Henry Hamilton stopped at the gates and put the transmission in neutral and kept his foot on the brake. The incline was slight but the Explorer would roll backward if he didn't stay on the brake.

Putting the fence where the hill starts down makes sense. Giving me a look over before they open it.

The gate opened and he eased forward far enough for it to close behind him. Three men were approaching from the left and in his peripheral vision he spotted another group on the right. He lowered the window as they arrived. Make that a woman and two men.

"Welcome to Saint Michael's," the woman said. "If you'll take me aboard I'll direct you to your destination."

Henry pushed the unlock button and heard the locks click open. She opened the front passenger door and got in.

Trusting. Or there's more than that many guns on me. And I'm all alone."

That bothered him just a little. He'd gone into the lair of the enemy alone but then he knew it was all enemies around him. Among friends there could be traitors. But he trusted Gordon Williams as much as any man and they would know where he was. As long as at least one of the tracking devices remained active.

"Sarah Hensley," she said. "Straight ahead and take the third right."

The pavement began at the gate and all looked fairly new. Since he had first heard of St. Michaels about a year ago it was probably something new. He stole a glance at his guide.

Thirties maybe. Hard to say these days but probably early thirties. Height a couple of inches above average for a woman. Willowy figure. Like those.

The third right wasn't far away and led into a square about two hundred yards on a side. Center empty and most of the buildings on one side. A very large building dominated that side, four floors at least. Several smaller ones on either side. A few vehicles parked along the street.

"Park in front of the big doors," Sarah said.

There was enough room for him to leave a couple of spaces between his vehicle and the nearest one. One of several dark crew cab pickups. No markings but seemingly part of a fleet. For most cars were a mix of what people could find and keep running. Some factories were running but production was nothing like it was before the wars. Not that it had recovered much in between. The Freeholds had reconditioning facilities that turned out fleets of older cars all of the same year and model and provided stocks of spare parts. The Explorer was one of those - they had a dozen or so of them in the motor pool.

Henry killed the engine and opened the dooor as Sarah got out on her side. In the fading light he could see that she was wearing dark BDUs with a light jacket. Dark beret with some kind of insignia, pistol in a crossdraw holster. He wondered if she was concerned in how he might be armed.

Probably not. Got me checked out six ways from Sunday and it isn't like I don't have something of a reputation already. And it's me all alone and no threat.

Human Harvest (2022)