Future Revealed

Embrace the Future 2

Future Revealed Ruby, Pagan, and Koby are lonely, missing the community they left and the friendship of the people from the valley. As they collect supplies for winter, they decide to get extra and visit the valley, taking them some food and maybe animals to help them. But first they have to hide from a group of motorcyclists looking to raid settlements for food and women. The trio’s next stop is an abandoned farm, where they find some useful things, including some animals and a truck to transport them back to their warehouse home. They stay in the warehouse during winter, but once the weather becomes warm again they finish planning their trip to the village, adding a high-sided utility trailer to their vehicles to transport fuel for the people. Danger is everywhere in this lawless world with food so scarce. Will they even survive the journey? Genre: Futuristic, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Science Fiction Length: 20,564 words

FUTURE REVEALED Embrace the Future 2

Berengaria Brown

MENAGE AMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

FUTURE REVEALED Copyright © 2012 by Berengaria Brown E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-865-4 First E-book Publication: July 2012 Cover design by Harris Channing All cover art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Future Revealed by Berengaria Brown from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

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DEDICATION For B. Come on, woman, be bold. Step out of your safe little jail and claim the future!

FUTURE REVEALED Embrace the Future 2 BERENGARIA BROWN Copyright © 2012

Chapter One Ruby rested on her heels, her hands on her hips, stretching her back, then sank onto her butt and extended her legs out in front of her, lifting her arms to the ceiling and rolling her shoulders. Hell, she was stiff. Deliberately she clenched and released the muscles in her legs, arms, and shoulders, rolling her head from side to side, and curling and stretching her back. Caring for the vegetables was backbreaking work, but if she wanted to eat, she didn’t have any other choice than to do the hard yards. If we were living in a community, there’d be more people to do the work. Yeah, smart-ass, but they’d eat the food, too, so we’d have more work to do. But at least I could talk to them while I was working! Sure she had Koby and Pagan to talk to, and she loved them both with all her heart, but the truth was, she was lonely. She craved other people the way she craved chocolate. Koby and Pagan were wonderful and caring, but they were only two, and she needed a community around her. Her loneliness was made worse because, for a few brief days, she’d had the group from the village to talk to, and she’d loved talking girl stuff with Adena and Zuri. Also, she knew the

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men had enjoyed sharing with the village men. The evenings around the fire just chatting about anything and everything had been the highlight of the past month. Hell, the past year! Apart from the awesome orgasms Pagan and Koby gave her night after night. They were spectacular, too. If only she could have the two men and a community, life would be perfect. But their own community had hated it when the three of them had announced their intention to bond, and the only solution was to leave. The spiteful comments and hateful looks were unending and soul destroying. Especially from people she’d always thought of as her friends, women she’d grown up with. Plus they’d found the huge building and had all their crops under the one roof instead of having to move from apartment to apartment or plant outdoors and wonder if the winds would come again and poison everything. Although Zuri’s people grew all their crops outside in the ground and had no trouble with illness. Zuri had said no one had died from the bad winds in a decade or longer. So could they live with Zuri? After all, she was part of a threesome arrangement with Tau and Udo. Ruby stood up and shrugged. She’d talk to Koby and Pagan again. They’d discussed the idea in general terms. Likely it was time now to consider it seriously. She really was lonely, and the work was hard. Although the crops there grew very well, and the ones at Zuri’s village weren’t so good, which was why her people were scavenging for food and how they’d come to meet. Dammit, there was always a negative to consider! **** Koby flicked the switch for the generator to start. He and Pagan had worked on it until it was very nearly silent, but they still only used it for an hour or so at a time and on occasions like then, when they needed to bring their supplies up in the elevator. When possible, they carried everything up the four flights of stairs, but that day they

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had a big trolley both of them could hardly push, it was so laden with food. Winter was nearly there, and they wanted to have ample stores in case they got snowed in for weeks on end. Nothing screamed “people” like a neatly shoveled pathway through the snow, so once the snow started in earnest, they stayed inside unless it was absolutely essential to leave. Last winter had been their first winter separated from their community, and they’d had to guess what they’d need. They’d gotten it fairly accurate but had rationed their supplies toward the end, worried the snow may last too long. So this time they’d decided to err in the other direction and risk having too much stored. Besides, bags of grain wouldn’t go off. If they didn’t need it then, they could eat it later, even the next winter. Pagan swiped his keycard over the elevator’s sensor, opening the door, and together the two men wrestled the overloaded trolley into the elevator. Koby was closest to the buttons, and he swiped his card and pressed four, the top floor of the warehouse and their living quarters. The bottom two floors were as empty and derelict as Koby could make them, the floors covered with dust and dirt. Koby even kept a pile of leaves near the door, so they could brush over their footprints when they had to go to the engine-room and turn the elevator on, such as then. The third floor was sealed off with a heavy, metal-reinforced door, and that was where they grew all their vegetables and stored their water in half a dozen brand-new swimming pools. They collected rainwater from the roof of the warehouse and sent it through a number of filters, before it filled each swimming pool in turn. When they were all full, Koby could redirect the water to run onto the ground as if the drainpipes were broken or rusted through. At first they’d thought of collecting snow, but this was a much less labor-intensive system. It was Ruby who’d seen the factory where the swimming pools were made, and Ruby again who’d suggested they use the company’s own transporter to bring them there. Getting

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them in the elevator had been tricky. They’d measured the pools and the elevator carefully, choosing a size and shape of pool that would fit in the elevator. But they’d forgotten to allow for the trolley and themselves and had ended up with Pagan climbing inside the pool as the only way to get the door shut. After they’d made the trip six times, they’d all agreed that would have to be enough water. “I’d rather give up washing forever than do it again,” Pagan had groaned. But they’d never even used up four at any one time, so everything was fine. They’d destroyed the staircase from the third floor up to the fourth floor, and the only external entry to the fourth floor was via the elevator, which only worked for someone who knew where the generator was, how to turn it on, and had a swipe card to make the elevator move. There were two internal staircases from the third floor to the fourth though, one at each end of the building. Koby had bolted steel panels over where the now-ruined internal staircases from the second floor to the third had been, so the building was as secure as they could make it. They’d worked damn hard to make it their own little haven and to provide for their needs and had no intention of other people taking it away from them. They’d never seen raiders in the area, but they’d heard plenty of stories about them, and planned on taking no risks they could possibly avoid. As Koby wrestled the trolley out of the elevator at the fourth floor, he thought of the huge amount of work they’d done to make it a safe haven as well as a home. But being with the people from the village had made it blindingly obvious how lonely they all were. They craved companionship, but they couldn’t just advertise their presence, as there were still gangs around that would steal all their supplies before raping and murdering them all. Yet their own community had been cruel and unkind when the three of them had decided to bond. A community like Arthur’s would be ideal, but they were short of food. It seemed the leaders had been trying to hide how ill-managed the village was, and now the people were hungry. Once he’d known that,

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he’d noticed how thin everyone was. Not just slim and healthy, but underweight. He, Pagan, and Ruby had done what they could to help them, but the people only had the one truck, and they needed other things as well as food. The people had crammed as many bags of grain as they could in the truck though. And now they knew the location of the grain warehouse and the farm where there were lots of chickens and some sheep, they could always come back. Likely not until the next fall though. Travel in winter was too dangerous, and in spring and summer they’d be too busy in the fields with their crops. Koby threw off his thoughts and helped Pagan manhandle their own overloaded trolley through the door and into their home. The fourth floor was their living quarters. They had a big living room, with a bunch of equipment they’d liberated from a gym on one side, shelves of books on another, and a long table where they could work or do craft projects in the middle. After the living room was a kitchen and dining area. A storeroom led off to one side, and that’s where they were headed. Shelf after shelf was full of preserved vegetables and cans of food they’d collected on their scavenging trips. Bags of grain were stacked neatly on the floor by type, rice, corn, wheat. Another shelf had spices and sauces, and there was a small section with Ruby’s stock of cookies and chocolate. Koby noticed she had only one chocolate bar left. They needed to find her some more, but it wasn’t easy. Maybe the three of them could go on a little journey and travel to some new areas they hadn’t visited before. There was sure to be untouched food stores somewhere. They’d deliberately moved ten miles from their old community, so they were unlikely to cross paths in their everyday lives. Most people lived as close as possible to a food source and a river or lake. By coming over there, they’d had to build their own water storage, but it was worth it to have the freedom to love each other and such a perfect new home. After storing the food, the two men walked down the stairs and into their own little farm. Row after row of metal trays were filled

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with tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, corn, beans, carrots, onions, and potatoes. Plastic tubing ran along each tray with tiny holes in it, forming an elementary drip watering system. High windows let in plenty of light, and because the temperature remained mild except in the middle of winter, they were able to have two crops a year. Three of sturdy things like carrots and onions. They also had a row of fruit trees in big pots, but it’d be another two years before they had fruit, maybe even three or four years. The floor area wasn’t crowded. They could easily add another row of metals trays, likely even two if they moved them all closer together, but that would only feed two or three more people, not enough to be a real community. Koby shrugged his thoughts off yet again and hurried down the rows of peppers to where Ruby had looked up from her work and smiled at them. “Got plenty of grain?” she asked. “More than enough for winter,” affirmed Pagan, giving her a hug. Koby stood behind Pagan, wrapping his long arms around both Pagan and Ruby. They were his family, his community, and at times like that, he cherished their presence and their love. Pagan was just a few inches shorter than him, with a stocky, muscled body and brown hair and eyes. Ruby was four inches shorter again, also with brown hair, but hers was long and curly, and her eyes were more hazel than brown. He loved the way they changed color when she was happy or sad. They truly were the windows of her soul. “So what’s for supper?” Ruby asked. “We went through the drive-through pizza place,” joked Pagan. Pizza was his favorite food, and often when it was his turn to cook, they knew that’s what they’d get. But fast-food outlets, or working shops of any kind, were very rare those days. There were too few people left, and of the ones that were around, too many of them were more inclined to just take what they wanted instead of buying it.

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It was strange to think even five years ago there’d still been factories and shops operating their businesses. But not now. Not for four years anywhere he knew of. Things could be different in other states, Koby guessed, but there’d been no really functional central government in his lifetime. From the stories the oldest people in their former community had told, when the disease-laden winds had struck more than fifty years ago, the government had been the first to flee to underground bunkers or distant, safe areas. But no one had died from the winds in years, a decade even, and the winds seldom blew like that anymore. Surely it was time for the government to take control again? Ruby and Pagan were discussing what they’d cook for supper, and Koby followed them back up the stairs to their apartment. He set the coffee percolating, warming their two big thermoses to save hot coffee for later that night after the generator had been turned off. While supper was cooking, they each took a shower. Koby was last, and he filled the tub with hot water when he finished so they could wash again later. The water would have cooled some, but it should still be warm enough. His favorite time of day was when they were all in bed together, and as soon as they’d eaten, he’d turn off the generator, and they’d go to bed. **** Pagan lay on the bed, idly tugging on his cock as he waited for Koby and Ruby to finish undressing and join him. He knew Koby was worrying about something. His mind had been wandering almost all afternoon. Pagan was confident he could get Koby to talk about it after few good orgasms had relaxed them all. Pagan wasn’t concerned. He was sure they’d work out whatever difficulty Koby had discovered—or imagined. Koby was the thinker and worrier in their family. Pagan was much more relaxed about everything. The world

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had been in a mess all of his life and for a long time before he was even born, and somehow or other, they’d survived, coped, and made their own family and their own happiness. He was certain they’d get over whatever roadblock Koby was agonizing about, too. Koby was a damn big man. Big everywhere. Six feet two or three, with very broad shoulders, heavily muscled arms and thighs, and a huge cock that brought enormous pleasure to Pagan and Ruby. Koby had blond hair and blue eyes, whereas both he and Ruby had brown hair, and Ruby’s eyes were a hazel that changed colors. Pagan liked watching her eyes when he fucked her. They’d gradually get darker and darker until she climaxed. Ruby climbed on the bed and settled herself over his hips, opening a new box of condoms. “These are way past their ‘best before’ date. I hope to hell they still work,” she said. “If it breaks, I’ll pull out of you,” Pagan promised. “Damn straight you will, and real fast, too.” “We’ll write a shopping list later and add condoms to it,” said Koby. He checked the date on the bottom of the jar of lube. “And lube, too.” Ruby rolled the condom over Pagan’s dick, and he could almost see himself growing under the gentle touch of her talented fingers. Pagan stroked his hands over her sides and then up to her breasts. Damn they were luscious. Full and round with pink nipples poking right out at him, begging him to suck them into his mouth. He placed his hands on her hips and lifted her up over his cock. “Slide on down, sweet,” he said. Then he groaned as she did. She was as hot as hell and so wet and welcoming his cock damn near burst with joy. Pagan grit his teeth and pulled her body down over his so her breasts were closer to his mouth and her ass was up in the air for Koby to prepare her for his giant cock. “Yum,” he said, flicking his tongue over first one nipple then the other.

