Deadland: Untold Stories of Alice in Deadland (Alice, No. 5) by Mainak Dhar Read Free Book Online

an old police station yesterday. Thought the
stuff might come in handy so we picked up as much as we could carry.'
    Gladwell heard the distant growl of a Biter and motioned for
them to hurry up.
    'Just one last thing.'
    He motioned towards Rajiv's foot.
    'What happened to your leg? Raise your trousers and let me
see.'
    Rajiv was confused for a moment and then comprehension
dawned.
    'No, thank God, I didn't get bitten. Just a sprain.'
    Gladwell nodded in satisfaction as Rajiv raised his trouser
leg to prove his point.
    'Come along, you just gained admission into our settlement.'
     
    ***
     
    Alice watched the black Jeep draw up close to their gate and
stop. She ran back to Jones, who was cleaning weapons back at the armory as men
scurried to the walls, weapons at the ready.
    'Uncle Jones, those Zeus men are back.'
    Jones put a pistol in his belt and picked up an assault
rifle. 'Go to your Mom and wait there. Your Dad's not back yet, so I'll talk to
them.'
    A buzz of excitement had swept the settlement as news spread
that Zeus troopers had come back, for the second time in as many months. Alice,
of course, didn't listen to Jones—she wanted to know what was happening and get
a closer look at the Zeus troopers. She ran back to the front wall, where more
than a dozen fully armed men were looking out at the Jeep. Alice hopped onto a
platform near the wall and took a look outside.
    There were four troopers outside, all wearing black uniforms
and dark wraparound sunglasses. They were all carrying assault rifles that were
so sleek and fancy that they made the weapons they had at the settlement look
like antiques. One of the troopers stepped forward.
    'Hey, guys, stop pointing those damn guns at us. Our new
officer is on the way and he wants to meet your leaders.'
    Jones nodded to the men at the walls and they pointed their
guns down, but Alice noticed every single one of them kept their fingers on the
triggers. The troopers walked closer and pulled back their sunglasses as they
took a closer look at the settlement. All four of them were heavily bearded and
one of them who looked younger than the others smiled at the men on the walls.
The other three, however, looked sullen and had their rifles cradled in their
hands as they walked.
    Jones put up a hand, motioning for them to stop. 'We've had
that chat before, so there's little point. Save your officer the time and go to
another settlement.'
    The young trooper grinned.
    'He's the boss and I'm just a grunt. He says he wants to
come here and chat and I pass on the message.'
    Jones smiled back.
    'You from around here, kid?'
    'Pretty close. I used to live in a settlement on the other
side of the old city and then our folks moved into the safe zone and I got
drafted into Zeus.'
    One of the older men nudged him with his elbow and whispered
something. Alice couldn't hear the words but the effect they had was
instantaneous. The young trooper stopped smiling, waved and walked back to the
jeep. One of the remaining troopers growled.
    'Is this how you treat guests? At least let us in.'
    'Who said you're guests? I don't remember inviting you to
our home.'
    Alice turned to the voice with a huge grin. It was her Dad.
The gate was opened and Vivek led the two newcomers in while Gladwell stayed to
talk to the troopers. In the hustle and bustle, Alice slipped out and hugged
her dad's leg. He stroked her hair, but his eyes never left the troopers.
    'Guys, I know you're doing your job, but can't your bosses
get the message that we are not interested in their proposal?'
    Jane had come up to the gate to meet her dad as well, and
one of the troopers looked at her sister. The look on his face was not
something that Alice could describe well, but she found it really creepy.
    'Hello there, miss. Bet you don't get to meet too many new
men in there.'
    Gladwell was about to say something, but Alice beat him to
it.
    'That's my sister and you stay away from her.'
    The trooper looked straight at Alice, a hard