Charlotte Hoaks. . . .(C. A. Hoaks)

Randy dodged around a pile of shopping carts in the middle of the road and accelerated.

“This street, right?”  Randy asked.

Miguel fired then glanced ahead.  “If it’s open, go for it. We gotta get back on the main highway! If they go for wheels, we’re in trouble.”

Randy waited to break until the very last minute.  As the tires locked up, he took a quick look down the street and changed his mind.  He pulled the wheel back to the left and accelerated again.

“No, go! No, Go! Street’s blocked!”

“Keep going. We run into a blacktop a quarter mile down.”  Miguel answered before whispering under his breath.  “I think.”

“You think?”  Randy asked.

“I’m sure…I think.”  Miguel mumbled as he fired twice then reached for Randy’s rifle.  “I’m pretty sure if we get to the blacktop it will take us back on the highway.”

“We’ve got to get enough of a head start to lose anyone following before the turn off into the canyons.”

“Just drive.  We’re giving enough cover to keep their heads down.”

They lost sight of the attackers and approached the turn-off.  Randy slowed then turned on the blacktop.  He accelerated and raced ahead only glancing up twice before deciding the others were keeping up.

The speed approached seventy, and he held it there until he saw the turn-off.  At the last minute, he slowed, jerked the wheel to the left and steered the big truck onto the highway.  The minute he saw Pablo make the turn he slammed his foot into the floorboard.  The truck sped up and wind whipped through the open windows.

Miguel set Randy’s gun across his lap and reloaded.  He set it aside and began the same exercise with his own.  “You think everyone is okay?”

Randy shrugged.  “Hope so. I don’t think we should stop until we get to the Goodman place.  I hope like hell he’s ready to pull out.”

A full four minutes later, Miguel pulled back inside the cab as the pickup rolled onto the asphalt of the highway.  “See I told you.”  He announced.  “Hit the gas.  I hear engines.  Sounds like motorcycles.”

“How many did we take out?”  Randy asked. “Enough to discourage them?”

“Maybe. I know I killed two.  I heard shots from Hugo with Pablo and from the Camper. More fell then.  I figured there was at least nine in the group. We killed or wounded maybe half. Add the infected that was congregating on their locations.”

“Maybe the infected took care of the rest for us.”  Randy chuckled.

“De su boca al oído de Dios.”  Miguel mumbled.

Randy drove on.  When the pickup neared the Goodman Ranch, Randy picked up the radio that was the mate of the one he’d given to the old man.

“Goatman.  The doctor calling.”  Randy smiled.

“Goatman?”  Growled a gravelly voice.  “Who are you calling goatman?”

“We’re coming through in about ten minutes. You need to ready to pull out immediately?”

“You sound like you’re in a hell of a hurry.”

“We ran into trouble about ten miles back. Afraid they might be following us.”

“We’ve been ready for a couple hours, four vehicles with two trailers good to go.”

Randy sighed.  “Load up and meet us at the gate.”

Randy slowly pulled away from the two other vehicles.  He squinted into to the sun trying to see ahead before he committed to the path ahead.  It left the main street and wound through what looked to be the beginning of a residential area.  The streets were littered with bodies, refuge and abandoned vehicles.  Despite that, it looked as if they could weave through the debris and make it to a cross street running parallel with the main road.

He moved slowly toward the intersection and the turn-off.  Finally, deciding to commit, he pulled into the intersection and dodged around a stalled sedan with room to spare.

Miguel pointed toward the side street.  “Company’s coming.”

Randy accelerated as he turned the wheel to the left.  “Watch out.  I’m not stopping until we’re out of here and across the cattle guard at home.”

“Got it.”  Miguel pushed the barrel of his rifle out the window and scanned the side street.  “Two blocks down, take a right. It’s the first chance to head north.”

Randy nodded at the rifle in Miguel’s hand. “Keep it quiet for now if we can.”  He steered the truck around a car pushed against a light pole and a length of fencing torn away from the metal post and left in the street.

The car’s driver’s door hung open, and the brush guard sent the sheet of metal flying with a loud crash as they passed.  Half a dozen infected turned at the sound. Randy stepped on the gas until he noticed a pile of red in the road ahead.  As he drew closer, he saw it was a fallen motorcycle.

It was an RS-5, one of Yoshimura’s most popular bikes. It was a real eye catcher with the color and the trapezoid shape melded into a sports bike.  Even laid out on its side, it looked to be in pretty good shape with only a scratch or two visible.

“Poppy!  I sure would like to have that bike.” Miguel chortled as he pointed his machete at a large infected man making a beeline for the truck.

“You want me to stop?”  Randy asked as the three infected drew closer. He took his foot off the accelerator.  By then the infected were less than a dozen feet away.

