morriss003

And so, Douglas Lives, and I have arrived at probably the last book I’ll finish before I answer the call for the Last Roundup. The title, if I manage to finish, will be Surviving the Fog - Sasha the Scarred. It’s the story of Sasha and Kim. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance #mountains

“What are you going to call it? The Dead Man Returns?”
She turned over, so she was partly covering him. She used a hand to push his long bangs away from his eyes, and kissed him on the mouth, lovingly. “My title will be, Surviving the Fog-Douglas Lives.”
The End
#douglaslives #postapocalypse

She chuckled, and then they were silent for a time, watching children play in the recently harvested wheat field. Like most children they laughed, talked, and screamed at the top of their voices.
“Kat has asked me to write an account of our journey.”
He let out a sarcastic laugh.
#douglaslives

“Thank you, Douglas. I love you so much. I didn’t know it was possible to love a man this much.”
“I love you, Susanna. I’m never going to be a good man, but I’ll try to be a better man than I have been in the past. Probably.”
#douglaslives

"They’ll still exist, somewhere, in some form. For me, religion is about hope. I hope you are right, that there is a god, that you do have a soul, that you will live forever. I don’t believe it, but I’m glad that you do.” #douglaslives

“Why? Why would you consider damnation as a reward?”
“Because it means that I’ll still exist, somewhere, in some form. And more important, it means that the people I… care about will still exist; their consciousness won’t disappear forever." #douglaslives

He broke into hard laughter and when he finished, he said, “Honestly, Susanna, I hope you never believe as I do.”
She was startled. “Really?”
“Really. Christians don’t understand. For atheists, Hell is a reward.”
She gave him a confused look. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance

“I have a question that I don’t really want to ask, but I need to. Are you really going to stay for a year?”
“Yes, I’m committed. To Petersburg and to you and to Petal.”
“Thank goodness. Notice that I made no mention of a deity. I wouldn’t want you to feel pressured.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse

“Unbelievable. I left Petersburg just before a Fair, because I knew a one-foot man would be an object of pity and gossip. And now here I am.”
“I don’t think it was your missing foot that people wanted to talk about this weekend, it was your adventures and your travels.”
“True.”
#douglaslives

Afterward, tired and sweaty, they sat on a bench that used to reside outside the Mayor’s Office. She slid an arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder.
“You were a big hit with the crowd,” she remarked.
He shook his head, side to side. #douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance

Monday afternoon the Fair ended. As was their custom, Kathy allowed the cleanup to be left until Tuesday. Douglas helped Susanna scrub and rearrange her messy store, which had proved popular with the Fair goers. #douglaslives

Rasul gave him a smug smile. “And no stealing a motorcycle to get there. You walk like everyone else.”
“You gotta be shitting me.”
“Just think how happy Howard will be when he sees that star.”
“A happy Howard. Christ.”
#douglaslives

“And I’m sure Mary and Ralph will appreciate your visits to our community.”
“Wait a second. I’m not supposed to be Sheriff when I’m at the farm, am I?”
Rasul gave him a smug smile. “And no stealing a motorcycle to get there. You walk like everyone else.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult

“Oh, man, I hate to get strict.” Rasul scratched his scraggly beard.
“You don’t have to get strict, just make sure the rocks are at least semi-smooth. Otherwise, you get to be Sheriff today.”
“Smoother rocks. I understand. Thank you for your service.”
“Ha, ha.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #romance

“Rasul’s eyes might be bothering him,” Douglas said. “That one is definitely not smooth. Find another.”
A massive pout appeared. “Master Dee!”
“You heard me.”
He reminded Rasul that the rocks were supposed to be smooth. Diego, who was helping Rasul, because he was not allowed to play, nodded.

He was resigned to the position, but he had not realized that his first serious intervention would involve the younger kids and the Labor Day Fair. Some of the kids accused other kids of cheating.
“Those rocks ain’t smooth at all!”
“Rasul said they’re okay.”
“He always says that.”
#douglaslives

Mike looked relieved. “Thank you.”
His answer to Mike was an aggravated glare.
“Susanna, would you like to pin this on him?” Kathy asked.
“I would love to.” She took the metal star, kissed his lips lightly, and pinned it to his flannel shirt. “Congratulations, Sheriff.”
“Oh, thanks a lot.” #romance

I appreciate everything you’ve done for the tribe. For the village. I need everyone’s help. I need your help. I depend on you, Douglas. Don’t forget that.
I won’t. Chief?
Yes.
I’m sorry.
I know. Now, forget it.
He sucked in a breath. “Okay. One year.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance

“I sentence you to serve one year of community service.”
“Chief.” He gave Mike his most pitiful look.
“Douglas, you can leave if you want, but please remember our conversation from when I returned, after we got the Army to rescue the kids.”
For a moment Mike’s words from long ago echoed in his mind.

She frowned at his language, opened the desk drawer, and pulled out a hunk of metal. A ripple of laughter spread through the room. He stared at it, dread and helplessness suddenly filling him.
“You gotta be shitting me.” It was the whiniest tone he had ever used.
#douglaslives #postapocalypse

Susanna winced and threw a guilty glance toward her husband who glared at her.
“Okay, Kat, just for the sake of argument what kind of bullshit community service do you have in mind?”
#douglaslives

“Proper procedure. I bet Oksana told you to say that, since you have rarely followed proper procedure.”
She ignored the accusation. “So, I’m suggesting to the Council that we simply have you perform community service. I got the idea from Susanna.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult #romance

“Understandable. And you did a great job. Still, you did take village property without asking.”
His tone became sarcastic. “Oh, please forgive me.”
“Douglas, I’m not suggesting that what you did was a serious offense, but you did not follow proper procedure.”
#douglaslives #postapocalypse #newadult

“Darn. How the hell was I supposed to see what was happening without borrowing a cycle?”
“You could have taken Barry. He’s authorized to use a motorcycle in an emergency.”
Knowing she was right did not help his temper. “I was in a hurry.”
#douglaslives

Douglas felt the trap closing in. “What crime?”
“The crime of stealing a motorcycle.”
“You gotta be shitting me!”
Desi snapped, “Douglas!”
“Forget it, Desi. I don’t give a…” His glance passed along Petal and the other kids.
#douglaslives

He was pleased to see Petal, but to his surprise and alarm, Desi was present. He had mostly avoided her until now. He suddenly felt the makings of a trap.
“Great job, Douglas,” Kathy said. “You saved the kids. Everyone in this village owes you. However, we also have to address your crime.” #romance

The mess hall and not the Mayor’s Office. Shit. It might have seemed logical to some, and he knew that Council had been held in the cafeteria previously, but still… #douglaslives

Early the next morning there came a pounding on their door.
“Yeah, what!”
“Douglas. Who is it?”
“It’s Desi. Kat asked me to tell you and Douglas that you’ve been called before Council.”
“What the hell?”
“We will be there. What time?”
“Right after breakfast, so Kat’s holding it in the mess hall.”

Overall, it was not that bad. The kids apologized, Barry explained his part, and the Chief barely mentioned how Susanna practically threw him to the ground. A newly created award for bravery was followed by exuberant cheers. #douglaslives

He debated skipping Meeting in favor of getting some work done, but Petal was obviously eager to see him feted, and he did not want to disappoint her. And even if he was willing to disappoint Petal, Susanna watched him like a hawk, making sure he wore his best clothes, some of which were borrowed.