The older man’s wife ran at the men shouting, “Stop it. Stop it damnit, you’ll kill him, he has a heart condition.” She pushed the two men holding the older man and they let him fall hard to the pavement. One kicked the downed man in the stomach before he turned and strutted away like a blemished conquering hero.
The older man bled from his chin and his crooked nose bled freely; it was likely broken. One eye was already swelling and partly closed.
The woman helped her mate to his knee, then to his feet and ushered him to the passenger seat in their car while chastising him soundly.
When the confrontation was over, JR said, “That man was badly outnumbered, so why didn’t you help him?”
Sam was somber as he confronted her do-gooder streak. He leaned on the window ledge with his head inside the cab. “Because he did something stupid. First, he was slow pulling forward to the pump he was waiting for. That allowed the butthead in the truck to cut in. Second, he should have swallowed his pride and stayed in his car and kept his mouth shut. Third, if he couldn’t handle all three, he shouldn’t have thrown the first punches that started the fight. Get used to seeing that. I warned you about what people will do to each other. I also know I couldn’t whip all three of them. And if you noticed, no one else stepped forward either, although I’m sure most of them are armed. To intervene I’d have to kill one or more. Law enforcement is still halfway functional, so I would then be sitting in jail for murder over who got to use a damned gas pump first; the issue didn’t warrant murder or even a fight. When the zombies get here, I’d likely starve to death locked in a jail cell after all the cops died and turned. I’ll not intervene in the numerous altercations we’re going to witness where we have no involvement. We’ll lay low unless we’re directly involved and forced to fight; but if that happens go all out. Shoot to kill if it comes to that.” He focused on her intently. “There’ll be no middle ground so get ready for it; I guarantee it’s coming, and it will be harsh and ugly.”
JR stared at him in alarm as she thought it through. Breyna sat quietly staring ahead.
Sam leaned inside and clinched JR’s shoulder. “This isn’t the same world we grew up with. In the last month, society has changed drastically, and we have to change with it to survive. Get used to it because, like it or not, that’s the way it is. This change started on all three coasts, and now it’s not only survival of the fittest but survival of the smartest.”
The pump dinged before Sam put the fuel nozzle back. He had four dollars and fifty cents coming from his prepayment but chose to not go back inside to claim it. In the days ahead it would be worthless.
Minutes later they were on the road again. JR drove and was silent while she fought to accept the new world order Sam described. She knew he was right; it was common sense. They had just witnessed it; but it was still hard to accept such a drastic departure from her sense of right and wrong. She couldn’t forcefully disagree with what Sam laid out but putting the actions into practice was going to be a new experience; it was an experience she dreaded and hoped they could avoid.
Chapter II
Running to Live
As JR drove with the cruise control set on fifty-five, Sam held Breyna on his lap. Breyna curled against him in the crook of his right arm. Not asleep, she was content to stare at the dash as the radio played adult country western music.
JR glanced at him. “Why are you so quiet? Is something wrong?”
Sam shook his head. “Thinkin’.” A few minutes later, he shared his thoughts. “I planned to get a basic college degree in business and management. Being single and alone without close family ties, I would have been able to get a job with a company anywhere in the country and relocate wherever necessary. Except I never had a desire to leave the USA. I don’t speak any foreign language well, only a smattering of Spanish I picked up on my own through Mexican friends at school. What I learned in three and a half years of study is now useless, and I’m dependent on what minimal labor skills I’ve picked up in twenty-one years. Just like you, my life was turned upside down in one horrible day. One thing I am glad of is both my parents didn’t have to go through what yours did, or what lay ahead for us.”
He glanced at JR. She was listening but stealing glances at Breyna. JR appeared calm but pensive. Looked serious but attractive; in fact, she looked damned attractive. Her facial features were enticing, and the thrust of her breast behind the plaid shirt was arousing. He glanced out the side window. “So now, I’m trying to figure what options I have and how I’ll channel what I know and feel into a future life.
“Using what I know happened to the rest of the world as fact, and I firmly believe it is fact, I don’t see how the people here will fare much better. Too much time has been wasted and the zombies are already too entrenched. The only difference between us and Europe and Asia is our ownership of firearms and ammunition. But confronting the undead late gave them a
