The Rooster (Erotic Apocalyptic Thriller) (3 page)

I was dying to know more, but her impatience
returned.

“Enough with the reminiscing. In case you
haven’t figured it out yet, I’ve got a large flock of lonely and
stressed out hens. I need a rooster. Think you can handle the
job?”

“What job exactly?” I still played the
idiot, fear tempering any excitement.

“Dumb and scrawny. Well, beggars can’t be
choosers. Your job is straightforward: Service the girls that I
send you; make them happy. Those that have earned the right get
rewarded with a baby. The only caveat is that you have no say in
the matter. If I catch you sneaking off with some bitch at night,
the deal’s over. We’ll put you back where we found you. In short,
have fun, but remember your dick belongs to me.” There was no trace
of humor in her voice. She waved her hand at my feeble
protests.

“You’re scared, fine, whatever. Don’t
pretend you aren’t intrigued though. It’s this or go back to living
in the ruins like a rat. All right. Now that you know the score, I
have a question for you. In all your time in the wild, have you
noticed any changes to the way the cannibals operate?”

Gone was the annoyance. I don’t think I’d
ever been scrutinized so carefully. My head was swimming and the
non-stop adrenaline shocks of the last 24 hours wore me out. I had
nearly forgotten about the lines Daniella blackmailed me with.
Their silly politics was the last thing on my mind.

“Not really. More brainless and zombie-like
every day.”

She slowly leaned back. “Are you sure? My
own raiders say the same thing, but I’ve had a few reports from
other refugees to the contrary. You know we need you, so regardless
of what you say, you’re safe here. There is no wrong answer. Tell
me the truth: are the cannibals showing any signs, no matter how
small, of mimicking human behavior?”

No hesitation. I just wanted this nonsense
over with. “Are you kidding me? I’ve been in constant contact with
these things for months. They’re dangerous only because there are
so many of them. Individually, they’re slow, idiotic animals.” I
almost forgot my last order. “Whoever said otherwise has been
trying to spook you. Probably to make themselves appear more
valuable. Look, throw me back or toss me in a cell, but please, can
I get some sleep?”

Espinoza was lost in her own train of
thought. “Fair enough. It’s a rare treat having an impartial source
of information. Yes, yes. Go get some rest. We’ve got a room set up
for you.” She reached some private decision and gave me a genuine
smile. “If you follow my orders and don’t start strutting around
like the cock of the walk, that cock of yours will be quite busy. I
think you’ll enjoy it here.”

While I didn’t believe that for a second,
there was a slight twitch down below. Fucking biology.

The first night I slept alone. Would’ve
slept the whole day in that cozy bed, if something terrible hadn’t
woken me up. When you lived on the run in a zombie wasteland for so
long, a hand on your leg while you sleep is the scariest way to
arise.

“Ah!” I levitated out of bed, kicking and
punching at the same time.

A middle-aged woman tsked and threw some
pants at me. “Down tiger. I’m not here for that.”

Right. In pure decadence, I’d slept naked
for the first time in months. My body was a little slow going from
sleep to fight or flight to embarrassed, all in five seconds.

“Lord, you look confused as hell. Get
dressed and follow me. It’s time to get to work.” Yep, total
confusion still on my face. “Real work, dummy. I’ll be damned if
I’ll let you just lay on your ass and get all the ass you want.
Everyone works, or no one eats. You aren’t about to change that
policy.”

I dressed in seconds. “Who the hell are you
again? Miss..?”

Her eyes twinkled. “The girls call me
‘little boss,’ but that game isn’t much fun with you. Call me
Jessy. That’ll make some of them jealous. I’m in charge of the
motor pool, and you’re my new wrench monkey.”

Whatever. Honestly, I was just excited for
the opportunity to get my hands occupied. Speaking of which,
something stuck out of my pants pockets. I glanced over the quick
note:

If you’re willing to do a little side work
for me, I know several girls on Espinoza’s blacklist with extra
booze rations. We’ll split it 50/50. Don’t be her bitch forever. Go
behind my back though and try to arrange appointments yourself and
we’ll see how much use the boss has for a gelding! Shut your mouth.
The walls have ears.

The “lady” winked and just stepped out the
door. “Let’s get to work.”

