Chapter 47

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There was a small mobile home just outside the fence. At least five people were looking out the windows, two of which sneezed at the same time.

"You better make sure your masks are on properly," I murmured, glad I didn't have to worry about the risk of infection.

Both Nina and Nicky double-checked the fit of theirs as we approached the door.

"I think I'll stay out here. It'll be crowded enough inside."

"Actually, while we help these people," Daniel said, "you, Nicky, and Justin could head back and start tracking down anyone who's infected. That will make our search go faster."

Nicky stared at him. "You plan to send Trinity and me with Justin? I thought you would've heard about what happened the last time these two interacted."

Daniel sighed heavily. "Can you three please act like adults for two hours? Right now, my patience is about as short as Trinity's usually is."

Justin paled. "I can be civil as long as everyone else is."

"I guess I can try this thing called adulting," Nicky said, scratching her head. "I don't recall seeing the manual, although that might be the thing I set on fire."

"If anyone pisses me off, I'm spending the night outside the fence," I added serenely, as if I wasn't already planning on doing so.

Nicky rolled her eyes, opened her mouth, paused, then muttered, "This adulting thing is way too hard. That means no smart-ass remarks. Why did I agree to this?"

"Because we don't need to scare the locals any more than we already have," I told her, turning to go back the way we'd come. "Let's go see how many people we can find."

"Probably a good idea," she muttered. "Who knows how they'd react if they saw Daniel prowling around."

Justin trailed behind us, furrowing his eyebrows in thought. I slowed down until he caught up.

"As much as I'd rather avoid it, the fastest way is for me to go through the sleeping areas and point out beds. That way we can't miss anyone. Do you have a pen and paper to make a list?"

"I'll grab one. Mind waiting by the door?"

"Fine."

"I'll be right back." He ducked inside a large building and came back with a pen and pad of paper. Two other men our age accompanied him.

I raised an eyebrow at Justin, who shrugged and said, "Once we're a third of the way done, I'll send Misha off with the names we've collected so far, then Anthony can take the next batch of names. By the time we finish, Misha should be back, or I can flag someone else down to locate the rest of the people on the list. That should keep a pretty steady stream of people going over to Nina and Daniel."

"Hmmm... Should work. Just make sure that he-" I jerked my chin to one of the two, "gets the cure as well."

The man I indicated blanched. "I'm infected?"

"I've been told to adult," Nicky told him solemnly, "so please don't make such open-ended remarks that are practically begging for a sarcastic reply. If someone feels like questioning Trinity, have them ask Daniel for a second opinion."

"Let's get going," I told them. "It isn't going to take long for Nina to finish if she only has to give a short explanation to those inside the trailer." If Daniel admitted he was out of patience, he wouldn't want to be in a narrow hallway with me.

"We can start in that building," Justin said, pointing.

Entering this building was almost as bad as the last place I had gone into. Was it really too hard to open a window to air things out? The smell of the infection was so strong it would have been easy to assume a zombie was in here, but there was nothing to denote the rank attached to the zombie undertone.

We hadn't even gone forty feet before I stopped them. "This room."

There were two name tags on the door. Justin knocked on it, and when there was no answer, he pushed it open. "Can you tell if it's the bed on the right or the left?"

I walked a few steps into the room. "The right one."

He wrote it down. "That makes things pretty easy."

A couple of the rooms I pointed out had one or more of the occupants inside, which pushed Justin into the role of explaining things. They were sent off to find Nina or their roommate.

"Pass me the list," our infected follower said.

"There's only ten on it so far," Justin said.

"I know, but I want to find them and get that cure myself."

Justin nodded in understanding and tore the paper off the notepad. I kept walking and didn't wait for them – I wanted to get this over with.

It didn't take the guy long to return, his scent now tainted by the bitter smell of the cure.

"I told them we're sending people over to them, so they'll wait by the west gate," he said. "You might as well send Anthony off with the names you have, and when he returns, I'll take the next batch."

Justin scratched his head and asked, "What's the rush? It'll be less work if there's more names on one list instead of running around several times."

The man glanced at me, suddenly uneasy, then told Justin, "A steady stream of people will keep those two by the gate."

Realization dawned on Justin's face. "They're scared of Daniel."

"Yeah... I think almost everyone has seen the barn, and they know he killed two people. They really don't want him close by, even if his actions were in self-defense."

"Even though they're handing out the cure?" Justin asked skeptically.