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But that wasn’t enough. He needed more, so he sucked the entire nipple and the areola into his mouth. She tasted so good, fresh, and sweet-smelling. She always tasted nice. Even though they all used the same soap and deodorant, somehow on her it was an aphrodisiac. He released the nipple from his mouth and licked a line between her breasts then nuzzled the valley. Hmm. It’d been a long time since he’d fucked her breasts. He must do that again soon. Maybe even later that night. Then he licked the underside of the other breast, nibbling his way up to heaven, and sucked her nipple. He stretched it and pulled on it, rolled it in his mouth and pressed it against the roof of his mouth, enjoying the little grunts and whimpers Ruby made in response to his actions. Meanwhile, Koby was lubing her ass, softening her tissues, and teasing her butt and cunt. Because she was lying almost flat on his body, Pagan could feel everything that Koby was doing through her movements. From time to time, Koby deliberately touched him, too, reminding them all that they were a triad of three equal partners and this was about all of them. Pagan kept Ruby’s breast in his mouth, looked up, and dragged his hand over Koby’s chest, pinching a nipple on the way past, then trying not to laugh at Koby’s raised eyebrows. “Enough with the foreplay. Let’s get on with the show,” demanded Ruby. “Bossy much?” said Koby. “I thought women were supposed to like foreplay. Lots and lots of foreplay,” said Pagan. “Tomorrow maybe,” said Ruby, forcing his cock deeper inside her by grinding her hips onto his pelvis. “Fine by me,” said Koby, laying the jar of lube down and rolling a condom over his cock. “About time.” Ruby pulled up off Pagan a little way and slammed back onto Koby’s cock, causing both men to hiss. The sound she gave was almost a purr, Pagan thought.

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His dick was about ready to explode. Her cunt was pure heaven surrounding his cock, bathing him in her hot juices. Her sexy-as-hell breasts were in his face, and her delicious aroma surrounded him. How he’d manage not to come on the first stroke he made inside her was the big question. Koby wrapped his long arms around Pagan, pulling Ruby tight against them both, then nodded at Pagan. Together both men withdrew until only the head of his cock was still inside her. Ruby made little whimpering noises of complaint. Then simultaneously they pushed back in, making her purr again. Out and in they stroked, maintaining as slow a pace as Pagan could manage, driving his cock as deep as he could. Pagan reveled in the feeling of Koby’s cock sliding against his, with just the thin wall of tissue separating them. That was so carnal and exemplified their togetherness, their being a triad partnership, both men pleasuring Ruby. But they got back so much more than they gave. Ruby showered them with love and joy every moment of the day. Pagan’s spine was already tingling, and if his balls drew up any tighter, they’d disappear inside his body. “Now,” he gasped. Koby nodded, and this time they pounded into her fast and furious, slamming in with all the passion they felt for each other. Ruby screamed, and her cunt convulsed around him, her juices coating his cock, her muscles gripping him so hard he was almost unable to move. Pagan knew her ass would be grabbing Koby’s dick just as hard. With that thought, his own cock exploded, his cum pouring into the condom as he drove into her one last time. Koby was shuddering, too, so Pagan knew he’d climaxed as well. They usually did all come together. It was like a symbol of their unity, of their connectedness, one to the others. Pagan leaned forward and kissed Ruby sweetly and tenderly, then kissed Koby more harshly. Koby responded by nipping his lips before bowing his head and kissing Ruby’s neck.

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They rested just like that for long moments, their cocks still inside Ruby, entangled in each other’s arms. Soon it would be time to have that talk about whatever was bothering Koby, but not right then. That moment was for them to just be together.

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Chapter Two Later, after they’d washed themselves in the still-warm water and were cuddled together in their bed, Ruby tried to think of a good way to broach the topic of moving in with a community. The problem was not just that their own people had rejected them, but also that it’d taken an enormous amount of work to make that place into their home, and leaving it without sure knowledge of acceptance elsewhere was a stupid thing to do. Before she had decided what to say, Pagan spoke. “Koby, you’ve been worrying over something all day. Spit it out.” “I’m sorry. Was I a grumpy old bear today with you? I didn’t mean to be. It’s just that we all miss the company now we don’t have the people from the village with us anymore. They were only here a few days, but it made us all aware of how alone we are and how dangerous it could be to just march into a group and expect to be accepted.” Ruby nodded. “That’s almost exactly where my thoughts were today, too.” “So what decision did you come to?” asked Pagan. “None. We’d have to watch a community for days, weeks even, before we could reveal ourselves, and it’d be impossible to stay hidden yet still feed ourselves, and have shelter and so on, for such a long time.” “Besides, even a nice welcoming community might have one or two people in it who’d do their damnedest to make our lives a misery,” said Ruby, remembering the way one of her former friends had acted after she found out both Koby and Pagan wanted to bond

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with her. The other woman had obviously been sure they’d get one man each, and her displeasure was a vicious thing to experience. “Not to mention the ones where they’d only be our friends long enough to find out where our food stocks were so they could steal them for themselves,” added Pagan. “Winter will be here all too soon, and we can’t do anything until spring anyway, but I guess we could think about our options, likely try to come up with some kind of plan,” said Koby. “What kind of plan?” asked Ruby. “Damned if I know.” They all laughed, and Ruby burrowed into the men, sniffing their chests and loving the feeling of being surrounded by hot, hard man. They were so good to her, and she loved them so much. But she’d enjoyed the company of a larger group of people and missed that communal aspect of life quite badly. “It’s a damn shame the people from the village didn’t have enough food. They accepted us,” said Pagan. “They’ll be back though, I reckon, come fall, to collect more food for the next winter. We may see them again. Likely they’ll visit, and we can watch out for them at the grain warehouse,” said Koby. “It’ll be easy to miss them though. We’ve never told anyone where we live, and we can’t sit in the grain warehouse for three or four months just waiting for them.” Sadness rolled through Ruby. When she looked at it logically, the chances of them meeting up were very small. They’d likely only come for a few days again. “I wish we could visit with them for a few months.” “Yeah, so do I, but they couldn’t possibly feed an extra three people for months. They really can’t feed their own community. Remember how skinny everyone was, and the food they took with them will only keep them through winter, not through spring and summer as well,” said Koby. An idea struck Ruby like a lightning bolt. She sat up in bed and said, “Why don’t we visit them and take a truckload of food and other

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things with us. I bet that transporter we used to bring the swimming pools here is still in the place we hid it. We could use it to tow something we could fill with food. Or we could go looking for a truck of our own.” “Hell, yes. We could bring them seeds to grow plants, maybe some young fruit trees, more chickens, even a few sheep, if we found a big enough truck. Then they’d welcome us, and we’d know we weren’t taking stuff they need for themselves.” Pagan sounded as excited as she was. “It can’t be until after winter. We need to stockpile enough things for ourselves first, but we can easily watch out for stuff for the village as well,” said Koby. Ruby was much too excited to sleep. She jumped out of bed and got a notepad and pen, writing down their ideas as they talked for a long time about what they could transport safely. If they could find a large truck in working order, of course. **** They all worked on the farm for the next few days, weeding, fertilizing, and checking the right amount of water was dripping on each growing plant. Then they packed a week’s food and water, and pored over their maps, trying to decide where to look for a new scavenging zone. “Let’s look to the west, out past the farm. Those tracks look unused and overgrown, so it’s a good bet no one’s out that way,” said Koby. Ruby nodded and stayed silent. They didn’t like taking her with them into danger, but every now and then, she insisted on going. Men didn’t always see things the way women did, and she liked to go shopping for herself sometimes. She’d also made a list of things she could remember the other women talking about. Milk powder and baby clothes, sheets and pillow cases, and warm woolen socks. She

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couldn’t understand why the men who’d scavenged for the village all those years hadn’t gotten such things, but likely it was simply because they hadn’t found them in the stores and warehouses they’d visited. Or perhaps they’d simply been very focused on food. Their own vehicle was an old delivery van, and it was perfect for their needs. It seated all three of them in the cab, and the sliding side door opened wide enough for even quite large things to be maneuvered inside. Right then it was loaded with a mattress, three pillows, and their thickest blankets. The metal walls of the van didn’t retain heat very well in the cool of the night, but sleeping in the van was always the safest option. Especially if they could hide the van in an abandoned building first. “I think we should take a spade and a couple big plastic pots. Maybe out among the farms we could collect some more fruit trees, ones a little bigger than ours, that we could take to the village,” said Koby. “Awesome idea!” said Pagan. Ruby checked out their maps, although maps was a rather grandiose term for sketches they’d drawn of the roads they’d traveled and the places they’d found worth revisiting. “There’s a heavily wooded area about five miles from the farm. That’s about as far as we’ve been in that direction,” she said. “Yeah, that’s right. We were hoping to find berry bushes we could bring back, but it was all just trees,” remembered Koby. “So, are we ready to go?” asked Ruby, standing and stretching the kinks out of her back. She was tense and excited, looking forward to the scavenging trip. Or “going shopping” as she preferred to think of it. “Just gotta put my boots on,” said Pagan. They’d had endless discussions about whether it was better to wear heavy boots that protected their feet or sports shoes so they could run fast if they needed to when on these trips. But overall they’d decided protection was better. They also always dressed in

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heavy, sturdy clothes, even if the weather was hot. They’d decided it was better to be sweaty, but with all body parts at least somewhat protected, than a more comfortable temperature, which risked getting scratches and scrapes on their skin that might get infected. “Oh, disinfectant,” said Ruby, snatching up her list and adding the item to it. “Did you put chocolate on the list? And condoms?” asked Pagan. “Hell yes!” Laughing, they made their way through the building to the ground floor storeroom where they kept their vehicle. “We won’t be able to get a big truck through that doorway. We’ll have to leave it in the open area,” said Koby. “It’ll only be for winter, and hardly anyone goes scavenging in winter,” said Pagan reassuringly. “Jack up the front of it and take a couple wheels off. Then no one will want it,” said Ruby. Pagan stared at her. “Brilliant idea.” “Yes, I like it, too. Of course it implies we’ll find a truck. But I guess there’ll still be some around the area. Maybe even at the farm. We’ve never really looked anywhere there apart from the kitchen. Finding the chickens was so exciting it’s really all we’ve ever used the place for, apart from the occasional sheep,” said Koby. Pagan slid into the driver’s seat with Ruby beside him. Koby waited behind the vehicle to close and lock all the warehouse doors and brush away any signs they’d been there. He walked behind them for a hundred yards or more, ensuring there were no tire tracks leading back to the building. Koby opened the passenger door and slid in beside Ruby, and then Pagan increased his speed. The road there had once been part of the highway, which meant it hadn’t deteriorated too badly. It was also another reason they’d chosen that location to live in as it gave them the means of a faster-than-normal exit in several different directions and made them harder to track if anyone did follow them.

