was on the other side.
“We’re too close to them,” Antonio said to the two men.
“What?” Anderson asked.
“He said we’re too close.” The other soldier wiped sweat from his forehead. A dark bandana was wrapped around his blond hair, but his