Base Read Free Page B

the trucks, following him.
    The captain reached into his pocket and unlocked the door. ‘I’m Captain Jack Lang, commander of this base. Sorry for making you ladies wait but dawn and dusk are the best times to clear braindeads. Please follow me.’
    â€˜Where are you taking us?’ Ruth asked.
    â€˜Into the medical inspection room. We need to check you for bites under high intensity lighting before you mix with the others. I can’t risk the infection spreading.’ He turned and walked down the hall.
    The three women followed him into a large white room with an examination table in the centre of it. The two other men stayed outside.
    â€˜We weren’t bitten,’ Sue said. ‘We were all stuck inside because Ruth insisted on nursing Mrs Nichols who thanked us by trying to eat us.’
    Ruth saw the captain look her over.
    â€˜Who wants to be checked first?’ the captain asked.
    â€˜Wait a minute,’ Ruth said. ‘Don’t you have medical personnel to do this? A female doctor?’
    â€˜Our doctors were among the first bitten, which was unfortunate because I could have done without this job.’
    â€˜So why do it?’ Ruth challenged.
    Jack slammed his hands on the examination table and leaned forward, his gaze pinioning her. ‘Because I’ve sworn to keep everyone on this base safe to the best of my ability. No braindeads are getting in.’
    Ruth noticed the edge of exhaustion in his voice. She didn’t give a shit. Instead she crossed her arms in front of herself. ‘Listen, I didn’t ask to come here. I’m not taking my clothes off for you and neither are my friends.’
    â€˜I will,’ Sue said, pulling off her T-shirt and undoing her jeans to reveal her bountiful breasts encased in sheer underwear and a flat, tanned tummy.
    Lea gasped.
    â€˜Sue. No!’ Ruth said.
    â€˜Look, it’s a perfectly reasonable request. You saw what it’s like outside, so quit arguing and get your gear off,’ Sue said. ‘Besides the captain’s hot. Do you want my underwear off too?’
    â€˜No. I can see through it,’ Captain Lang said. The side of his mouth twitched.
    Did he think this was funny? Arsehole. Ruth knew that Sue was proud of her all over tan acquired at Cobbler’s nudist beach just near the base. Just as proud of her perfectly bare pubic mound, every hair lasered off after two years of treatment. She enjoyed the company of men from the forces and was always at ease with them. Her father had served in the navy, plus she liked to sit on her balcony and watch the guys jog past the apartment. This was Sue’s idea of heaven.
    Lea hiccupped, hesitated for a moment, then unzipped her dress and let it fall to the ground, showing perfectly white skin on her slim frame. She wore sweet lacy underwear, which suited her. She wasn’t athletic but if the captain was into timid librarian-looking types, Lea was perfect.
    Ruth watched the captain’s expression through narrowed eyes as he inspected both women for bites. His face hadn’t lit up in a sexual way and he didn’t attempt to touch them. In fact his behaviour was impeccable towards the two young women in their twenties.
    Ruth didn’t trust him for one minute.
    â€˜Thanks. You can put your clothes on now.’ He opened the door. ‘Follow Lieutenant Armstrong, he’ll show you to the Mess on level one so you can get some dinner. Lieutenant Vassar, stay outside the room while I do the last check.’ His eyes narrowed when his gaze fixed on Ruth.
    â€˜Captain.’ Vassar gave a short, sharp nod.
    â€˜No, wait,’ Ruth said.
    Sue’s chin jerked up and she rounded on Ruth. ‘I don’t want to wait. I waited for you while you insisted on looking after that lost cause of a neighbour. I waited days while she moaned outside our door terrorising us when I could have been home with my parents. I’m tired of waiting.