“It is never easy to face death. Even when you have laid out plans so perfect in composition you cannot believe they will fail,” a voice said behind Kevin, jarring him from his memories.
He turned in his chair to see a young woman standing next to the bricked up window. She had long blond hair that was braided over one shoulder and was wearing a uniform he did not immediately recognize until he saw the Israeli flag. Tall, lean, and elegant despite her intense stare, she was striking to gaze upon.
“Nerit,” Kevin whispered.
Stepping toward him, he saw the sniper rifle slung over one of her shoulders.
“The truth of any war is that you must plan for any eventuality. You must be persistent in trying to tear apart your own strategies. You must anticipate all possibilities and be prepared to immediately adapt. ” The young woman ignored the form on the bed and sat next to him, her keen gaze resting on his face. “You must know your enemy and never underestimate him. ”
“The enemy is dead, Nerit. They are us, dead and gone, but still up and moving around. You know this,” Kevin answered. “They don’t think. They just do. ”
“You are underestimating them. ”
“I’m not. Nerit, they’re dead. ”
“You’re underestimating them,” she repeated.
“They don’t think,” Kevin persisted.
“Again, you are underestimating them. Three men died today. You almost lost three others. ” Her gaze was so intense it was almost unbearable.
Kevin took a deep breath and looked at the old woman in her bed then to the woman seated next to him. He could see the similarity between them.
“Are you dead?” he finally asked.
“If I am and I am sitting here talking to you, then consider the capabilities of those who are dead and out there. ”
“But they don’t think, Nerit,” he insisted. “They just kill and eat. ”
“A force drives them,” Nerit answered. “A basic need to eat. That is instinct. It is overwhelming. And that instinct makes them cunning whether or not you wish to believe it. ”
“There is no way those things are smart, Nerit”
“Cunning. A small child is cunning when it wants a cookie in a jar. It just does what it has to to get to the jar on the counter. It moves on instinct, does what it must. ”
Kevin stared at the young woman
’s face all the while holding the old woman’s hand. “I see what you are saying. ”
“Desperation can create the most deadly of foes,” Nerit said.
Letting go of the old woman’s hand he reached out and grasped that of the younger. He could feel the similarity between the hands even though the older woman’s knuckles were thicker. The young version of Nerit stared intently back at him.
“We need you,” Kevin said. “You can’t just leave us. ”
“I obey my God. I will do as He says,” Nerit answered.
Kevin had not expected this answer for some reason. Nerit had never come across as especially religious in anyway.
“We’re all praying that you wake up,” Kevin whispered. “We’re lost without you. ”
The young woman’s hands encircled his and she leaned toward him. “You are all stronger than you realize. I am just a soldier who has more experience than you. All of you are capable of great things. Today, Bill, Dale and Ken did great things whether they realized it or not. ”
“I need you back,” Kevin said, his voice breaking. Tears filled his eyes. “I need you back, Nerit. You make me feel less alone in this world. Less afraid. I stand next to you and I feel strong. ”
Nerit’s young face smiled at him softly. “Have faith in yourself, Kevin. You did good things at the mall. You saved so many. ”
“So many died. . . ”