"Unfortunately."

"That makes no sense."

"That's what I told them."

"Ugh," Justin groaned. "Why are zombie apocalypses so frustrating?"

"When you figure out the answer, let me know," I commented. "And if it helps, being a zombie just complicates things even further."

"I bet..." Justin trailed off. "Why don't we keep going? I don't want anyone to start sneezing in the mess hall at dinner. As it is, there's a chance some people were already infected today."

"You can trade with Ironwind for more of the cure closer to the next wave and use cats as an early detection device," I said as we walked down the hallway.

"That's probably the easiest option."

"I agree."

I honestly didn't think I could manage four such trips a year, especially if each one involved even half this much drama and craziness.

~

       "Is that all of them?" Nina asked me as we joined them by the gate.

"They're trying to find the last person," I said, "but she might be out with the hunters. Otherwise, we checked all the rooms."

"If you want to leave the vial and a syringe with me," a nearby woman wearing nursing scrubs said, "I can give them the cure whenever they show up. Go enjoy your dinner. You've earned it."

"Thank you," Nina replied gratefully, digging through her bag of supplies. "Here's five vials of the cure and three of the sanity serum, just in case others show up."

The nurse took the offered supplies. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome."

Nicky's stomach growled. "Okay, I think some food is in order. It's been a long time since lunch."

"Food sounds like a good idea," Otto agreed. "And dinner should be ready by now. Let's go check."

We nodded and headed to where the food was being served.

"Otto?" one of the cooks said. "Could I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure," he replied. Then he told Justin, "Show them to a table. I'll be right back."

As we were leaving the buffet tables, Justin asked, "Aren't you hungry?"

"I ate earlier, and zombies don't eat that much."

"Alright." He looked baffled by my response.

As we passed by other tables, most of the people snuck worried glances at Daniel, and the smell of unease and nervousness grew stronger.

"Oh, I forgot to ask earlier," Nina said as we reached an empty table, "but is anyone here called John McComfry? We promised his brother we'd ask around."

I regarded Nina in disbelief. She knew I had gone past all the bedrooms. If one of Luke's closer relatives had been here, I would have picked up their scent.

Justin shook his head. "No. I don't think we even have any Johns or Jonathans here."

"It was worth asking."

We sat down, and the others started eating. I didn't like being in a room this busy without my back against a wall, so I kept a close eye on everyone. As guests, we were the new animal in the menagerie. Especially Daniel.

People kept gawking at the sane zombie, who was sitting calmly at a table with other humans and munching on pasta. Some were warily curious, but the overall atmosphere and empty tables around us pointed to the hidden fear Justin's friend had mentioned.

Otto came over to our table with a troubled frown.

"Is something wrong?" Justin asked.

"As much as I argued, those in charge don't want our guests to stay here tonight."

"What?" Justin demanded. "Have they lost their minds?"

"That's exactly what I asked them," Otto replied grimly. "And they say they didn't."

"I think otherwise."

"As do I, but I don't have the power to do anything about it."

"It's okay," Nina told him, trying not to look downcast. "We can probably get a couple of hours closer to the next Stronghold. We're pushing for time as we try to help as many as we can."

"I really wish I could change their minds," Otto told her, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. "All I can offer are some provisions, and if you have a map, show you where our old Stronghold was. The fences are still standing, but the well wasn't producing enough water, so we had to move. It's about an hour away."

"This isn't right!" Justin slammed a fist on the table, making plates clatter and causing a lot of people to look at us.

"What else can we do?" Otto asked him tiredly.

Justin hesitated, then groaned and buried his head in his hands. "Nothing." His voice was muffled by both his hands and defeat.

"We understand," Daniel said quietly. "And I did kill two people."

"It was in self-defense," Justin replied stubbornly, lifting his head to frown at Daniel.

"Yes, but many people here are scared I might do it again. I am a zombie. And they're simply asking some guests to continue on their travels. At least they aren't making their request while pointing a rifle at us." He sounded like someone who was trying to use logic when they didn't like the answer.

"It still isn't right," Justin repeated, shaking his head. "I'm tempted to go clock them upside the head to try and knock some sense into them."

"I told you something similar back in high school, not that it helped any," I idly commented. "And I can definitely confirm that getting into fist fights isn't going to make them change their minds."

"That was years ago," he objected. "I've changed a lot since then."

