“Okay, let that dog keep its Mojo and move us out,” Marks said, giving in. “The mass is still out there somewhere.”
James nodded and leaned down, giving the dog a firm pat on its ribs before stepping off. Duke eagerly moved back to the front, leading his pack. The trail slowly curved away, taking them southwest and farther from the city and congested areas.
Jacob saw an opening in the trees. James halted the group and slowly edged them out alongside a wide stretch of interstate. The road was now a parking lot. Even if they could find a usable vehicle, this stretch of highway would be impassable.
Sticking to the tree line and still moving west, they followed the road from a distance. The trees thinned out and the occasional house set back far from the road appeared. Some boarded up but most burnt out or destroyed with broken windows and kicked in doors. James was walking far ahead of them now with Duke close at his side. The dog still occasionally ran off, zigzagging in and out of the parked cars before running in the opposite direction to inspect an empty home or building. If the dog stopped, they all stopped until Duke relaxed and moved on.
The congested roadway cleared after a large pileup of cars—a rusted hulk of a fire truck flanked by a number of crushed sedans. Near a tow truck with its windows shot out lay a scattering of decomposed bodies, some in uniform. James solemnly crossed through the area then cut across a paved road, halting the patrol at a corner across from a line of cookie-cutter homes, an empty gas station, and a mini-mart.
As James debriefed Marks on what he wanted to do, Duke sat panting beside the man. Marks nodded in agreement and turned to the others. “We’re going to hold up here for a bit. See if we can find some water and food. Rogers, secure transportation; take Jesse with you. Jacob, you're on security.”
The big men took off together to look for a vehicle. Jacob followed the others as they made a direct path for the mini-mart. As they approached, he could see the storefront windows were smashed but the fully stocked shelves showed that nothing had been looted. There had been no time for that; The Darkness had moved into most areas so quickly, people had hid behind locked doors, afraid to go out into the open—even for food. The ones who had taken the chance, and were discovered, were hunted down before they ever made it to the store shelves. James stepped up to the broken door of the shop’s shatterproof glass, now white and crystallized, still held together by the frame.
The bearded Marine let his rifle hang from the sling and drew his sidearm. He stepped to the door and tugged it open with the ring of a bell hanging just above it. James pressed his back to the door and reached up, snatching down the bell. Searching the area, he found a small can filled with sand and cigarette butts. He slid this to the entrance to hold the door open, and then followed the dog inside.
Jacob paced out front as the others entered the convenience store. He saw a gas station next door. A car was parked at the pumps with its driver’s door open. Inside, a body lay slumped in the seat, a pistol still clutched in the driver’s left hand with a finger wrapped around the trigger. The gas pump handle lay on the ground near the rear tire, a gas cap to the right of it. Jacob turned to look at the station attendants’ building. A leg propped the door open, a high heel lying near its foot. As he contemplated the dried blood that covered the steps, Jacob wondered if The Darkness was responsible for the bloodshed or if people desperate for fuel did it to each other.
The sound of glass breaking behind him caused him to flinch and turn his attention. Jacob plodded back to the storefront. James was pushing containers of spoiled dairy products out of the way so he could reach the shrink-wrapped cases of bottled water. After he procured a bundle of water, he shambled over the mess and left the store. With Duke just in front of him, James sat on a parking block and ripped the shrink-wrap open. He removed a bottle, tossed it to Jacob then poured another into a container for Duke. Next, James removed his small pack from his back and retrieved a can of dog food. He used his knife to open the can and poured the contents on the ground, watching Duke go at it.
“Take it easy, boy. James has more where that came from, even if I gotta take less for myself.” He smiled as he held the pack open so Jacob could see several cans of the dog food inside.
Jacob drained the water bottle and sat on the curb. “Why didn’t you just grab people food and share it with him?”
The Marine looked up at Jacob, smiling. “Hadn’t thought of that.” He laughed then added sarcastically, “Damn, you’re smart.”
Jacob shook his head and stood, trying to hold back his own laughter as he wandered into the store to restock his food supplies.
Chapter Forty-One
Finishing his third candy bar, Jacob heard the low rumble of a diesel engine. He looked up to see a bright blue crew cab pickup with the window stickers still in place. The truck weaved in and out of cars, driving along the shoulder of the road before Rogers backed it up to the storefront and killed the engine. Jesse jumped from the passenger side, walking directly at several shopping bags filled with goods. He opened a bag and dug through the contents.
“You all save anything for me?” Jesse said, removing a can of peanuts.
Stephens walked around the truck, lifted a case of
