Several people shot her angry looks, but it was Nancy who spoke up next. “You’re probably right, Rachel.” The elderly woman looked at her with a tired smile. “But first of all, we are still human beings. That means we are cultured and decent. And that means we do this, for Rosa and Patrick, and indeed, we do this for ourselves as well.” She indicated those around her. “I’m not willing to give up my humanity. And you” –she focused on Rachel and Joe– “need to think bigger than just yourselves and your children.”
“Ern and I... Well, we never had kids. We got some family out of state – but really, it’s always been just the two of us. But now it feels...” She frowned, trying to come up with the right word. “... Bigger.” She nodded.
“It’s only been a few days, but I sense that what Melissa stated is right. We are a tribe now. And we all need to think about what is best for this tribe.”
Craig was about to say something when Nancy shushed him. “I’m not done.”
“Rachel, Joe; Patrick was one of us. We need to take care of his earthly remains. Maybe it helps his soul.” She looked at Ern before continuing. “But more importantly maybe it helps ours.”
“Ok, ok!” Rachel raised her hands defensively. “Jeez. You made your point. But I’ll tell y’all one thing. My babies are the most important thing to me. That ain’t gonna change.”
She stood up and with one last angry look left the table. Joe sat awkwardly for a few seconds before getting up and following his wife.
Christine and Ethan looked at each other, then at the rest of the gathering.
“What she says...” Christine started “Does NOT go for me and my brother!”
Ethan nodded enthusiastically at this. “We all part o’ this tribe, yo.” He added in a mock gangster style. With that, the tension was broken.
Jack and Christine’s eyes met across the table, and the two smiled at each other.
That evening they received more bad news though.
The conversation with Phil went well, although he was clearly worried about the increasing number of zombies around his place.
But there was still no response from the Willemtown group. They were off the air.
Chapter Fifty-seven
Rachel
November 3, 3:20 AM
It was in the middle of the night. Rachel had no clue what time it was. Something had woken her though. She felt Joe lying behind her. He wasn’t snoring, so that wasn’t it.
What did I hear?
Rachel gasped and her eyes opened wide in shock. She could make out two shapes. There were two people standing there! Rachel was frozen in fear. She watched the shapes.
They stood so incredibly still, that Rachel started to doubt herself.
Maybe they’re just shadows...
Then one of the shapes moved. Right towards her.
Rachel screamed. Joe nearly fell out of the two-man cot in surprise. Christine screamed in the other corner of the room, and Ethan launched himself out of bed in a heartbeat. He ran to the door and hit the lights.
There was nobody in the room. Still Rachel screamed. Joe wrapped her up in a hug.
“Shhhh baby. It’s ok. You just had a bad dream, is all.”
“No! They were there!” Rachel pointed to the front of the classroom. There was nothing to see other than the teachers’ desk and blackboard. The woman was still in a state of panic though.
Joe just held her and tut-tutted. “It’s ok, baby.” He released her and got up to collect the water jug. He poured her a glass of water, then reached into the teachers’ desk.
Somebody knocked on the door of the classroom. “Ethan, get that will you. Tell them it’s a false alarm, just a bad dream.”
Ethan did as he was told. Joe collected two pills from the drawer and returned to Rachel.
“Take these, baby.” She shook her head and turned away.
“Come on, baby. These will help you.”
Rachel regarded Joe suspiciously for a moment. Then her expression softened. “What are they?” She asked in a small voice.
“This one is just a sleeping pill. This other one is an anti-depressant.” He looked at his wife sadly. “There is no Thorazine available, I’m afraid.”
Rachel meekly put the pills into her mouth and swallowed them with a sip of water. She was used to taking pills. She looked over at Christine. Her daughter looked sad. Rachel tried to smile. “It will be ok, honey.” She said without much conviction. Christine laid back down in her cot and turned her back towards her mother.
They waited a few minutes for the first pill to take effect. Rachel’s eyes started drooping. Ethan turned off the lights, and the Collins family settled back down. Rachel didn’t stir for the rest of the night. Her husband and children, however, had a fitful night, filled with dark thoughts and disturbing dreams.
Chapter Fifty-eight
Romy
November 4, 6:35 AM
Romy stood outside. The sun had not yet risen. The only light to see by was from the moon and stars. Romy could not remember ever seeing so many stars.
A soldier on watch stood a few feet away. Romy ignored her. She took a deep breath. The air was so cold it hurt her lungs. But then again, pretty much everything hurt now. Romy had been battered and beaten, tasered and abused. She had been dragged out of cars and through kitchens.
It’s amazing that I haven’t broken any bones. Ah for fuck sakes Romy! Now you’ve jinxed it.
She pulled the borrowed army jacket tightly around herself, to ward off the chill for a little longer. She looked around. There wasn’t much to see. The vista