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It was yet another consideration if they lived elsewhere, thought Ruby. “Do either of you know how to get to the village where Arthur’s people live?” she asked. “We’ll find it,” said Pagan easily. “Well, we know roughly where it is. We may have to get out and walk around to find the exact track in,” temporized Koby. Ruby nodded. “There can’t be too many valleys in that direction, surely.” Their chatter drifted to the scenery as they passed it, and their hopes for the trip. Ruby really wanted to use it to begin collecting items for the village but was also very aware their own needs to survive through winter had to come first. The van wasn’t huge, although it did hold an amazing amount of goods. She also kept a hold of her maps and notes, ready to update them if any of the tracks they used had become unsafe, but their journey to the farm was unchanged from previous visits, and the farm looked as if no one had been there in a very long time. Ruby collected about thirty eggs, storing them in the crate Pagan made the last year especially for them. They’d catch some chickens to take home for meat if they came back that way. It wasn’t a good idea to travel for several days with chickens in the back of their van, so they couldn’t grab them now. But at least they’d have eggs again for six weeks or so. Even though they’d seen no evidence of any other people, the van was still hidden in an old barn. While Ruby collected the eggs, Pagan climbed up into the loft, but there was only old straw and chicken dirt up there. Next they went into the farmhouse, bypassing the kitchen, which they’d scavenged from several times, and moving through the other rooms. In the mudroom, there were five waterproof overcoats and a dozen pairs of sturdy boots. “The villagers would like them,” Ruby said. Koby nodded and stacked them in a laundry basket, which he put beside the door for them to collect on their way out.

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All the things in the bathroom were long out of date, and most of the clothing had been taken from the closets in the bedrooms. “These people left of their own volition a long time ago,” said Koby. “Yeah, that’s what I think, too,” said Pagan. Ruby looked through the books on the bookshelf in the den, but nothing appealed to her tastes, so they collected their hamper of coats and boots, and left. Koby drove then, bumping down the dirt track they’d taken once before when they’d been hoping to add berry bushes to their own crops. They traveled at walking pace, maneuvering around bushes and trees and dodging the worst of the potholes. Once the track seemed to disappear altogether, and the men got out to scout ahead, finally working out which direction to take. They were still following the track, heading west, as darkness started to fall. “We need to find somewhere to stay for the night,” said Koby, worry in his voice. “The next time we come to one of those big trees with branches almost to the ground, we’ll park underneath it. We can easily gather some brush to hide the car completely,” said Pagan. “It’s not as good as being in a building,” objected Koby. “No, but we’ve come so far it’d be stupid to go back to the farm now,” said Ruby. Koby nodded but was biting his lip in a way that showed Ruby he wasn’t happy. About ten minutes later they came to a huge tree, just a short distance off the track, with branches draping to the ground. Carefully Koby pulled under it, reversing and edging the van until the sliding door was wedged against the tree trunk, so no one could easily break the lock and open it. This meant they all had to climb over the seats to get into the cabin. It was easy enough for Ruby, manageable for Pagan, but a real struggle for the much-larger Koby.

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Pagan then climbed back out to check the vehicle wasn’t visible from the track. Koby insisted on seeing for himself as well. “Remember how hard it was to climb into the back here? If you get out, you’ll have to do it all again,” warned Ruby. “I have to see for myself,” he said. Ruby just shook her head and began assembling each of them a thick sandwich filled with salad vegetables. The coffee they’d brought in thermoses, and drunk at midday, would be almost cold now, but she got it out anyway as well as some water. Koby returned first and let Pagan shove him from behind to help him through the narrow gap between the top of the seat and the car roof. Then Pagan followed him through, saying, “It was totally invisible.” “Great.” By the time they’d eaten, it was almost completely dark, so they made up their bed on the mattress with their blankets and pillows. To make enough space for all of them to lie down comfortably, they had to move the fuel cans into the front seat, but Pagan was careful to put them on the passenger side in case they needed to drive off in a hurry in the morning. By the time he turned back, the other two were already undressed. “Niiiiice. We can’t risk you screaming your release tonight, Ruby, so how about you fill your mouth with this,” suggested Pagan, dropping his pants and lining his cock up with her mouth. “Yum, dessert,” she said, licking across the head. She loved the taste of both her men. Pagan was always very salty and tangy. Koby was much spicier. Both of them were completely delicious. When she’d made their meal, Ruby had gotten the box of condoms out as well, so Koby took one and rolled it on, then lifted Ruby’s legs high and rested them on his own shoulders as he crawled nearer to her. “Come closer. I wouldn’t want you to feel lonely down there,” she said huskily.

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“Oh, I’m about to get much closer,” he replied, wiggling on his butt until his thighs enclosed her ass. Ruby giggled softly, aware that noises carried on the still night air, then held Pagan’s cock to her mouth again and licked the slit, hoping for a taste of his pre-cum. There was just the faintest hint of it. She held his shaft firmly in one hand and licked up the stalk, then down again, before pressing her tongue along his vein, loving the feeling of throbbing power in her mouth. While she was busy with Pagan’s cock, Koby drove his dick deep into her cunt. She sighed with happiness. Two cocks to play with. How wonderful was that. Koby held still deep inside her, so she wiggled her hips a little to tell him she was ready, before sucking the head of Pagan’s cock as far into her mouth as she could get it. She hollowed her cheeks and sucked on him, then let him slide out a little way, gently scraping her teeth over the head of his cock as he did. Her next step was to take his balls, rolling them in her hand before sucking first one, then the other into her mouth. Pagan hissed his pleasure, so she did it again. Koby was pumping steadily into her now, his hands on her hips, which he’d tilted so high he penetrated her incredibly deeply and aroused her intensely with every stroke. It was hard to concentrate on Pagan, but she wanted to pleasure him to the best of her ability so once again swallowed as much of his cock as she could, rolling her tongue over the shaft as he slid into her mouth then pressing it along the ridge until he hissed his joy again. She was fully focused on what she was doing and was almost startled to feel hands on her breast, playing with her nipples. She had to let Pagan slide out of her mouth to tilt her head enough to see whose hands. Ahh, Koby’s. She should have guessed. They were bigger than Pagan’s. Once again she sucked Pagan deep, tipping her head back to open her throat. She wasn’t very good at this, struggling to control her gag

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reflex, but she was working on it. This time she managed to swallow the head of his cock right down her throat, before having to let him out of her mouth. As she did, she rolled his balls again and could feel they’d already hardened, so he was getting closer to coming. Thank the gods for that, as the orgasm inside her was building fast now, and she wouldn’t last much longer. Koby was sending her higher and higher with his hands on her breasts as well as his powerful strokes in her cunt. He knew just exactly how to touch her to drive her wild. Once again she hollowed her cheeks and sucked Pagan’s cockhead, before scraping her teeth gently right along the length of his shaft. As soon as she took his head in her mouth again, he groaned, and jets of cum filled her mouth. Quickly she swallowed, then sucked him again, encouraging him to release more spurts of cum. Right then Koby pinched her clit, and she had to close her lips around Pagan’s cock to stop herself screaming as the orgasm burst through her. Koby pumped into her again and again as her cunt clenched and released around his shaft, waves of pleasure rolling through her as her hips rose to meet his without any direction from her. She opened her mouth and let Pagan slide out, taking deep breaths of air to fill her lungs and ease the pounding of her heart. Koby gently released her legs, and she flopped down flat on the mattress, panting. The two men cuddled her between them, petting her shoulders and back, pressing soft kisses to her face and neck. Filled with peace and happiness, she relaxed into their arms, loving being with them, despite the danger and a life filled with unknown and unknowable things. **** Koby woke instantly, knowing he’d heard a sound that didn’t belong in the woods where they were parked. Faintly in the distance,

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he could hear a motorcycle engine. No two, three, maybe more motorcycles. He sat up and reached for his clothes. He always folded them into a neat pile and set them on his boots. But it was so dark it was difficult to know which way to put his underpants on. Well, likely it wouldn’t matter if they were inside out. It’s not like anyone could tell under his jeans. Ruby had crawled off the mattress and was getting dressed, too, then finally Pagan stirred and sat up. Without saying a word, he started searching for his clothing. The motorcycles were closer now, but not really close. Possibly a mile away because sound carried in the night, but also possibly a bit closer than that, especially if they had their engines muffled. Ruby poked him and held up four fingers. He nodded. Yes, he thought four bikes, too. Koby heaved himself over the seat into the cabin of the vehicle. Dammit, he was going to have to try to lower the seat. Another inch or two would make it a lot easier. He wiggled and twisted his body, then felt Pagan’s hands on his ass shoving him forward. He almost hit his face on the steering wheel but managed to angle his body and crawl out the door. Getting to his feet, he wondered whether he should lock the door behind them. It’d make the delivery van—their only means of getting home—much more secure, but there would be a sound, a click that couldn’t be mistaken for an animal noise. Dammit, what to do, what to do. Pagan and Ruby joined him, and then Pagan made a hand sign indicating a key turning. Obviously he thought the door should be locked. Koby looked at Ruby, and she nodded. As quietly as possible he shut the door, which made only the softest click, then turned the key. Okay that wasn’t too bad. Thank all the gods they’d disabled the automatic locking system as soon as they’d acquired the van. He really didn’t need flashing lights and an alarm going off! Making sure Ruby was between him and Pagan, he started walking toward the motorcycle engines.

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In the van it had seemed very dark, but there, out from under the big tree, there was some light in the sky, and some plants seemed to give off a little light. Not much, but enough to see the path. Well, so far. He hoped to hell they could find their way back. As long as they stayed by the track, it shouldn’t be too hard, even if they had to wait until daylight, or longer, until the people with the motorcycles left. Hell, he hoped they weren’t going to camp there for days. If so, they’d have to push the damn delivery van for a couple miles at least before they could risk starting the engine. Why hadn’t they stayed at home in their nice safe warehouse? One by one, the motorcycle engines were switched off, and Koby had to listen intently to hear the sound of the hot metal cooling in the night air and the distant voices speaking. Then he sniffed. Aha! They’d lit a campfire. That would be much easier to follow than those very quiet sounds. And there it was, just a faint glimmer, but easy to home in on in the darkness and growing brighter by the second. The campfire was some way ahead and to the right, but the track was heading more or less in that direction. Koby decided he wanted to stay on it, as it would make finding their way back to the van so much easier. He turned to his partners and waved at the path, then made walking motions with his fingers. Both Pagan and Ruby nodded. Good, they agreed with him. With the extra bit of light, they moved a little faster, although they still had to watch both the path and their feet quite carefully. The track was very overgrown with stones in it, and small plants. That was actually a good thing, as it meant it wasn’t in regular use by anyone, but it made walking at night much more difficult. Four motorcycles meant eight people, possibly as many as twelve but more likely eight. A rider and pillion passenger on each machine. He didn’t think they’d have sidecars, but it was a possibility he had to allow for, and a sidecar could hold a person as well as some luggage.

