59. The mercenaries

Leo Baxter, Joss’s brother, knows the Eastwood Estate like the palm of his hand. He had been the farm manager for three years before he and Joss were sentenced for murder and manslaughter. He chose this secluded spot near the dam where they, in the meantime, can hide in the dense blue gum forest. Even a helicopter won’t discover their hide-out and there is a mountainous part between them and the army base, which is now established around the farmhouse so that they can even make a fire unnoticed. They know the community at the Eastwood Estate barricaded themselves in and they would not emerge before they are sure the spiders have died out. The dam also is next to the forest and thus they have a nice supply of water. Their aim is to hide here to avoid the plague and also the city dwellers for a week or two until the plague subsides. They will then take over the neighboring farm to make it their new base where they clandestinely plan to dig in and operate from. Paola will keep them up to