In the weirdest way, things were looking up.
People were now at least introducing themselves before blackmailing
or pimping me out. So, I had that going for me.

*

My “work station” was in the modification
wing of their sprawling parking lot. Not a junkyard, but a no-shit
fleet. More than a working truck or two, like my band had. These
folk had more vehicles, military and civilian, than they had
drivers. Wild stuff. Unfortunately, the staff wasn’t as impressive.
You could have heard a pin drop after Jessy introduced me to my new
teammates.

“Uh, hello ladies.” I smiled as wide as
possible.

Most glared at me. Some slinked away. A few
leered at me, cat-like. “So, uh, yeah. I’m here to help.”

“Don’t be shy, cute thing. They don’t bite.”
Jessy pushed me forward gently. Surprised, I stumbled a few feet.
Well, it broke the ice, at least. I laughed nervously along with
the crowd. My quasi-prisoner status still wasn’t clear, but I
couldn’t help but notice everyone had a weapon nearby. Except for
me.

Some muscled-up, overall-clad woman, who on
first glance screamed “lesbian,” came up from behind and slapped my
ass. Hard. “You need a friend, baby? I’ll be your friend. Don’t be
scared. I won’t let these bitches touch you.” That got a chorus of
catcalls and cussing from the team.

Naturally, I gave a witty, manly response. I
ignored her and inspected some wrenches. Only one woman wasn’t
snickering or whispering. She pushed her glasses up and dissected
me worse than Espinoza had.

“So what do you know about silencing diesel
engines or up-armoring civilian vehicles?”

I was so far out of my element I didn’t give
a shit anymore. “I changed my own tire once back in the old
world.”

The team groaned, but at my homely-looking
interviewer, not at me. “Oh God, Rachel. Shut up. Who cares? Nice
to have a little eye candy around here.” The butch chick sat on a
toolbox and stroked some torque wrench up and down. I’m not even
sure it was conscious. “It’s a hot day, baby. Why don’t you take
off that shirt while we work? Hmm?” She jumped up, wrench in hand,
and swiped a rugged hand inside my shirt. She stopped as she
brushed the top of my pubic hair. “Oh that won’t do. Honeybee needs
a shave!”

Jessy slapped her hand away while everyone
balled over in laughter. “You know what the boss will do if she
caught you fucking around with her new toy? You all know the price.
50 work credits for an hour, 200 for the night.”

“What the fuck?!” They ignored me. I wasn’t
sure what a work credit was, but it still shocked my ego to see the
price so low.

“What? That’s double the price of the last
guy!”

Jessy just shrugged. “That’s inflation,
sugar.”

“I think I see something inflating right
now!” Yeah, I hadn’t blushed since I was a teeny, but my face was a
little red now.

The little boss finally stepped in. “All
right, enough grab-assing. Rachel, find something for him to
do.”

Rachel shook her head. “Why me? I’ve got
enough to do without mentoring some new guy.”

“Because you aren’t strong enough to rape
him and not attractive enough to seduce him. Nothing personal, but
you know how it is.” Jessy waved a hand at all the thinner, tougher
and not so flat-chested women around. “So, put him to work.”

Someone cracked a half-hearted, “I bet she
will!” but everyone drifted off to one job or another. Rachel wiped
her glasses on a sleeve and waved me over.

“I guess I’m stuck with you then. Come on,
it will at least be useful to have a strong back around here.”

We worked for a few hours in practical
silence. She ignored every question I had that didn’t have to do
with the work at hand. Which wasn’t much. Mainly, she did
everything herself while I’d stand around like an idiot waiting for
an order. Usually just to hold something heavy. The whole situation
was strangely comforting. Reminded me a lot of my last real
relationship.

She tighten the last bolt on a new turret
ring and spun the assembly with one hand. I caught a muttered,
“Hooah.”

Finally a chance at some small talk. I
poured on the charm. “Were you in the military?”

Rachel gave me her standard glare. Even
parts suspicion and curiosity. “Army.” She bit her lip and rolled
her eyes in defeat. “Yeah, five years. Part-time mechanic in the
guard, then an active duty hitch when they opened up the infantry
to females. Did a tour in Afghanistan, which I guess is pretty lame
nowadays. What about you? I assume you were SF or something, to
survive so long out there alone.”

