A Life Worth Dying For (Random Survival Book 7) Read online

  A Life Worth

  Dying For

  Random Survival Book 7

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Ray Wenck

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Other Titles

  Ray Wenck

  Glory Days Press

  Columbus, Ohio

  Copyright © 2022 by Ray Wenck 2nd Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  Glory Days Press

  Columbus, Ohio

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Book Layout © 2016 BookDesignTemplates.com

  Cover Design by Mibl Art

  A Life Worth Dying For/ Ray Wenck. – 1st edition

  ISBN

  Dedication

  This story is dedicated to all those faithful readers who have followed this storyline since the beginning. It was for you I kept the story going. Thank you.

  Author’s Notes

  With this, the seventh book in the series, I have decided to take a break. I’m not sure where the storyline goes from here, if anywhere. It has been a fun ride and whether it continues at some point depends on my own desires as well as how much grief you readers give me.

  I have started an offshoot series entitled Random Survival: The Road, which views the pandemic from a different angle. Though I currently have no plans to meld the two worlds, that is always a possibility down the road.

  Currently, four books are written and ready to go. You can find the first two on Kindle Vella. Once they have run their course, I will quickly release all four. If you enjoyed this series, the next one will interest you because it uncovers answers to the cause of the pandemic, and yes, brings up many more questions.

  I want to thank all you readers who have followed my career and supported my work. You have inspired me to keep writing.

  I’d like to thank Steve Wilhelm for another superb job editing.

  You can view a complete list of titles at raywenck.com

  Also, check out Ray’s Ravenous Readers on Facebook. It’s a private group for you. It features some free reads that have not been published, cover reveals, contests, and a chance to interact with me and other readers.

  As always, read all you want, I’ll write more.

  Ray

  PS If you purchased this book and want a free read, sign up for my newsletter, message me that you bought this book, and I’ll send you two free prequels to this story as a way of saying thank you for the support.

  A life Worth Dying For

  Chapter One

  Lincoln scanned the gathering assemblage with cold dread. They had much to discuss, some of which threatened to be explosive and open to heated and possibly physical debate. It wasn’t for the first time he asked himself why he had been dumb enough to accept the leadership role. It was one thing to run for council, but to accept the chairman position was outright stupid.

  The former NFL running back wiped his forehead. Was the sweat from the heat in the crowded space, or was he that nervous? He thought back to those wonderful days of busting through three-hundred-pound defensive linemen and outrunning speedy defensive backs with glory ahead of him. Had it not been interrupted, the new season would be six weeks in by now. Projections had him breaking the all-time rushing yard record by week eight. Damn! The glory, fame, and fortune were gone in a puff of what, disease-borne air? Replaced by what? The glory, fame, and fortune of heading a post-apocalyptic community? No. Hell, no. It just wasn’t right.

  He realized he was whining because it was better to do that than think about the battle yet to be waged. He released a deep breath and chastised himself for the momentary whine. He was one of the fortunate few who survived the deadly pandemic. Football fame aside, he was extremely grateful for that small miracle.

  His head snapped to the side as his eyes locked on the one figure he hoped, no, prayed, did not show for the community meeting. Becca entered, surveyed the room, then caught and locked eyes with his. He gave a quick nod which she returned. The next few seconds were uncomfortable until she broke the eye contact and moved to the back of the room.

  Lincoln sighed loudly. Best to get this over with. He looked left and right at the council, all seated behind two large eight-foot folding tables. “Ready?” He asked. Head nods indicated they were, and he picked up the gavel someone had found to use for the meeting and banged it twice. The sound was decidedly not as effective as if striking a wooden surface. The tables jumped, spilling two cups of water. He grimaced and mouthed sorry, then set the gavel down and whistled. The high-pitched sound was piercing but had the desired effect.

  “I’d like to bring our inaugural community forum to order. First off, I’d like to thank Milo and his industrious crew for getting this building ready for use with such a tight deadline. No, it’s not quite finished, and you all know its purpose is for the projected expansion of our community. However, until such a time as it is needed, it will serve as a community area for meetings, activities, and events. I have to say, despite it being the largest construction we’ve undertaken to date, it’s surprisingly small once everyone is inside.”

  Milo glared at him.

  Lincoln laughed and held up a halting hand. “Easy, big man. I’m not asking for an expansion.”

  “That’s good,” Milo barked.

