Assumed Dead, page 13
Peter hid a wince. Was that a dig at him? Doctors would be in demand for sure. Did he have a duty to the last survivors of humanity, or was his duty here, with the people he’d cared for over two years?
But if he did leave here…
Harrison. Peter would have to learn the truth. When he had the chance to find out, he couldn’t not pursue it. He’d have to find out. But what would that mean for him and Matt?
Chapter Sixteen
“We can’t assume anyone will ever come to us with the vaccine,” Crawford said. “We can’t assume it will get to the group in Moosonee. They might be on the mainland, but they’re as isolated as us in their way. Are these vaccine people going to prioritize getting the vaccine to such a hard-to-reach place? Never mind to us.”
“Our best chance of getting the vaccine is being on the mainland,” Matt said. “Even if we can’t get any farther than Moosonee for a while yet, there’s more chance someone is going to make the effort to get to them than to the island.” He looked around at the others. “We’ve all known all along that at least some of us could get to the mainland, if we wanted to. It suited us to stay. And I don’t blame anyone for that. It suited me too. We feel safe here.”
“But our safety is an illusion,” Louise said, picking up a cue as if she and Matt had rehearsed it. “Zombies can still end up here. Or hostile humans could show up. Raiders. We’re too small a group to have any chance against that.”
“And like R.J. said,” Matt picked up again, “the supply situation can only get worse. I’m about done with caribou stew and gulls’ eggs personally. If we get ashore, I’m thinking of going vegan.”
That got a nervous laugh from the group. It was silly. Matt was about as likely to go vegan as one of the polar bears. But he played the room masterfully, along with Louise. Peter had to admire it. They hadn’t had time to rehearse this argument before the meeting, but the two of them had grown close, working and studying together. And they were of one mind over this.
“This is all academic until Abby reports back, or we get confirmation elsewhere,” R.J. said. “I’m going to try our other contacts later, see if they’ve heard anything. But if it’s real and we do decide to leave—”
“We should vote on that,” Brooks jumped in with.
“Yes,” Crawford agreed. “But not right here and now. We have time to think about it. We should do so. And make it a secret ballot so nobody can be pressured.”
A bunch of nods around the room supported her.
“Good idea, Doc,” R.J. said. “How about we take the final vote after we get confirmation about the vaccine? Does everyone agree to that?”
More nodding. Peter could see some people already planning their vote campaigns in their heads.
“The vote can’t be binding, though,” Louise said. “If people want to leave, and can find a way, they can’t be stopped.”
She’d decided to leave already, Peter could see. Whatever the outcome of the wait. Vaccine or no, this had stirred her and made her decide it was time. Not another winter here. He glanced at Matt and saw a nod pass between him and Louise. So Matt had decided too. What the hell did that mean for Peter? If some people decided to stay, then could he abandon them without a medic? If Vicky and Kasper decided to stay rather than take Hope to the dangers of the mainland, could he abandon the child he’d brought into the world?
“Then let’s talk about finding a way off the island,” R.J. said.
“Should we not wait until after the vote?” Brooks asked.
“There’s no harm in being prepared and talking about it,” Crawford said. “It will likely have to be done one day, even if this isn’t the time. Mr. Russell, I believe you’ve already considered various options.”
“Sure. The way I see it, we’ve got three ways to go. One, Jay and someone else take the chopper to the mainland. They find a boat and come get the rest of us. We take the boat to the mainland. But who knows how long it will take to find a suitable boat? And nobody here knows enough about boats to be sure of finding their way back here.”
“What about GPS navigation?” Stav said. “The satellites are still up there.”
“But without ground stations making adjustments, it’s not to be trusted anymore,” Chandra said. Some people looked surprised. What did a biologist know about GPS? But she was not only smart on her own subject. Peter knew she’d worked her way through most of the books in the station’s library of scientific works.
“Yeah,” R.J. agreed. “We’ve got GPS devices here, and when I’ve checked them recently, I’ve gotten inaccurate readings on this position. We don’t dare rely on it.”
“Anyway, my navigation skills involve being in the air,” Jay said. “Unless we got help ashore, which is unlikely, I think that option is dicey.”