Jackpot. A question. “Not really. I was
drafted during those last few weeks. Before the politicians were
all killed or ran off. Back when the government still thought they
could contain things. When they got so desperate they started
throwing us partially-trained recruits into battle, well, that was
game over. I left to be with my family. Cannon fodder isn’t really
my style. Me and a couple other guys snagged a Humvee and ran in
the middle of the night. From what I heard, only hours before the
crazies overran our forward operating base.”

As is standard survivor etiquette, she
didn’t ask if I made it to my family.

“So, you deserted? Some hero you are.” Was
that a tinge of respect behind the mockery?

“I sure as hell wasn’t the only one. For
that matter, why isn’t your helmeted skull on one of those giant
bone pyramids the cannibals love to build?”

Her disgust was half-assed. “First, those
are a myth. Tall tales from refugees. The zombies don’t have any
rhyme or reason to their actions.”

She must have taken my averted gaze as a
sign of agreement.

“Second, I was out of the service and using
the GI Bill. They tried calling me back up, sure, but what was I
supposed to do? Abandon my family?” Rachel put her hat back on.
“It’s been a long time. Doesn’t matter now.”

Wow. When she wanted to, she had a killer
smile. “Hmm. What do you know? We actually have something in
common.”

I hoped she was talking about the military
service and not what happened to my family.

I’d barely closed the door when it opened
behind me. No one ever knocked here. Ms. Espinoza came in with some
other woman wearing…a robe? I’m no great romantic, but even I
thought this was all a little cheesy. The dialogue was even about
the same quality as a porno.

“Don’t stand there looking embarrassed. It’s
time to find out if our investment is worth the trouble.” The other
woman wouldn’t look up from the floor. Espinoza dropped into a
chair in the corner and crossed her legs like a man. “Oh, for
Christ’s sakes! John, this is Tina. Tina, John.”

Tina meekly mumbled hello so I played along
and took her hand. Espinoza laughed harder.

“Honey, as one of my most loyal assistants,
you’ve earned this. You begged me, now claim your reward. John,
quit standing there like a buffoon and relax the poor girl.”

I held up both arms. “No. I’m not going to
fucking do-”

Tina flung her robe off. Those hard stress
lines on her face did not prepare me for such a tight body. With
that face, I’d have pegged her just over 30. But those slim hips
and firm breasts confused the equation. Her eyes misted over.
Tears, lust, fantasy… everything was in there.

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “Oh
Jason! I’ve missed you so much.”

I tried disconnecting and knocking her out
of this dream, when Espinoza’s quiet, but steel voice cut me short.
“You’re whoever she says you are tonight. Now shut up. Last
warning.” She had no weapons that I could see, but that tone was
armed enough.

My pride warred with the tingling sensation
from her little pecks on my neck. When she slipped one hand in my
pocket, well, pride lost out. I caved, grabbed the back of her head
and leaned in for a kiss. Her eyes went wide for a split-second
before closing. I couldn’t match that level of multitasking as her
tongue explored my mouth while she deftly unbuckled my belt. In one
smooth move my oversized pants dropped to my ankles. Seeing as how
they had no men’s underwear available, and I wasn’t about to wear
panties, I’d been going commando since arriving here.

Tina gave my suddenly free Willy a gentle
squeeze before flopping down on that King-sized bed. “Come on
Jason. I’ve waited so long for you to come home.” I forced back any
thoughts of pity and told my brain to take a break.

I may not be freaking Don Juan, but I know
the basics. I dropped my face between her legs and stopped in
pleasant shock. The great advantage about living solely with women:
everything was as clean as could be. Tracing her inner thigh with
my tongue, I meandered my way higher. She suddenly squealed and
snatched my ears.

“Jason, no time for that. Let’s make a
baby!”

Wooah. I thought she wanted to fool around.
This was getting out of hand. Espinoza coughed and nearly killed me
with her eyes. Oh, what the hell. I’ll pull out. Honestly, I was
surprised I could keep it up with that witch staring at me. Not a
hint of amusement on her stone face. Like she was watching some
boring nature show.