Deadland's Harvest (part 2 of the Deadland Saga)

Gluttony (Chapter 22)

"We've only tried that with tiny herds, a few dozen zeds at most," Tyler said.

"The plan hasn't failed yet," I countered.

Clutch watched me for a moment-it was a calculating gaze-and then turned to Tyler. "I'll lead the mission. I want Cash and Jase to stay on the Aurora."

"Like hell," I said. "Camp Fox needs you more than it needs me."

Clutch grabbed my arms. "What happens when you come up against a lock or a dam?"

"I'll figure out something. What would you do?"

He shook his head. "Leading them away is one thing. How are you going to turn around and get past them and back to the boat?"

"I'll bring plenty of supplies and hide out until the coast is clear."

His brows rose and his lips tightened.

"The idea could work," Tyler mused. "But it's dangerous. It's awfully dangerous."

"What other option do we have?" I asked. "If I fail, you still have time to figure out other options."

"If we fail," Clutch added. "We're a team."

I tried not to look relieved, but the idea of not having Clutch along terrified me. I smiled and gave a single nod.

"I'm in," Jase said, and I looked around, realizing we'd drawn the attention of everyone in the room.

Clutch glared at Jase. "Now, hold on a minute."

"This is a Charlie team mission, right?" Jase asked. "I'm a Coyote. You're not going to make me sit this one out. We're in this together."

Part of me wanted to scream at Jase to stay behind where it was safer, and I suspected it was exactly how Clutch felt about both Jase and me. But Jase was right. We were in it together.

Clutch sighed. "We don't even know if the plan could work on this scale."

"What could work?" Manny asked as he entered the quarters.

"We're forming a small team to lead the zeds away," Tyler said.

"I'm in if the kid ponies up a candy bar from his stash," Griz said.

"Heck, no," Jase said, and the two poked jabs at each other.

"This is not something to take lightly," Tyler said harshly. "I won't order anyone on this mission. It will be volunteers only."

"Well, son of a bitch. You guys can't go without me," Wes said. "I'm the best mechanic around here. With a herd that big, you can't afford to break down."

Tyler held up his hands. "Whoa. That's enough. Five of you will fill a boat and have eyes in every direction. Clutch, you're senior officer so you have lead. Now, we all need to take time to think through this. If anyone backs out, I won't hold it against you. Everyone, take sixty. We'll meet in the galley in an hour to work out the mission details."

Clutch nodded. His features were still set hard, so I rubbed his back. He sighed and looked from Jase to me. "I know trying to talk you two out of this is a waste of breath, so either of you want to spar instead?"

I grinned. Whenever he was stressed, he needed action. Of course, I was the same way. "You bet."

"Yeah, why not," Jase said after stretching his neck from side to side.

I grabbed my thermos from my bunk. By the time I returned, Jase and Clutch were already chatting about setting up the boat.

"Mind if I join you guys?" Griz asked as he caught up.

I motioned him along. "Only if you're ready for an ass whooping."

Griz chuckled. "Oh, it's not me who's-"

Shouting erupted from above deck and I snapped around. "What's going on?"

We ran up the stairs and to the galley. Outside, Maggie was screaming at the herds. "Go back to hell, you devils! You'll never get to us! Never!"

"Shit," Griz muttered. "Our first cuckoo has flown."

No!

I reached for my pistol, but the others bolted outside, and I followed.

Griz reached her first. He yanked her back and covered her mouth. "I should've figured out you'd be the first to go nuts."

She mumbled something but he kept her mouth covered.

I scowled at Maggie, keeping my hand on my holster. "Fucking nut. You trying to get us all killed?"

Lucky for her, Griz still had his hand over her mouth because if I heard what she seemed to be saying, I might have changed my mind and shot her right then and there.

Clutch and Jase helped drag Maggie back inside.

Before I reentered the galley, I looked out at the herds to see every pair of eyes watching us. The wind whipped at my face.

"Well, that does it," Clutch muttered. "This mission just became critical."

"Yeah," Jase said. "The tough part is that it sounds more like Mission: Impossible."

I swallowed and turned away from the ocean of zeds.

No, it wasn't just an impossible mission.

It was a suicide mission.