“No!  Speed the fuck up.”  Miguel called over his shoulder, and he leaned out the window.

He extended his arm with the machete over his head.  As Randy sped between two infected, Miguel swung at a thick bodied woman in a house dress.  The blade connected below her chin snapping her neck.  She collapsed as the truck sped away.

He turned to Randy grinning.  “Next one is yours.”

Randy laughed.  “That was sick.”

The passenger side mirror of the pickup shattered in an explosion of glass and plastic.

“Fuck!”   Miguel pulled back in the cab.

“What the hell!”  Randy shouted as he accelerated.

“Taking fire, man.  Get us outta here!”  Miguel dropped his machete and pulled his rifle to his shoulder.

“No shit!”  Randy answered as he glanced at the side mirror.  He jammed his foot into the gas.  A heartbeat later, the camper and Pablo’s truck lurched forward after them.

Two more shots rang out. One pinged off the hood of the vehicle. Miguel exchanged his machete for the rifle, leaned out the window and returned fire.  He made three quick shots.

Four men appeared from the shadows of a building on the main street in the distance.  They were running toward the truck.  One of the men stopped to raise his rifle, aim, and fire.  A sudden shot from behind the truck exploded, and the shooter in the distance fell to the ground.  When the man fell, his companion jumped behind a stalled truck and began returning fire toward the pickups and camper.

“That was John.  Keep firing.”  Randy yelled.  “We gotta get outta here!”

Half a dozen black-leather-clad men appeared from another alleyway. They ran full tilt from the main road.

“Got more assholes joining the party!”  Miguel yelled as he fired at the running men.

Matt walked into the manager’s office and placed Claire in the portable crib for her nap.  He sat down in the recliner and watched Amy as she prepared a bottle and gave it to her sister.

“You take good care of your sister, pumpkin.”  He smiled.

“When we go to Pampa’s, I want Mommy to see I did a good job,” Amy answered.  She walked into the living room and handed her sister the bottle.  “When are we going to Pampa’s?”

Matt rubbed his hand across the stubble on his chin.  “I don’t know pumpkin.”

Amy’s bottom lip quivered.

Matt leaned toward Amy, picked her up and pulled her onto his lap. “I’m sorry, pumpkin.  We have a lot of people depending on us right now. Larry, Jake and I can’t leave the rest of the soldiers to take care of them.  There’s just not enough people to take care of all the other children.”

“What about the preacher man and his friends?”  Amy answered.

“Preacher man?”  Matt asked.

“Mr. Larry brought them back when they found the new campers.  He wanted to move in here.  He said he needs a place to hold church, but Mr. Jake told them no.”

Amanda stepped through the door with Jake close behind.  “Good grief, Jake.  I can walk across the parking lot.”

Amanda picked up Claire and headed back to the bedroom.  “Let’s put your sister down then you can get ready for bed, Amy.  Let Mr. Matt and Mr. Jake visit.”

Matt walked to the kitchen and got a glass of water.  He took one of the pills Doc had given him then turned back to see Larry had also arrived.  “I guess I’ve missed a few things around here.”

“No shit.”  Larry lamented.  “What are you taking pills for?”

“I got a problem, and Doc is helping me over the worst of it,”  Matt answered.

“Do I need to worry?”  Larry asked.

Matt sighed.  “Fucking drink too much.  Happy now?”

“Sorry. I ah….”  Larry stammered.

“Move on.  When we’re done here, collect all the bottles and store them with the rest of the supplies under lock and key. Now, what’s with the new people?” Matt asked.

“We found a map of the surrounding campgrounds two days ago and decided to check a few out. The thought was, maybe they’d have salvageable campers.  Yesterday we came across the preacher and his little group at one of the campsites where we found the campers.  If it weren’t for the three kids, I would have left them there.”

“Only way he’d let us take the empty campers was to come along,”  Larry grumbled.

“I guess, they are not integrating well.”

“He started making demands the minute we arrived” Jake settled on the couch.  “He thinks he deserves special accommodations.” Matt started to ask about the accommodations when there was a commotion at the door.

A big, burly man is bib overalls jerked the front door open and stepped aside to allow a man in a black suit with a white clerical collar to enter the front room of the Manager’s Office.  A second man followed as if the preacher required protection from attack.

Matt jumped to his feet with his hand on his gun.  “Who in the hell do you people think you are?”

Both Jake and Larry joined him with pulled weapons.

He followed Brian to the ingress of the hall.  Brian stopped and whistled.  Muffled sounds could be heard behind the last door on the right past two restroom entrances and another door identified as Manager.  At the end of the hall, a sign identified the door at the end of the hall as an Exit.

“Billy, clear the woman’s,”  Brian ordered as he snapped on his flashlight. “I’ll get the men’s.”

