“Jesus,” Dr. Price said.
“The Marine is currently recovering in sickbay,” Hamilton said. “So far the infection is under control. He has some rather spectacular scars but it appears he will live. And that more or less defines current reality. Dr. Price, ever delivered a baby?”
“I heard,” Price said, sighing. “I’m hoping there are some obstetrics texts.”
“We just raided the medical school on this island,” Hamilton said. “They had some. Now we do.”
“Any surviving faculty?” Tom asked.
“This is the first island where we have yet to find a single survivor,” Hamilton said. “And we’d have found them by now what with one thing and another. We’re not sure why this one had zero. We’d expected, statistically, to find twenty. But there were none.”
“That is so sad,” Rizwana said, shaking her head. “What London must be like.”
“The ocean is made of tears, Dr. Shelley,” Hamilton said. “The only thing we can do is keep lighting candles, one by one, and try to bring back the light. And with that, I really must bid you adieu. I have to go see a subordinate about a liberty schedule. The one benefit to being forced to stay in place is I can spend the free time giving my people some time off on Christmas Day before we institute a rather strict training schedule…”
“That is gonna cause one hell of an interesting set of tan lines,” Sergeant Smith said, making sure his shades were in place so it wasn’t obvious he was watching his jailbait boss.
Faith had just run down the beach to dive into the water wearing a blue bikini top, pink shorts, a trench knife and dual .45s in tactical thigh holsters.
“It’s like Zombie Raider,” Hooch said, shaking his head.
“But with a better butt,” Smith said, then grimaced. “I’m going to hell for that, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are, Sergeant, yes, you are,” Hooch said. “You’re going to the special hell.” He looked at his watch and lurched up. “Gotta go get it on.”
“I’m not even sure the security is worth it,” Smith said. “We haven’t had a single incident all day.”
“We were still shooting them last night,” Hooch said, then shook his head. “Two nights ago.”
“Hey, guys, why aren’t you swimming?” Faith asked, walking out of the water and wringing out her hair.
“Uh, sharks, ma’am?” Sergeant Smith said.
“So far so good,” Faith said, shrugging. “I think they’re all over at Blowing Point getting stuffed. The water’s great.”
“Okay, ma’am,” Smith said, getting up. He wasn’t going to get out-oorahed by a thirteen-year-old even if it was Miss Faith. “I’m not sure about my M4, ma’am.”
“Sling it over your back,” Faith said. “We’re going to have to clean the shit out of our weapons, anyway. And that way if there is a shark you can shoot it.”
The water was gin clear and smooth as a mill pond. Smith was pretty sure that they’d see any approaching sharks.
He was also pretty sure he was going to the special hell.
“Can’t catch me!” Faith said, splashing him, then diving away.
Smith stayed where he was.
“I’m trying for friendly uncle, here, ma’am,” Smith said, wiping salt water off his face. “I’m not sure that fits in with playing chase games.”
“If you’re an uncle, you must be from West Virginia,” Faith said, grinning. “At least from the look of your bathing suit.”
“Crap,” Smith said, turning around.
“Sorry, Smitty,” Faith said. “That was sort of pushing the limit, wasn’t it?”
“A bit, ma’am,” Sergeant Smith said.
“It’s like the only guys I meet are my subordinates,” Faith said, frowning. “Not to dump on you, but it’s sort of getting weird. I’m not, you know, gay. But there aren’t any guys I meet who I like and I’m not the boss. Sorry to, you know…bitch I guess.”
“Not a problem, ma’am,” Smith said, frowning. “I guess it’s kind of tough on you that way.”
“I think Da did this on purpose,” Faith said, darkly. “He knew I was going to go for the Marines so he put them all off-limits!”
“That, yeah, sort of sounds like a dad, ma’am,” Smitty said, grinning.
“Not that I’m like super attracted to you or anything, Smitty,” Faith said. “More like a brother kind of thing.”
“That’s cool, ma’am,” Smitty said. “I can handle brother. Better than most of the alternatives.”
“Hey, it’s getting crowded.” Faith’s entry to the water had broken the ice, sort of. Plenty of people were still on the beach but there were more people getting in the water. “Let’s go check out the resort.”
“Ma’am, with due respect, are you nuts?” Smitty said. “It’s outside the perimeter.”
“This island is as clear as a liner after we’re done,” Faith said. “We’ve got guns.”
“And no reloads,” Smitty pointed out.
“Spare mags,” Faith said, pointing to her pistols. Each holster had two integrated magazine pouches.
“One mag,” Sergeant Smith said, tapping his slung weapon.
“There may be booze,” Faith responded.
“With your permission, ma’am,” Sergeant Smith said, “I’m going to go ensure that that largish resort is clear, ma’am. Prevent infiltration and all that.”
“Well, you shouldn’t go by yourself, Sergeant,” Faith said, nodding. “I’ll be your backup. Or maybe vice versa.”
“Hey, Rusty,” Faith said. “Sup?”
“Hot as hell in all this gear, Faith,” Seaman Apprentice Robert “Rusty” Fulmer Bennett III said, shaking his head. “Can’t wait to get off.”
“Have to talk to somebody older than me, Rusty,” Faith said, grinning.
“Uh…” the seaman apprentice said, his mouth hanging open.
“Close your mouth, you’re attracting flies,” Faith said. “We’re gonna go check out these buildings outside the perimeter. Don’t shoot us.”
“Uh, okay, Faith,” Rusty said. “Is that safe?”
“No,” Faith said. “But I figure somebody else is going to wander over there, and better me and Smitty than some civilian.”
“Okay, ma’am,” Rusty said.
“Hey, Rusty,” Smitty said. “Check the time and pass this on to the Marines when they take over. If we’re not back in an hour, send the reaction team.”
“Okay, Sergeant,” Rusty said.
“Jesus, Navy,” Smitty muttered as soon as they were out of earshot. “And it’s worse these days.”
“The lack of ‘aye, aye’ you mean?” Faith said. “They’re civilians that just raised their right hand. But they did raise their right hand, if you know what I mean.”
“Hope he passes on the message,” Smitty said. He had his M4 in a tactical carry position and was scanning the surroundings. “Should we be making noise, ma’am?”
“This one I’m not so sure,” Faith admitted. She still hadn’t drawn her side arm. “I wonder what’s in here?” she said as they came to a container that had floated ashore.
“Please God, it’s not illegal immigrants,” Smitty said as Faith used her trench knife to pop the seal on the container.
The interior was filled with large plastic cases.