The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(16)

"Shit," she said.

"Are you bit?" A female voice rang out through what sounded like a bullhorn.

Jenni held tightly to Jack, both of them shaken. Jack was growling.

Leaning over them, Katie rolled down the window low enough to yell, "No! We're not bit! We're looking for some help! Some guns! Supplies!"

"Get out of the car slowly and show us," the voice answered.

"Don't!" Jenni grabbed Katie's arm. "They might hurt you."

"They shot the zombie. I think they're okay."

Jenni's hand trembled as she withdrew it and looked desperate.

"It's okay," Katie said again and whispered to Jack, "Stay," and slid out.

Holding out her bare arms, shotgun in one hand, she slowly turned around. She caught a flash of color and looked up to see two elderly people on top of the gun shop. The woman was holding the bullhorn and the old man the gun.

Jenni looked out at Katie fearfully, unsure of what was going on.

"And the other one."

"Jenni, get out. Leave the dog inside," Katie said firmly.

Jenni slowly slid out of the truck and slid off her bathrobe. Her arms were bruised, but it was clear she had no blood on her.

The elderly couple consulted each other and suddenly the old man disappeared from view.

"You better get back in the truck until he unlocks the door. Got more running around here," the old woman said through the bullhorn, then set it down and picked up a rifle.

Both women climbed back into the truck and Katie pulled the truck over as close as she could to the shop.

"They could hurt us," Jenni said softly.

"They would have already if they wanted to," Katie answered truthfully.

Two more shots rang out and Katie looked over to see two people laying dead near the doorway of an old fashioned grocery store. It was then that she became aware that there were more zombies trapped inside the grocery. The two dead zombies had stumbled out of a rotating door as they jostled about, trying to get to the tasty morsels on the street. Most of the undead were pressed up against the windows clawing at the glass.

The big metal door to the hunting store opened and an old man with thinning silver hair dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt motioned to them.

Turning off the truck, grabbing the keys, and snagging Jack's collar all in one deft movement, Katie slid out of the truck and hurried into the shop.

Jenni slid out of the truck behind her, looking flushed and anxious, and followed her through the doorway.

"Name is Ralph. Wife is up top. Her name is Nerit," he said as he bolted the door behind them.

"I'm Katie, this is Jenni, the dog is Jack," Katie said.

"Nice to meet ya," Ralph said and immediately pet Jack, who gave him a big goofy doggy grin.

"Thanks for letting us in. We're pretty desperate for more weapons. We didn't have much ammunition to begin with," Katie explained.

"Got plenty here," Ralph said and motioned about the shop. "This is a hunting store."

"I can pay," Katie offered.

"Money means nothing now, missy. We can do business later. Come meet the missus. Relax. We're safe in here."

The old man wandered past them and started up the stairs.

All around them were racks and racks of rifles and cases full of guns. In the back of the store were all sorts of camping gear.

Realizing they were staying awhile, Katie followed him. Her hand gripped her weapon a little less tightly as she felt the tension in her body drain out a little. Jenni followed and slipped her hand into Katie's other hand as they climbed.

"Are you sure this is okay," Jenni whispered softly.

Katie cast her a reassuring smile over her shoulder. "About as okay as anything is going to be today."

When they came out onto the roof, the absolute beauty of the hills around them struck Katie. Endless, rolling green hills, lush and beautiful spread out around them.

A thin woman with long yellowish white hair stood near the edge of the roof, rifle in hand. A large tent was set up as well as some chairs and a small table. The old woman leaned over the table crossed out three names written on a notepad.

"That's the rest of the Greens," she informed her husband.

Katie slowly realized that the scenery was dotted with dead bodies: halffallen into bushes, next to cars, in the doorways of nearby houses and of course, the little boy in the street.

"Out of towner came here bitten. Went into the store. Now they're all dead. Some got out and ran home. Infected their families. Got seventy in the town. We've shot twenty dead. No accounting for tourists," the old man informed them, hands tucked into his pants.

"You're both okay though," Katie said.

"Yeah. Store closed today. It's my birthday.” Ralph shrugged.

Nerit smiled at her spouse for a moment, then narrowed her eyes at something down the road and raised her rifle. Another shot rang out. She turned and crossed off another name.

"Last of the Millers," she said in a rich accent.

"Nerit is from Israel. She was a sniper in the Israeli army. Married her two years ago. Glad I did. Dead on shot."

Katie laughed and looked at Jenni. She was glad to see the other woman was actually smiling. Jack sauntered over to an old hunting dog lying nearby.