The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(94)

"Yeah, the Mayor told us. He wasn't too happy about Ritchie showing up or the story around it," Travis answered.

"Look, I know I'm not one to say what does or does not happen, but I think we should just put him out of his misery and dump him over the wall.

Seriously, he's nothing but a piece of white trash." Curtis looked more upset than Katie had ever seen him.

Travis stood up and said softly, "Curtis, this is something that we all have to discuss together. Seriously, in this world, I feel everyone has a chance. Even the local crack dealer."

"Meth dealer," Curtis corrected.

Katie stood up as well and said in a low voice, "But at the same time we need to make sure our safety isn't compromised by people who have no idea of how to work with the community."

Travis looked at her, startled, and said, "A human being is a human being, Katie."

"Yes, but at the same time, what will he add to our community? If he honestly sacrificed others to save his own life and those people were his friends, then how do we know he won't do the same to us?" Katie looked at him very intently.

"That's bullshit, Katie. I'm sorry. They are all strung up on drugs and doing stupid stuff like going into a zombie-infested clinic. They are not in their right mind." Travis put his hands on his hips and returned her gaze.

Curtis shook his head. "Look, Travis, I have some serious concerns and I'm sure others do as well."

"Then we handle it as a group," Travis answered immediately.

"Don't get defensive if we don't agree with your point of view, Travis,"

Katie said firmly.

"I just don't understand how you could not see that everyone has a right to life," Travis responded.

Katie shook her head and looked away from him. She ended up looking across the construction site toward the new area. There were at least four men up on the new wall shouting down at the zombies. Katie noticed one was even peeing on them.

"Travis, I think we may have other troubles," she said and pointed.

"Ah, shit."

Katie watched as another man flung his empty beer bottle down at the zombies. Maybe it was because she was now aware of the situation, but she could swear the zombies were getting louder.

"I'll get Bill so we can go get them," Curtis said gruffly.

Travis agreed with this and Curtis walked off. "I'm going to go and get them down before one of them takes a header into the crowd."

"I'll come with you," Katie answered, setting down her half-empty beer.

Travis sighed and headed down the stairs. Katie followed, her hands in her jacket pockets. As they passed the closed door to her tiny room she shared with Jenni, she smiled to herself, realizing she probably was going to have to find somewhere else to sleep.

Out in the courtyard, there was more commotion. Several of the older people and a few parents were talking loudly to Mike, demanding that he shut up the men on the wall. Children were trying to sleep, as were the older people. Mike was nodding, promising to do something, when Travis and Katie walked out of the city hall building with Curtis and Bill behind them.

A few more men, drunk and rowdy, had climbed onto the wall next to the gate, jostling each other a little, trying to get into position to either throw things down at the zombies or urinate on them. Katie was glad she couldn't see the men's flopping penises from her viewpoint.

"Let's go," Travis said to Mike as he passed them.

Curtis and Bill stopped long enough to promise in their best policemen voice that the situation would soon be under control, then also followed.

"Get down," Travis called out as he climbed up to the platform that served as an entrance to the new area.

Shane, the redneck who had punched out Katie, turned and laughed.

"Ah, c'mon, they just stand there with their mouths open."

Next to him was his best buddy, Phil. "Yeah, Travis, they're just a bunch of dead dumb f*cks."

Travis didn't step out onto the three-foot wide wall, but stood on the platform looking toward the gate. The pounding was frantic.

"You're stirring them up. Come on down."

Several of the obviously very drunken men began to laugh. "C'mon, Travis. Stop being *-whipped by your lesbo girlfriend and lighten up."

Shane whipped out his cock and waggled it at Katie before turning, drinking his beer, and urinating over the edge down onto the zombies below.

Katie turned away, shaking her head.

"C'mon, boys. Bring it back in," Bill said in a firm, authoritative voice.

"You ain't a cop no more. Back off," Phil answered.

"This is going to turn dirty," Katie whispered to Travis.

"Shut up, lesbo bitch! Who asked you to f*cking open your mouth?"

Phil's voice was full of hate and his gaze was hostile.

"Nah, Phil. Let her open her mouth. I got something right here for it,"

Shane answered, flapping his cock at her.

"Gawd," Katie turned away again.

"Get back now," Bill said. His voice was going to a calm, deadly place.

Travis hesitated then started to follow Katie.

"She ain't gonna give you any, Travis. She's a waste of ass," Shane said mockingly.

"Fuck off, Shane," Travis answered.