She hugged herself and treaded to the side of the main road down a small hill to the barracks housing the feds. The road edged a thatch of forest past the water treatment plant and the power plant, and circled the central command hub in which she worked before leading to the main entrance of the compound.
The walk was peaceful, the starry night and thrum of crickets easing her tired mind. She thought of Jack, hoping he was still safe with Mrs. Watson but not optimistic he was. She'd tried to contact Mrs. Watson several times the first week at the Peak before giving up. Her only regret in leaving everything behind was not bringing Jack with her.
A set of soldiers approached on patrol. Lana waved to them in greeting as she reached the barracks. She dreaded entering, wanting a moment of peace before being confined within the spartanly furnished room with the manic Arnie Smith. She turned away, crossed the road, and skirted the darkened helipad resting at the edge of a cliff overlooking an extensive valley.
She perched on one of the boulders lining the cliff edge and tucked her legs beneath her. The cliff's sheer drop created a natural defense against any intruders in addition to providing a view that was breathtaking by day or night. The valley appeared as vast as the sky, both stretching until they met a second range of mountains in the distance.
"Checking in." The Guardian's voice drifted over her personal net.
Pleased to hear from the Guardian, she found herself smiling. She knew little about the stranger who called to check on her every day, not even his real name, but she was always cheered by his familiar voice.
"I'm here," she answered. "You're still alive."
"For now. Fortunately, things look bleaker every day," he replied with amusement. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
"I know-six hours a day," she said before he chided her as he often did. "I don't think I'll get any real sleep for a long time."
"How are things?"
"We have two weeks of food left and a commander confined to my quarters to ensure he doesn't do anything rash."
He chuckled.
"Is it that much of a mess out there?" she asked.
"Yeah. And we're almost out of supplies."
"You should have mentioned that before. Do you have your coordinates?" She withdrew a microcomputer from her pocket. "I can tell you where the nearest emerops supply is. I'll release the locks, if you promise to take only what you need and not sell the rest, like the feds in Florida."