Brian eased around the opening of the doorway, flicked on a flashlight and crossed to the opposite wall.  He pressed his back against the cold tire and side stepped to the corner.  He leaned around the edge of the wall and fanned the light across the dark recesses.  He saw a row of sinks on the left and half a dozen stalls on the right. Most of the stall doors were open. He moved into the gloom and quickly walked past each doorway shining the light inside.

He backtracked to the entrance just in time to see Billy appear with a quick shake of his head.  “Clean in here.”

“My six, Billy.”

Brian took a dozen steps to the Manager’s office door and tapped twice.  The commotion inside the room startled both Brian and Billy.  Billy forced a laugh.

“Guess we know where the company is.  You think one or two…or more?”

Brian stepped back to the door.  He knocked again, and a body slammed against the door then scratched against the wood.  “One, I think.”

“At least the door opens inward,” Billy announced.

“Alright.  We do it like this.  You turn the knob then I kick in the door on three.”

Billy gave him a thumbs-up, and from the side of the door, he reached over to lightly check the door knob.  He gave a twist and the knob only move a quarter inch then stopped.  He turned back to announced.  “Locked.”

Brian nodded, and Billy pulled a short metal pry bar from his belt. He slipped the forked end into the crack between the door facing and door. With a nod from Brian, he pulled back.  Hard. With a swift kick at the side of the knob, Brian shattered the door facing, and the door slammed back into the room. It hit something solid and bounced back toward the opening.

Billy caught the door with the toe of his boot and gave it a nudge back while he stepped into the room and sidestepped to the left.  Just as Billy disappeared into the room, Brian reached out and pushed against the door until it stopped moving.  Billy sidestepped deeper into the room and nudged a chair away.

“On the floor.”

Brian followed Billy’s blade to see a man in khakis and a golf shirt with the truck stop logo on the front.  “He came in here and died.”  He stepped up just as the infected man got to his feet.  “Sorry man.” Brian drove his knife blade into the man’s eye. The infected slumped to the ground.  “Let’s get the back cleared then drag the bodies out back.”

“We can go through the vehicles and see if there is anything we can use.  I’d like to check out some of those trucks.”  Billy said.

“It’s getting dark.  Let’s get moving. We need to secure the building.”  Brian agreed as he headed back to the front of the store.

Together the four men cleared the parking lot, piled bodies in the back after searching for keys on each.  They found half a dozen sets of keys in pockets and purses but were less than excited. The keys belonged to a big rig, two real junkers, a truck, a sedan and a Suburban.

“We could always hot wire one of the other vehicles.”  Billy volunteered.

“”I think we’ve all established the fact none of us have that skill set.”  Brian laughed.

Leon walked up to the pair.  “Looks like the Suburban is in pretty good shape.  The pickup is an option for a second vehicle.  I found hoses and a small hand pump so I can fill gas tanks and the three five gallon gas cans we found.  If we take two vehicles, it’s more fuel but also gives us options if we run into trouble.”

Juan joined the trio.  “We found a few supplies in the back room.  Not much but extra cases of water, some packaged foods, and some Zombie t-shirts.”  He grinned. “We at least get to change clothes.”

“Throw those fucking shirts on that pile of bodies!”  Brian ordered.

Juan shrugged. “If you want, but I kinda like the green ones with all the blood.”  He chuckled as he walked away.

“Fucktard.”  Billy laughed.

“One down, a dozen to go,”  Billy called out.

Juan hurried toward Leon and began calling to the infected now concentrating on the black man.  “Hey, dead fucks!”

Two of the infected changed directions and headed for Juan.  The huge fat man continued toward Leon.  His folds of flabby flesh swung from side to side with each step.  He lumbered forward but was quickly left behind by a tall thin man with raw open wounds dripping a puss from his face, arms and along one shoulder, the arm hung limp but the infected man still reached with the other while gnashing his teeth.

Leon side stepped and swung the machete.  It entered the side of the man’s head and he fell to the ground in a heap.  The fat man stumbled forward.  He got to the body and both feet caught the man’s legs. He fell forward looking like a beached whale.  Legs extended, knees unable to bend so his feet floundered off the ground. His arms extended in front of him still reaching for Leon.  Leon stepped closer and raised the machete over his head and swung it into the crown of the head splitting the scalp of thinning, greasy, black hair and driving the metal into the skull and brain. The whale’s arms and legs collapsed into stillness.  Leon stood staring at the gouges down the back of the man.

Brian took out two more infected, then walked to Leon’s side.  “You okay, man.”

“Look at him.  Someone did that to him, deliberately.  He was tortured.” Leon observed.

