“That’s a good idea. Let me get out ahead of them and I’ll throw a bottle into the middle of the larger group. I’ll have to let them get a little close, you’ll have to pick off any of the front-runners.”
“When you get ready to throw, use your werewolf shoulders to lob that thing,” Zahara said.
“Good idea, didn’t even think about that,” Xander said and shook his head. He was so used to not using his wolf side that he’d forgotten that he could access parts of his body with ease now. It didn’t matter now; he didn’t need to hide the fact he was a werewolf. The truck sideswiped two zombies and they pirouetted onto the asphalt. He slowed down more when he hit a zombie head on. He was a tall thin man and his rotting arms tried to hold onto the hood as he was pulled under. The truck bounced over bodies and Xander hoped that the tires would hold.
“Maybe we should pick up a couple extra tires when we hit a gas station or find a tire store?” he said.
“Good idea and I think we’re clear. Maybe go up a hundred feet or so then get a bottle of the good stuff,” Zahara said. Xander nodded and looked around as he pulled over to the side of the road. The horde was still coming, but it would take them a minute or two to reach them. Zahara opened her door and stood on the inside and braced herself on the roof. She watched and kept an eye out for any strays and Xander went to the bed of the truck and opened a cooler. Inside were glass bottles of napalm. There were rags stuffed in, he’d light the rag and toss the glass bottle of napalm into the oncoming zombies. It was hoped that the napalm would spread the fire among the walking dead and perhaps spread on and kill many. The grass around the road was dry and might start a wildfire. That would kill the zombies as well, but might start a widespread fire. They were damned if they did and damned if they didn’t.
He pulled a lighter and lit the rag. There was gas on the rag and so it burned well. He waited a moment and then took aim. Feeling his shoulder and arm swell he reared back and let the bottle fly. It landed in between the zombies and he heard the glass break but nothing happened. He got back in the truck and turned and watched. The zombies were still coming and nothing.
“I think it didn’t work,” Zahara said, disappointment in her voice. Then there was a whoosh and blue flames began to crawl over the zombies. The zombies didn’t seem fazed by it and kept moving forward. The flame moved like a living thing as it spread across the zombies. Their dry clothing was fuel for the fire as well as their hair. Soon, the mob of the moving dead began to slow as the fire took hold. Xander pulled the truck forward when Zahara got back in. She hugged Shay and kissed her head and tickled her neck playfully. They moved slowly forward as did the now moving mass of flaming zombies. Black smoke spiraled upward into the sky as the fire spread along the grass and then to several cars. When the fire reached the vehicles, Xander picked up speed. Those things would blow up sooner rather than later and he didn’t want car parts raining down on them.
He checked his rearview mirror from time to time and then heard and felt the shockwave of the cars exploding. Black smoke was now obscuring the zombie horde.
“I’ll mark that as a success,” Zahara said and smiled.
NINE
Ethan rode shotgun as Reggie drove into the little town, they were lucky because there were three small towns within a thirty-minute drive in different directions of the farm. They drove to the feed store and he was curious to see if those assholes who had harassed Zahara and Xander, were still there. They’d been told the story and though Reggie and Rose hadn’t laughed, there had been a little bit of satisfaction on their faces. A smile flitted across Ethan’s face as he could just imagine. They were going to pick up more feed and also canning jars. Rose said that she would need as many as they could find for future canning and preserving. When they pulled into the parking lot of the feed store it was deserted. There was a large dark stain by the door and once more a smile twitched on Ethan’s lips. He saw a ball and then realized it was the man’s head. It looked as though the rest of the body had either been removed or scavengers had gotten to it.
“Least it’s quiet. I was hopin’ no one would be here, save us some trouble,” Reggie said shutting off the engine.
“Yeaper, I think Zahara left a lasting impression. I’ll get a cart,” Ethan said and moved toward the door. He withdrew his Walther PPQ and carefully entered the store. It was quiet and he sniffed around. He detected old sweat and old farts and he rubbed his nose. He was still trying to get used to his heightened senses. His brain was processing all of it and his animal was as well. It was a weird feeling of duality. He moved toward the back of the store, checking out the items stacked on the shelves.
“Hey Reggie, come here.”
“What’s the matter,” Reggie came up with an armload of canning jar packages.
“Look, it’s a solar refrigerator. You said you worked for the power company, right?”
“Sure did. Shit fire and save matches, I see what you’re sayin’. Let’s go ahead and gather all the solar panels, converters and batteries we come across. I think there’s a Lowes
