The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(41)

"Well, yeah. I mean, I know you said that thing about the guns drawing the zombies, but one day, they are just gonna show up. And they're gonna make it real hard on us to do anything," Jenni said.

"Yeah, Jenni's right. Those zombies are just gonna come here anyway because we're here," Jason agreed. He chewed away on a chicken bone as Jack nudged his elbow.

Travis frowned a little and slowly nodded. "My family originally came from England when I was a boy. They were very anti-gun. We've done all right so far with our shovels. But…"

Katie laid her revolver on the table in front of him. "Discretion was in order for you to get this place secure as fast as you did, but soon this will be the answer. It's fast and more efficient if you got good aim."

"Your friend, Ralph, he has weapons? He just told us he was the Mayor of a small town."

"He is, but he also owns a pretty big hunting and camping store," Jenni said.

Travis rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"It wouldn't hurt to talk to him about this. Besides, I just realized we need to let him know we're okay." Katie looked at Jenni and winced.

"Ralph must be worried sick," Jenni answered. She felt a little better now that she was part of the conversation.

Katie turned to Travis. "I know you're in charge here-"

"The Mayor-"

"I know you're in charge here," Katie repeated "and I'd like to suggest that maybe you should arrange with Ralph to go pick up some weapons. If you really can clear out a lot of the zombies that are out there right now, maybe we can head over to Ralph's."

Travis looked at Katie for a long moment, his gaze steady and thoughtful. "Yeah, you got a good idea there. We got about twenty of those things out there now. More on the way. They may break out of the school soon."

"Then we can't waste time," Katie suggested.

Travis thought for a long moment. "Yeah. I think it’s time to go talk to the Mayor and get hold of your friend."

Katie had barely eaten, but she stood up as Travis did.

Jenni pushed her plate away quickly and followed suit. "I'll come with you."

"I'm going to keep eating," Jason said firmly and Jack seemed to agree with this decision as he licked his chops.

Jenni hurried around the table to follow Katie and Travis, desperate to be included.

Downstairs they entered a large room that was sectioned off into cubicles. The city secretary and her little boy were fixing up a bed for themselves behind her desk while the Mayor sat in a nearby chair listening to the emergency broadcasting channel.

"…as communication with Europe has ceased there is no word on how far the plague as spread. The CDC, operating in a slowly burning Atlanta, continue to issue guidelines for destroying the reanimates…"

The Mayor looked up to see them and turned off the radio. "They are beginning to repeat the broadcast. Not a good sign is it?"

Travis shook his head and sat in a folding chair across from the desk.

"What about the CB?"

"Lots of truckers still out there trying to find safe places, but some are running out of gas. There are not as many out there as there were." The Mayor folded his hands on the desk and sighed. "How is the wall coming along?"

"We still think we'll have the area fully enclosed by morning if we keep working all night. Another batch of zombies are headed our way."

"The school?"

"Not yet. Other zombies following Katie and Jenni here. Maybe twenty. I have Juan organizing some men to kill as many as they can. We'll use safety lines this time."

The Mayor let out a long breath as he ran a hand over his balding head.

"If the school…"

"Yeah. Which brings me to something. That man, Ralph, the Mayor who told us the girls were in route. He owns a hunting store. He has guns." Travis spoke softly with respect, but Jenni could tell he was subtly trying to steer the Mayor in the direction he wanted him to go.

The Mayor took in this information, then said, "I have an idea. We could send someone out to get some guns once we thin out the zombies around the wall."

Travis hesitated and said, "That sounds like a good idea. I can try to get ahold of Ralph tonight and maybe send out someone in the morning."

"See what you can figure out and let me know," the Mayor said softly.

Travis nodded. "I'll get right on it."

The Mayor slowly turned and once more checked on his computer. The CNN homepage was up on the screen. "Still the same page as yesterday. No updates."

Travis motioned to the women and they followed him into a side room.

Curtis, the cop, sat beside a ramshackle set up of communication equipment.

He looked pale beneath his tan and his thin blond hair was matted with sweat.

"Hey, Curtis!"

The cop looked up and said, "It's getting quieter out there."

Travis nodded, walked over and laid a hand on the cop's shoulder. He squeezed it lightly. "What about that man, Ralph?"

"He asked about the women. I told him they arrived safely."

"Good. Think you could get him back on the line?"

"Yeah. Give me a sec."

Jenni stood close to Katie, watching, taking it all in. It felt good to be here. Safer somehow. But she still felt thrown off balance. Katie looked at her, smiled, and tenderly swept some loose locks of Jenni's black hair back from her face.