Ella & Vlad at the end

#26 - opening eyes

On the way to the hospital Ella finds out this city is close to a society again. Enough seasoned people migrated here to handle the basic necessities; water, drainage, waste water treatment, electrical, varied mechanics and many folk turned farmer. Those seasoned people are now passing on their acquired skills to younger people.

The food grown within the city is mainly vegetables and fruits. The only livestock they've managed to keep alive are a few dozen chickens; the flock is tainted with the virus.

Listening to Miles the hospital gets closer and bigger Ella becomes hesitant of going in to expose herself. "If you had the cows from Hoss I bet that might make a difference." Studying the man for malice she senses no ill intent within him. "Have you a field or park within the city for them?"

"The horse race track might do. The stands, barns and fences are self-contained. The center is all grass." Miles sighs, "ah dealing with Hoss though, have my doubts. You say they are disease free"

"Yes," Ella sighs, "if I had a little more time there, could've got a few steaks from a cow that got shot."

Miles assumes Hoss' guys just shot one to kill it, "a waste. If they really aren't Hoss' cows and disease free I should tell the council. Maybe they'd put some guns together and take out Hoss once and for all. With those other thugs out of action its' getting tolerable around here."

Grinning Ella knows those thugs; A dozen cowardly males huddled together picking on anyone possible. She got Vlad to go in, first thing in the morning, and kill the worst of the lot. That night Ella placed a few more notches in her rifle sniping out the remaining ones left licking their wounds. "You can thank me and Vlad for ridding us of those parasites."

Taken aback Miles isn't sure what to say, "you and Vladimir? Well, thank-you. I'm not supposed to agree with the killing of others. But that's a dozen men nobody will miss. I guess Hoss' men better keep clear of you two."

"Oh I have a feeling Vlad's already planning something. He won't let those parasites keep those cows." Realizing the truth to it Ella grasps Miles' arm, "Monday I bet. If you're council has ever thought about taking out Hoss, Monday before noon would be perfect."

Miles would like to see it happen and may even participate, "are you sure Vladimir will be there Monday? Taking on twenty armed men?"

Using her fingers Ella counts off the dead, "Vladimir's already shot four, dead. I injured another."

"How do you know Vladimir will actually go there? And Monday?" Sixteen seeming an easier number to deal with Miles' considers waking three of the council members to confer with.

"Oh I know Vlad," Ella resumes walking, "old world male there. And he's got a new lady to impress."

Miles figures Ella and Vladimir were together and out fighting the good fight when another woman came into their picture, "I'm sorry Ella a broken heart isn't easy to mend."

"What?" Ella glances at him realizing the heart is merely hurt, "Vlad and I have been together a long time but never sexually. This is one of these possible meant to be moments I have to come to terms with."

"Oh," he understands but surmises she's loved him and can't get him to return the sentiment, "sorry. So you know him well enough he would go up against that many men? Alone?"

Envisioning it Ella grins, "he'll be there about two hours after the sun comes up. He won't go in guns blazing. He'll walk the woods around that village and take out anything on two legs. So tomorrow I'll be making sure he makes it out of there. He won't want me there but I will be."

Miles figures a few stops will be made, after done in the hospital labs. "I think they'll be a lot to discuss later tonight."

Content to be out on a Saturday night Adan's not fully listening to the conversation. When it was about the greenhouses he stopped paying attention.