“As time goes by I’m afraid things are going to get a lot worse. Let’s get this nest cleaned out so we can settle down for the night.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

The four men moved forward, taking out the remaining infected one at a time. Paula and Margo followed in the van at a discrete distance.  When they got to the building, Brian walked around to the driver’s door and spoke to Paula.

“Stay here until we clear the place.  The place looks like there might be infected inside.”

Paula sighed.  “It’ll stink.  They always smell up a place.”

Brian laughed as he pointed to the darkening clouds overhead.  “I don’t really want to spend the night in the van.  Maybe we’ll be lucky and it won’t be too bad.”

“Sure.”  Margo groused under her breath. “Been real lucky so far, I started my period today.”

“Yeah, that is really going to suck from now on,”  Paula admitted.

They watched the men enter the building through the gift shop.  The store seemed intact.  No windows were broken and the door opened to the outside.  It explained the infected not being inside. Once they walked out, there was no getting back in.

Brian led the trio inside.  Leon moved to the right and Juan to the left.  Billy followed looking toward the dark corners of the open space now cluttered with overturned displays and racks.  The place had an underlining smell of spoiled food.  Brian glanced toward the eatery at the side of the convenience store.  The sandwich shop was separated from the store by a security gate from the ceiling.  The shop seems to have been empty when it was closed.  As they got deeper into the store the aroma of dead bodies overpowered the aroma of spoiled food.

“They’re in here,”  Billy announced.

Juan grunted.  “Sí.  The back, I think.”  He pointed to a narrow hall obscured in the shadows at the back of the store.

Brian glanced over his shoulder.  “Watch outside, Leon.”

“Sure thing, boss,”  Leon answered as he stepped back outside the gift shop.

Brian turned to Billy.  “Let’s do this.”

“His fever broke last night,” Della announced when Millie appeared for breakfast.

“Been three days.  I was getting a little worried.”  The old black woman made her way to the stove and opened the door on the metal door.  She slipped three or four pieces of kindling on the smoldering coals.  “That’s good to hear. We may have to leave soon.”

“What do you mean?  We have plenty of food.  Almost every day Zack brings back meat.”  Della asked.

“My arthritis was botherin’ me, so I came down an’ stood watch for Darlene.  I saw fires in the valley.”  Millie announced.

“What does it matter?  That’s miles away.”  Della asked.

“No way of knowing for sure, but if its people burning bodies, it means a lot more people are out here.  If it’s their campfires, the people are a bunch of fools and will be drawing the infected with fire at night.”

“What are we going to do?”

“That place Steve was talking about.  I think as soon as he’s fit to travel, we should head out.”  Millie answered.

“Is that coffee?”  A weak voice called from the bunk bed in the shadows.

Della ran to the bed and fell to her knees.  “Oh, my God.  You’re awake. How are you feeling?” She asked as she laid her hand against is forehead.

“Like shit,”  Steve answered.  “Coffee?”

“No, but you can have some willow bark tea,” Della answered.  “If that stays down, you can have so broth in an hour or so.”

Zack walked into the cabin.  “Hey, did I hear Steve?”

“I told you to take it easy.”  Della scolded Steve as he slid from his bed to the wheelchair.

Zack leaned the rifle against the door jam.  “Is that coffee I smell?”

“I’m fine,”  Steve answered weakly.  “We need to start thinking of getting on the move.”

“Why?”  Darlene asked as she climbed down from the loft with Penny following close behind.  “We’ve had plenty to eat. With Millie, we probably are eating a lot better than most people.”

Steve answered. “Millie is right.  Fire means people.”

Zack poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Steve when he rolled up to the table.  “I heard engines this morning; motorcycles, maybe.”

Millie stirred at a bowl with dough.  She poured the contents out on a floured breadboard.  She folded the dough three or four times then flattened it to a circle about an inch thick.  She picked up a metal can and began cutting biscuits.   “Steve is right.  I heard something big and angry two nights ago.”

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”  Steve asked.

“What would we have done?  You were sick.”  Millie answered as she slid the pan of biscuits into the oven.  “You are the only one knowing where we’re going.”

“Shit!”  Steve cursed.  “We fix that right now.  He pulled out a map and a brown paper bag then listed the roads he had intended to take to Pine Creek Canyon.  He listed landmarks as he remembered them.  When he was done, he added. “I’ve only been there once so when we get close, we’ll need to be careful.”

“How far are we from the park and Pine Creek Canyon?”   Della asked.

“Less than a hundred miles, if we can stay on the route I’ve outlined,” Steve answered.

Zack grinned.  “So we can be there in one day.”

Steve shrugged.  “We can hope.”

Della interrupted. “We can’t leave until your legs are better. If something happens to the truck and you can’t walk….”

Zack looked at the others.  “What about the horses?”

