Men of Truth (The Wasteland Soldier #4)

There were no burials in Silver Road. Stone didn’t care. He dug a grave and he dug it alone.

The Junk Men arrived to recycle her body but Quinn aimed her crossbow at them and the hooded men backed away.

He took Nuria’s pistol and moulded her fingers around it, and carefully placed her arm across her body. He drank whiskey, and kept drinking. And when the bottle was empty, he tossed it into the creek and stared down at her. Pale skin and blonde hair streaked and caked with dried blood.

He sat on the edge of her grave, looked out across the creek and then back at the town of Silver Road.

The town was shell-shocked but stores opened and horses trotted and children went to school. The day continued to cycle. The wheel continued to turn. There had been no hint of impending violence. Now friends and family were dead. The bloodshed had resurrected memories of the post-civil war years. Heads were a little low, eyes were downcast, the bars were quiet and without humour.

Stone sat all day with Nuria, until the sun began to fall away on the horizon. The wind picked up and he felt a chill.

He leaned into the open grave and placed the wooden heart piece on her chest.

Shadows were cast across the ground, and Stone saw it was Quinn, with Jodie, Palmer and Cali, carrying shovels and fresh whiskey.

They buried her without words or ceremony.

Palmer built a fire and they drank. The moon and stars filled the sky. Stone sat with a numb expression.

It was after midnight that Rawles struggled toward the bridge. His shoulder was bandaged, his arm in a sling. There were deputies with him, holding lanterns and rifles.

“Do you know how many deputies and civilians are dead? Everyone is touched by what happened. You opened up hell on us. I’ve never been so wrong about someone.”

“Hey,” said Cali. “Climb off his back, cocksucker.”

Stone put his hand on her arm, gently squeezed.

“Mayor Jefferson wants the flag back.”

Palmer’s hand snaked toward his pistol. Jodie sucked in her breath.

“But I don’t. Take it and fly it wherever the hell you want. Only make sure people know it’s no longer here.”

He wiped his soaked brow.

“None of us know how to drive the prison truck. I want it gone by dawn. With all of you in it.”

He stared at Jodie.

“That includes you. I’ve put Yuan in charge of the motel. Once her arm is healed. I think I can trust her.”

“Silver Road is my home.”

“Not anymore.”

“I’ve been here for ten years.”

“It’s over for you.”

He shuffled away, taking his men with him. The snipers and spotters were back in the watchtowers, and the codes were being sent, and once more Silver Road would be safe. The bars would sell liquor. The sidewalks would be built. The Junk Men would fill the display cases in the museum.

“He can’t do that,” said Jodie. “He can’t throw me out. Not after all these years.”

No one had any answers for her. The old bridge creaked and the trees swayed in the night wind.

Quinn sat beside Stone. His eyes were red-rimmed.

“Her biggest fear was never seeing you again. That didn’t happen.”

She paused.

“I won’t be coming with you. There isn’t much point. I’ll take my chances here.”

She glided a hand over her head. Stone suddenly realised her hair was missing.

“It happened in the mountains. I went into a cave area with a few Marshals. They died shortly after. I reckon the Lord has had a lot of fun with me. Just dealt me one shit hand after the other.”

She rolled up her sleeve. There were blotches on her skin.

“I don’t know what it is. I’m just glad Nuria got to see you again.”

She leaned against him, for a moment.

“Some things are worth dying for, Stone. You’re one of them. I’ll never forget what you did for me.”

She got to her feet, faced everyone.

“Let’s take a look at this truck.”

Palmer and Jodie followed. But Cali stayed with him.

“I’m so sorry, man. I really am sorry.”

She pursed her lips.

“You were going to sacrifice everything so I could get this flag out of here. It ain’t fair.”

He nodded.

“Stop smelling those flames, man.”

She got to her feet as Quinn and Palmer wandered back, leaving Jodie standing beside the truck, staring down at the stinking bodies they’d dragged from it. The air buzzed with flies.

“Oh, shit,” said Cali. “Did Reardon bring them with him? Man, that fucker was off the scale.”

“We better get out of here,” said Palmer.

Gritting his teeth, Stone struggled onto his feet and got in Palmer’s face.

“Where will Pavla go?”

“She thinks the flag was destroyed. Her mission is complete. She’ll go to Atlanta. She has contacts there.”

“Contacts? What kind of contacts?”

“The people she works for. The old enemy.”

“You said that before. Who the fuck are they?”

Palmer looked at him evenly.

“Take your pick. This time it’s the Russians.”

The name meant nothing to him.

He looked down at Nuria’s grave.

“Then we head for Atlanta,” said Stone. “There are scores to settle and I intend to settle all of them.”

THE END

Thank you for reading Men of Truth. I hope you enjoyed the book.

The story continues in … The Atlanta Mission