  “Yet,” Lincoln added.

  The crowd laughed.

  “Anyway, we all know what we faced. We battled and survived and have grown stronger, but that’s all behind us.”

  “We hope,” someone said from the crowd.

  “Amen to that, my friend, but here’s the thing. We did get through a brutal ordeal and have rebuilt because of community. We stood together. We may not always agree about how things are done, but when we are needed, we
answer the call for the benefit of all. I’m proud of y’all.”

  Someone started clapping, and applause rolled across the room.

  “You know our council. You should since you voted them in. We will have a report from each person, which will be a routine occurrence for each meeting. Our meetings will be held monthly, the date and time to be determined. It may vary to allow those on guard duty or living off-campus to attend.

  “Let’s hear from our first council member, Elijah. You want to start?”

  As the older man stood, Lincoln sat but kept his gaze down. His darkening mood was beginning to set. The hardest part was knowing when the time came, he was going to be trapped between his friend and the community.

  Elijah said, “I am in charge of our vegetable and fruit gardens. In case you have not had the opportunity yet, go over and check out the new greenhouse Milo and his people built. It is not large enough yet to benefit everyone, but it’s the first of four we plan by spring. Once ready, we will have the ability to produce fresh vegetables year-round. Come spring, we plan on plowing the field on the open corner, which is approximately two acres, and planting a variety of foods. We will also replant the cornfield though it won’t be as large considering the land used for this building and our defenses.”

  That was said with a negative tone. He had argued a better use for the land was crops but had been soundly outvoted.

  “For planting and harvesting, we will need all available hands. Remember this is for your benefit, so please, help. None of us has been through winter yet under these circumstances, so we are unsure about meat, but some of the ladies in our building have put together healthy and protein-filled recipes. If you’d like them, see Marlene over there. They sat up last night writing them out, so please take advantage of their hard work. Also, on a side note, we have begun nondenominational church services Sunday mornings at ten for any who would like to attend.” He sat.

  Lincoln stood. “Thank you, Elijah. That is wonderful news. And folks, he’s right. You should go see the greenhouse. It’s incredible work and will benefit us all eventually. Now, I think we’ll hear from Caleb.”

  As the young man stood, a loud cheer erupted from his peers. He blushed visibly, which caused some laughter. Caleb had turned nineteen during the battle but had aged far beyond his years due to the extreme dangers faced and the current lifestyle. His long dark hair was brushed back in a failed attempt at neatness for the presentation.

  “Hi, I, um, I’m Caleb. I’m in charge of hunting and harvesting. Though I expect the hunting and fishing to slow immensely over these next few weeks, we have brought in enough meat and fish to last at least a month if we don’t bring in anything else. The meats and fish are being smoked for preservation. We’d like not to touch any of it until the winter when it will be needed but well, whatever. We’ll just keep bringing in more.

  “Harvesting is going well, but we’ve pretty much stripped the area of anything worth eating. Depending on what stores say, we may have to travel farther to make up for whatever we lack. I have a crew splitting wood for fires daily. What we don’t use for cooking is being stored under tarps in both camps for heating the buildings in the winter. I estimate this will be an ongoing task to keep supplies filled for the winter months. Ah, I guess that’s all.” He started to sit.

  “Great job, Caleb,” one of the girls shouted. That brought another flash of red to his cheeks, which, in turn, created more laughter.

  Lincoln stood to announce the next speaker, knowing he was purposely avoiding the one with the potential to inflame the crowd. “As long as we’re on the topic, let’s have stores give us a rundown.”

  Lynn stood and smiled at applause. “I’m pleased to report we have been extremely busy getting ready for the winter. Our stores are good. Not great, but we do have ample provisions, which I’ll remind you does not include meats or produce, to see us well into January or February. All the corn that has been brought in has been ground into meal. We have a large surplus of canned and boxed goods. As we use those up, it is unlikely we will find much more. We’ll be looking for substitutes, but whatever we come up with will be made from scratch.

  “We are busy canning fruits and vegetables for the cold months, and if anyone has any time to help or Mason Jars, we can use both. Thank you. Oh, also, I have tried the recipes Marlene has, and you will like them, so make sure to pick one up.”

  “Milo, give us some words,” Lincoln said, barely making it to a standing position.

