The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(24)

Jenni slid onto a folding chair at the table. She was clad head to toe in hunting gear: camouflage pants and jacket, a T-shirt that read "I aim to shoot" and heavy Doc Martens. Her black hair tucked up into a ponytail; she looked very young and delicate. Katie noted that today there was a difference in the way she held herself. It was subtle, but there. After they had returned to the bed they were sharing after their midnight snack, Katie had trouble falling asleep, but Jenni had seemed to have found some peace within herself and had slept soundly.

Katie drew near to Ralph and crossed her arms over her breasts. She, too, wore an outfit consisting of hunting clothes. The only difference in her and Jenni's outfits was that she wore a black tank top under the Reverend's hunting jacket. The warm smell of tobacco and the faint smell of her savior's aftershave gave her a sense of peace. It was as though the old man who saved her life was still watching over her. In her hand she held a cup of coffee and she tucked a blond curl back from her face as she studied the map.

"Truck you came in is not going to cut it. This ain't the old world where a low tank means a trip to the gas station. Electricity is still up here. Grid hasn't gone down. Depends on many factors if it keeps going. We might get lucky. TV is static except for the emergency broadcasting network. Bunch of horse shit regurgitation like yesterday. Not worth much. But we can't take it on face value that any of the gas stations between here and the camp are up and working. Gotta plan for the opposite."

"Gotcha. So we're limited to what we can carry in canisters and what is in the tank," Katie said.

"Right. Now, the truck yer in, well, it got you here, but probably not much further without a refuel."

"We're dangerously low on fuel," Katie admitted.

"My truck, has a half tank of gas. I noticed at least five gallons of extra gas loaded up in those red canisters in the back of your pickup. We'll put those in mine. Also, my truck has a bigger cab. You can fit your young one and any other survivor back there along with Jack. Gun rack is perfect for your rifle. Also got a CB in there that can keep you in touch with us back here.

Keep to channel 23." Ralph pointed at their location. "Here's Hillsboro. Here is the national park. Mapped out the most fuel efficient way for you to get there. Did calculations. You can do a round trip sticking to the route, but no more. Any detour might stick you out there with just the reserve fuel."

Katie nodded and looked at Jenni. Jenni's eyes were huge and desperate.

Katie knew instantly what she was thinking. "We're still going," she assured her and Jenni relaxed.

"Keep to the route. Don't veer off. I mean it. We have a major highway near that park. If any infected people made it out that far you could have zombies on the roads out there." Ralph stood staring at the map, rubbing his chin, and looking deadly serious.

"I understand," Katie assured him. "We'll grab Jason and head back here."

"And don't hesitate to run those things over," Nerit said from her corner.

"Don't hesitate to shoot them."

Jenni giggled a little.

Katie smirked. "I don't think that will be a problem."

"Okay, then take the map, gear up. Take what you can in three backpacks. If you get caught out there you'll need supplies," Ralph said. His eyes were so sharp and thoughtful Katie couldn't look at him. His expression reminded her too much of her father.

"MREs, ammo," Katie ticked off.

"Flashlight, knives…" Ralph trailed off. "I should go with you."

"No, no. You belong here with Nerit."

A loud crash made everyone jump. Jenni ran across the room and whipped back the curtains. An enormous zombie stood slamming his body into the bars. Despite looking like his entire family had gorged themselves on his flesh, there were still lots of him to hurl against the barred window. The empty cavity of his torso beyond the sheets of shredded flesh made Katie turn away.

"You f*cking stop that," Jenni shouted at him and slammed her hand against the glass.

The zombie growled and slammed into the bars again.

Something about him seemed to drive Jenni over the edge. She was running up the stairs before anyone could even react. Katie followed, her boots thudding against the wood steps.

"Jenni!"

Jack charged past her, barking, excited.

When Katie hit the second floor, she saw no sign of Jenni. She saw the door to the back patio was open. Running to the doorway, she saw Jenni standing near the rail, gun raised, Jack poised at her heels, barking away.

"Hey, f*ckface!" Jenni's voice was full of hatred.

The zombie turned slowly, saw her up on the balcony, opened his mouth to shriek, and rushed forward. As soon as he was clear of the window, Jenni put a nice little hole through his right eye. The enormous zombie pitched forward, onto two female zombies who had turned to see Jenni and effectively trapped both of them under his enormous girth.

Katie stood next to Jenni, a little shocked.

Jenni turned and looked at her, then shrugged. "He looked like my Dad," she explained. She walked past her into the building.

Katie stood for a moment, registering this. Jenni's sanity had been in question since yesterday; but then again, they were all slightly insane now, weren't they? She watched the two female zombies trying to wiggle out from under the huge dead man and slightly smiled. Turning on her heel, she followed Jenni back down the stairs.