Rotter Apocalypse by Scott M Baker Page A

away, Caslow said, “Other than to bark orders, no one has spoken to me since the raid the other night.”
    “So?”
    “What’s up with that?”
    Robson faced Caslow. “Do you really want to know?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’re a coward and you’re unreliable.”
    “That’s not fair.”
    “It’s the truth,” Robson said, trying to hold his anger in check. “You allowed your wife and daughter to be taken by that rape gang and did nothing to help them.”
    “I told you, I was outnumbered.”
    “Quit making excuses. You should have tried. Instead, you chickened out and let the gang have them. Because of you, your wife committed suicide and God only knows what happened to your daughter.”
    “Don’t I get credit for going with you to save them?”
    Robson moved forward to confront Caslow, who stepped back and almost toppled into the open grave. With his left hand, Robson grabbed Caslow by the shirt to prevent him from falling in. “I teamed you with Jennifer so you could provide backup for each other. Jennifer was shot and killed while you cowered in one of the storage units. She might be alive if you had been there for her.”
    Robson realized his right hand had balled into a fist. He yanked Caslow forward and away from the grave. When he released his shirt, Caslow fell forward onto his hands and knees. The little shit remained in that position, refusing to face Robson.
    “I deserve better than this,” he whimpered.
    “No, you don’t. Jennifer deserved better. Your wife and daughter deserved better. As for you…” Robson inhaled deeply to calm his anger, “be thankful you’re here. I almost left you at the storage facility.”
    “Why didn’t you?”
    “Because when I let you join our group, I took responsibility for you. I wasn’t going to leave you in the middle of nowhere, no matter how useless you are.”
    Robson started to leave, stopping when he heard Caslow mumble a question under his breath. “What was that?”
    “I asked what’ll happen to me when you move on.” Caslow lifted his head. He tried to show defiance, although Robson detected the underlying fear in his eyes. “Are you going to leave me on the side of the road like an abandoned dog?”
    Robson stared at Caslow a moment, not attempting to conceal the disgust on his face. After a few seconds, he headed back to the garage, though not because he didn’t want to answer. Robson had not yet considered what he wanted to do about Caslow.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Dravko watched in fascination as Tibor handed out clothes to the survivors. In their hundreds of years together, he had never seen his fellow vampire so outgoing. Dravko had wanted to help to reinforce to Robson that he and Tibor were still part of the group. However, because the sun had risen, the only job they could handle was distributing clothes in the windowless back room of the garage. Dravko had been concerned that after all these people had gone through, none of them would want to be enclosed in a room with two vampires. Thanks to Tibor, those fears were unfounded. Tibor chatted with the humans, asking them their names and how they were getting along. Everyone entered the room feeling apprehensive, and all of them left with higher spirits. Some even grinned and laughed. One young blonde came around the table and hugged Tibor, thanking him for being concerned. When the last human had left, Tibor packed up the remaining clothes.
    Dravko stepped up beside him and patted his shoulder. “You did a good job.”
    “Thanks,” replied Tibor while putting a stack of sweatpants back into the plastic crate.
    “When did you become so friendly with humans?”
    “When I got the idea to recruit them.”
    “Recruit?” Dravko took a step back. “You’re talking about turning them?”
    “I’m talking about making them want to join the coven.”
    “You can’t be serious,” protested Dravko.
    “I am.” Tibor glanced around the room to make certain no one could hear him. “Robson and