“So the next option,” R.J. said. “We know there are boats and ships out there. We’ve even heard their radio signals.” They’d never answered. Always afraid of who might be on those ships. Better safe than sorry. “So we stop hiding from them and try to contact one to give us a ride.”
“We can’t ask a bunch of strangers for help,” Brooks objected. “We’ve all heard the reports from our radio contacts, what’s happening out there.” They had. People left alone without the rule of law could do like Abby’s group and form peaceful communities. Or they could revert to anarchy and barbarism. “What if they showed up here, shot all the men, and carried off the women?” It was a blunt question, but it had to be asked.
“I agree,” Peter said, ignoring glares from Matt and Louise. “We might as well invite zombies here as strangers. We have no idea what they might do.”
“They could be…pirates or something in the boats,” Brooks said. “Or raiding parties.”
“There isn’t a lot for them to raid in Hudson Bay,” Louise said. “There aren’t many habitations around the coast.”
“There is one,” R.J. said. “Moosonee. I think our best bet is contacting them. If they have a boat, they can come get us.”
“And what then?” Peter asked. “Moosonee has no road out. It’s only accessible by air, sea, or the railway line, and I doubt the trains are running anymore.”
“Could we get vehicles along the rail tracks, or beside them?” Matt asked. “Off-roaders could probably manage.”
“Assuming the line isn’t blocked,” Peter said. “There could have been landslips or fallen trees. It’s hundreds of miles long and has had no maintenance for over two years. The chances of finding it clear are minuscule.”
“Forget the railway,” Jay said. “It’s the airport we want. I’ve spoken to the Moosonee folks before, and there are planes still at the airport, along with plenty of aviation fuel. They have a Dash 8 nice and snug in a hangar. That’s got a range of over a thousand miles and can take nearly forty people.”
“They have no pilot,” R.J. said. Something he’d clearly gleaned from them in the previous contacts. “But we have. Their group is twenty-three people. Add our twelve–”
“Thirteen,” Vicky reminded him about the baby in her arms, who was ignoring all this talk in favor of chewing on a toy.
“I hope—hah—that we leave before she needs her own seat,” R.J. said. “That’s thirty-five.”
“Don’t count me; I’ll be in the cockpit,” Jay said.
“Can I finish?” R.J. asked, looking put-upon. “The math works out. We make it an exchange. They rescue us from the island, and in return Jay flies all of us out of there to the US. Or everyone who wants to come.”
“Yeah, some people can stay behind in Moosonee if they want,” Matt said. “The supply situation is better there. If they maybe feel safer.” This idea made a few people look thoughtful. It got them off the island, but not into serious danger. The Moosonee group had barely seen any more zombies than the island had, once they’d contained the initial outbreak.
“Let’s adjourn, shall we?” Crawford said. Her notebook page was covered in writing. “We all have plenty to think about.”
“If we do leave,” R.J. said, raising his voice as everyone began to stir, “then we need to be ready for what we’ll face out there. Zombies and human threats. We need to be fit for it. As of tomorrow morning, I’m starting physical-training sessions. Some of you have kept yourselves pretty fit. Others, not so much. And I’m going to organize firearms training. You all know how to use a rifle, but scaring off the bears or even shooting a caribou are easy compared to hitting a person—or what was a person,” he added rather hastily, seeing the looks on some of their faces. He probably did intend that they should be ready to shoot at live people if they had to. “I can’t force any of you to come to them,” R.J. said. “But it’s in your best interests to do so. I’m going to try to make contact with other groups in the US, see what they’ve heard about the vaccine.”
“I’ll come with you,” Crawford said. “Dr. Lane, we’ll call you if anyone has any more technical information about it.”
“Thanks,” Peter said. Matt caught his arm as they both stood up, everyone getting up, the room buzzing with conversation. He smiled, though Peter saw strain behind it.
“Let’s go pick up where we left off, eh?”
* * * *
“I want to fuck you,” Matt whispered in Peter’s ear as he pressed him up against the inside of the door, seconds after they’d come into the room. They hadn’t done it that way around yet. Their condom supply was limited, and they’d only fucked once so far. Right now Matt felt the urge to take Peter, make Peter utterly his.
“Oh…okay…” Peter sounded a little hesitant, but maybe he was short of breath. He was breathing in shallow gasps as Matt kissed him and pulled at his clothes.