Della shrugged.  “I’ve been thinking about that. I think we need to make a trip back to horse ranch.  I want to get saddles and all the tack required to ride the horses. They have a trailer that would hold everything we need plus the horses. Millie can tell us what we need.”

“Horses?”  Steve asked.  “What are you talking about?”

Della chimed in.  “They followed me back when I went to the ranch for antibiotics.  We put them in the corral behind the shed.”

“I’ve been feeding them hay from the shed,”  Zack said proudly.  “They like me.”

“We can’t drag a bunch of horses behind the truck.” Steve protested.

“There’s a trailer in the shed,”  Zack added. “We could load them up and take them with us.

“No! Absolutely not.” Steve protested.  “It’s not worth the risk. It will slow us down.”

Millie placed her hand on Steve’s shoulder.  “Young man, the horses will die if they’re left here. The infected will get them, or they’ll starve. Besides, you might find they’re better than walking if anything happens to that fancy truck.”

Steve looked at each of the women, then Zack for some hint of support.  When he saw none, he grunted, grabbed his cup of coffee, and rolled the chair to the porch.

Millie, Della, Zack and Darlene all laughed.

“Now, you two sit down so I can tell you what to look for,”  Millie announced. “Everyone get a turn at saddling and riding a horse when you come back.”

Della climbed on the ATV behind Zack.  The kid that once weighed more than two hundred fifty pounds had lost at least fifty pounds.  His body had hardened and muscled had replaced the softness.  All the walking had made big changes.

“You sure about this?”  Della asked.

“Sure as you are,”  Zack answered as he cranked the engine.  He stepped on the clutch and kicked the four-wheeler in gear.  He pulled away from the shed.  The roar of the engine seemed terribly loud after the quiet of the hunting cabin.

While Zack drove the ATV, Della constantly looked over her shoulder afraid the sound of the engine would cover the sound of someone else approaching.  Noise made her nervous.  After thirty minutes, she directed Zack off road along a white fence.  He dodged around two tree stumps and a fallen branch or two.  They got to the back of the paddock where she had taken the board from the top of the fence.  Zack stopped the machine.

Della looked around.  The infected that had roamed the property seemed to have wandered away. The silence was suddenly overpowering.

“Where to?”  Zack asked.

“The barn.  There’s a tack room.”  Della walked to the fence and began prying at the second cross board.

“You want to drive there?”

“Yes, we get as close as we can, stack saddles, blankets and bridles on back of the machine.  Tie ‘em down, then get the heck outta here.”

Zack walked to the remaining board at the fence, grabbed the pry bar in Della’s hand and gave a quick snap of his thick arms.  With a second shove, the board was loose.  He moved to the other end, did the same then repeated the process to remove the last board.  He tossed it away then pointed at the ATV.

“You drive. I’ll walk ahead.”  Zack announced.

“The long red barn, head down the center. It’s the first room on the right.”  Della said.

Zack headed across the barnyard at a jog.  Della followed a dozen feet behind on the ATV.  He moved his head from left to right and back again.  There was no sign of living or dead.

As Zack neared the opened door of the horse barn, he slowed his steps to a brisk walk.  He held the pry bar in his right hand ready to face attack.  Moisture glistened on his face and arms.  He got to the door and stopped.  He looked into the gloom.  He saw no movement amid the dark shadows.

Della drew closer and he raised his hand and made a circle in the air.  After a moment she understood.  He meant for her to back up to the tack room.  She clutched, slowed and made a wide circle.  When she faced the way they had come, she clutched again and slipped the machine into reverse.  She gave the handle a twist and backed toward the gloom.

“Close enough.  Turn it off so we can hear.”

Della slid off the ATV.  She walked up to the Zack where he stood at the entrance of the barn.   “I can’t imagine all the infected are gone from here.  Let’s be careful.”

Zack held up his pry bar.  “Let me go first.”

Della held out her machete.  “Together.”

John and Cody spent nearly an hour washing the dog.  A closer inspection exposed a fiber collar with a tag identifying the dog as Maxie.

Liz, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced over her shoulder at John and the two kids now brushing the wet dog.  “You think we should have wasted the water like that?”

Harry shrugged from behind the wheel.  “Let them be.  They’ve lost everything they loved.  Let John do what he can to make it better.”

The camper filled with laughter and the sound of John giving the kids advice.  Finally, Maxie had had enough fussing and stepped away from the trio and shook her whole body sending droplets of water all over the trio.

Cody and Trace fell to the floor laughing as John’s hands shot up as if to protect himself from the wet dog smell.  John flopped down at the table laughing.

“I guess that means the whole place will smell like wet dog so I won’t notice it as much.”

The kids brushed and fussed over the dog until the thick hair was nearly dry.  The Aussie walked to the

Liz fought the nausea threatening to tear at her insides again.  Her eyes drifted close as she struggled to stay upright.  Suddenly a hand grasped her shoulder.

