Free Rotter Apocalypse by Scott M Baker

for later this afternoon where we’ll trade supplies for your three people who were taken hostage. Only this time, we’ll be using troops we’ve inoculated, and will have a surprise for them.”
    Natalie thought for a moment. “Do you need any more guns?”
    “What do you mean?” asked Thomas.
    “Two of my girls are among the missing,” said Natalie. “And we’re already inoculated. I’d like to have a chance to offer some payback.”
    A grin pierced Fogel’s lips. “I think that can be arranged.”
     
     

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Robson glanced around the table at the others in the rectory’s dining room: Simmons and Wayans, Dravko and Tibor, DeWitt and Roberta, and Caslow. There were fewer than the last time they had all gathered for dinner, which had been two nights ago when the group had attacked Price’s camp. Since the raid, they had spent most of their time caring for the survivors, making the supply run to Super Walmart, and burying the dead. Now that the situation had stabilized somewhat, their routine had returned to normal. The lull had also given Robson a chance to consider their plans for the future, which did not present any truly viable options. He had appreciated the distraction of the last few days because it had provided an excuse not to deal with this. Robson had to honor his promise to Simmons not to remain in Gilmanton and be a burden while at the same time meet his obligations to his own people and to those they had saved. Every scenario he had come up with had more flaws than benefits. He had decided on their future course of action late that afternoon, and assumed he had made the correct choice because he knew everyone would be against it.
    As the others chatted amongst themselves, Dravko leaned over toward Robson and whispered, “Is everything all right?”
    “Yeah. Why?”
    “You’ve barely said a word during dinner.”
    “Sorry,” Robson responded halfheartedly. “I have a lot on my mind.”
    “I understand. If there’s—”
    A knock at the doorway to the dining room caught their attention. Linda stood in the entrance. “Sorry to interrupt.”
    “You’re not interrupting,” said Simmons. “We’re almost finished. Is everything okay at the warehouse?”
    “Everything’s fine.” Linda stepped into the dining room. “Robson asked me to come by.”
    Everyone focused their attention on Robson. He motioned for Linda to enter. As she took a seat near Simmons and Wayans, Robson said, “I asked Linda here so we can discuss our plans.”
    “Good idea,” said Roberta. “We need to coordinate what we want to do next.”
    “There’s nothing to coordinate,” Robson said firmly, hoping to preempt any debate. “We’re going to try and link up with the government-in-exile in Omaha.”
    DeWitt snorted. “You mean hook back up with Natalie in Omaha.”
    “I’m not going to lie and say it wouldn’t be nice to get back together with Natalie. We’d all want to see our loved ones again.” Robson made eye contact with everyone at the table. “That’s not the reason I’m doing this. We know there’s a large group of survivors in Omaha. Our best option is to make our way to them where Linda’s people have the best chance of being taken care of properly and where the rest of us can join the fight to take back the country.”
    “Why?” asked Roberta in a soft tone. “Mike, your responsibility now is to those of us sitting here at this table, and to those people in the warehouse who are looking to you for guidance.”
    “I agree,” said Robson, “and the most responsible thing I can do is get them someplace where they can be properly taken care of.”
    “That’s not Omaha,” said Simmons.
    “They’re right,” Dravko stated. “You, me, and Tibor are the only three experienced enough to even attempt a cross country trip like that. And we’ll be taking with us three dozen people who can barely travel, let alone fight off rotters. Even if we headed north to where there