“I’d love to have you up against this wall,” Matt said. Peter laughed nervously.
“I think it might collapse, or at least wobble a lot.”
Too true. So Matt stepped away, though he kept hold of Peter’s hand and pulled him toward Matt’s bunk. Damn, they had to get these beds fixed into a double. If it was worth it. Within a few weeks, they might be gone. Still, two people could have an awful lot of fun in a few weeks, and Matt was determined they would. As much fun as he could manage. Because if they did go back to the mainland, back to the US…
He refused to dwell on it, but quickly stripped off his clothes and dived under the bedcovers. Peter stripped but strolled to the cabinet where they kept the condoms and lube before getting into bed. Matt watched him, enraptured. Seeing him like this, walking about naked, was a rare treat. Normally they were naked only under the covers. Curse the damn cold of this place. It deprived him of the sight of Peter’s long dark limbs, firm butt, flat abs, broad shoulders. He wasn’t bulky, but he was in fine shape. R.J.’s training program would sculpt him into even finer shape.
He sauntered back to the bed, smiling, making Matt wait quite deliberately, putting on a little show for him for those few steps, even though he must be feeling the cold. His half-hard cock swung heavily against his thighs. When he slipped under the covers beside Matt, he was chilled, his skin roughened with goose bumps. Matt quickly warmed him up with kisses and caresses. Peter found Matt’s cock and stroked up and down it a few times, slow and languid until Matt was groaning with need.
“You want to fuck me, you said.”
“Yes. Oh yes.”
“Then why are you lying around, Kiwi boy? What are you waiting for? Do you have to dance a haka first or something?”
Matt laughed at the idea of a sex haka. What would that look like? They scuffled about under the covers for a while, until Peter was on his front, a pillow under his hips to raise them. Matt caressed his ass, then ran a finger down the crack and felt Peter shudder under him. He hoped that was anticipation.
“I’m going to prep you,” Matt said. “Tell me if I’m doing it right.” He pressed one lubed finger in past the tight ring of resistance. Peter hissed, and Matt hesitated. He was so nervous of screwing up. Still felt like he was a clumsy oaf in comparison to Peter’s confident touch. “Okay?” he asked, worried.
“Fine,” Peter said. “Just been a while. Give me a second.”
“We don’t have to. If it’s not your thing. Or not the right time. Don’t do it to trade off or anything.” He was babbling. Peter cut him off by twisting around and pulling Matt down to kiss him.
“Believe me,” Peter said. “I want you to fuck me, and not to take turns. I want you. All I ask is that you take your time. Be gentle. And I know you will be, because if there’s one thing you’re not, Matt, it’s careless of other people.”
Matt blushed with pleasure, kissed Peter again, pulled back, and spoke softly.
“I love you.”
He almost wished he hadn’t said it. Peter already knew it, and he knew Peter didn’t feel the same. Or hadn’t felt the same. He’d convinced himself that once they were sleeping together, things would change. Peter would suddenly realize he was also in love with Matt. Like sex would make the scales fall from his eyes. So ridiculous. Such teenage thinking.
“I love you too, Matt.”
Chapter Seventeen
The words were so unexpected Matt’s heart leaped. Before he could say anything, Peter went on.
“Maybe not in all the ways you want me to. Not yet. But this is not simply buddy sex we’re having.”
Matt’s grin threatened to meet around the back of his head. It wasn’t everything he wanted, but he’d call it a start. He slipped another finger into Peter, who moaned at the intrusion, but in a way that sounded like pleasure, not pain. He sobered a bit, thinking of the “not in all the ways you want me to.” But he could change that. He could.
Peter took a third finger with a gasp, relaxing, clearly able to take the sensation more easily than Matt. Experience again. He could teach Matt a lot, if they had the chance.
“I’m ready,” Peter said. He was grinding his hips into the pillow, giving himself some added stimulation, though only slow and rhythmic, not humping it crudely.
Matt wiped his hand off with a tissue Peter had brought along with the lube, and tore open the condom pack with his teeth. He spat the torn-off piece away. He’d always wanted to do it that way, but all the advice said not to.
“It’s not a good idea to do that,” Peter said. “You can damage the condom.”
“The expired condom,” Matt reminded him.