“Go lay down. You’ve brought us and the kids to sanctuary.  We can take it from here.  You got that little’un to think about now.”

Liz turned to John squatting at the back of the seat.  “How can I think of that when my girls are out there?  I don’t know if they’re alive or not.  I have no idea if they are being cared for or wondering the city I left them in.”

John chuckled.  “You know that’s not true. You found that message.  The soldiers have the girls and will bring them to you when they can.  In fact, they may be out there in Pine Springs right now…who knows?”

“Do you think?”   Liz asked as tears filled her eyes.

“I think it’s possible but if they aren’t there, it means nothing except they aren’t there YET.”  John rose.  “Now, get up and go to the bedroom and lay down for a bit.  On your way back don’t wake up the kids.  The girl is sleeping with the dog on the bottom bunk.”

Liz rose and stumbled to the back of the camper.  She clutched at the furniture as she moved past the table, kitchen the closet and bathroom.  By the time she got to the bed, she was stumbling and weak in the knees.

A couple hours later the kids got up from their naps just as Randy stopped for a break.  They brushed on the dog, fed her treats and rolled on the floor between the table and small couch.

According to Harry’s calculations, they were less than fifty miles from the lodge.  He was beginning to worry.  Liz wasn’t acting right.  She had lost all color in her face and she seemed weaker by the hour.  She had refused food since the night before.

Randy parked the pickup in the shade of a sprawling oak tree.  He got out of the cab, stretched and walked back to the camper.

“Well, folks, you getting tired of riding?”  Randy looked around and gave a puzzled look. “Where is she?”

“Hasn’t been feeling worth a shit since we wrecked the bikes.”

“I want to eat and take a few minutes.  We have one back place to get through then we turn of the major road.  Problem is it’s the only way back.  It was Harry the last time through and it might be a lot worse.”  Randy announced.

Harry nodded as he put the camper in park and turned off the key.  He got to his feet and followed John and the kids out to the shady spot bringing a case of water and several bags of snack foods and jerky.

“I’d sure like something besides this shit.  Probably half of Lizzy’s problem.  We’ve eaten nothing but crap like this for the last ten days.”  Harry commented as he set the bottles on the hood of the truck.

The six men milled around with water and jerky while Randy describe the small community they would be passing through.  “When we get there, don’t slow down.  We cleared the vehicles as best we could the first time through.  Hopefully, no asshole has come through and screwed the pooch.”

“No problem.  Tires on the camper are pretty big and have deep treads.  It’d take a hell of a mess to slow us down.”

“I hope so.”  Randy looked toward the camper.  Liz had not appeared to eat with the group. “I’m beginning to worry.”

Harry nodded.  “So am I young man. So am I.”

“About twenty miles past the place I told you about we may be picking up a group of folks.  It shouldn’t be more than a quick meat and great, then they’ll either be ready to fall in line or wave us on.”

“Sounds good. Let’s load up.”

The trio of vehicles pulled out.  Randy pulled back out on the highway and accelerated.  He steered the loaded pick up around stalled vehicles, passed stumbling infected as he neared a cluster of dwellings in the distance.

“Fuck!”  Randy cursed.  “Something isn’t right.”

Miguel sighed. “Dios bueno. Where did they come from?”

Randy stared at more than a dozen vehicles slammed together in a massive pileup wedged between a massive metal building on the left and a sandstone structure on the right.

“That is really bad.”  He raised his foot from the gas.

“What now?” Miguel asked. “Look at all the infected.”

Randy stared as a few of the infected had noticed the sound of the truck in the distanced.  They turned and began shambling toward the trio of vehicles. Harry pulled up alongside the pickup on the left.

“I take it this is not what you expected.”  John called out.

“We took out a few infected yesterday and moved half a dozen vehicles out of the way. Someone has pulled those cars back across the street. It looks open, but once we get committed all they would have to do and close off that narrowing at the far end.”

“You think it’s a trap for you?”  John asked.

“I think someone is hoping and got these folks.  Look at all the damage and all the doors and trunks are open.”

Miguel pointed.  “They even killed kids.  Look at the little monsters.”

“Do you think they could still be here?”

“Good chance since they reopened the trap.”

“Can we get around it?” Miguel asked.

Randy gave him a worried look.  “We have to. I’ve got the cattle guard, so I’ll lead out.” He stepped out the door and called back a few instructions to Pablo then called back to Harry. “Leave enough room so if I have to change directions you’re not crawling up my ass.” He turned to Miguel.  “Let’s do this.”

“Wow!”  Tate laughed.  “Small fucking world.”

“What do you mean?”  Matt asked.”