"Did the bruises assist in any way?" My mostly-neutral tone gained a slightly joking quality to keep the discussion from getting too serious.

"Actually, yeah," he admitted, flushing slightly, "but I refused to change just because it would prove you were right."

"Did this enlightenment come before or after the zombie apocalypse?"

He shrugged. "Life's too short and uncertain to let pride get in the way. But don't tell anyone else I ever said that."

I chuckled faintly. "No worries there. I'm not exactly a great conversationalist."

He sighed and grew solemn once more. "But it still doesn't make it right. You guys brought the cure and shared it freely."

"It's not right," I agreed quietly, "but feral zombies give us sane ones a bad rap and make them paranoid. And when it comes down to it, we are just as dangerous, if not more so. Particularly if we're injured or forced into a fight."

Justin's eyes trailed over to Daniel's bandaged arm. "I can see that, but to be honest, if someone attempted to kill me, I'd return the favor before they succeeded."

"We usually let the guilty culprit get away with injuries the first time – or in this case, telltale tattoos – but if our friends are at risk, we don't have time to let them rethink their decisions. Especially when they're firing bullets at us."

"It still doesn't sit right with me. They're supposed to be our leaders and be a good example – not just give into crowd mentality." He stood up abruptly. "I'll go find some supplies for your trip."

"Just don't poison whatever food you pack for us," I drawled. "I'd hate to have to come back here and thrash you. It would only prove everyone else was right."

His smirk was the exact same one I'd punched who-knew-how-many times in the distant past. "I'd be tempted to try, but I'm pretty sure you'd smell it."

"Go kick a football and keep yourself out of trouble," I retorted lightly, not caring the comeback was about as lame as most of the ones I'd tossed at him so many years ago.

With a snort, he grinned and left. Justin had always been the sort that needed someone to heckle him when he was faced with a challenge he couldn't overcome. At least it got that look of beaten-down depression off his face, although I wasn't sure if the smirk was a better replacement.

Once we finished eating, Otto accompanied us to our truck while still apologizing. He and Nina talked while we waited for Justin to bring the promised supplies. Other than the guards in their posts, no one else was in this area. Surprise, surprise.

I hadn't seen hide nor hair of Kane, although I knew he was in this place somewhere. He would have heard about Daniel killing the men and was probably worried I might add another troublemaker to the body count. It was still a tempting thought, so he was wise to remain out of sight.

Nicky climbed onto the bumper, but before she stepped over the tailgate, she raised a hand to shade her eyes as she peered at something down the road. "Out of all the things I was expecting, a wheelbarrow wasn't one of them."

I walked around the truck to see Justin pushing a wheelbarrow with bags piled in it.

"How much room do you think we have?" I asked him as he got closer.

"Where's your gratitude?" he asked me in the same bantering fashion. "And to think I went through all this effort."

"I'd like to say that you know exactly where my gratitude is, but I'll actually appreciate anything that makes this trip easier. It's been more than a bit crazy so far."

"Well, I hope things are smoother the rest of your trip."

"If they get any wilder, we'll be forced to turn around and head back."

"Don't do that," he said, placing the wheelbarrow beside me. "Other places need that cure. Even if the blockheads in charge are jerks afterward."

"There's a reason I'm not the one driving. And what's in all these?"

He handed Nicky a couple of bags. "Mostly food. And a few odds and ends that make camping easier or more enjoyable. You'll want to stick these two in your cooler."

Nicky took the bags from him and went to our small cooler.

Justin glanced surreptitiously over his shoulder and quietly added, "Just leave them beside the cooler for now. There's bacon and some other stuff in there."

With a smirk, Nicky placed the bags beside her. Otto smiled for a brief second before pretending he didn't hear anything. I grabbed the last couple of bags and deposited them in the back of the truck. As I set them down, I caught a glimpse of a carefully-wrapped lantern and bottle of lamp oil. There was no way he had gotten approval for some of this stuff.

"I hope you have better reception at your future stops," Otto told Nina as she opened the truck door to get in.

"Thank you. This was better than the last place we approached, but as long as the infected have the option of taking the cure or the serum, I'll be content."

They walked beside the truck and opened the gate for us, waving as we drove by. The truck tires sent dust swirling into the air as we picked up speed.

They retreated inside the fence as several zombies determinedly tottered in their direction. I leaned against the side of the truck as the Stronghold disappeared into the distance.

Time and adversity had done wonders for Justin. He hadn't turned out so bad after all.


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