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But he only planned to watch and listen, not make themselves known to these people anyway. They’d been lucky with the villagers. They were good people. But so many people those days couldn’t be trusted. Survival was getting harder as the years passed and factories that had remained in operation had closed. Those who had a stable food supply needed to keep that knowledge hidden or risk being attacked and having everything stolen. Twice their former community had been attacked. Both times they’d managed to drive the raiders off, but after the second time, they’d chosen to move to a more defendable location. It was one reason he and Pagan had worked so hard to hide the fact they were living in their warehouse. It’d be difficult to find a better home than that, so they never wanted anyone else to discover they lived there. After about ten minutes of walking, the fire was much brighter and closer, and voices could be heard more clearly. Koby could distinguish words here and there, occasionally even a phrase or sentence. All the voices were male, which wasn’t good news. Either the women were cowed into submission or else this was a group of all-male raiders. Neither was the type of people he wanted to make himself known to. Close by the track was a tree with a very broad trunk and branches starting not too high off the ground. He tapped Ruby on the shoulder, pointed to the tree, and indicated she should climb up it. Vehemently she shook her head and pointed along the track. She wanted to come with them. He shook his head and pointed to the tree. She crossed her arms over her chest and stood still. Okay, that wasn’t going to work. He turned and began walking again. Gods, she was stubborn. She’d have been much safer hidden away, but it was plain she wasn’t going to cooperate with that plan. He stepped even more carefully now, watching out for any dry wood or pebbles that might make a noise under their feet. Even though the other people would have the noise of the fire and their own conversation, it was likely there’d be one or two of their number away

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from the group, on guard against trouble and listening for any strange noises. He stepped off the track to circle around toward the campfire, paying close attention to the trees there so he could find the place again. The bushes all looked very similar, but he tried to memorize the location of the taller trees with regard to each other as he moved away from the track’s helpful guidance. Finally he felt going any closer would be too dangerous. Again he pointed to a tree and motioned Ruby to climb it, then pointed around to his right and to Pagan, then to his left and himself. Ruby and Pagan nodded. This tree didn’t have any helpful lower branches, but that would make Ruby safer. He hoped. He kneeled down, and she scrambled up his back, finally placing her feet on his shoulders. Then he stood, holding her legs tightly with both hands. She easily reached the trunk and swung her body onto it, gripping with arms and legs, then inched her way higher, before grabbing a branch and hauling herself onto it. As soon as he saw she was settled, he nodded to Pagan and they both turned to find their own lookout tree. He walked maybe fifty feet left then stood very still in the shadow of a tree trunk. He looked and looked but could see no guards. They were either very good indeed or not present. Cautiously, slowly, and silently, he inched his way closer to the campfire, trying to look in every direction at once and to open all his senses to alert him to any danger. He still couldn’t see any guards, but he could see six men—well, he thought they were men—sitting and lying around the fire, cooking meat on long sticks. There was a pot of coffee warming in the coals of the fire, and two of the men had long-neck bottles of beer in their hands. He could smell the meat and the coffee over the smoky, woodsy scent of the fire itself. The people’s conversation wasn’t loud, but he could hear it clearly now, so he looked at the nearest few trees, picked a large one, and shinned up the trunk, then hauled himself onto

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a branch. He could see quite well from there but wanted to be more hidden in the foliage so climbed a few branches higher, then settled his body along a branch, with his back resting against the tree trunk. For the next hour, he listened to the men talk. They were the scouting party for a group of bandits, with strict instructions to look, not touch. Instructions that didn’t please several of the men who wanted to find some women and have “a bit of fun” before returning home. “The boss won’t be happy if you do that. There’s a winery a day’s ride from here, and if we don’t find it and report back about how to take it over, we’ll all be dead meat,” said one of the men. “Yeah, but no one’ll know if we capture some people here. It’s a day’s ride from our base and a day’s ride from the winery, so it’s perfect. No one will ever know what we do,” grumbled another one. “Don’t be stupid. That means we’d have to kill everyone in the settlement we took the women from. And you reckon no one’ll find out. You’ve got rocks in your head!” Finally they all dragged sleeping bags from their motorcycles and lay down around the fire. No one seemed to have been left on guard, and Koby wondered if the two men would disappear to try to find a woman, but it seemed they were in awe of “the boss” and stayed put. He waited what seemed like forever, but was likely only another hour, to be absolutely certain. The fire had died down, and none of them stirred to put fresh wood on it or moved from their sleeping bags. He quietly climbed down from the tree, mentally cursing the aches in his back and butt and hoping he wasn’t making a noise now there was no talking to cover small sounds. At the foot of his tree, he again stood silently for a long time waiting, but no one stirred. Koby moved as noiselessly as he could back to Ruby’s tree, and she slid down into his arms as lithe as a fish, with no signs of stiffness, and almost no sound either. He turned to walk in the direction Pagan had gone and sensed something.

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He pushed Ruby behind him and tensed, squinting his eyes in the darkness, turning his head from side to side. But it was Pagan who materialized from behind a bush and grinned at them. Koby patted his chest, both to settle his pounding heart and to indicate to Pagan he’d startled him, but Pagan kept grinning, so Koby turned and led the way back to the track. Ruby recognized where they needed to turn before he did, touching his arm and pointing. Koby looked up at the trees for the pattern he’d memorized and nodded. Once they reached the track, they were able to walk faster, but it still took them the full ten minutes to return. Then there was the worry of unlocking the door and climbing in without making a noise, closing the door softly, plus climbing over that damn seat again. Gods, how he hated doing that, even though Pagan grabbed his arms and tugged him to help him over. None of them got undressed that time, they just removed their boots before lying on the mattress and pulling the blankets over themselves. Koby had intended to stay on watch but was so tired he fell asleep very quickly.

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Chapter Three It was barely dawn when Pagan woke to the sound of the motorcycle engines. They were not close and not coming in that direction, but nonetheless Koby was sitting up and peering out the driver’s window. Pagan just shook his head. The delivery van was thoroughly hidden, and that meant they couldn’t see out, as well as other people not being able to see them. He’d been very careful not to damage any branches as they’d left the vehicle then returned in the night. Nothing gave away a hiding place like a trail of broken plants. Koby went to climb over the seat, but Ruby pulled on his arm and passed him a bottle of water. She was right. Pagan was very thirsty, and he knew the others would be, too. Before they walked back to where those bikers had camped, they needed a proper drink and some food, too. While Koby drank, then passed the bottle back to Ruby, Pagan rummaged in their tub of food and got out half a dozen tomatoes. It wasn’t much, but eating them would be silent, whereas crunching carrots would not be wise right then, just in case some people were still around. He drank his water then shoved on Koby’s ass to help him over the seat. If they removed the headrest, it might help. Koby mostly fitted beside it, but it was all Pagan could think of to give the big man a little extra space. It was much easier walking in daylight, and there were bird and animal noises to help cover the small sounds their feet made. Plus they remembered the route they’d taken and automatically turned off the track where they had the previous evening. They stayed together

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and moved closer to where the campfire had been. There was absolutely no sound, so Pagan was certain everyone had left, but it was wise to check. They stopped under cover of the trees, but it was obvious no one was there. The fire was still left as it had been, though had burned out long ago, but they hadn’t hidden it or scattered the ashes. Apart from that, there was nothing to show where they’d been but some crushed grass and plants. Pagan was glad they’d taken the empty beer bottles with them. He’d been going to pick them up if they hadn’t. Silently they turned around and walked back to the delivery truck, walking carefully and not talking, but without the intense concentration on silence they’d had the previous evening. Pagan waved to both Koby and Ruby to stay out on the track, while he climbed into the van. Pagan winced at the sound the engine made when he started it. He carefully moved the van out from under the tree and opened the sliding door so they could put the fuel cans in the back and pack up their bedding. “We’ve still got more than half a tank of gas, but let’s fill it up anyway, seeing we’re moving the cans,” he suggested. Ruby handed him a funnel, and he and Koby topped up the tank while she finished tidying up the inside of the van. Pagan drove on down the track, and they all watched carefully for signs the motorcycles had come that way, but there were no tire tracks, overturned stones, or damaged plants, so they were hopeful they were alone once again. Pagan could tell Koby hadn’t relaxed though. Three hours later, they found another abandoned farm, with no signs anyone had been near it since the owners had left. Nonetheless Pagan left the van hidden in a barn, parked beside a huge tractor with a harvester in there as well. The people had opened their gates to let the animals out before they’d left, but some hadn’t gone far. A group of sheep and two cows

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were in a nearby field, and chickens flapped around the area near the barn. “I wish we could take those sheep and cows to the village,” sighed Ruby. “Yeah, milk and meat for the kids,” agreed Pagan. “If we could find a truck to transport them in…” began Koby. “Or even a trailer we could tow behind our van,” added Pagan. “We could make a mesh roof to protect them.” “Do you really think so? It’d mean so much to the village. And we could drink the milk ourselves over winter,” said Ruby. Pagan laughed. “Well, let’s see what we find here first. You have a shopping list remember.” That was Koby in his bossy voice. Pagan grinned more widely and led the way into the farmhouse. Ruby went straight to the kitchen and began opening doors. Some shelves had been cleared, but there were a lot of things left. Bags of pasta, cans of food, rows of spices. Koby went to look for something to put the food in, while Pagan helped Ruby load what she wanted onto the kitchen counter. “Some of this stuff isn’t even up to its ‘best before’ date. They can’t have been gone long,” he said. “We must check the bathroom for condoms then,” said Ruby. Pagan laughed and opened the drawers to look inside. “Oh, chocolate cookies,” said Ruby, adding three packets to the pile of goods on the counter. Koby came back with a plastic crate, which Pagan helped him fill, while Ruby kept looking around, and then they left it there and went into the bathroom. Toilet paper, soap, and shampoo were gathered, but there were no condoms. They took a few items of clothing from one of the bedrooms, and Pagan grabbed a big boxed jigsaw from the living room. “Betcha some pieces are missing,” said Koby.

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Pagan just laughed. He’d still enjoy doing it during the long, boring winter nights. They took their haul out to the van then looked through the various sheds. One barn had some bags of grain, evidently meant as food for the animals. “If we can find a way to transport them, we’ll take all that,” said Koby. “We’ll need to take water for them for the journey, too, and straw for them to sit on,” said Ruby. “The water will be tricky. It’ll have to be on the floor of the truck, and I bet they kick it over,” said Pagan. “If we can’t find a vehicle to transport them, it’s all moot anyway,” said Koby. “Always the worrier. We’ll figure out something.” Pagan really believed that. He wasn’t sure what, but something would come to him. And in the very next barn, there it was. A big old truck with tray that could be lowered to the ground so the items—or animals—could walk onto it and be lifted into the body of the vehicle. “Score!” said Pagan delightedly. “It might not work,” warned Koby. “So we’ll fix it,” said Pagan. Ruby opened the truck door and climbed inside. As with most farms, the keys were in the ignition. The engine made a grinding noise but didn’t start. “Just a flat battery. We can jump start it if they don’t have a charger. But I bet there’s a charger lying around somewhere. Likely back in the barn with the tractor and harvester. I’ll go look.” Pagan watched her run off, while Koby lifted the hood to look at the engine. Pagan went round the back and worked out how to raise and lower the tray. Of course it wouldn’t work until the battery was charged, but he could see how it functioned. Within ten minutes, Ruby was back, pushing a rather wobbly wheelbarrow with a charger and a bunch of other things in it. “I brought everything I thought you might need,” she puffed.

