Hollis kept his face forward, but raised his voice to be heard over the big diesel engine. “Yeah, kid. This virus went global. Took out the majority of the people on the planet. We’re hoping to save what’s left.”
“What’s left? So, you’re not trying to cure those who are already infected?”
Hollis shrugged. “If we find a cure for them, yay. If not, we’re definitely trying to save who’s left.”
Buck fell back in his seat and stared out the window. “So, the majority of the world is infected, but screw them, we’re just going to save who’s left?”
“Pretty much.” Hollis pointed to a narrow gap between two boulders up ahead. “We can fit. It’s not as steep as going around.”
Buck looked to Hatcher who seemed as surprised as Buck was. “I thought we were getting this crap to make a cure for everybody.”
Buck sighed and shook his head. “I doubt the infected could be saved now, anyway.”
His comment caught Hatcher’s attention. “Why do you say that?”
“I think they’re brain damaged.” He shrugged. “Judging by their actions, there’s nothing left of who they were, anyway. It’s all basic stuff. Eat, shit, sex, and destroy.”
“Sounds like they’re still human to me.” Hollis responded sarcastically. “Add in a little greed and you’d never know they were sick.”
Buck gave him a dirty look, but Hollis never turned around to notice.
Hatcher reached over and took Buck’s arm. “Do you have any family that we could check with? Grandparents? Aunt or uncle?”
Buck nodded. “I have an uncle, but I haven’t spoken to him in a long time. He was my dad’s brother. He was some big shot. More money than brains, if you know what I mean.”
“I know the type.”
“I have no idea if he would have made it through all of this.” Buck turned to Hatcher and lowered his voice. “What’s it like out there? In the rest of the world, I mean. Is it like it used to be?”
Hatcher shook his head. “Mostly we’re just trying to survive. Scrounge for food and supplies, trying not to be seen by the Zulus, doing what—”
“Zulus?”
Hatcher nodded. “One of the guys in my group is ex-military. I guess Zulu is military for ‘z’…z, zombie, zulu…”
“Ah. Gotcha.”
“Anyway, we’re doing what you do, just in the urban jungle.” Hatcher sighed. “You’d think we’d have gotten this thing under control by now, but…it really is an uphill battle.”
“How many got out of the park to spread the virus?”
Hatcher gave him a confused look. “No, kid. When the military blew the top off the mountain, it went into the atmosphere. It was carried all over the country. People caught it by…I guess…I dunno.” He looked to Hollis. “Was this stuff airborne?”
Hollis shook his head. “It’s not caught that way. Our best guess is that it settled on people and was ingested or it infected the water supply.”
“And then they bit others,” Buck added.
Hollis nodded. “It wasn’t pretty out there.”
“It wasn’t pretty here, either.” Buck leaned back and continued to stare out the window. He dared not hope there was anything worth going to outside of the park.
“Step on down, nice and easy.” Squirrel held the pistol on Henry and feared that the black guy on the other side of the cab was about to bolt and run. He actually relaxed a bit when the man climbed over to the driver’s seat and stepped down.
“I told ya, buddy, we ain’t got no gas,” the taller man from the driver’s side repeated.
“Just diesel. But you’re welcome to all of it. We don’t want no trouble,” the other man said, his jaw quivering.
Squirrel stepped back and eyed the pair. “It doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out you two dragged the toasted import up here.”
Henry shook his head nervously. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
Squirrel gave him a stupid look. “The damn thing is still smoking, you can see where the rims dug into the road…I’d bet money if I followed the trail back to where it starts, I’d be really close to your place, wouldn’t I?”
The shorter black man leaned toward Henry and whispered, “He’s good, Hank.” The taller man shot him a dirty look.
Squirrel sighed and holstered his pistol. “Believe it or not, I’m not here for you.” He took a step back and leaned against the gas pump.
“Who’re you here for?” Henry asked, relaxing somewhat since the gun wasn’t pointed at him any longer.
“I ran into a dude with a big military truck. Had a chick with him?” He leaned forward and studied the pair. “Ring any bells?”
Henry shook his head, but Wally snapped his fingers. “Hatch!” Henry shot him a dirty look again and Wally had no idea why. “What?”
“Ease up on him, Henry.” Squirrel said as he pulled a toothpick from behind his ear and slipped it into his mouth. “Ain’t no harm coming to an honest man.”
“Fine. What’s your business with Hatcher?” Henry crossed his arms, suddenly defensive.
Squirrel took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Well, now…see, that’s a totally different story.” He lifted his sunglasses and perched them atop his hair. “I need to know where that man came from.”
Wally perked up and shot him a big smile. “Hell, he lives with us.” Henry turned and glared at him, but Wally kept going. “Well, he did. He’s with the military now. They went back to Yellowstone to try and get a sample of the shit that started this mess.”
“You don’t say.” Squirrel gave him a sly smile.
Henry spun and in a low voice growled at Wally, “If you don’t shut your damned mouth and quit telling him everything, I’m gonna shut it for you.”
Wally took a half-step back and shook his head at him. “Man, you ain’t gotta be all hateful. The man’s looking for Hatcher. Least we could do is—”
“I said zip it!” Henry spun and glared at Squirrel. “What do you want with Hatcher?”
Squirrel gauged the man and knew that even though he was
