“Just... take care, OK?” she said. “Get to the roof if they get into the school.”
Jack managed a nod. She lifted her hand. For a second, he thought that she was going to reach out and draw him closer for a kiss, and he felt his temperature rise. But she merely patted him on the chest, turned and left the room, sinking low to get though the doorway once more.
He stood and watched the empty doorway for a few seconds.
Wow... I think I’m in love!
His thoughts turned to his father as he went back to the radio. Dad, remind me to reach out for some advice soon.
On the other side of the school, Nat hurried through the library with her gun in tow. She had many things on her mind too and failed to notice Christine standing off to the side. She did not see the young black woman glaring at her as she worked her way through the library and towards the ladder to the roof.
Chapter 48
Breanne
The Humvee slowly drove down the main road. Wind whipped around the vehicle, and Breanne watched as a piece of paper fluttered around them before another gust lifted it straight up and out of sight.
BB drove in silence. Bill was his usual stoic self in the back seat of the Humvee. Breanne couldn’t stop talking.
“Hey, BB. Why are you driving so slow? I doubt that we’ll get a speeding ticket,” she said, breaking the uneasy silence.
BB kept his eyes on the road. “There are zombies, stuck in their houses.”
As if on cue, he saw something out of the corner of his eyes and pointed. Breanne had to scan around a bit before she found what he was pointing at. There was movement behind a second story window. Sure enough, something spotted them and started pounding on the glass.
It held, for now.
“If we make too much noise, it will stir up the locals. And we’re too close to the school for that,” BB explained. “Don’t worry. In a couple more minutes I’ll be dropping the hammer!” he said with a wink.
“We got a tail,” Bill said from the back seat.
Breanne twisted around but couldn’t really see much. “Goddamn it, why do I have to be so fucking short?” She said as she struggled to look out the back window.
BB grinned. “You should see Abi. She practically needs a booster seat in here!” He checked his rear-view mirror. “It’s just a straggler. We’ll lead it away and take it out when we’re far enough.
Breanne pursed her lips and nodded. She looked forward once more.
“Car One, this is Ren. Come in, over.”
Jack’s voice came through the radio speaker. Breanne fumbled with the receiver for a moment before answering.
“Hi, Jack. Um—Hi, Ren, this is Car One. Over.” She looked over at BB, slightly embarrassed. “This is not my thing. I mean to be a radioman... person... Whatever.”
BB just smiled and kept his eyes on the road.
“You’re doing fine, Breanne. Being a radio operator isn’t very hard. Heck, I managed to make a career out of it.”
Breanne had to laugh at his sincerity.
“Car One, please report your position, over,” Jack said over the waves.
“Uh—yeah.” Breanne looked over at BB. “What is our position? I’ve got no clue.”
“We’re about a third of the way to the gate. ETA less than ten minutes,” the skinny soldier said. He added, “Bill, get ready to take out our follower.”
Breanne dutifully repeated the information to Jack.
“OK, thanks, Breanne. I mean, Car One.” Jack corrected himself. “Car Two is also about halfway to the breach. Let us know when you get there, and what you see. Over.”
“10-4, Jack.” Breanne replied, then turned to Mike. “Is that right? 10-4?”
“Sure.” BB stopped the vehicle for a moment. Bill released the roof hatch and stood up. Two seconds later, a loud report shattered Breanne’s eardrums. At least it felt like it did.
Bill closed the hatch and took his seat again as Breanne complained loudly.
“Holy shit! That was way too fucking loud.”
Bill surprised her by talking back for once. “It’s gonna to be a long day for you, sister!” he said in his sing-song accent.
Chapter 49
Claire
The group of non-combatants had gathered inside the library. Some people pretended to read, others made small talk, while others milled around the room nervously.
Claire found herself walking from the window, to look through the tiny gaps in the storm shutter, to the roof access ladder and then to the large table where most of the rest of the group had gathered. She passed Tammy on her way back to the table.
The two women smiled at each other nervously.
“Are you going up there?” Nancy asked.
“Yeah. I’m no good at being cooped up.” Tammy smiled again. “Huh, now I’m starting to sound like Breanne.”
Claire shook her head slightly, not understanding.
“Ah, it’s OK,” Tammy said. “You’re Claire, right?”
Claire nodded.
“I need to be out there. See what’s going on.” Tammy pulled her hair back into a ponytail as she spoke, fixing the few errand dark strands that had escaped. “Guess it’s the newsie in me.”
“I see... OK.” Claire didn’t know what else to say, so she turned away.
“Hey, Claire?” Tammy said.
She turned back to the blue-eyed woman.
“I heard bits of your story. About your son Dale, and your experiences.” Tammy hesitated a moment, frowning and biting her lip. “With the events leading up to the evacuation. Would you mind if we sat down some time and you told me your story?”
The request surprised Claire. She ran her hand through her hair, pulling it away from her face. She was all too aware of how gray she was, in contrast to the younger woman in front of her. “Y-Yeah. I think that’s fine.”
“Would you be OK if we recorded it, or I took notes? I think it might be good.” Tammy frowned again. “What I mean to say is, I want to put together some of these stories. For other people. I think it would be helpful.”
Claire smiled at Tammy’s look
