Hard Rain Falling (Walking in the Rain Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

of basic training. Be a refresher for most. He’s also letting their families come, just like the rest of us.”
    “Well, that’s smart. If he can feed everybody,” I allowed.
    And it was, the more I thought on the subject, the more I saw just how smart. The colonel was building his force, making up for the desertions. Unless I missed my guess, he was also getting some of them back as well. As a secondary effect, Hotchkins could also co-opt lots of hungry men and women who might otherwise be on the other side of the fences either causing trouble with others or outright attacking the Guard units for food or more weapons.
    The situation in Fort Smith was already out of control, just like the colonel had earlier confided. Much of the work done by the troops garrisoned at Fort Chaffee now consisted of hardening the gates and patrolling the fences. Hotchkins didn’t have the men to occupy the whole military reservation but his men worked at keeping the central complex and buildings.
    I worried the large population of starving civilians in the nearby city would overwhelm the Fort. Maybe that’s why Warnecke and I—along with the rest of the maintenance unit—spent so much time refurbishing the Bradleys and other armored personnel carriers and assault vehicles. I knew Hotchkins also had some Abrams M1 tanks and field artillery at his disposal, but neither force had yet to be deployed.
    “Oh, I’ll be a pretty boring diet come spring, but we’ll make it if the gardens produce anything,” the corporal reassured me.
    Now, sitting with my girl and eating dinner with friends, I thought about the colonel again and decided my initial impression had been spot-on. The man was more than a capable, dedicated leader; he was a hero, and his men and women responded to his leadership with a loyalty that bordered on veneration. I knew that word from my vocabulary work, but now I had an example to fix in my mind. If anything in the region was going to survive the Die Off, Hotchkins would be the man to direct those efforts.
    “Luke,” Amy said, interrupting my pondering. She was watching me with a curious look, and I knew she was becoming accustomed to my mind wandering off at times.
    “What’s up, sweets?”
    Using her eyes, she directed my attention to the door of the dining hall. There, I saw the sergeant who’d escorted me to visit the colonel before.
    “I think he’s looking for you. Is there anything we need to know?” she asked the question softly, so only Lori and Summer might hear.
    I shrugged. The motion seemed to trigger the sergeant and I could see his eyes move to my position in the crowded cafeteria. Recognition dawned and he headed in our direction.
    “I guess he wants something. No alarm that I know. Colonel Hotchkins probably just remembered some more questions for me.”
    I was wrong. He wanted to see all four of us—in his office. Why did I suddenly feel like the principal wanted a word with me?
    We were nearly finished anyway, but I wouldn’t let the sergeant hurry us until Summer finished her food, sipping at the bowl like it was soup. Nobody was going to miss any chance to fuel up if I could help it. Dunking our dishes in the soapy water of the washing station, we hustled up and followed the unnamed sergeant out the door.
    I tried to elicit some information as we made the hike in the gathering darkness, but the sergeant remained tight lipped until we neared the large office complex that that housed the colonel’s base of operations. I noted the armed guard standing outside the entryway, but he didn’t bat an eye as all four of us and the sergeant entered with our side arms.
    Once inside, our guide led us to a small conference room off the main set of offices and finally broke his silence.
    “The colonel is meeting with representatives of the Oklahoma Guard. They arrived in convoy this afternoon. Their commander, Captain Vanderpool, expressed an interest in meeting all of you. Please wait here and I will