reason there are no people of color or other ethnicities is because you do not want them here.”
“That’s because they all died!” Elsbeth shouted. “My Julio died! Joe T died! The Fertigs died! Patels! Santiagos! All of them died, you ass fucker cocksucking lick dicker!”
Lick dicker. That was a good one.
“And I’m Jewish, dildo butt!” Elsbeth continued. “They don’t hate me! They love me because I’m family!”
“You’re Jewish?” I asked. “Oh, right,Thornberg. Never made the connection.” I had to chuckle at that. “How did you stay Kosher as a canny? Did you only eat other Jews or were you flexible like Jews I knew that would chow down on some bacon any chance they got?”
The whole saloon stared at me, even Kramer, like I had lost my mind. Considering the mind losing in that room, that was saying something.
“Right,” I nodded. “Sorry.”
“Apologize,” Critter snapped at Kramer.
“My sincerest apologies,” Kramer said. “It was a stupid assumption on my art.”
“All your parts are stupid,” Elsbeth said then gave one last struggle and sighed. “You can let me up now. I ain’t gonna kill the devil.”
“I would appreciate it if you stopped referring to me as a devil, Ms. Thornberg,” Kramer said. “Being a man of science, I prefer not to be lumped in with religious dogma.”
“But you said you were a Jew,” Critter responded. “Which is it? You a man of science or a Jew?”
“I think we’ve gotten way off track here,” Stella said as she helped Elsbeth to her feet. The two women shared a look and a nod then Stella walked right up to Kramer, grabbed a chair, spun it around, and sat down in front of the old man. “Why are you here?”
“To help,” Kramer said.
“Why are you here to help?” Stella asked.
“Well, you seem like decent people that could use my help,” Kramer smiled. “I know what lies on the other side of these mountains and I believe you may be making a mistake in planning to head to Kansas City.”
“Because it is a scorched crater, right?” Stella asked.
“That and there are many other dangers that await you along the way,” Kramer said. “I have seen them all. And beyond.”
“Beyond? How far beyond?” Stella pressed.
“I’ve been to Circuit City,” Kramer said. “All the way to the West Coast.”
“Circuit City? Where is that?” Stella asked.
“Seattle,” Kramer said. “Below that is The Garden which used to be Portland. Lovely place, but they aren’t taking in new survivors. Neither is The Temple in Salt Lake. The only place that will take your group in is The Stronghold. They need all the help you can give. The military expertise your group has could be put to great use in the Rocky Mountains.” He looked about and frowned. “Speaking of which, where are your sisters, Ms. Thornberg?”
“They aren’t here,” Stuart said as he grabbed a chair and joined Stella in front of Kramer. “And from the way Elsbeth reacted, you should be glad for that.”
“I can’t argue with you there,” Kramer said. “It took all of you to hold Ms. Thornberg back. I can only imagine what would have happened if I’d met the entire group of them.”
He started to whistle Wheels On The Bus again, but was stopped abruptly by Stella’s fist to his mouth.
“Damn!” Critter grinned. “That was a a nice shot!”
“Thanks,” Stella winced as she gripped her hand. “Didn’t feel so nice, though.”
“Let me look at that,” Melissa sighed as Stella got up and they walked over to the bar.
I could see cuts from Kramer’s teeth on my wife’s knuckles and hoped the man had had his shots. I looked back at Kramer and John had taken Stella’s seat so that Kramer was looking into the eyes of two highly trained military men.
“Now,” Stuart frowned. “I am going to be asking the questions. You will answer honestly and without hesitation. Every time you deviate from those instructions, my friend John here will give you a