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cryptic warning about other survivors and shuddered. “You’re not wrong about that, Kate.”
    There was a clattering sound from the park behind the armory and the pair of creeps at the chain link fence slowly canted their heads in the sound’s direction and then stumbled off into the darkness.
    Dawson took another swig of coffee. “You’re going to be in charge then?”
    I handed Kenny the night vision goggles which he promptly slipped onto his head. My eyes drifted from the scene in the alley to Kenny and then over to Dawson. “Is that a request or an assumption?”
    “More of a statement of fact,” said Dawson. “If you want, I mean.”
    I looked a Kenny. “What do you think?”
    He adjusted the focus on the goggles and stared out into the night. “Better you than me, brother. At this point I’d even take Dawson in charge if she can get us the fuck out of the city alive.”
    “Thanks a lot, Kenny,” she said sourly.
    I allowed myself a mild chuckle and then gazed up at the night sky. The city had been blanketed by cloud cover day or night for months – it was as if the sun, the moon and the stars had turned their backs on us.
    “Snow will be hitting us soon,” I said glumly. “If we’re going to make a move, we have a narrow window of opportunity. We need to think about supplies for when we get out of here.”
    “In the morning I’ll check on the tent groups and the toboggans then,” said Kenny.
    “Check on the carriers, too,” I suggested. “Maybe do a fitness inspection and see if there’s anything we need to fix.”
    Kenny’s lips arched up into a grin. “You’re thinking we use both APC’s to break out of here, aren’t you?”
    I nodded. “Something like that – I’m going to try and get some sleep.”
    Dawson put a hand on my chest. “Dave … do you actually
want
to be in charge?”
    I looked down at her hand and sighed heavily, “I want to protect Jo. And if that means that I have to hatch a plan to get out of the city to protect her, then I’m going to do it. Sanctuary Base will be broadcasting again at 06:30 – might as well inform Sid and Doug when they go on sentry.”
    “And then what?” she asked.
    I started walking toward the doors and the stairwell. “I’m still trying to figure that one out.”
     

5
    I lay atop my cot and flashed my light on Sgt. Green’s letter. If only he’d just ordered us to load up the carriers and fight our way out of the city – even if he’d done it twenty four hours ago, he’d still be alive and I wouldn’t have to worry about stepping into his shoes.
    Across the room Jo stirred and then yawned, stretching her arms out of the sleeping bag. She unzipped it halfway and kicked her body out of the down-filled cocoon, sticking her feet inside a pair of rubber boots. She clumped across the room and climbed onto the edge of my cot. I didn’t bother trying to hide the letter from her as she poked her head over to see what I was reading.
    “Whatcha looking at?” she asked as she brushed her hair away from her eyes. “Is that … is that a letter from Mommy?”
    There was a tiny, almost hopeful sounding lilt to her voice. I still had Mom’s goodbye letter – Jo didn’t know about it. She’d never know about it. Ever.
    I flipped the letter over and showed it to Jo. “It’s from Sgt. Green,” I said very business-like. “He left us something to help us survive.”
    Jo seemed to shrink a little. She was wearing a t-shirt that was more nightgown than anything. Across her narrow chest were the words CHARLIE COMPANY.
    “So many people are gone now,” she said quietly. Her eyes drifted away from the letter and she gazed at her rubber boots. “Is Sgt. Green going to come back? Is he going to become a creeper?”
    I shook my head. “He won’t. We took care of it.”
    “Nobody else is ‘fected, right? Nobody else is going to turn, right?”
    “We’re all good to go, Jo,” I replied. “And we’re all going to keep you safe. Got