“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep. How about you?”
“I slept okay. Are you joining us for dinner?”
“Of course. I’m starving. Besides, there’s nothing around for miles. Someone else can take over the watch after we’ve eaten,” Alex said, getting off his chair.
Dinner was a simple affair. More canned spaghetti and meatballs warmed up on the gas stove. Nobody complained.
After they’d eaten, Tara looked at Alex. “You won’t change your mind about coming with us?”
“I’m sorry, but no,” Alex said with a determined shake of his head.
“Dylan?” Tara asked.
“I’m sticking with Alex and Amy,” Dylan replied.
“I understand, though I wish you’d change your mind,” Tara said, her expression strained.
“We’re leaving first thing in the morning,” Saul said after a quick glance at Tara.
“Why so soon?” Alex asked. “Shouldn’t you take a day or two to rest?”
“I’m not waiting around for the horde from Fort Knox to catch up to us,” Saul replied with a quick shake of the head. “We’re taking the Humvee too.”
“Fair enough. You’ll need it, and all this stuff is yours anyway,” Alex said.
“We won’t take too much,” Saul said. “Just enough to see us through our journey. We’ll need food, water, weapons, and fuel. I’ll leave the rest for you.”
“We’re indebted to you,” Alex said. “And I wish you good fortune. I’ll help you load up once we’re done here.”
Saul nodded. “Good luck to you too.”
A thick, uncomfortable silence fell as everyone stared at the table.
Suddenly, Tara burst out. “You’re making a mistake.”
Alex turned a questioning gaze to her. “Why so?”
“There’s no riding this out. The zombies aren’t going away. Things will just get worse until we’ve found a way to combat the virus. I know this for a fact. I’ve studied the undead, live specimens in the lab, and out in the field. I’ve learned much about them in my time at Fort Knox.”
“Such as?” Alex asked. “Please, tell us. We must know these things.”
“Once the host dies, the virus takes complete control, and the corpse is reanimated. This, you know. During the process, a certain amount of decay occurs. You’ve all seen that. The bite wound rots, and the veins turn black as oxygen leaves the bloodstream.”
“Yeah, we’ve seen it.”
“What you don’t know is that once the turn is complete, the decay slows dramatically. I’m not sure how, but the body goes into a type of stasis.”
“Stasis?” Alex echoed with a frown. He exchanged a worried look with Dylan. “What does that mean for us?”
“It means, the zombies aren’t going to rot away to nothing in a few weeks or months like so many people hoped. They’re here to stay. At the rate they decay, they’ll be a threat for years to come,” Tara replied, spreading her hands on the table.
“Seriously?” Dylan burst out. “Won’t they at least slow down or something? Become like real zombies from the movies?”
“I’m afraid not. These are the real zombies, and while they might incur a certain amount of damage because of their initial wounds, lack of care, exposure to the elements, and so on, they’ll remain perfectly functional for a very long time.”
“Perfectly functional meaning fast,” Alex said.
“That’s right.”
“At least they’re not smart,” Dylan said.
“No, they’re not. Basic reasoning escapes them, which is why they can’t open doors, solve problems, plan ahead or set traps. Also, they’re not very agile. Their motor skills are severely lacking. That means they can’t swim, ride a bicycle, climb a ladder, that kind of thing.”
“That gives us an edge, doesn’t it?” Alex asked.
“A very slight one,” Tara admitted. “However, they tend to swarm. That exhibits a kind of pack mentality. They prefer to hunt in groups. Couple that with their innate aggression, and you’re facing a dire threat to humanity’s continued existence.”
“You’re painting a very bleak picture, Tara, but it only serves to make me believe my decision is the right one. The only way to survive it seems, is to stay hidden. Unnoticed,” Alex said.
Tara sighed. “Don’t you understand? It might work for a while, but sooner or later, you’ll make a mistake. You can’t live like a rat in a hole forever. That’s why it’s so important that I get to Fort Detrick. We need to stop this thing, this virus, now.”
“And I hope you do,” Alex said, “but I made a promise to keep my sister safe. I can’t break that promise.”
“Alex, maybe we should help them,” Amy said, speaking for the first time. “I mean, it’s really important.”
“We can’t. It’s too dangerous.”
“But—”
“No, Amy. I can’t risk you out on the open road. I know what’s out there,” Alex said with a sense of finality. “We’re staying, and that’s that.”
He stood up. “I’m sorry, Tara. Saul. Let me know if I can help you in any other way.”
Alex retreated to the balcony and leaned on the railing. He stared out into the night, breathing deeply. He felt bad for turning Tara and Saul down. They could use an extra gun on the journey, and their mission was crucial. It was worth the risk. But I just can’t do it. I’m sorry.
After a couple of minutes, Dylan joined him. She leaned her forearms on the railing and gazed up at the stars. “It’s a beautiful night. Cold but beautiful.”
“It is.”
“You made the right decision, Alex. I know it sucks, but you don’t have a choice. Your sister comes first.”
“Yes, she’s my responsibility, and I promised my mom I’d keep her safe, but that doesn’t mean you should too,” Alex said, straightening up.
“Excuse me? I care as much about Amy as you do. I care about both of you. You’re my friends.”
“I know, and we feel the same. We’ve become a family, weird as it might seem, but this is important, Dylan.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I thought we’d discussed this. I’m staying with you,” Dylan said, turning to face him.
“That was before we learned the zombies are a bigger threat than we ever
