I jogged back up the eastern bank and followed his finger. I saw the shapes exit the trees across the road. “I’ll start on the right.”

I had my rifle out and had taken two shots by the time Jase took the last one. After making sure no more emerged, I turned around and headed back toward the ramp. I lifted my rifle and looked through my scope at the Aurora. Clutch and his team had made it onto the towboat. People were running at him like a flock of sparrows. Against the rail, Clutch was shoving people back who couldn’t take the ladder. Many were weighted down with bags, and I could see Clutch was yelling and motioning at them to drop their things. No one seemed to be listening.

When the smoke blocked my view of Clutch, my heart clenched. “Be safe,” I whispered, suddenly knowing in my heart that I didn’t care if anyone made it to shore as long as Clutch made it back safely.

“What?” Jase asked.

Anger at the stupid fire hardened my features. “Nothing.”

The flames had engulfed the outer four barges and were already spreading to the four closest to the towboat. All of our grain…gone. My heart pounded, and I found it hard to hold my rifle. At least the fire hadn’t overtaken the closest barges or towboat yet, but smoke was shooting out from everywhere. I could still make out barges Four and Three through the haze, where Kurt was taking a crate of ammo from another scout who’d just emerged from our armory. Smoke bled through where the bay doors met in the middle. “Hurry,” I whispered as they carried out our irreplaceable supplies.

A fire shot up, and Kurt disappeared. I squinted to see smoke and flames pour out from a hole where Kurt had been standing a second earlier. Oh, God.

“The fire—” Jase didn’t finish.

The sound of automatic gunfire drowned out the sound of everything else, and we both ducked. I quickly realized it wasn’t automatic gunfire but the sounds of ammo going off in the fire. My legs were suddenly wobbly and I leaned against our Humvee that still sat next to the boat ramp.

We were about to lose everything. Our food, ammo, everything. And there wasn’t a single fucking thing we could do except watch Camp Fox quite literally go up in flames.

Chapter XXVII

Embers showered down like glitter around the Aurora while ammo continued to go off in barge Three by the box-load. Clutch’s team was already on board the towboat and helping with the evacuation. Joe brought over the first pontoon packed shoulder-to-shoulder with coughing, crying people. Joe’s face was covered with black ash as he pulled the pontoon up to the dock on the eastern bank by what was left of the bridge.

Jase and I looked at one another, and then we both ran toward the pontoon. Other than smoke inhalation and shock, no one looked seriously injured. Jase and I helped anyone who seemed to be struggling off the boat and onto the bank. Once it was clear, I jumped on the pontoon to where Joe was curled over the steering wheel. “What do you need help with?”

Joe’s reply was smothered by a cough, although he eventually looked up with tearing, bloodshot eyes and gave me a thumb up.

I held my rifle out to him. “I can take the next trip. Can you cover the people here?”

He nodded, still holding his chest.

“I’ll drive,” Jase said as a matter-of-fact and set his rifle down next to him.

I sat down just as he throttled full forward, and the pontoon cut through the water. Midway, we met Griz’s boat, also filled with people. All of the barges were covered in flames, and the towboat was covered in smoke. Someone plummeted into the water to our right as we headed around the boat to the boat dock. I couldn’t make out who he was because as soon as he surfaced, something yanked him right back under. I searched but could find no one under the murky water.

I swallowed and sat back. As we approached the dock, a zed was chewing on Hugh, while his daughter Hali was trying to pull him free. He looked unconscious, which was small consolation. I grabbed Jase’s rifle and fired two shots: one into the zed and one into the doomed victim. Hali stood back, stunned, her big blue eyes and mouth opened wide. Jase cut the engine and jumped out. `

He wrapped his arm around Hali and led her back to the pontoon. “I’ve got you. It’s going to be okay now.” She went with him like she was a robot, seemingly oblivious to his presence.

On the other side of the dock, the deck boats were being filled, with Deb leading the effort. I searched for Clutch but didn’t see him anywhere. I handed Jase his rifle back. “I’m going to find Clutch. Can you keep it clear down here until we get back?”

He looked at me directly and gave a single firm nod, still holding Hali with his other arm. “Hurry.”

I ran for the ladder and waited for two scouts to climb down. Both were laden down with olive drag duffles. As soon as they were on the ground, I grabbed onto the ladder. “Just about everyone is down, and this is the last of the supplies we could get to,” one of them said with a hoarse voice. “The final team is wrapping up on deck now.”

I didn’t wait. The metal was warm under my palms, and I climbed as quickly as I could. As soon as I reached the rail, I pulled myself over and stood. There was fire shooting up through the deck everywhere. Smoke burned my lungs, and I coughed on the black air. The bow was engulfed in flames. Two charred bodies lay hunched over in the fire, and I prayed neither was Clutch.

Frantic, I searched for anyone alive on the chaotic deck. Then I saw them. My heart leapt and air shot from my lungs. Clutch was helping a man down the edge of the deck onto the lift. Right behind him, Tyler was carrying Maggie who was quacking on about something. Even in this hell, I couldn’t help but smile in relief at seeing Clutch and Tyler. Keeping a hand on the rail, I hustled to meet them, careful to avoid burning or smoking deck boards. I reached out and grabbed his arm, just to feel him and know he was real. “Is that everyone?”

Clutch, his face blackened, frowned in shock. “What are—”

“Is this everyone?” I asked again. “Can we leave now?”

“I think so,” Tyler said.

I noticed the unconscious man Clutch was dragging was Don. But his daughter wasn’t with him.

My stomach dropped. “Where’s Alana?”

Clutch and Tyler looked at each other.

“Shit,” Clutch said. “I didn’t see her.”

“Where’d you find Don?” I asked.

“The bridge,” Tyler said.

I patted Clutch’s chest. “Get to the ground. I’ll see you guys below!”

His eyes widened. “No! It’s too dangerous!” Clutch yelled.

I pursed my lips. Every nerve in my body was shouting to stay with Clutch, but I couldn’t leave a child behind to burn. My bottom lip trembled. “Get those two to safety,” I said and then burst away before I changed my mind. Clutch yelled after me, but I kept going.

“Alana!” I shouted and coughed. To my right, flames licked at the varnished wood and I flew up the outside stairs, taking the steps two at a time. When I saw no one outside the bridge, I jumped inside. “Alana!”

I could barely hear her whimpering above the noise of the fire, but I heard her. Jesus. Why did kids always have to hide? I bent over and found her hugging herself under the navigator’s station. “Come here. I’m bringing you to your daddy.”

She didn’t move, and I didn’t plan on taking the time to encourage her to come out on her own accord. I grabbed her arm and yanked her out. She cried, but I didn’t take time to console her. A crying kid was a hell of a lot better than a dead kid. I lifted her into my arms, and ran outside and down the steps. The heat was excruciating. Alana kicked and squirmed, and I nearly dropped her. Suddenly, Clutch was there, and he took the girl from me.

“You’re supposed to be on the boat!” I yelled, angry that he was still in danger.