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“We’ll have to push the truck over to the house so we can get power from their generator anyway,” said Koby. “Nope, this is a portable one,” she said, waving at the wheelbarrow. “You found a portable generator?” Pagan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “There were two of them actually. We ought to take them when we go home.” “Hell yes!” Pagan and Koby concentrated on setting the charger up, getting the generator going, and congratulating Ruby, who’d found it all and even brought a can of fuel in the wheelbarrow. Dammit, the woman was an absolute treasure both in and out of bed. **** They’d collected quite a number of crates of supplies to take home so had to rearrange things in their van before there was enough space to lay out their mattress and bedding. Koby and Pagan risked cooking a hot meal over a tiny fire in the back corner of the barn while Ruby sorted out their bed. As soon as the meal was cooked and hot coffee prepared, Koby smothered the fire. “We could smell the motorcyclists’ fire from a way off, so other people could smell this, too,” he said in a worried tone. “Yes, but we heard them first and were quite close. There’s been no one anywhere near here,” said Pagan reassuringly. Ruby smiled. She loved both of these men, Koby for his incessant concern for them all and Pagan for his no-nonsense, relaxed attitude. “It’s pretty obvious no people have been here since the owners left, and that’s maybe only a year or so ago, judging from the dates on the cans of food. There’s no signs this place has ever been attacked either.

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It’s well off the highway, pretty much hidden really. I wonder why they left.” “It may be supplies for their farm were becoming hard to source. There are only about a dozen bags of feed for the animals. That’ll be enough to see the few animals we might appropriate through winter— if we’re able to take them back with us—but it wouldn’t have been enough for all their herds in the past,” said Koby. Ruby nodded. “That makes sense. Also, with so few people about, likely they wanted to be part of a community, too.” “You really miss other people, don’t you, sweet?” asked Pagan. Ruby thought for a moment and tried to answer completely honestly. “A lot of the time, I don’t. I’m perfectly happy just being with both of you. But sometimes I long to talk to another woman, or just to chat with a group, to experience other people’s thoughts and ideas. I hadn’t realized how lonely I was growing until we spent those few days with the people from the village.” “The exchange of new and different ideas is what I miss. Because we’re together so much, all our experiences are in common. Talking with other people opens our minds to new things. But we have too much to lose if things go wrong,” said Koby. “Yeah. Basically we’d lose everything. Once a group found our warehouse, even if they didn’t kill us, chances are we’d die come winter without our food stocks. That’s why meeting Arthur’s people is so exciting,” said Pagan. “Why do you think those motorcyclists wanted to find the winery? I mean, I get there’d be lots of wine to drink, but do you think it had crops as well?” asked Ruby. She looked at the men. She’d been thinking about that on and off all day. “Likely it has some kind of home farm. Maybe they’ve heard it’s become a distributor of foods from manufacturers. I mean, these people from this farm had to be getting their food from somewhere,

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and I don’t reckon they’d travel more than a day or so to get it, do you?” asked Koby. “That makes sense. These people had fresh stuff and had to get it from somewhere. Well, I hope the winery has good security, that’s all. If they notice the scouting party, they can be prepared before the gang returns,” said Pagan. Once again, Ruby was reminded how fragile and dangerous life was for them and everyone else these days. She felt relatively secure there. The place was untouched. She felt secure in their warehouse, knowing they’d done everything possible to make themselves invisible and safe. Would she feel secure in the valley if they went there? Yes, she would. Those people had seen no outsiders in over fifty years. Abruptly she stood up. “It’s been a busy day, and we didn’t get much sleep last night. I’m going to bed.” “Sounds like a plan. But you’ll sleep better if we give you an orgasm first.” Pagan grinned at her. She grinned back. They always did give her an orgasm, or two. Falling asleep was never an issue with these two men around. Ruby climbed into the delivery van and sat on the mattress to remove her boots, socks, sweater, shirt, and bra, then stood up to take off her jeans and panties. By the time she was undressed, Koby was just piling his clothes on top of his boots, and Pagan’s clothing was scattered around, with him searching through the box for the condoms and lube. “I want to be on top tonight, instead of in the middle.” “All right. Pagan can be in the middle. I don’t mind you all piling on me,” said Koby, sitting down and spreading his legs. “Well, you’re big enough to take us.” Pagan was grinning as he presented his ass to Koby along with a tube of lube. Koby laughed and slapped Pagan’s butt. “Don’t hurt me,” role-played Pagan.

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Ruby sat back on her heels to watch them play. Koby was so serious a lot of the time, she loved it when they acted like this. “Are you going to be a good little slave then?” asked Koby. “Yes, Master.” Pagan waggled his ass then hissed as Koby inserted a thick finger inside him. The dialogue whipped back and forth as Koby prepared Pagan but stopped as soon as Pagan kneeled over Koby and lowered himself onto Koby’s lap. Ruby watched intently as Koby’s thick cock was absorbed inside Pagan’s body. Hot cream wet her inner thighs, and her belly clenched. Damn, that was the hottest thing ever, watching them do that. Imagining what Pagan was feeling while watching them, somehow, was almost as erotic as being fucked herself. Now it was her turn. Ruby crawled across the mattress and balanced her feet underneath her so she could climb on top of Pagan. He was just finishing rolling a condom over his cock as she arranged herself over his lap. Pagan held his cock at her entry, and she slid down over him, her brain still full of the images of Koby’s cock disappearing into Pagan’s ass. Now Pagan’s cock was in her pussy, held tightly within her walls, and she snuggled against Pagan’s chest while snaking her arms around his waist so she could place her palms flat on Koby’s solid sides, uniting the three of them. Using his powerful thigh muscles, Koby pushed up into Pagan. Pagan grunted and adjusted to the momentum so that both men powered upward together, and all Ruby needed to do was hang on and enjoy the sensations. It was a lot more than just Pagan sliding in and out of her pussy. Through her body, wrapped in the arms of the other two men, she could feel Koby’s muscles tensing and releasing. His arms were around her shoulders, while Pagan gripped her hips. The three of them were so closely linked together that every little body movement was communicated to them all. Ruby pressed her breasts into Pagan’s chest, rubbing against his solid bulk, enjoying the way his nipples pebbled at the movement.

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Her nipples were already as hard as stone, and now his were, too. She wondered about Koby’s nipples, but his front was glued to Pagan’s back, and besides, she doubted her arms were long enough to feel him there. Ruby lifted her head and kissed Pagan, tasting his mouth thoroughly then sucking on his tongue. Then she let go of Koby’s sides and pulled on his head to lower his mouth to hers. Once again she let her tongue dance with his, savoring his flavor. Even though they’d all eaten the exact same meal, the men always tasted slightly different to her. Just as they smelled slightly different, Koby more musky, Pagan slightly earthy. She loved their distinct differences. Their personalities, their individuality. She kissed them both again, pressing against Pagan as she did so and feeling his cock jerk inside her. Then, reluctantly, she leaned back so the steady fucking could resume its pace, a pace guaranteed to bring them all to orgasm before too long. Koby grunted and sped up, thrusting hard into Pagan, moving them all up and down increasingly fast. Pagan added his efforts to their lovemaking so that Ruby had to hold on tightly or she rather wondered if she’d bounce like a ball from the force of their strokes. Once again, she grabbed hold of Pagan’s waist, resting her head on his chest, then reaching farther and gripping Koby’s sides. He had the cutest little hollow just above his hip bones that made a perfect resting place for her hands. Her orgasm was building inside her now, coiling and growing with the passion of the men’s actions. Pagan’s chest was sweaty against hers, and she could feel perspiration on Koby’s back, too. Lifting all of them up and down like that must place considerable stress on even his powerful thighs, despite the help he got from Pagan. Ruby dug her fingernails into Koby, knowing he enjoyed the slight bite of pain as he approached his climax. Then she tightened her internal muscles on Pagan’s cock and rotated her pelvis in a figure

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eight, making sure her butt slid across his sweaty thighs as she did. Both men groaned, but she couldn’t concentrate any longer. Pagan’s cock had touched her G-spot, and she had to bite her lip to stop herself screaming in delight. She leaned forward to get some pressure on her clit, and when Pagan slammed into her, she flew apart, her entire body clenching and releasing as the explosion roared through her. Ruby relaxed against Pagan. He gripped her hips harder and powered up inside her much faster now, but still in time with Koby, who had caught the urgency. After three strokes, or maybe four—her brain was too fried to count properly—there was a burst of heat deep inside her and a groan from Koby. Both men had come, too. Ruby closed her eyes and relaxed, enjoying these few moments of intense pleasure, a time out of the troubles and dangers of the world they inhabited, just to enjoy being with these two men she loved so much. **** Pagan woke early the next morning and quietly left his sleeping lovers to wash and dress in the barn. Carefully looking and listening to check for danger, he ventured out in the farmyard. His first stop was the truck they’d found. He and Koby had tried hard to muffle the slight noise of the generator and charging battery, using layers of hessian and bundles of straw, both of which they planned to take with them in the truck when they left. Hopefully tomorrow. He longed to know if the battery was charging properly, but it really needed a few more hours. He let his gaze wander around the storage shed while he thought about the animals. They’d never kept animals before. Sometimes they’d killed a sheep or half a dozen chickens, and taken them back to the warehouse and preserved them to have some meat over winter. But keeping meat meant either smoking it or salting it, both very labor-intensive and time-consuming tasks. Having chickens not only meant fresh eggs, it

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also gave them fresh meat whenever they wanted it. Well, within reason. If they ate all the chickens, that’d be that of course. But animals not only needed straw for their beds and grain to eat, they needed water. Also, chickens liked to fly around a little and splash in a pond. Pagan screwed up his nose as he thought. We’ve never even drained the fourth swimming pool. We could somehow partition off the sixth one for the animals. We’d have to make a ramp up to it though. The chickens could fly, but the cow and sheep would need a built up step or something so they could drink. “Wood maybe for a ramp, wire for a fence, mesh to stop the chickens flying into our vegetable crops. The hessian can go between the wire to make a better defined fence. What else?” Muttering softly, Pagan looked in the other barns, noting things that might be useful, measuring them with his eyes to ascertain whether they’d fit in the truck with the animals and the two generators and fuel for them all. “Lots of stuff,” he sighed. “Talking to yourself, my friend,” said Koby, coming up to him and slinging his arm over Pagan’s shoulders. “Just thinking about what we need to bring for the animals.” “A hell of a lot of stuff. I really don’t know that this idea will work.” “Well, if it doesn’t, we’ll kill them, bury them in the snow, and just dig them up to eat as we need them,” said Pagan insouciantly. Koby laughed. “If you’re thinking of that much food, it must be breakfast time,” Koby replied. They turned toward the barn where their van was hidden and walked back. **** Koby was still ambivalent about the project, but they had to wait until the truck battery was fully charged anyway, so they began collecting the hessian, straw, animal feed, and some long, straight pieces of timber.

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“Chickens like to fly, right?” said Ruby. “Well, flutter up and down, not fly as in like an eagle,” temporized Pagan. “Yes, but if we used this wood to make a ramp, with a sort of mezzanine floor in the truck, the chickens could basically be upstairs, leaving all the floor space for the sheep and cows. That way we could collect more animals. Also, it makes it a lot less likely that when we go over a bump, the cows will step on the chickens,” she said. “Oh, I like that idea,” said Pagan. Koby nodded. “We could nail a couple of pallets together to make them a roosting space.” He thought for a moment. “We saw wooden pallets in one of the barns. Let’s go get some more things.” “Yes, we still need wire for the fence in the warehouse, too,” added Pagan. “Let’s go to the farthest barn first then. That’s the one we’ve spent least time checking,” said Ruby. He gave her a hug. She was a damn smart woman who didn’t miss a thing. There were three big wooden pallets in the farthest barn, so Koby piled them all on top of each other, and then he and Pagan carried them back to the where the truck was. When they came back, Ruby had disappeared. Fear like a physical pain sliced through him. “Ruby,” he called as loudly as he dared. “Back here. There’s like a granny flat here we haven’t seen before.” “Back where?” But Pagan was already walking to the back of the barn. Then Koby saw a partly opened door and followed fast. It wasn’t really a granny flat. It was a bathroom and laundry room with a mobile home parked under the roof, but with no back wall to the structure.