“I was headed there to stay with my cousin.  He’s been there since the VA cut him loose last year. He works for some crazy general restoring a hunting camp or something.”

“Damn.  I was hoping it was a little more than a hunting cabin.  Shit, two kids, and one a baby.  Maybe I ought to rethink taking the girls there.”

After a brief meeting with the women of the group it was decided they would all join Matt’s group.

“We have nothing to go back to.”  Red commented. “You’ve got a place to go that’s protected.  It’s what we need right now.”

“Accommodations are tight.  Just want you to know that.”

“We lived in a cage for the last week.  Do you really think it can be worse than that?”  Theresa answered.

Matt shrugged and answered. “Well, let’s get pack and get moving.  We can be there in six or seven hours.”

The store suddenly became a beehive of activity. Children and adults alike were gathering clothing and a myriad of supplies and carrying them to the vehicles.  They decided to leave the caged truck behind and take a mini-van they found in a garage behind the house.

The trip back was slow and winding through back roads.  They dodged two small gatherings of infected around stalled vehicles.  The people had run out of gas and spent days camping along a deserted road only to die from heat and exposure after running out of water waiting for rescue.

Red glanced to Matt behind the wheel of the mini-van.  “Dumb shits probably sat around waiting for someone to save them.”

He shrugged.  “Yeah.  City people in their SUVs don’t have much in the way of life skills for this life.”

“You do.”  Red answered.

Matt pulled the pills from his pocket and dray swallowed one.  “Haven’t always. I just figured out it’s time to step up.”

“You and Tate did.  I’d be dead right now if you two hadn’t come along.  I had every intentions of killing Stubby that night. Grant would have killed me, but that bastard would have been dead.  In my book, it would have been worth it.”

They drove in silence for a long time before Matt answered.  “You have to stop looking at it like that.  If you try to justify each and every time you’re put in that position before you act, you’ll end up dead.  It’s a matter of doing what you have to to survive.”

“I…”  Red began then fell silent.  After a moment she continued.  “They took everything. How do we go on after this?”

Matt glanced over his shoulder.  “The kids.”  He answered flatly.  “If we can protect the kids we have a chance. They will learn to adapt.  The bodies will decay and the infected will eventually disappear. If we can survive long enough, there’s hope for some of us.”

“We’re all infected. How can we make a life.  People die and it only takes one infected to destroy a community.  That’s what happened to our town.  One person.  That’s how it started.  Twenty four hours, it was overrun and those of us left were running for our lives.  We barely had time to load up water and canned goods.”

“We’ve seen that.”  Matt agreed.

“My brother in law got hit by a neighbor’s car. We took him and Theresa with us when we left.  He died and came back. If my husband hadn’t been there, he would have killed Theresa.”

“I’m sorry. But that’s the reality now.  We can lie down and die, or try to learn to live with an axe hanging over our heads.”

Matt saw the white trucks tail light blink twice.  Matt rolled down his side window and could hear the truck being down shifted.  He pulled the van toward the left and could see the camouflaged gate swing open.  “Here we go.  We’re home.”

Red turned toward the three people in the back seats.  “We’re here.  It will be fine.  Nice people that will be nice to us.  Wait and see.”

Matt glanced up at the hidden tree stand and threw a wave at the soldier.

“Glad to see you, Monroe.” The soldier held up a radio, then waved the caravan forward.

Matt followed the truck down the narrow gravel road to the park entrance.  The gate swung open and Larry ran up to the van.

“About fucking time you showed up, asshole.”  He took a deep breath.  “You had us worried.”

“Sorry about that.  I ran into a problem, Tate showed up then we got a little distracted.”  Matt nodded toward Red. “Found some folks that needed some help.”

Larry leaned in and grinned at Red. “I guess we’ll let it slide since you brought a beautiful woman back with you.”  He glanced toward the three people in the back seat.  “Welcome to Camp Verde.”

Tate pulled forward and Matt pulled his foot from the break.

Larry stepped back.  “Let’s get these folks inside and settled.” He tapped the top of the van. “When we get these folks settled, we need to have a talk.”

“Got it.  Meet me at the office at four.” Matt answered.

A few minutes later, five vehicles, the two pickups, the white truck, doc’s Oldsmobile and the minivan were parked at the edge of the parking lot.  Everyone gathered bags and boxes of supplies and followed Tate and Matt to the Rec Center.

Doc, Helen and their granddaughter, Libby and Rosalee stood together looking at all the people around the camp.  Red and Theresa stood together.  Three more children, two more adult women and two teenagers stood behind them.

They are looked around at the collection of soldiers, couple women and dozens of children and teens.  The kids were the first to move closer to the new arrivals.  Amy came hurried toward the group carrying Clair.

