Isolation by Jones, Nathan (the first e reader .TXT) 📗

Starr's families. The two camp leaders had elected to stay behind to continue fulfilling their duties, which Ellie admired; she could see how relieved both men had been at the knowledge that their loved ones were finally getting into Stanberry, and how painful it had been for them to stay behind.

She intended to continue doing what she could to coordinate things in the camp after she moved, but honestly she'd never even considered staying behind. Their campsite was too vulnerable, and there was no way she was going to be parted from Ricky.

Or Hal's siblings, who she was coming to love like her own children.

Ellie led the group along the Zolos-free path to Stanberry's southern roadblock, where a welcome party led by Borden was waiting to usher them through the rebuilt barricade. She noticed people gawking at the scorch marks on the walls and on the road beneath their feet from Jay's bomb as they shuffled into town; hopefully that didn't erode their feeling of safety from being inside the barricades.

“Come in, come in!” Borden called. “We've got hot soup and lemonade waiting, then we'll get you settled in.”

That was a thoughtful gesture, and from the expressions of the crowd of new arrivals a much appreciated one. They eagerly followed the town's new temporary leader towards the center of town, where the public buildings and businesses were located.

Ellie was about to follow when a familiar face pushed through the press. “Ellie!” Gen shouted with a beaming smile as she rushed forwards to throw her arms around her. “I'm so glad you're finally here!”

Surprised but pleased, Ellie hugged the plump woman back. She wouldn't have expected to be so happy to see her ex-husband's new girlfriend, but she really was; it was hard not to react like that when the woman was such an absolute sweetheart.

“Thank you so much for everything,” she said, the words feeling inadequate to express her true feelings.

There was another happy shout and a small figure darted around them and rushed over to Ricky, giving him a big hug. Ricky tried to act cool and mature as he hugged Billy back, but it was obvious he was happy to see his friend.

Billy was so excited that he even hugged Todd, Linny, and Den, even though he didn't know them as well and they'd always had to stay at least fifteen feet apart. As for Hal's siblings, after so long isolated with just each other to play with, and more recently Ricky, they looked just as happy to have a new friend.

“Did you talk to Brant about us joining the sentries?” Hal asked Gen as they watched the kids play.

“Are you kidding?” the plump woman asked, laughing. “With all of us barely blinking for fear of missing Jay's next incoming attack, the more people willing to fight the better.” She grimaced. “Especially when Wensbrook's sending bombs at the barricades.”

Ellie would've preferred not to think about that when it looked as if she and Hal would be taking a shift on the walls soon. But she could understand that it would be on her friend's mind, since Gen had been up there when the bombs hit.

“Since you're feeling brave . . .” a familiar voice said behind them, and Ellie jumped slightly and turned. She hadn't seen Bruce and Winn arrive, accompanied by another elderly couple who she guessed must be the Tolsons.

Bruce smiled apologetically for surprising her and continued. “With all the chaos of Jay's attack, then our own raid on their camp a few days ago, I think we all forgot about the supplies Nick cached in the shed. But the three weeks since he locked it up finished a couple days ago.”

Winn nodded solemnly. “The last time someone hit back at Jay, when whoever it was burned down half of Wensbrook, he responded by torching all our outlying houses. So far they've left the houses closest to town alone, including ours thank goodness, but after our attack on their camp that might change.”

Ellie was nodding along to the older woman's words, and when she finished Hal grunted in agreement. “You're right, I hadn't even thought of that,” he said. “We should get those supplies as quickly as possible.”

Winn clapped her hands briskly. “But first, let's get you settled in. We've got the whole day ahead of us.”

Bruce nodded. “Besides, before we go we should ask Nick to keep a closer eye on the area around our house while we're there. We're still waiting for the hammer to drop with whatever Jay's going to do after we torched his camp.”

That sobered the mood as the group made their way down a side street to the Tolsons' house, the kids running ahead laughing and shouting.

It had been two days since Nick and Denny had chased Jay out of the area, and thus far the man had yet to even contact them over the radio with his usual threats and verbal abuse, let alone strike back at them. That wasn't unusual given Jay's previous methods, a fact confirmed by the defectors from the Wensbrook group, Larry and Liza, but somehow lack of a response felt more ominous this time.

As if Jay was planning something far worse than anything he'd done before.

Ellie had personally spoken to the two prisoners, hoping to use their familiarity with their former leader to get a feel for his way of thinking. And she wasn't the only one of the leaders who'd done so; even Brant and Borden had risked Zolos to interview the defectors.

Larry and Liza had turned out to be contrite and forthcoming, obviously ashamed of what they'd been part of and wanting to do whatever they could to prevent future grief. But in spite of their help, so far none of them had any solid predictions about what Jay was planning next. They were still reduced to scouting carefully and keeping their guard up, hoping to be able to spot the attack coming and respond in time.

For once.

What they did know now