Harry steered the camper in a wide half circle around debris in the parking lot and guided the vehicle to the fueling island of the abandoned station. The front of the vehicle faced the town. Randy and Pablo parked the two trucks close enough fuel up as well.
Harry glanced over his shoulder. “Cody, I need you and your sister to keep an eye out that back window. You see anything at all moving, you give us a heads up.”
Trace jumped up. “We can do that.” She pulled at her brother’s arm. “Come on. We can watch together.”
“Sure.” Cody answered flatly.
Liz clutched at her back as she followed Harry and John out of the camper. “He’s having a hard time.” Harry grunted as way of an answer so Liz continued. “I think it would help if you would spend some time with him.”
“I’ll try, but ain’t never had kids. Don’t know what good I’d do.” Harry answered.
“Dr. Phil, let’s get this done.” John commented as he headed toward the access port.
“Fine. But think about it.” Liz turned around and stepped back in the camper. “Pass the adapter through the window when you’re ready.
He dropped the pump to the ground and used the tool they had found on a fuel truck to open the cover over the tank access. He pulled a string with three silver dollar sized washer tied to the end from his pocket. He dropped the washers into the hole and spooled out the string counting the knots as he unwound the string. He felt the hesitation when the washer hit the fuel and again when it hit the bottom.
“About half full.”
He wound up the string and dropped the hose into the hole. He hooked up the pump to a second hose. Harry picked up the end carried it to camper. He opened the fuel cover on the camper and poured a bottle of fuel stabilizer into the tank. Harry glanced over his shoulder.
“Liz, plug in the pump.”
Pablo and Mario, Pablo’s son, each carried automatic weapons to edge of the back of the trio of vehicles. Pablo stopped at the back of the camper while Mario made his way further down the street. The small electrical motor chugged gallon after gallon of the precious fuel into the camper. After nearly five minutes, the gas tank of the camper burped fuel across Harry’s hand and called out.
“Off!”
John turned off the pump and Harry carried the hose to the truck Randy had been driving. He stuck the hose in the tank and called out order to turn the pump on again.
Randy led Miguel across the street to the vet clinic. It was a small brick building with two waist high windows in front and a glass door. There was a small fenced area at the side. All the while, Randy scanned the street for any movement.
“Where are the people?” Miguel asked. “There should be at least a few signs of people or the infected around.”
Randy grunted his agreement. “Yeah. I don’t like it.”
When they stepped up to the glass door, Randy tapped on the glass with the crook of a crowbar. They looked into the gloom of the building and saw only shadows and hints of a reception desk.
Randy slid the end of the crowbar between the door and facing. Leaning into the bar, there was a pop and the door pulled free of the door jam. He held the door with his elbow and caught a whiff of death. A low growl from inside make both men halt.
“Shit.” Randy growled. “A dog. They left animals to starve.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Let’s do this.” Randy said as he flicked on his LED light and moved deeper into the recesses of the office. He noticed four doors across the back wall. A sad whimper could be heard from behind one of the doors. Randy started at the right and opened the first door a crack. He saw the white shadow of a toilet and closed the door.
Randy glanced at Miguel and he moved his head from left to right. “Exam room.” He mouthed.
Randy moved to the next door while Miguel did the same. Nodding at Miguel, Randy waited to see what he would find.
“Same.” Miguel announced. “They each have a door to the back.
“Okay, this had to go to the back room.” Randy whispered. “Follow me.”
Randy opened the door and the stench of urine, feces and death was overpowering. The back room was as massive open space divided by function. Along the left wall was cages; three for large dogs, three for medium size dogs and six for small pets. Three of the cages held bodies. The door stood open on one of the large cages. The cage was empty. Along the right wall was the medical cabinets, surgical table and a number of machines.
“Shit.” Randy cursed as a low growl emanated from the shadows.
Charlotte Hoaks. . . .(C. A. Hoaks) 