"Yeah, well, she’s got like a dozen farms now."
That surprised Trevor.
"A dozen? I thought it was ten."
"She found two more outside of Center Moreland, both with big corn fields."
"Fully manned?"
"Yep. Families and farmhands. Of course they were happy to be a part of our big family when we gave them medicine and gasoline."
"But?" Trevor sensed a ‘but’.
"But they need protection, too. Lots of weird things out there in the countryside."
Trevor said, "Sure, because we’ve been chasing all the weird things out of the cities. Guess you can’t have everything. Hey, this exit."
Trevor pointed to the ‘Kingston’ ramp off the expressway.
"Where am I going again?"
"Rutter Ave. Just get off on Route Eleven, hang a right, then hang a left."
Trevor knew the way because he had traveled it often in the days before Armageddon. Ashley had lived in Kingston not far from Rutter Ave.
Dante had summoned them to what had been an optometrist's clinic in the old world. Why he had summoned them remained a mystery.
Trevor returned the conversation to their on-the-fly meeting.
"Stonewall still up in Honesdale?"
"Yeah, still working out the details with those people up there. Last time he checked in, he said there’s at least another two hundred people in and around there. They had rebuilt their town, a little. Still, not much in the way of resources. They’re itching to be a part of us."
"Gunna be tough. They’re sort of isolated up there."
Trevor knew Honesdale to be a tiny, remote town, a good forty miles as the crow flies to the northeast of Wilkes-Barre. However, as he mentally examined the map he realized that Scranton and Carbondale marked steps between the estate and Honesdale.
"Maybe we can clear some outposts between Gentex and them. Kind of make, I dunno, islands between us and them. Then start clearing everything out in-between as we get more manpower."
"Not a bad idea," Jon answered as they came to the end of the off-ramp and swerved onto Route 11. "We haven’t spotted any type of big, organized armies out there. So if we’re just worrying about the little stuff-like Mutants and predators-we can build up hard points and wait until we’ve got more strength."
"You’re a genius Jon."
"I thought I was an asshole."
"Yeah, that too."
Trevor paged through more reports. The council he had created to help guide planning and coordinate efforts started to create a bureaucracy. That, in turn, created more paperwork. Trevor feared the whole save-the-world thing was going to get a lot more complicated.
Jon pointed out: "Manpower could be tough. Not everyone wants to be a fighter."
Trevor recalled the rage that had carried his ragtag force to victory at Five Armies. Rage he had inspired. His gift, or so it seemed.
"I think you’ll be surprised. People are sick of hiding and running. If we keep cranking out fatigues, army boots, and Kevlar we’ll find people to wear em’."
"I hope you’re right ‘cause like wow, you’ve got some big plans, Trev. We’re going to need a shitload of people. And guns. And tanks. And planes. And-"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Watch where you’re going. Turn left here."
"Speaking of which, Prescott has put together a proposal for standardized training and we’re making a big list of places that might have supplies to be scavenged. You know, armories, army bases, shit like that. A lot of them are pretty far out and who knows what’ll be left there."
"We’ll find what we need," Trevor guessed. "When it started the US Military got surprised. I think there’s a lot of shit out there just waiting to be found because no one got a chance to use it."
The Humvee drove through a residential neighborhood where trees lined the streets. Trevor knew that in less than a month the leaves on those trees would change colors and die. Another winter loomed but this time they would weather it much easier.
"So where am I-hold on, I see."
They both saw the commotion ahead. Several police vehicles-now a part of Dante Jones’ Internal Security apparatus-and a crowd of K9s loitered in the parking lot of what had once been a large eye care clinic. Before that, the building had been a new car dealership; hence, the big glass windows in front and fashionable skylights visible on the roof.
The lead Humvee pulled near the front door and stopped. The escorts did the same.
Trevor and Jon made to leave the vehicle, but the crackle of Jon’s radio stopped Brewer.
"Mister Brewer…this is Omar and I am needing to discuss a matter with you promptly."
Jon rolled his eyes and waved Trevor to go ahead without him.
Stone did just that, hearing the start of the radio communication as he walked away: "Yes, Omar?"
"It is so very nice for you to tell me what to make with my machines because most certainly you are the only one who needs anything. I just sit around all the time doing nothing waiting for you to give me something to do…"
Omar’s sarcasm faded from earshot as Dante hurried from the building to meet Trevor.
"You better have dragged me out here for a good reason," Trevor said.
"Trev, look, first thing you got to know, this wasn’t here a few days ago."
"What?"
"I think I just better show you."
He followed his friend inside. Light filled the interior from both the big atrium-like windows set along the roof and a series of portable lights arranged by Dante’s men, most of whom dressed in policemen’s garb.
Trevor noted that both Reverend Johnny and Dr. Maple walked through the building, too. However, before he could speak to either of them, another sight grabbed Trevor’s eyes: big blobs of green goo. Blobs nearly as big as and shaped similar to coffins laying in a chaotic manner throughout the building.
A sort of left over burning smell filled the place, as if something had been overcooked an hour before.
"What-what in God’s name?"
Trevor stopped and peered close at one, then another. He saw people inside each. Naked people lying still with their eyes shut.
"Trevor, we patrol this area real good. These weren’t here until — I dunno- yesterday?"
Trevor’s head swiveled side-to-side examining the encased bodies.
Dante told him, "There’s more in other buildings nearby. We’re looking at something like three thousand and we’re still counting."
"My God, these poor people. What kind of creature does this?"
"I don’t know what kind of creature does this," Dante dropped a bombshell, "but they’re still alive."
"What? Still alive?"
Dante nodded his head and touched one of the sarcophagi.
"Johnny has already pulled two people out. We just get them out of this goo shit and they’re fine."
Trevor shook his head, puzzled.
"You’re sure none of this was here until today?"
"Look, man, K9s sweep this area every few days and I’ve got guys who live in this neighborhood. No. None of this was here."
Trevor chewed on that answer.
"But there’s something else you got to see. I’m not sure how to do this, so I’m just going to show you."
Dante grabbed his friend’s hand and pulled him through the office building. Everywhere they walked, they saw more of the things. They rounded a corner and moved behind a partition that had once separated the billing department from the front counter.
Dante led his friend to one of the green things and pointed.
Trevor leaned over, squinted, and inspected the contents of the container.
His eyes widened. His heart raced.
It was Ashley.
Ashley Trump.