“Yes,” Alexander admitted. “We don’t know why or how or when the zombies will come back in significant numbers.”
Janice said, “I’d still rather take my chances here than out there. Where would we go?”
“Colorado Springs,” Marty answered.
“Colorado Springs?” Jize asked. “Why there?”
“Jocelyn heard a garbled radio broadcast. From what she made out, the government may have control of Peterson Air Force Base, which is in Colorado Springs.”
“May?” Vin asked.
“I couldn’t tell for sure,” Jocelyn said. “A lot of static.”
“Colorado Springs,” Jize said. “Hmm . . . that’s west of here, right, south of Denver?”
“Correct,” Marty said.
“If I’m immune to the virus,” Jocelyn said, “perhaps the scientists there could study me to discover a cure and potentially reverse the zombies back to human.” Jocelyn looked at Alexander. “You don’t think they’re really dead, or undead, like the zombies from fiction, right?”
Alexander nodded.
“So,” she continued, “it’s possible the condition can be reversed?”
Alexander shook his head. “Possible but not likely.” He paused again. He liked to do that, it seemed. “However, there would be significant hope for a vaccine to stop the spread.” Pause again. “As long as the entire world isn’t overrun by then, but there may be holdouts in rural areas especially.”
Jocelyn looked over at Emily on the couch, still sound asleep. Beyond her was a dark soda machine.
“I’ve been given a gift, a special one, one that only a few people may have. Hell, I may be the only one like me, and I think I can help by being studied. The best place for that is the CDC in Atlanta if it’s not overrun, or somewhere else the government could set up such an operation, and the best way to start that ball rolling is to get to Colorado Springs first.”
Vin snorted. “It’ll take you a week to walk there. You’ll be cold and exposed to the elements, and who knows how long the government can hold the base? It may be overrun by the time you arrive.”
“Do you understand how cold it will get here come December?” Jocelyn asked. “I have friends in Denver that let me know time and again when temps reach twenty below, and they’re five thousand feet lower than we are . . . Don’t any of you have a working car? My battery is dead, but—”
“No,” Vin said, “I left my engine running with the key fob in the car when I ran off, so it must be out of gas by now; Alexander says his is hopelessly stuck in the ski resort parking lot; Jize’s rental car would have shut down when his son-in-law vanished with the key fob; Marty wrecked his patrol car; and Janice carpooled.”
Jocelyn eyed the bathroom door. She suddenly needed to pee, but she could hold off.
“Does anyone know how to hot wire a car?” Jocelyn asked. Everyone shook their heads.
“That’s a thing of the past anyway,” Vin said. “Most cars you can’t hot wire anymore.”
“But there are some,” Jocelyn pointed out. “The old ones. Maybe we can find an old van—”
“Won’t be easy,” interrupted Vin.
“—Besides we passed a bicycle rental place as Marty and I walked up here. There are plenty of bikes for all of us. That’ll take us, what, two to three days?”
“For all of us?” Vin said. “You expect to bicycle to Colorado Springs in two or three days? You’re insane. Maybe I could. Maybe the sheriff could. But not the rest of you.”
“Fine. A week then. Two to walk. But I should get to the military so they can study me.”
“One more thing,” Marty said. “There’s a band of survivalists in the area. They accosted us, asking us to hand over our gear and weapons. Jocelyn and I killed four of them, two ran off.”
“You faced six survivalists and won?” Vin said.
Marty smiled. “They tried to ambush us. But they didn’t count on Jocelyn here. That girl can take bullets almost as well as the zombies can.”
Vin gaped for a few seconds, then recovered. “I thought those were moth holes in your sweatshirt. But they’re bullet holes.”
“Yes,” Jocelyn said.
Vin continued. “Where are their weapons?”
“They only had handguns,” Marty said.
“Two had shotguns,” Jocelyn said. “I let them get away.”
Vin rolled his eyes. “Lovely. So if the zombies don’t get us—”
“—Eventually the survivalists will.” Marty frowned as he finished Vin’s sentence. “Actually, I have a better way to get to the Air Force base. There’s a car rental place about a mile and a half north of here, and they should have all the key fobs there for the cars on the lot. We can walk north for half an hour, and hopefully we can at least find something to drive.”
“But the roads are clogged,” Vin pointed out.
“On my way over here,” Marty said, “before the crash, I could navigate the median strips, sidewalks, and empty spots in the road. We may have to move an occasional vehicle, but it will still be faster than biking. And once we’re clear of town, the roads are smooth sailing, at least until Clinton, and I’m pretty sure all the way to North Valley.”
Vin rubbed his nascent beard. “There’s a gun shop in North Valley. They have plenty of shotguns.”
Marty looked around the room. “So, it’s settled then, we go to Colorado Springs? First thing in the morning?” Vin nodded. “All in favor of going, raise your hand.”
Marty, Vin, Alexander, and Jocelyn raised their hands. Janice and Jize did not.
“Why aren’t you two convinced?” Jocelyn asked.
Janice spoke up first. “It is too dangerous for Emily.”
“I agree,” Jize said. “And having Emily along is too dangerous for us.”
“I think it’s too dangerous to stay,” Marty said. “And far too dangerous to leave her alone with just the two of you.” Marty must
