All the seats were taken as Adrian came under the awning, another dozen men lining the back corners of the gathering people. These, Kenn knew now, were the off-duty guards who were being subtly trained to look out, even when not on a shift. Adrian explained it as civic service and from what Kenn had seen, it was working, but it didn't hurt that it also gained you the blond's respect, something everyone wanted. What these people didn't know was that it was a Marine Corps standard.
The big crowd was mostly quiet, waiting for Adrian to get himself a cup of coffee and a few of the cookies. He had a thick red notebook under his arm and he made his way to the table in the center of the crowd instead of the one in front that had been left empty for him.
Kenn recognized the bonding moment as a very clever political move, but also saw the danger and instinctively kept his hand near his hip, noticing that a few of the others (Kyle, Neil, and Doug) had moved closer.
Adrian remained standing as he got started, meeting their tense eyes to calm them down, while smelling the reeking rot of bodies in the wind, even over the odors of cooking and port-o-lets. This was still cold weather. What would it be like in July?
"This is the third meeting of Safe Haven refugee camp. We have 91 people as of yesterday."
There was a pleased ripple at that, safety in numbers mentioned in the crowd, and when he smiled, the people relaxed a little, very few of them realizing it was President's Day. Those who did know the date didn't care. That world was gone. Safe Haven didn't need a President. It had Adrian.
"We also now have a doctor!"
There was a big cheer at that, and most heads looked around the neatly organized Mess, but not the Eagles, Kenn noticed. They kept their eyes on their surroundings, doing their duty.
"We'll work out a schedule, but for now just sign the sheet Neil has, and put your problem on it if you can. The doctor will use it to decide who needs to be seen first."
There was quiet chatter as the tall trooper passed the first clipboard, and before Adrian could continue, an eager voice rang out from behind Kenn, "You gonna run those tests now? The ones to see if anyone here's sick?"
Adrian nodded, picking his words carefully as people turned to look at the big-eyed man, "I'd like to, yes, but..."