Peter shrugged. “Right. Don’t worry about it, then.” He laughed and watched Matt put the rubber on. The scrutiny was part sexy and part like when Peter spot-tested him on some medical task, such as applying a dressing or giving an injection. He kept his hands steady, though, gave his cock a couple of tugs to make it fully hard again, and rolled the condom on smoothly. It glistened with lube.
“Oh God, Matt. You’re so hot.”
“Keep talking,” Matt said, maneuvering himself. He nudged Peter’s thighs farther apart, until one of his knees stuck out over the edge of the bed.
“I want that cock in me,” Peter went on. “I want you to fuck me hard and fast.” Matt marveled to hear him. Peter. So formal and restrained, making with the porn talk.
“Fuck, Peter. That’s turning me on so much.”
“Then show me, boy. Show me what you can do with that big fat cock of yours.”
Maybe he’d watched a lot of porn back home. Or even here—he’d had his own room for a long time, after all. And being away from his man for months at a time, and then permanently—a man was only human.
Matt sank into him, and Peter cried out, still twisted around to watch the cock sliding in deep. His ass clenched Matt tight. No resistance, but a close, tight embrace. Even well lubed, Matt felt like he’d have trouble pulling back to thrust. But Peter relaxed once more, flopping forward onto a pillow, head to the side so Matt could see his face. Matt leaned over, changing the angle, kissing Peter’s back, tracing kisses from between his shoulder blades to partway down his spine. But he couldn’t get any lower and stay buried in Peter’s ass.
“Do it,” Peter pleaded. “I need you so much.”
No more delays. As much as he wanted to savor it, the heat in Matt’s belly, the urgent need to thrust and fuck, overwhelmed him. He moved his hips, finding the rhythm, Peter rising to meet him on each push, Matt pushing him back down as he thrust in deep.
So tight and hot. Yet relaxed enough to let Matt slide in and out without hurting him. Tight but not tense. Experience telling again. When Matt shifted a bit in response to a movement from Peter, Peter’s moans became sharper and higher.
“Yes, that’s it. Right there. Oh so sweet, Matt, so sweet.”
He’d found the Happy button. Matt grinned like an especially smug cat. He wanted to give Peter the best fuck he’d ever had. Make him forget every other man. He had to prove to Peter that he could make him feel better than any other man ever had. Because then Peter would love him in all the ways Matt wanted. And they could go to the mainland, and it wouldn’t matter who they met there; Peter would never want anyone else.
Immature thoughts, a distant part of him recognized. Pure nonsense. The kind of thing only the fast-approaching orgasm would permit him to think, as it drowned out all common sense and at least half his IQ points. But he needed to believe he could make it happen. The idea of going back to the mainland both thrilled and terrified him. Thrilled because it felt like waking again after a long sleep. Terrified because of what it would do to him and Peter. They’d had so little time to enjoy each other without anything intruding.
All such thoughts vanished in a wave of sensation as the heat and urgency grew inside him, filled him, burst from him with his sweat, with a cry of pleasure that surely alerted everyone else to what they were doing in their room. Who cared? That was the point of having their shared room, and everyone knew it. Better than waking them up in the night anyway.
Peter writhed and moaned under him as Matt rushed the last of the way to completion. Matt’s body locked on the final hard thrust for a second, frozen, tipping over the edge, before the orgasm hit him like an avalanche of snow off the roof. He shuddered, and his hips moved spasmodically. Buried in Peter and coming hard, he suddenly wished they were skin to skin. Bareback. Another thought that both thrilled and frightened him. Next time, maybe. His body went limp, every muscle dropping out of the lock it had been in. The intense ball of heat and light that was the climax bursting in his brain dissolved and spread warmth and pleasure all through him. He withdrew carefully, sighed, and dropped down, half on top of Peter, mostly at his side and crammed against the wall. He took the condom off but found he didn’t have anywhere to put it. Dammit. Peter saw his dilemma and turned over, maneuvering to make sure he didn’t fall out of bed. He reached for the cabinet by the bed and passed Matt a scrap of wastepaper to wrap the rubber in. Matt did, then tossed it on the floor. He’d sort that out later. They weren’t done here. Peter’s cock was still hard. He hadn’t come yet. Matt grimaced slightly. Peter had been enjoying it for sure, but he had more stamina than Matt, sexually, at least.