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“Condoms,” said Ruby, happily pointing at three giant boxes she’d placed on the sink. “And lube,” she said, as she emerged from under the sink with a ten-pack of toilet paper and two jars of lube. Pagan picked up the condoms. “Oh, good. They aren’t past their ‘best before’ date yet.” “If we could get the RV working, we could live in that when we go to the valley then leave it there for the people to use,” she said. “Even if we do get it going, it’ll mean we have to stay here another day,” said Koby, his brow furrowing in worry. For every good thing they found, there seemed to be an extra negative. “Yes, but we aren’t in a hurry, and think of how much extra stuff we’ll be able to take with us. We never even checked the farmhouse for an attic or a basement because we knew our van would be full of stuff already,” said Pagan. “And it’ll be perfect for us to live in at the valley. You can see that, can’t you?” asked Ruby. Koby nodded. Yes. It’d certainly make the trip to the valley better because the truck would be given over to the animals and with this as well they could bring foodstuffs for the people. “We can take all three vehicles. Each drive one of them. The truck with animals, our own van with supplies for the people, and this RV with everything we’ll need ourselves. It’s just perfect,” said Ruby. “But how can we look after you if you’re in a vehicle alone?” asked Koby, pain going through him again at not being able to protect her. “We’ll travel in convoy. Stay together,” said Pagan. “My vehicle can be in the middle,” added Ruby. “Yes, well, we don’t even know if it’ll work yet,” said Koby gruffly. Things were moving too fast. He could scarcely keep up. He climbed into the RV. It was a compact and functional vehicle, with a kitchen area, bedroom area, and shower and toilet, as well as a cab that sat two people, with a walk space between the seats. “At least I won’t have to climb over the damn seat,” he joked.

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“Since we’re staying here an extra day, we can look at the seat in the van. Maybe take the headrest off to give you a little more leeway,” said Pagan. “I was thinking we might be able to lower the seat. Even an inch or two would help,” said Koby. Ruby transferred the things she wanted from the sink to the passenger seat of the RV. “No need to carry them. We can sort everything out properly later,” she said. Koby was looking out at the fence behind the barn. It was one of those portable ones, where the panels could be moved around to make pens of different shapes. “Come over and look at this,” he said. He tugged on one of the sections, sliding the thick metal hook out of the metal loop and lifting the fence up. It was maybe five feet long and three feet high, sturdy and heavy, with three metal rails designed to keep animals contained, though a person could easily climb on the rails. He studied the corral carefully. It was plenty big enough for a couple of cows and half a dozen sheep. Yet, because it was completely portable, they could make the sections fit their warehouse. Pagan had mentioned letting the animals have the sixth swimming pool as their drinking water, and there was plenty of space in that section of the warehouse because originally they’d planned to bring back eight swimming pools. “We could take this portable fencing for the animals. We’d have to bolt it to the walls somehow, but this would be better than making a fence with wire and hessian. Much sturdier. We could have the hessian on the floor, so their hooves wouldn’t be so noisy, and it’d be a bit more like grass for them. Hessian in one area, and straw in the rest,” he said. Pagan slapped his shoulder. “Great idea. Let’s disassemble it now and put it in the RV. It’d take up too much room in the truck or the delivery van.”

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“Oh, I hadn’t considered whether it’d fit in the truck to get it home,” said Koby, suddenly feeling a bit guilty. “Just as well we found the RV first then,” said Ruby, grinning at him.

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Chapter Four They arrived home just before dark two days later to find the warehouse exactly as they’d left it. Ruby knew Koby had spent the entire trip worrying about how to hide the two new vehicles, but with winter coming soon, she hoped taking a few of the wheels off them would be safety enough. After all, the main aim was to have the warehouse not discovered at all, not just keeping their living quarters upstairs secret. As soon as the vehicles were in the building, Koby and Pagan went outside with leaves and a broom to check there were no tire tracks and to cover the entryway with dust. Even with their large trolley and using the elevator, it took more than three hours to get everything upstairs except the animals. They couldn’t be moved until their corral was built and the mesh put up high enough to keep the chickens in their pen and away from the vegetables. They worked all the next day building the corral, moving the sections around to give the animals as much space as they possibly could have and protecting swimming pool five from any possible contamination from the animals. Then they anchored the mesh underneath the metal rails and trailed it up over the swimming pool, before nailing it to the walls about eight feet off the ground. “I’m pretty sure they can’t fly that high. It should give them plenty of room,” said Pagan, stretching his neck and back. They’d caught the chickens at the farm in a net, and they used it again to bring them up to their new home. “Don’t want them escaping and us having to chase them everywhere,” said Ruby.

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“Besides, we can give the net to the village. They may be able to use it for fishing or something,” added Pagan. The two cows and six sheep were much easier to move upstairs as they each led one animal into the elevator and the others followed them obediently all the way upstairs and right into the pen. Pagan shut the gate and pulled the mesh closed. “Done,” he sighed. “Do you think we’ll need to show them how to access the water?” asked Koby. “I don’t think so, but we can watch and see. If they don’t work it out before we go to bed tonight, we can lead a few of them up the ramp so they understand. Oh look, two of the chickens are on the side of the swimming pool already. I bet the cows wander over to see what the attraction is,” said Ruby. “They’ll smell the water,” said Pagan. Whatever the reason, one of the cows found the water very quickly, and the other animals followed. They also found the trough of grain and the straw on the floor for their bedding. Relieved, Ruby decided to take a shower and go to bed herself. She was really looking forward to sleeping in a bed again. The mattress in the delivery van was fine, but a bed was so much better. **** Pagan was surprised how physically tired he was from all the lifting, carrying, and physical work of the past few days. There was plenty of work involved in growing their own food and maintaining the security of their warehouse but not involving lifting generators, metal railings, and other bulky items. The lifting he usually did was limited to a bag or two of grain. And he knew he and Koby would have to go scavenging at least once or twice more to stockpile more groceries for winter. They weren’t usually snowed in there for more than a few weeks, but they couldn’t risk running out of any essentials

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if that winter was worse than the last year, so they wanted to have a full three-month supply of everything. At least now they were back in the safety and security of their warehouse, they could sleep late in the morning and not have to be quite so focused and alert about danger. Of course, everything those days was dangerous. There’d been no law and order in his lifetime, and likely not in his parents’ lifetime either. But once locked tightly inside the warehouse, they were as safe as anyone those days could be. He watched Ruby undress and drop her clothes into the laundry hamper. Koby folded his neatly, but Koby was like that. Ruby was organized and tidy, but more relaxed than Koby. Pagan grinned. His clothes were on the floor wherever they’d landed as he took them off. Yeah, he was the untidy one right enough. “How about a daisy chain tonight?” Pagan suggested. “Oh, yes, let’s.” “Sounds good,” said Koby. They shuffled around on the bed, and Pagan buried his face in Ruby’s cunt. She always smelled so nice, even after a day’s work. Sort of womanly and enticing, with a definite hint of flowers and sweetness. He ran his tongue along her slit. Oh yeah, sweet indeed. He rubbed his nose on her lower belly then licked a long line from her belly button down to her clit. First he licked a circle around her hot button, and then he sucked the flesh into his mouth and rolled it with his tongue. Ruby made that purring sort of sound again. Damn, she was sweet. Koby’s heavy weight settled on Pagan’s legs, and Koby rolled his balls. “Feels nice,” he mumbled, his face still against Ruby’s cunt, his nostrils filled with her sweet scent. Then Ruby wiggled around some, and Pagan knew she’d been lining her mouth up with Koby’s cock. He could raise his head and watch, but right now his nose was very happy where it was. And his

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mouth. He licked up and down her slit again then drove his tongue inside her pussy, licking her walls. Already she was wet, and her flavor filled his mouth. It was wonderful. Her scent, her taste, her soft flesh underneath him. Pure heaven. He lifted his mouth a little so he could bite gently along her pussy lips. Oral sex gave him so many options for variety. Not just the choice of a man or a woman, but sucking, licking, nibbling, biting, as well as tasting. Every one of them was good, and right then he planned to do them all. Pagan held her thighs open a little wider and licked the join between her leg and her torso. The flesh there was incredibly soft and sensitive, and once more she purred at him. Then, with no warning, he drove his tongue deep into her cunt, lapping up her juices and feasting on her gifts to him. His own cock was harder than stone. Koby was sucking him deep and rolling his balls at the same time, and he’d be exploding like a bomb very soon if Koby kept doing it. In fact, it was getting damn hard to concentrate on pleasuring Ruby when Koby was teasing him so effectively. He could feel his brain becoming schizophrenic, trying to process the two sets of experiences and emotions, keeping them separate, yet enjoying them both intensely. Pagan forced himself to concentrate on thrusting his tongue in and out of Ruby’s cunt. He let one hand slide around to her ass, and as his tongue moved in and out of her pussy, he mimicked the motions with a finger in her ass. Her hips drove up into his face. Aha. She likes that! He pressed his other hand to her clit, rolling it between his fingers as he licked and sucked at her pussy, then tongued her as fast and deep as he could. His own balls were full to bursting, and he knew he couldn’t last much longer. Koby was an expert at giving head, and his tongue and hands were driving Pagan insane with need.

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Just then Ruby burst beneath him, her cream flooding his mouth. Damn, she tastes wonderful. With relief, and a little regret that the game was over, he let go of his own control, blasting his seed into Koby’s mouth. Koby sucked him hard, and more jets of cum shot out of his cock into Koby’s mouth. His hips were pumping madly, and it was all he could do to keep licking and petting Ruby as her aftershocks pleasured them both. Then it was over, and they were lying wrapped in each other’s arms. Koby pulled the blankets over them, and Pagan relaxed. Yes, there was still danger and a hell of a lot of work to do before winter, but they were all together, as safe as they could be right then, and satiated. Were they ever satiated! **** While the men cared for the vegetables and the animals, Ruby spent the next three days going through every item in their storeroom and pantry, calculating what else they might need over the winter. When she’d written a detailed shopping list, she began again with a list of things the valley people either wanted or that she thought they’d appreciate. Finally she re-ordered the two lists by type of item to make it easier for the men to get what was wanted in a given warehouse or factory. After supper, the men went carefully though the lists with her, making sure they understood exactly what she meant with each item. Koby added a few notes, and then they added a few more items to the list like extra fuel for the generator and the vehicles. “We should take the truck because it’s bigger and we’ll fit more things in it,” said Pagan. “But it’s more visible and less maneuverable,” objected Koby. “If it saves you having to make an extra trip, it’s a sensible decision though. Where were you planning to go?” asked Ruby.

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“We haven’t talked about it yet, but there’s an industrial estate about twenty miles down the north road. We looked around there a little last year, but we only went into a couple of the buildings. They were untouched then. Let’s hope they still are now,” said Koby. “I’d forgotten about that estate. We really need to go back if only to check out and find out what’s there. The truck will be perfect then because we’ll park it inside the building each time.” For a moment, Ruby wished she was going as well, but she knew she’d pushed her luck with the trip to the farm. Besides, she had so much work to do to get ready for winter, and caring for the animals took time every day, too. She had an idea chickens didn’t lay eggs all year round, and she wanted to preserve some eggs while they had plenty, for the time when they would have none. Thank all the gods for a bunch of old cookbooks she’d collected last year from the original farmhouse. They had instructions on how to pickle and preserve just about any food ever invented. **** The men came back with most of the items on Ruby’s list and a crate full of old board games and card games, which brightened up the long winter evenings, giving them hours of enjoyment. But they were all still very pleased when the snow melted and they were able to begin seriously planning what Pagan liked to call “their summer vacation” with the people from the village. Over the winter, he and Koby had made a trailer hitch for the truck so they could pull a high-sided utility trailer, which they hoped to fill with wood for the village. They’d seen four of them at the industrial park and planned to stop there on the way to the valley then load it with wood during an overnight stop. But before they left, Koby wanted to go to the grain warehouse and replenish their own stores, ready for next winter, as well as collect some bags of grain for Arthur’s people.

