"When we started, some of our friends and relatives came here and laughed at us and said we were foolish. Just another crazy bunch of doomsday preppers. I haven't seen them in the last year, so I assume they're all dead.
"Most of the remainder of Tom's winnings, plus the savings of the twelve members, was spent to buy all the food, fuel, medical supplies and materials that were still available. We bought additional firearms and all the ammunition we could find in a one hundred mile radius. It didn't take long to learn others had the same idea. Some gun stores were sold out before we got there. Luckily long before the zombie plague hit the US, we had finished our building project and supplies collection. Before the government and banks failed, we converted our remaining US dollars to gold coins. At the time that made sense, but since then we've realized the new currency is guns, ammunition, medicine and food.
"During any free time and at night, we all worked on the group's rules and procedures our governing body would follow; they're quite simple. You'll be given a copy of all those items as soon as you're settled in and ready to read them. Ask my wife, Janice, for copies when you're ready.
"Weapons training and target practice, physical fitness, and other specialized training and watch duty are mandatory. A schedule for the following week is posted outside the office every Friday morning. It's your responsibility to check the schedule and show up for your scheduled assignments. School classes for all children run Monday through Saturday from eight to three unless they're sick and Ira Sparrow excuses them.
"Welcome to our survivor’s group, Kira and Paige Schafer." The entire group stood and applauded the newcomers with enthusiasm.
Kira didn't smile widely, but her attitude toward me appeared to have softened somewhat after listening to Ira defend my actions.
I ended the meeting with other upcoming assignments and congratulations to all members for volunteering for the field trips that gradually increased our supplies. The last thing I mentioned was the three recent occurrences of other humans seen within a twenty mile radius of our compound. They'd not made an effort to engage our people, but instead had sped off. The leadership group was concerned but not to the point of doing anything except cautioning our people to stay watchful. Kira stood ten feet away speaking to Janice. I felt a nudge to my side. Connie smiled and handed me a bite of bar cookie our cook, Andrea Michaels had made.
For three weeks, I'd quietly observed Kira's training results. I was impressed by her dedication and achievements. I'd never seen anyone train as religiously as she did. Not once did I see or hear of her shying away from the hardest and most physically demanding training sessions. Her previous training with her husband had apparently made her aware of the challenges ahead of her, and his death undoubtedly drove the seriousness of it home. To her credit, she endured the long hours and sore muscles without a single complaint. I, and the other instructors, admired her stamina and devotion and told her we were proud of her efforts and results. Outside of our contacts concerning her training and work assignment, I felt anytime I tried to be sociable she avoided me.
Although we'd learned from experience that large caliber handgun bullets .40 and larger were the best method of dispatching zombies at close range, we also recommended ball bats and wrecking bars as a last resort if forced to deal with them hand to hand. Kira flew threw the firearms training and then requested additional training with hand-to-hand fighting, knives, defensive and offensive driving—anything to become more lethal to defend herself, Paige, and the others from zombies or human adversaries. She showed the utmost determination to face any danger and survive. It was easy to respect her.
Little did I realize how determined she was or that her husband had taken precautions against dangers we hadn't even anticipated.
CHAPTER TWO
Near the middle of September, Albert Gonzales, Tony, and Kira volunteered to drive toward Kansas City in search of additional supplies. They left before dawn one morning and were expected to return late the same day. They were in one of the mainstays of our pickup truck fleet, a Ford F-250 king cab, pulling one of the twenty foot, duel wheel, enclosed trailers.
When they didn't return that night, I became fearful of their safety. But I also knew they could have merely run into a temporary problem. The next morning, Paige seemed calmer and more positive than I expected from a twelve-year-old. Several times I heard her telling adults, "Stop worrying, my mom will be back. She's prepared for whatever happens, you'll see. She's stronger and better equipped than most people."
Albert had filed the required trip itinerary before they left. Early the following morning, we sent three crews on alternate routes with four members in each truck to search for our friends. It was possible they'd detoured, wrecked or had some other problem. There was no trace of them.
On the third morning, two trucks and crews readied to depart on another search mission for our overdue friends. As the sun edged above the horizon, the overdue truck and trailer returned. We were alerted by the guards on both towers and felt jubilant that our provisions team had returned safely. But
