The Day After Never - Covenant (Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Thriller - Book 3) by Russell Blake Page A

looked to his companions, who smiled, making Cano even angrier.
    Ben sat forward. “Cool your jets. We’ve got a man for you. He’s ready to go. We had to pull him out of the field – our normal guy took off yesterday, and we lost a man down Roswell way recently, so we’re a little short-handed.”
    “Took off?”
    “Yes. Another party headed north.”
    Cano’s eyes narrowed. “Really? Who?”
    “Party of five. One of ’em Snakebit. Ugly.”
    “Any women?”
    Ben looked him up and down. “What’s it to you?”
    “I’m tracking someone who stole our property. A woman. Young.”
    “There was an older woman. Also a younger one, with a child. Cute little thing. But at that age, they usually are.”
    Cano swallowed. “A child?”
    “That’s what I said, isn’t it? Little girl.”
    “You had them here, and you didn’t hold them?” Cano blurted.
    Ben appraised him. “Why would we? They paid their way. Just like you did. We’ve got no beef with them.”
    “When did they leave?”
    “Yesterday evening.”
    Cano did a quick calculation. “Damn. We’ll never catch up. Can you radio your guide and have them delayed?”
    Ben shook his head. “Our man doesn’t have a radio.”
    “Your patrol did,” Cano snapped.
    “No reason to give a guide one of the few working units.”
    Cano softened his approach. “We would pay. A lot.”
    “Which would have been nice to know yesterday. But your boss never mentioned it. He just negotiated your trip. Can’t read minds.”
    “There’s nothing you can do?”
    “Not now.”
    Cano’s brow furrowed with concentration. “I need to use your radio to call Magnus. You’re positive they’re headed to Albuquerque?”
    “Yes. Like I said, one of the men was snakebit.”
    “And there’s only five total?” Cano asked, trying to compute how two men and a pair of women could have slaughtered his force so effectively.
    “That’s right.”
    “Where’s your radio?”
    “Thought you was in a big hurry. Sammy there’s your guide. He’s ready to roll when you are,” Ben said, pointing at a thin man in his twenties.
    “I need to talk to Magnus.”
    “Fair enough. I’ll show you the way.”
    Ben stood slowly and led Cano into the building. An old shortwave transmitter sat on a folding table by one of the dusty windows, where a bored operator watched the scanner for signs of activity. Cano sat beside him and dialed the channel selector to the band the Crew used, and transmitted a call for Magnus. Five minutes went by, and then Snake’s voice came on the air.
    “He can’t talk. What is it?”
    “I have news.” Cano relayed the information in oblique terms any eavesdropper wouldn’t understand. When he was done, Snake was silent for several seconds.
    “I’ll relay the info. You’re positive on the destination?” he asked.
    “Yes. But they’ll be there by tomorrow evening.”
    “I understand. I’ll tell our friend.”
    “We’re a day behind them.”
    “That’s unfortunate.” The rebuke was clear in Snake’s tone.
    “Couldn’t be helped.”
    “So you say.”
    Cano terminated the transmission and pushed away from the radio. Ben stood a few yards away, his face blank, but Cano knew he’d heard the embarrassing exchange.
    “We need to get out of here now. Do you have potable water?”
    “Got a well. Go ahead and top off your jugs. And you’re welcome on the radio.”
    Cano took a step toward him. “You’ve been paid well.”
    “No,” Ben corrected. “We’ve been promised we’d be paid well and that a messenger would arrive within a week with the gold. But so far it’s all talk, so I’d bear that in mind before you start assuming any entitlement.”
    Cano looked like he’d been slapped. “We’re good for it.”
    “Our usual terms are cash and carry. No tickee, no laundry.” Ben hesitated. “We made an exception for you, but that’s unusual.”
    Cano frowned but nodded. “Thank you.” His expression was sour; words of gratitude were