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“The delivery van will be fine for that. A dozen bags of various grains will be ample,” Pagan said. “As long as they haven’t started to deteriorate. It’s a worry that we’ve found no new foods anywhere. No new cans or preserved food, no fresh grain, nothing for about what, three years now?” said Koby. “More than two years. Maybe three. Or approaching three anyway. Except for a few things at the farm where we got the animals. A few of those tins were only about eighteen months old. I bet the producers have just moved to another state though,” said Ruby. “It’s possible another state has offered them more security, but we’ve got no way of finding out where they are or how to get there, and what’ll we do when the stored foods run out?” worried Koby. “We aren’t dependent on stored food. We grow our own vegetables, and I’ve gotten the preserving process worked out now. We have some for next winter stored already. We could keep animals ourselves. We know where we could acquire some from. I’d miss bread, rice, and pasta though,” said Ruby. Pagan gave her a hug. “Yeah, if you didn’t take out all your anger on the poor defenseless bread dough, you’d be punching us,” Pagan joked. ‘You’d better believe it!” Finally the foodstuffs for the village were stacked in the delivery van, the RV was filled with their own clothes, vegetables, and groceries, and last of all, the animals were loaded into the truck. The chickens immediately fluttered up to the mezzanine floor of pallets, while the cows and sheep settled themselves on the straw. The men had bolted a metal water trough and metal food trough into the van. “If we’re going to keep collecting and transporting animals, we may as well make it easier for ourselves and for them,” said Koby. “It’s wonderful having meat, milk, and eggs in winter. I think we should collect a few animals for ourselves at least. We only need one

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cow for milk, but do you think it would be lonely? If we had a few sheep as well?” asked Ruby. “Let’s worry about that if there are still any cows at that fartheraway farm after summer. We can get a few sheep and chickens from the usual farm,” said Pagan. Before they climbed into the vehicles to begin driving, Koby gave Ruby a long lecture about what to do if there was trouble. Pagan just shook his head and grinned. Ruby was likely smarter than both him and Koby put together. She didn’t need the lecture. But Koby worried about them all, and especially he worried about Ruby, so he needed to say everything for his own sake, if not for hers. “If those motorcyclists attack us, crush their bikes. Any of our vehicles will only get a few dents and scratches, but if their bikes don’t work they can’t follow us. Aim for their wheels. That’ll stop them,” Koby finished. That’s actually pretty good advice. Pagan climbed into the truck. He was going to be the lead vehicle, with Ruby driving the RV and traveling in the middle. They’d decided the truck needed to go first so someone could keep an eye on the trailer. They didn’t want attackers climbing on it and using it as a base to launch an attack against them. The first morning was easy driving. He knew the way and where to leave the highway because it was too potholed or overgrown for easy traveling. They came that way every three months or so on their scavenging expeditions. The industrial park would be their first stop to collect a high-sided utility trailer. As long as no one else was there or no one else had taken them all, of course. He deliberately approached the industrial estate from the side, instead of through the main entrance. But there was no one there, and no signs anyone had ever been there, apart from themselves. The roller door he and Koby had jimmied was wedged in place, as they’d left it, and the two of them soon had it open again, the three vehicles inside in safety, and the door shut.

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The three of them hurried through the almost empty warehouse to where they’d seen the trailers. Sure enough, all four were still there. They decided to take the biggest one to hold the most wood, but its tires were half perished, so they took the best tires off two of the other trailers, including getting themselves two spare tires, and replaced the best ones on the trailer they’d chosen. Then he and Koby hauled it back to the truck and attached it to the trailer hitch. “Hey, it fits,” Pagan said with a grin. “No kidding, smart-ass.” Then they headed back to the highway and out to the countryside and on toward the valley. It had taken Arthur’s people several days to make the trip, but they’d been traveling very slowly with people just learning how to drive. Whereas he, Koby, and Ruby had been driving since they were young teenagers, and driving all sorts of vehicles, so Pagan thought they might even arrive late tomorrow. Certainly on the third day. The question would be where they stayed at night. Finding somewhere safe to put the three vehicles might be quite difficult. They certainly couldn’t just hide under a big tree like they often did with the delivery van. Hopefully anyone who did see them would assume that with the three vehicles they were a much larger group, and would stay away from them. Likely that was just wishful thinking, but it’s what he was aiming for. It was late afternoon, but not yet growing dark, when he saw a farmhouse several miles off the road. The track to it was very overgrown, and although it was hard to tell from so far away, he thought the house was in disrepair, too. So he pulled off the road and onto the track. It was hardly a track at all, even the former wheel-ruts had been grown over with grass, and the potholes half filled with dirt and rocks washed in by the rain over the years. But that was good news for them, indicating the place would not be home to anyone

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else. He drove very slowly, the trailer bumping behind him, to the house. Up close it looked even more tumbledown. Around back there was a large barn. It had no doors, but the three sides would offer them enough protection, he hoped. It was behind the house, and the open side faced the house, which meant people couldn’t see in unless they were already there. Carefully he backed in, reversing until the trailer was almost touching the rear wall of the barn. Ruby followed him in, neatly reversing the RV, and Koby was immediately after her. “Stay there until Pagan and I’ve checked the house,” said Koby. Ruby nodded, and they moved quickly and quietly over to the building. Although, of course, anyone could have seen and heard them approaching. Going into places like this always made Pagan tense. They made Koby even more tense. He was always worrying about something. Koby, as the larger man, always went first, with Pagan behind him and slightly to the side, so one person couldn’t knock them both down. Pagan flicked his gaze to the right and the left, but there were no sounds or movement. The back door opened directly into the kitchen, and there were plates and packets and mess scattered around, but it was all covered with a layer of grime and dust. Either the family had left in a hurry or else people had used the place, but a long time ago. Moving almost silently, they checked a spacious living area, a small office, then climbed the stairs and looked in the bedrooms and bathrooms. Once again, there was no sign anyone had been there in a long time, but the house was messy with things scattered on tables, chairs and the floors. “I don’t think anyone has been here in years. This family was just untidy. Very untidy,” said Koby. “Exactly what I was thinking,” Pagan agreed.

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“Ruby would tell us to collect the children’s clothing to take to the village. See if you can find a crate or something to put it in, while I sort out the good items,” said Koby, turning back into the children’s bedroom. “Okay.” The parents’ bedroom had overflowing closets, so Pagan looked there. On the top shelf was a large suitcase on wheels. Perfect. There were also a lot of shoes in the closet. Pagan opened the suitcase and tipped in all the ones that were both functional and in good condition. Good boots and shoes were hard to find. With luck, someone in the village would have feet in these sizes. As soon as they returned to the barn, Ruby said, “I want to see the kitchen. The pantry at least.” Pagan sighed. That was inevitable, he supposed. “All right. I’ll start cooking our supper while Koby goes with you.” He found a smooth place toward the rear of the barn, not too close to the vehicles or walls, but a long way back from the opening, and quickly built a small fire. As soon as it was burning steadily, he went to the RV and collected the meal they’d set aside for the night, meat and vegetables threaded onto metal skewers. The skewers had been Ruby’s idea. She’d found them somewhere and thought while away from home, they’d be much easier to use than always having to find and peel straight green sticks. Especially when they knew the village was short of fuel. Most of the things they’d stocked the RV with would stay in it at the village. They would leave the RV there for the people to use, on the understanding that when they came back next summer they’d use it themselves then. But all the bedding and crockery and so on would stay in it as communal property. Kind of like a holiday home, Pagan guessed. Not that he knew anyone who’d had a holiday home, but he’d heard people talking about how their grandparents or family friends had owned such a thing at the beach or in the mountains. In the old days before the world went to hell and the poisoned winds began.

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Pagan didn’t doubt the stories of the past. He’d seen all sorts of equipment he couldn’t even imagine what purpose it had once served, so stories of airplanes flying like giant birds across the sky and enormous trains running on rails were likely to be true, he thought. There’ll come a time when we have to try to find the people still manufacturing goods though. Canned food two years old is mostly okay, but it won’t last forever. And gas and tires for the trucks will run out. We’ll have to leave while we can still access an awful lot of gas to make sure we can get wherever we’re going. Although Ruby and Koby were walking quietly, Pagan still sensed them returning and was standing facing the open side of the barn, in case it wasn’t them, when they arrived. Koby had a bulging hessian bag slung over one shoulder and a box tucked under his arm. Ruby’s arms were full of books. Pagan raised an eyebrow at them. “They had a complete set of Berengaria Brown’s novels, so I’ve taken them all. I’ve read a few once before, but now I have them all. Koby’s carrying food, mostly.” “Whatever keeps you happy, sweet. I don’t suppose you found the ingredients for pizza?” Koby laughed, but Ruby replied seriously. “I think I can make it over a campfire. I’ve got flour and oil with me. We’ve brought some grain for our own use, too, but I’m hoping I won’t have to grind it into flour until we’re back home and I can use the electricity. And the bread maker.” **** Ruby had looked forward to fucking in the bed in the RV, but both men were concerned that two much pounding and rocking could break something. Koby was a large man, and there would be three of them in a bed likely designed really for two people.

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“I think we should only fuck on the floor and save the bed for sleeping in,” said Koby. “I agree.” “Pack of spoilsports,” said Ruby. Nevertheless she had to agree the RV did rock with the force of the men’s actions as, later, Koby pounded into Pagan’s ass, and Pagan fucked her cunt with gusto. She’d insisted the men put the mattress on the floor, and they’d piled the blankets on top of it, so she had a nice soft bed to lie on. She was pretty sure the men preferred to have their knees on the softer surface, too, not on the hard floor of the RV. Pagan’s hands were on her breasts, stretching and rolling her nipples as only he ever did it. Flashes of lust ran directly from each nipple to her core, where an orgasm was building and growing fast, sending flickers of passion out along every nerve ending. Pagan was making cute, little noises as he slid in and out of her cunt, moving in time with Koby in his ass. Ruby loved the way they did that. It united the three of them in a highly erotic way, and she could share in their fucking as well as her own. Her arms were raised high, one hand threaded through Pagan’s brown hair, holding it tight, the other gripping Koby’s blond locks down near the nape of his neck, where she could feel his neck and shoulder muscles tensing and releasing as he fucked Pagan. She braced her feet flat on the mattress, lifting her hips up into every stroke Pagan made, his long cock hitting her in all the most erotic places. Damn these men were good. They both had made pleasuring her into an art form. Her orgasm was close, and she knew both men were, too. Where she held their heads were little pools of sweat, and Pagan’s body slid over hers quite slickly. It was a pity the little bathroom was so incredibly tiny. There’d be no chance of shower sex, assuming they even found a water source to fill up the big bucket they’d brought to wash in.

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And then her brain died as both men sped up, Koby powering into Pagan and Pagan matching his speed and strokes as he slammed into her. Ruby’s orgasm raced through her, shaking her entire body until her toes curled back to her soles and the cords of her neck strung tight with the effort not to scream her release to the world. Her body was still shaking as Pagan’s hot seed filled the condom in her pussy, and Koby was making the soft, pleased grunts he always made as he came. Relaxed, fulfilled, she sank flat on the mattress. The men could make the bed around her and worry about the danger. She was too happy to care anymore.