“Mr. Matt.”  Amy called out as she ran toward the small gathering. “I missed you.”

When Amy got to his side, Matt rumpled her hair and squatted down to smile at her.  “I missed you too, pumpkin.  How’s Claire Bear?”

Claire reached out with both arms and leaned toward Matt. He caught the wiggling bundle with a chuckle.

“Claire missed you too.”  Amy laughed and hugged Matt’s neck.

Finally, he rose.  “I can see. Have you two been good while I was gone?”

“Of course.  Miss Amanda fed Claire mushed up peas and she smelled so bad, Miss Amanda says never again.”

Amanda crossed the yard from the Manager’s office with Jake following close on her heels.  “Well, what have we hear.  New arrivals?”

“And none too soon, the way I see it, young lady.”  Answered Doc.

Amanda looked at the old man with white hair and the pleasant looking plump lady next to him.  “And why would that be?”  She asked.

“I’m a doctor and my wife a nurse.”  He grinned.  “From the looks of it, none too soon.”

Amanda laughed.  “If you only knew.”

Jake looked panicked.  “She’s been doing that thing all afternoon.”

“Just Braxton Hicks.”  She turned to Matt.  “Did you tell Jake to watch out for me?  I can’t even go to the bathroom without him jumping up and following me.”

Matt got to his feet.  “Jake, we need to get these folks settled.  Do we have room in the Rec Center?”

Jake nodded.  “We came across a lucky find, day before yesterday.”  Brought four campers from another camp ground, not far from here.  Found a few people too.”

Matt turned toward four campers parked on the front row of concrete pads behind the food truck.  “So I see. You can tell me all about it later.”

Matt pulled the cover from his watch and saw he missed midnight by seven minutes.  He emptied the rest of his bottle of water then got to his feet.  He stepped around the rest of the people that had chosen the store room to sleep in and walked to the front of the store.  He glanced over at the little girls and saw everyone was still asleep though one little girl whimpered from time to time.

Matt was frowning by the time he stepped around the display shelf and met Tate’s gaze.

“What’s that look for?”  She asked.

“Nothing.  The kid’s crying in her sleep.”

“They all went through a lot, but she’s all alone.  All the other kids have at least a sibling in the group.  She has no one, since she watched her folks killed.”

“I wish we hadn’t killed them so quick.”  Matt growled.

Tate sighed.  “Can’t change what happened.  I’m gonna get some sleep.  You’d better decide where we go from here.  They all act like you have all the answers.”

“That’s what scares me.”

Tate disappeared around a display case and after a few minutes of shuffling around she settled and Matt could hear a gentle sigh and then nothing but the soft whimper of the little girl.

Matt looked out into the moon lit night.  Distant fires glowed on the horizon.  He wondered what town.  Uvalde?  Had to be.  Could the whole town of fifteen thousand people be burning? They needed to head north and get back to Camp Verde.  Then what?  Stay or pack everyone up and head up to Pine Springs Canyon. Would the old man take in this many kids?

Matt ran his hands through his hair.  He made a mental calculation and realized he had two dozen adults and over thirty kids to look out for.  Fifty people would be a lot of mouths to feed.  A lot to bring to an old man’s door and expect sanctuary for all.

He took a deep breath and decided he didn’t need to decide anything right now. But when he got back, he needed to talk to Jake and Larry.  He couldn’t just sit at Camp Verde with the girls when he knew where they had family. He had told Amy he would get her to her grandfather.  What if the mother was there now thinking she had lost her children? He couldn’t imagine the pain she must be suffering.  He knew Brian Jameson and he was a good man. He had kept Matt out of jail more than a couple times in the past six months. Matt also was sure he was dead since he was on the base the morning of the attack.

Matt watched the shadows as the night slipped away.  He pondered the future for the group, his group.  He rested his hand on the bottle of pills in his pocket and vowed he would never take another drink.  He had a job.

He squared his shoulders and pulled a map from a side pocket and a LED light from another.  He laid the map on the counter and ran his fingers down the red lines back to Camp Verde.  He owed Jameson, but he couldn’t make it at the expense of forty-five other people that depended on him. He’d figure out a way to get the girls to their grandfather, but not right now. It was a matter of the greater good.

Just as the night faded and the sun peeked over the distant tree line Tate walked up behind Matt with two cups of coffee in hand.  She handed one to him.

“Well, boss.  What’s the plan?” She asked.

“They go to the camp with us. I have to get the girls we found in San Antonio to Pine Springs Canyon eventually, but for now….”

“Which girls?  What do you know about Pine Springs Canyon?”  Tate asked with a frown.

“Amy and Claire. Their dad died on the base.  I promised Amy, I’d get her and her sister to their grandfather’s place. That’s where they were going when they got separated from their mother.”