The Weak and The Damned by Samuel Lee Read Free Book Online

Chapter ONE
    The sun-baked white
sands of the Florida gulf coast seemed endless, spreading for miles
as far as the naked eye could see.
    On the surface, the
coast seemed peaceful and unblemished by the umbrellas, folding
chairs, or other clutter commonly found on such beaches. The hot
landscape was scoured clean by salty sea breezes and barely disturbed
by the activity of a small beachfront community.
      Consisting
entirely of a handful of picturesque villas, the multimillion dollar
community no longer contained the wives and offspring of powerful
businessmen.  Its current residents were several dozen hard-eyed
men wearing modified military uniforms.
    The community's
gated entrance was reinforced with concrete road blocks and stalled
vehicles.  Each approach was carefully guarded with constant
patrols sweeping the streets and alleyways between the homes.
      One
of the spacious villas housed Captain William M. Lawson, his
belongings, and until recently his young mistress.  Lounging on
the villa's large back sundeck with a few view of the clear blue
water Captain Lawson appeared deceptively relaxed. In reality, the
tall, heavily muscled, battle-hardened soldier was intensely aware of
his surroundings.
    Every few moments
his hand absently caressed the rifle that leaned against the side of
his deck chair. The sound of approaching footsteps brought William to
his feet before his aide, a 16 year old recruit, could speak.
      "Captain!"
Second Lieutenant Gardner barked as he saluted crisply and waited
while William sketched his own returning salute. "Our scouts
found a survivor in the town and we thought you would want to
interview her right away, sir."
      "Bring
her here” William kept his voice cool and disinterested, but he
felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Once Gardner
saluted and left William gathered his rifle along with the maps he'd
been analysing. For the past few months the quasi-military group
William controlled had encountered very few survivors.
    Tired of the current
group of women under his control William was looking forward to an
encounter with someone new. He found himself hoping for one who was
young and attractive, but the Captain was sure he would enjoy himself
regardless of the age or looks of the female in question. William
Lawson prided himself on his versatility.
      Striding
past his anxious aide and personal guards William walked to the
villa's luxurious master bedroom firmly closing the door behind him.
After pouring himself a small glass of bourbon, the scouts had
recently brought to camp
    William sat down in
a large chair to wait for Gardner and the new female.
    It was always easier
to have the new women brought directly to his personal quarters. They
had no time to learn what to expect from the other women, and William
preferred it when they were shocked and frightened. Something about
seeing the look of relief and hope slowly melt away when the woman
realized why the Captain wanted to see her alone always delighted
William.
      Since
the Crisis began William had lived out most, if not all, of his
fantasies. In his youth, William had always enjoyed pushing women to
their limits and, if he could get away with it, past them.
    His own personal
preference for forceful sexual encounters was ultimately what caused
him to join the military. That bitch just couldn't keep her mouth
shut, could she? William thought bitterly as he remembered the 17
year old girl whose father had threatened to call the cops after his
daughter came to him crying about her date with William.
    The immediate result
of that little slip up, was William's parents paying the girl's
family a nice sum of hush money while William himself joined the
Army.
      Once
the plague that was commonly known as the Crisis began William went
from a forgettable United States Army enlisted man to a rapidly
promoted Captain as his superior officers died or were killed.
    What began as a
seriously virulent airborne illness quickly became