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“The bigger towns are just as bad. Most of our rescues have been from small towns,” Kevin said with a weary sigh. “We knew supplies would become an issue soon, so we sent out scavenging raids. We lost people when we went east, so we started coming out this way, west. That is when we realized someone had been there before us. We found this one group in a grocery store making a meth lab in the back. They were seriously messed up. We interrogated their leader. He is the one who told us about the fort. He said his group had tried to join yours, but had been refused.

That you had attacked them instead of helping them. ”

“The bandits,” Curtis hissed.

“We could tell his story was fishy, but the minute the Senator heard about the fort, things became very intense. She’s been trying to get her free pass to the compound where the President and the remaining government are ensconced. Her goal was to make the mall seem like an asset to the President so that we would receive more assistance. But it was clear to me that the powers that be considered us a lost cause. But the fort changed that. With the farmland and ranches around here and the lower population of undead, this area is now seen as a viable supply outpost.

The Senator is determined to take over and implement some FEMA plan. ” Kevin shook his head. “When you realize that your superiors see the surviving human population as assets, that is when you know that the country has truly fallen. She even came up with some crazy invasion plan that had us invading the fort to seize control. ”

“So what do you suggest we do?” Katie asked. “Don’t you think the Senator will try to block you coming here. ”

“She probably has about twenty military people on her side. They’re scared. They want out. Some of them are from East Texas. I think they are hoping to find their families. Desperate

times bring out the fear in the best of people. She’ll try to stop us, but we have more military on our side. ”

Travis sighed. “Will her side respond with violence?”

Valerie and Kevin exchanged glances.

Thomas laughed. “If they’re stupid they will. C’mon. This place is heaven compared to the stinking shithole we’re in. ”

“It doesn’t mean they will be able to switch allegiances that easily,” Nerit said softly. “People have a tough time admitting when they are wrong. ”

“The reality is that the mall is full of desperate, terrified people, supplies are running low, and the zombies outside are growing in number. Nobody is in their right mind,” Kevin said. “I feel on the edge of insanity every day. ”

“Which means there could be a forceful response to your request to relocate the mall population,” Nerit decided. “They could panic seeing their own ticket out being removed. ”

“Tensions are high, ma’am,” Kevin said softly. “I won’t lie. The people are restless. Scared. The Senator is a determined woman. Ruthless. She has no regard for the people. They are statistics in her plans. That’s all. ”

“If there is any sort of gunfire, innocent people may be hurt,” Katarina sighed.

“And chaos could follow. It could get dangerous real fast,” Eric agreed.

Katie took a deep breath. Her father was alive and trapped. She wanted him here, with her. She wanted to see him meet Travis and love him as he had once loved Lydia. She wanted to see her father hold her child in his arms. She wanted Jenni and Bill home. She wanted Jenni at her side when she gave birth. She wanted her family to be whole again.

“I’ll go and speak with her,” Katie said at last.

“What?” Travis looked at her startled.

“I was a prosecutor and leader of the debate team in college. I can be very persuasive. I will speak to the Senator and Major General and make them see that the fort is open to everyone as long as they are willing to work hard to keep this place safe and a decent place to live. ”

“Katie,” Travis whispered.

“I can do it. I can make her and her supporters at least see the possibility.

So that there won’t be bloodshed or death. I may personally despise the woman, trust me, I know her, but if this is all that remains of the American dream and Texas independence, then we should at least give her the option to see the truth. Besides, if the President is really, truly alive in East Texas, then maybe we can find a way to open communication and figure out what the hell happened and what the future holds. ”

Everyone was staring at her, taking in her words.

“The Senator did ask me to return with the fort leader for negotiations for the turnover,” Kevin said finally.

Katie felt her jaw set and knew her eyes were determined. “I can talk to her. I have argued her into corners before. I had the displeasure of meeting her at more than one dinner party. She had a real issue with me being married to a woman and I argued her into a corner on that subject,”

Katie said in a low, terse voice. “I can face her again. ”

This comment elicited raised eyebrows and looks of curiosity, but Katie didn’t care.

Travis kissed her temple softly Travis’s lips were warm against her skin and she looked up into his eyes. He smiled sadly down at her. “Okay, then I go, too. ” He immediately turned and pointed at Nerit. “And you are not stopping me this time!”