  The large bald-headed man stood abruptly, almost upending the table. “Well, as you can see, we’ve been busy. Our primary focus was rebuilding the dormitory across the road after its near destruction during the battle. We made it stronger and more defensible but having to rebuild allowed us the opportunity to make it larger and add a fireplace on both walls rather than just one. With this one nearly finished, we will be concentrating on what I think is the last project for this year—the wall surrounding the entire compound. We have a start, but it will take a lot more cinder blocks to complete. If the weather holds off, I hope to have it done by the end of November. We are searching for more solar panels for the hospital so it will have its own power source, which will increase the amount available for the other buildings. Eventually, if we find enough, all the buildings will have their own power.

  “We have a list of projects that we may or may not get to depending on the weather, but if you have any you’d like us to consider, submit it to Desmond over there. I won’t guarantee it will be approved, but you won’t know until you ask.” He started to sit and rose again. “Ah, thank you.”

  Lincoln knew he was running out of council people. He looked to each end. Caryn with good stuff or Maggie with bad. Best to finish with good. Wait, he forgot about himself. He could delay the bad for a few minutes more. He stood. “Next up is the one responsible for the community’s defense and safety. He made a show of looking down the table in both directions before saying, “Oh, that’s me.” He got a few laughs.

  “We have erected gates at the four intersections. It will be a pain now getting in and out because you have to be checked, and the gate has to open, but it is in the best interest of everyone here. After the attack, it is clear we can no longer allow free access to our land. Once the wall is completed, we will be enclosed. It will not prevent a determined adversary, but it will slow them down and make any who think us easy pickings think twice about attacking.

  Each gate is guarded and has a schedule. We have fortified several of the buildings. Once the renovations on the house are complete, one of the new projects I’ll be discussing with Milo is to build a watch tower attached to the house that enables us to see anyone coming from miles away.”

  Milo leaned over the table and glared at Lincoln.

  “Don’t worry, Milo. It’s just on the list. It gets built when it gets built.

  The big man nodded and sat back.

  “Ah, what else, oh yeah, gas. We were blessed when Bobby brought in the tanker. However, it is down by two-thirds now. Without replenishing the supply with an unknown, I will be implementing gas rations. The bulk of the use should be saved for our hunting parties and the military vehicles. I want to keep some in reserve in case of an emergency. The ration will be determined on a case by case request.”

  A few people booed. “I know it’s not popular, but until we can find another source, it’s the way it has to be.” With that done, he had no other choice but to announce the next speaker. “Maggie, talk to us about medical.”

  Chapter Two

  The person to best speak about the medical stores and conditions was the primary doctor, but she refused to run for council, citing too much to do already. Maggie came from a medical background and understood the current situation. She lived with Jarrod a few miles down the road and wasn’t on the main campus often, so she had to check in with Doc to keep updated on the supply status.

  The older woman stood. She had a lot of respect around the community and was always ready to
step in and help whoever needed it. Her years belied her mental acuity and physical strength.

  “All things considered, our medical facility and personnel are top-notch. Their hard work, superior skill, and determination kept many alive during our recent conflict. However, there is a price for all they have done, and that is the ever-lowering stores of vital medical supplies, medications, IV solutions and blood. We can all do something about blood. Please, everyone, consider donating a few pints. If something happens to you or one of your family members, God forbid, having that blood on hand may make the difference between life or death. What’s the old saying? The life you save may be your own.”

  She placed her hands on the table as if steadying herself. Lincoln understood why. They had a very frank discussion with Doc and this moment was the one he dreaded.

  “As stated, our supplies are low. Without a new influx from who knows where, we will deplete our valuable resources in short order. We still have three wounded in care in the facility, but all three are expected to recover and be out soon. But,” she swallowed hard, “the long-term patients present a problem. We have two of them, and you know who they are. As it stands, neither has woken from their injuries. Myron’s head injury is perhaps more worrying. Without the proper machinery, we can’t determine if there’s even any brain function. The machines we do have may be keeping him alive, but we don’t know for sure, short of taking him off life support.

  “Mark, on the other hand, has been on life support for two weeks. He may well recover, but our supplies will be depleted by the time we find out. If we have another situation where long-term care is necessary, we will not be able to provide it. That’s just the sad truth of the matter. For discussion are our choices. Let it run until there are no more. Take one off life support to allow the other to go longer or take both off to save the remaining supplies for future use.”

  A man in the second row said, “What happens if we let them go until they run out? Does either have a chance to survive?”