They stopped at the restaurant and peered around the corner. No guards. No one. They crossed a parking lot and then a vacant lot on their way to the main highway. Passing a gas station on their right, the women’s motel came into view up and to the right, along the north side of the highway. Still no one.
They didn’t know which room housed Janice and Emily, or even if they were there. They might not be back from the hospital yet. Well, with no guards, hopefully it would be easy enough to find out.
They walked in the open office door. Ms. Coward, the woman who had greeted them earlier, gasped as Marty pointed his gun at her.
“Where are Janice and Emily?” he asked.
“Two oh three,” the woman said, a little shaky.
“Where are the guards?”
“They left to fight at the Dyer-Mart up the road.”
Marty pointed with his non-gun hand to the east. “That way?”
She nodded, swallowing hard.
“Alexander, go collect them,” Marty said. “I’ll keep an eye on this one.”
“Er . . . right.” Alexander left out the door.
“Who are they fighting against?” Marty asked Coward.
“I don’t know.”
It could be anyone: the Hispanics; the African-Americans; the zombies; or some other organized group. Survivalists? The military? They were probably fifty miles from the Air Force Base.
As if on cue, Marty heard helicopter noise to the east besides the continued gunfire, though he wasn’t sure. Then an explosion sounded from the same direction.
Alexander returned with Janice and Emily.
“We’re escaping. You on board, Janice?” Marty asked, gun still pointed at Coward behind the check-in desk.
“Do I have a choice?”
Marty winced. “I’m sorry, but no. They’ll torture and kill you for what we’ve already done. At least, they said they would.”
Janice sighed. “You had to make a decision. I think it’s the right one. I’m already starting to feel ill. I think Colorado Springs is our only hope.”
“Okay,” Marty said. “The gunfire changes the plan. We were going to steal a car and head there.”
“But we’ll get caught in the crossfire,” Janice said.
“But if we wait it out, we might lose our chance to escape,” Marty added.
“Actually,” Alexander said, “I think our best hope is to wait it out.”
“You heard the helicopter?” Marty asked.
“Yes. If we hide out, we’re doomed if the firefight lasts throughout the night, because we’ll lose the cover of night, but I don’t think that’s likely.”
“Agreed,” Marty said.
“Agreed,” Janice said.
“So that leaves escape once the firefight is over. As long as there’s a car available, we should have as much chance as the previous plan.”
“Agreed,” Marty said again. “And then there’s the helicopter.”
“The Air Force Base,” Janice said.
“Yes,” Marty said. “If it’s the government, and they win, that is our best hope. But if not, or if they lose, or if we can’t find a car, we’ll still need food.”
“Wait . . . what if it’s zombies that are attacking?” Janice asked.
“In that case, our best hope is to get in a car and go,” Alexander said. “But given the helicopter, I believe our best shot is if it’s the military. But if they lose, we’ll need food, so our next step is the supermarket.”
“Agreed,” Marty said.
“Agreed,” Janice said.
The gunfire was getting louder.
Emily was frightened but proud she was not screaming. Her father would have been so proud of her.
But he was dead. She had faced that fact a long time ago. Now all she had were Janice, Mr. Williams, and Sheriff Hill. All of whom were old. She wished for her mother and father.
But she wouldn’t cry. Not now.
It had been hard to keep up with the grown-ups. It was as if they forgot she was a child. Which was good, in a way.
Her father would definitely be proud.
But she desperately didn’t want to die.
Or become a zombie. It occurred to her that one might be worse than the other, but she didn’t give that much thought. Following the grown-ups was the right thing to do, and she hoped they cared for her enough to keep her alive.
She wondered if this running would ever stop. I’ll be running forever.
Sheriff Hill and Mr. Williams whispered to each other. It looked like they were arguing. When they finished, Mr. Williams went alone toward the supermarket. Sheriff Hill held the gun and kept turning around as if he was expecting a bad man. Emily shrunk down beside Janice. She didn’t want to see more bad men.
But she didn’t cry. She didn’t scream. Her father would be proud.
She missed Mr. Scoggins, her savior, her Prince Charming.
Mr. Williams came back. He whispered something to Sheriff Hill and went back to the supermarket entrance. Glass shattered before he came back. They waited.
And waited. And waited.
“I’m hungry,” Emily said aloud. Sheriff Hill shook his head at her and put his finger on his lips. That meant to be quiet.
In fact, she was starving. She hoped they’d get some food at this one. But Emily didn’t understand the delay. Aren’t they hungry? She hadn’t had dinner yet.
Gunfire sounded in the distance. After a very long time, the grown-ups went to the store together. Sheriff Hill carried her when they walked through the broken window.
Now they had some food. Emily found the Twinkies and tried to get one open but couldn’t. She asked Mr. Williams to open it for her, but he told her she shouldn’t be eating that junk.
But Sheriff Hill came to her rescue. “Dammit, Alexander, let the girl have her goddamned Twinkies. Here honey, let me open it for you.” He winked at her. “And bring me one, too.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Mr. Williams said. “I’ve got a re-usable shopping bag here. We need to fill it up. Janice is filling up the other one.”
She and Sheriff Hill both ate a Twinkie, and the sheriff smiled. “C’mon Alexander, you know you want one. Mmm, mmm,” he said, stuffing his face.
Emily giggled.
“Just like Mom used to make,” Sheriff Hill added. Now Emily laughed out loud. Silly man. Mothers don’t make Twinkies. Little