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Chapter Five The farm had a huge woodpile under a lean-to near the back door. Before they left in the morning, Pagan drove up so the rear of the trailer was beside the woodpile, and they all loaded the wood straight into the trailer. Pagan stood inside the trailer, stacking it neatly. Ruby was amazed that the entire woodpile disappeared into the trailer. It’d seemed huge. The trailer held an astonishing amount of wood. Pagan seemed to have no difficulty deciding where to turn off the highway to go into the valley. Ruby could barely see the track, but a few times as they drove very slowly along it, she could see where plants had been broken off and grown again. Oh yes, that’s right, none of the villagers knew how to drive. They learned by actually doing it as they came to the city. The trio of vehicles was moving quite slowly, barely faster than walking pace, and having to leave the track and drive around trees from time to time. After a while, the signs people had used the track before them disappeared, and at first Ruby was worried. But then she remembered the people had found the vehicles in a cave. So they must be almost at the village. She saw the river first, a fine, wide, deep stream. She hoped they’d been able to restock the fish in it, or build a fishpond, or something. She hoped they weren’t still bordering on starvation after the harsh winter. She hoped arriving like this didn’t frighten the people too much. Had Arthur even mentioned meeting them? Ahead of her, Pagan pulled to the side and stopped. She drew the RV up beside him and stopped, too. Koby parked behind her. Pagan jumped out of the truck, and she went to follow him, but Koby held

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up his hand, telling her “No,” as he jogged past her to stand beside Pagan. Zuri ran across the grass toward them. “Pagan! Koby. Come on, Ruby, get out and meet everyone. We were hoping you’d come but thought it might be midsummer before you arrived.” Ruby jumped out of the RV and ran to Zuri, who hugged her. Then people came from every direction, all of them talking at once. Luke hobbled over to them, leaning heavily on his cane. “I hoped I’d live long enough to meet you again. I have so many questions I want to ask you. You know so much more than we do about the past.” Ruby hugged him, too. “We may not know the answers, of course. There are many things we would like to know, too,” she said. A woman with a smiling, gurgling baby raced up to Ruby and kissed her. “Look at her. See how big she’s grown! And she almost never cries. That’s because of all the milk powder you sent for the children!” “This is Jenna and her daughter, Cara, Ruby,” explained Zuri. Ruby smiled and nodded. The people were still a bit too thin, but definitely not as thin as before, and it was just after winter. There’d be fresh food available soon, with berries and the first of the fruit and vegetable crops being able to be harvested in a month or two. Just as well we brought them food though. They obviously don’t have much to spare. Lots of people surrounded them, and the noise level was still rising when an older man cleared his throat. It wasn’t a loud sound in among the turmoil, but silence descended really quickly. Arthur appeared out of the crowd and spoke. “Andy, these are the people we told you about, who helped us find the grain warehouse and other places. Koby, Pagan, and Ruby. Guests, this is our leader, Andy.” They all shook hands, and then Andy cleared his throat again, even though there were only a few whispers in the background. “You’re most welcome. We owe you a huge debt of gratitude for

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helping our team who went to the city. All of them returned unharmed, and they brought us many good things. Zuri said you’d visit, but she thought it may not be until midsummer. She said you missed not being part of a community, even though you never actually said that. We’d be honored to be considered your community, despite the fact we live in different places. You will always be most welcome here.” “Thank you. We’re grateful for your welcome. We have indeed missed not being part of a community such as this one. We enjoyed talking with your people. We brought some things with us, as we didn’t want to be a burden on you, and had access to things that are harder to find here in your safe valley. We have more access to food, but you have more security,” said Koby. Ruby thought he’d expressed himself very diplomatically. The people were looking at the truck, the delivery van, and the RV. The trailer load of wood was self-explanatory, but she was willing to bet few, if any of them, would have seen a mobile home, and possibly not a delivery van either, although it was easy enough to work out what it was. Andy gestured to the fire, where women were already beginning to cook the evening meal. “Come, sit, and tell us all your news.” Andy seemed to Ruby to be a good leader. Possibly a little inclined to just do everything the way it had always been done in the past, but fair in his judgments and wise in his decisions. He also seemed ready to listen to others, so maybe he was learning to embrace change. Ruby had a niggling feeling there could be more change ahead, too. If factories were not canning and preserving foods, people would have to live on what they could grow themselves, and this community had already demonstrated that wasn’t possible. They may have been able to do it at first—although even that was debatable according to the dates on the cans the people found and the fact they got the truck to work comparatively easily—but they definitely couldn’t do it now.

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If she, Pagan, and Koby collected all the remaining grain in the grain warehouse and all the groceries they could find, how long would they last? Likely not even five years, she guessed, and their diet would be sadly lacking in all kinds of important nutrients long before then. There were only two possibilities, grow things themselves or travel until they found the people who were manufacturing and preserving foods. And travel meant vehicles and gas and oil and other things like tires. Zuri came and sat beside her. “You’re very quiet. Have we overwhelmed you?” “No, of course not. I’ve been looking forward to this visit all winter.” “You’ve brought three vehicles.” Zuri wasn’t stupid. Ruby knew her stating the obvious like this was actually a question she was too polite to ask. “The big truck has some animals in it we brought to add to your herds. We had some grain to feed them over winter, but there’s very little left, so they’ll need grass to eat, here.” “More chickens? We’re feeding them all the bugs we find among the crops, so that’s working out as doubly good. The children take the bugs off the plants, and the chickens eat them. It’s a wonderful system. And eggs. Having eggs to eat has been great for all of us,” said Zuri. “Oh, I know. This was the first year we had eggs all winter. I pickled some when they were plentiful, and the chickens still laid a few as well, so we had eggs the whole time. We also brought you two cows and six sheep. We’re hoping some of the sheep will have lambs so you develop an ongoing herd. Milk from the cows was amazing, too. It was really more than we needed just for the three of us. Your community will make much better use of it. Adults will be able to drink milk sometimes, as well as the children having it every day.

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“It’s just wonderful no longer feeling hungry all the time. We’re all much stronger, and there were far fewer people coughing and sneezing this past winter, too,” added Zuri. Ruby sighed with happiness. It was so good to be able to talk with another woman. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed female companionship until she’d had the few days with Zuri and Adena. When they’d left, she felt their absence acutely. **** Summer passed so fast it was almost a blur. Koby enjoyed being outdoors in the sunshine all day every day, helping with the animals and in the fields with the crops. He and Pagan showed their friends how to do various things, but they also learned a lot about food production. Those were skills he’d need if the canned food did run out. And he was very aware it might. He didn’t like to tell Ruby how hard he and Pagan had searched for new cans and more recent supplies of foods, but everywhere they’d gone they’d seen no signs at all of new supplies, apart from the very few at the farm where they’d gotten the animals. Of course, he’d been damn glad they hadn’t come across other groups scavenging, too, but the fact that there was no new food was a definite cause for concern. Even the fact there was no sign of other people at all was a worry. Had everyone else already followed the food source to another state? And how the hell did they know where to go? He’d kept his eyes wide open and had seen nothing to give him a clue. Summer was almost over, and he knew he had to tell Andy and Arthur his concerns. That meant Ruby had to know. If she found out from someone other than him or Pagan, she’d likely castrate them both. She was a feisty woman and quite determined to be involved in everything.

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That night in bed, he said, “Tonight I want us to give Ruby at least two orgasms. It’s almost time for us to go home, and I want us all to have good memories of this RV.” “Two orgasms. I can go along with that program,” said Ruby, grinning. “As long as I get two as well, I’m onboard, too,” said Pagan. Koby flipped Ruby onto her front and grabbed the lube from the bench where they kept it. Since they always slept on the floor of the RV, they’d rearranged their furniture somewhat, leaving the bed set up on the floor and using the table and benches as storage shelves. They always ate with the community anyway so didn’t need a table. Pagan lay beside Ruby and began kissing her face and playing with her breasts, while Koby concentrated on lubing her ass. She had the cutest butt ever, round cheeks that were still firm with muscle tone, and a dainty little pucker that nevertheless always opened up wide enough to let his aching cock slide deep into her hot grasp. Just touching her made his dick throb with the need to get inside her. They’d been together three years, yet his love and need for them both was unchanged from the first day. They were the reason he got up each morning and faced each fresh day and whatever challenges it might bring. He had three fingers in her ass, softening the tight muscle ring, stretching her tissues, and his cock was aching with the desperate need to be inside his woman. It was enough. “Okay, let’s go,” he gasped. As quick as thought, Pagan rolled a condom on his cock, lay on his back, and pulled Ruby over his body. She teased him a bit, sliding her cunt up and down Pagan’s thighs. Koby groaned along with Pagan. He knew just how wet and juicy her cunt would be. Next time they could swap, and he’d have her cunt and Pagan could take her ass. Or maybe Pagan would take his ass. Either would work. Pagan grabbed Ruby and pushed her down over his cock. Koby watched her body absorb Pagan, and his own cock grew another inch

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at least. He wanted to look at it to check, but couldn’t drag his gaze from his partners. What they were doing was beyond hot, beyond scorching. It was killing him. He spread Ruby’s butt cheeks and pushed his dick at her entry. As he’d hoped, he popped through the ring of tight muscles easily and was inside her wondrous heat. Koby had to hold still for a few moments as she was just too good. If he’d moved, he’d have shot his load like a teenager on his first date. Koby leaned over Ruby and gripped Pagan’s shoulders, and then together they began to pull out and pump into their woman. They were all far too aroused to last long. From the very first stroke, the pace was fast and furious. Oh well, next time they’d go slow. Koby pounded into her, his balls drawn up tight against his body, his hands holding Pagan with bruising force, his nipples hard points pressed to Ruby’s back. Suddenly Ruby shook beneath him, her ass clenching hard on his dick—so hard he couldn’t move. It didn’t matter. Her touch was all it took. His cum spurted from him like a volcano erupting into the latex sheath. Jet after jet poured from him as he made a few more strokes into her and softly kissed her neck. From Pagan’s grunts, he knew her cunt clenching on him would have sent him over the edge, too. Tomorrow he’d have to tell Ruby and the village leaders about his fears regarding ongoing food supplies. But tonight was his time to love and cherish Ruby and Pagan. “I love you so much,” Koby whispered, kissing Pagan then Ruby. “I love you, too. You and Pagan mean more than anything else to me,” said Ruby. “Same goes for me,” added Pagan, letting one hand reach up to grab Koby’s cock and the other clasped Ruby’s breast. “Give me five minutes, and we’ll do something about that second orgasm you both promised me.” “Ten and it’s a deal,” Koby replied.

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THE END WWW.BERENGARIABROWN.COM WWW.BERENGARIASBLOG.BLOGSPOT.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Berengaria is a multi-published author of erotic romance: contemporary, paranormal (ghosts, vampires, fairies, dragons, and werewolves), futuristic, medieval, and Regency-set historical. She loves to read all different kinds of romance so that is what she writes: one man/one woman; two women; two men; two men/one woman; three men, two women/one man, three men/one woman….Whatever the characters need for their very hot happily-ever-after, Berengaria makes sure they get it.

Also by Berengaria Brown Ménage Amour: Elinor’s Stronghold 1: Pillaging Elinor’s Castle Ménage Amour: Elinor’s Stronghold 2: Defending Rhyannon’s Inheritance Ménage Amour: Elinor’s Stronghold 3: Restoring Garnet’s Heart Ménage Amour: Elinor’s Stronghold 4: Bringing Claire Home Ménage Amour: Embrace the Future 1: Forbidden Future

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

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