And so, Douglas Lives, and I have arrived at probably the last book I’ll finish before I answer the call for the Last Roundup. The title, if I manage to finish, will be Surviving the Fog - Sasha the Scarred. It’s the story of Sasha and Kim. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance #mountains
“What are you going to call it? The Dead Man Returns?”
She turned over, so she was partly covering him. She used a hand to push his long bangs away from his eyes, and kissed him on the mouth, lovingly. “My title will be, Surviving the Fog-Douglas Lives.”
The End
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
She chuckled, and then they were silent for a time, watching children play in the recently harvested wheat field. Like most children they laughed, talked, and screamed at the top of their voices.
“Kat has asked me to write an account of our journey.”
He let out a sarcastic laugh.
#douglaslives
“Thank you, Douglas. I love you so much. I didn’t know it was possible to love a man this much.”
“I love you, Susanna. I’m never going to be a good man, but I’ll try to be a better man than I have been in the past. Probably.”
#douglaslives
"They’ll still exist, somewhere, in some form. For me, religion is about hope. I hope you are right, that there is a god, that you do have a soul, that you will live forever. I don’t believe it, but I’m glad that you do.” #douglaslives
“Why? Why would you consider damnation as a reward?”
“Because it means that I’ll still exist, somewhere, in some form. And more important, it means that the people I… care about will still exist; their consciousness won’t disappear forever." #douglaslives
He broke into hard laughter and when he finished, he said, “Honestly, Susanna, I hope you never believe as I do.”
She was startled. “Really?”
“Really. Christians don’t understand. For atheists, Hell is a reward.”
She gave him a confused look. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“I have a question that I don’t really want to ask, but I need to. Are you really going to stay for a year?”
“Yes, I’m committed. To Petersburg and to you and to Petal.”
“Thank goodness. Notice that I made no mention of a deity. I wouldn’t want you to feel pressured.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
“Unbelievable. I left Petersburg just before a Fair, because I knew a one-foot man would be an object of pity and gossip. And now here I am.”
“I don’t think it was your missing foot that people wanted to talk about this weekend, it was your adventures and your travels.”
“True.”
#douglaslives
Afterward, tired and sweaty, they sat on a bench that used to reside outside the Mayor’s Office. She slid an arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder.
“You were a big hit with the crowd,” she remarked.
He shook his head, side to side. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
Monday afternoon the Fair ended. As was their custom, Kathy allowed the cleanup to be left until Tuesday. Douglas helped Susanna scrub and rearrange her messy store, which had proved popular with the Fair goers. #douglaslives
Rasul gave him a smug smile. “And no stealing a motorcycle to get there. You walk like everyone else.”
“You gotta be shitting me.”
“Just think how happy Howard will be when he sees that star.”
“A happy Howard. Christ.”
#douglaslives
“And I’m sure Mary and Ralph will appreciate your visits to our community.”
“Wait a second. I’m not supposed to be Sheriff when I’m at the farm, am I?”
Rasul gave him a smug smile. “And no stealing a motorcycle to get there. You walk like everyone else.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
“Oh, man, I hate to get strict.” Rasul scratched his scraggly beard.
“You don’t have to get strict, just make sure the rocks are at least semi-smooth. Otherwise, you get to be Sheriff today.”
“Smoother rocks. I understand. Thank you for your service.”
“Ha, ha.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #romance
He was resigned to the position, but he had not realized that his first serious intervention would involve the younger kids and the Labor Day Fair. Some of the kids accused other kids of cheating.
“Those rocks ain’t smooth at all!”
“Rasul said they’re okay.”
“He always says that.”
#douglaslives
I appreciate everything you’ve done for the tribe. For the village. I need everyone’s help. I need your help. I depend on you, Douglas. Don’t forget that.
I won’t. Chief?
Yes.
I’m sorry.
I know. Now, forget it.
He sucked in a breath. “Okay. One year.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
She frowned at his language, opened the desk drawer, and pulled out a hunk of metal. A ripple of laughter spread through the room. He stared at it, dread and helplessness suddenly filling him.
“You gotta be shitting me.” It was the whiniest tone he had ever used.
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
Susanna winced and threw a guilty glance toward her husband who glared at her.
“Okay, Kat, just for the sake of argument what kind of bullshit community service do you have in mind?”
#douglaslives
“Proper procedure. I bet Oksana told you to say that, since you have rarely followed proper procedure.”
She ignored the accusation. “So, I’m suggesting to the Council that we simply have you perform community service. I got the idea from Susanna.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
“Understandable. And you did a great job. Still, you did take village property without asking.”
His tone became sarcastic. “Oh, please forgive me.”
“Douglas, I’m not suggesting that what you did was a serious offense, but you did not follow proper procedure.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
“Darn. How the hell was I supposed to see what was happening without borrowing a cycle?”
“You could have taken Barry. He’s authorized to use a motorcycle in an emergency.”
Knowing she was right did not help his temper. “I was in a hurry.”
#douglaslives
Douglas felt the trap closing in. “What crime?”
“The crime of stealing a motorcycle.”
“You gotta be shitting me!”
Desi snapped, “Douglas!”
“Forget it, Desi. I don’t give a…” His glance passed along Petal and the other kids.
#douglaslives
The mess hall and not the Mayor’s Office. Shit. It might have seemed logical to some, and he knew that Council had been held in the cafeteria previously, but still… #douglaslives
Overall, it was not that bad. The kids apologized, Barry explained his part, and the Chief barely mentioned how Susanna practically threw him to the ground. A newly created award for bravery was followed by exuberant cheers. #douglaslives
“You know Kat is going to make a big deal about this.”
“Aw, Chief. Come on, man, stop her.”
“I have no power to do that,” the Chief answered primly. “I’m merely another lowly villager.”
“Yeah, right.”
#douglaslives
She blushed. “I am so sorry about that, Sir. I was distraught.”
“I could tell.”
“I need to lay down for a bit,” Douglas said. “My leg is killing me.”
“You know Kat is going to make a big deal about this.”
“Aw, Chief. Come on, man, stop her.”
#douglaslives
“I was about to get around to that. Shit, Chief,” he said to Mike who was pounding him on the back, “I was sort of hoping you would be there.”
Mike scowled. “I was sitting behind Tyler when your woman practically threw me off.”
#douglaslives
Her arms tightened around him, leaned forward and kissed his nape, soothing him enough to continue, until they arrived at the village.
People were waiting in the parking lot, hoping for good news. John, Mike, and Mary Brown were among the anxious crowd. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult
Halfway back, he began shaking. He wanted to stop, to prop himself against a tree until the trembling subsided, but he knew that Tyler would be coming, carrying a passenger, and he did not want to face anyone. Perhaps she sensed his distress. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance
When he was able to stand without staggering, she lifted his leg over a motorcycle and swung onto the rear. As he powered the motor, a bicycle careened into the glen. Ralph dumped the bike and hurried to his son.
“What the heck!”
“Sorry, Dad.” Comet hung his head.
#douglaslives #postapocalypse
