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My brows furrowed. Marshall, with all its radio and telecom equipment, had been one of the first to develop an entire network of communities, with Camp Fox being one of its weekly contacts.
Ma
I gulped in shock. Marshall was a large settlement. With survivors from the Twin Cities, they’d had a couple thousand survivors and had set up walls around the small university. No herd should’ve gotten close.
“I don’t get it,” Tyler said. “What kind of herd could get past Marshall’s troops?”
“Not just any herd. Many huge herds all moving together.” Ma
A hundred thousand zeds. I shivered. A herd of forty nearly got the best of us today. The last thing I could fathom was an endless herd heading straight toward us.
Ma
“You think these herds are headed this way?” I asked the instant before I knew Tyler would voice the same question.
Ma
Tyler pursed his lips before letting out a sigh. “Well, shit. I definitely want to learn more about this zed problem, but your folks need food and rest. We can talk more over di
The other man nodded. “I owe you my life and my thanks. Your offer is more than fair.” Then he held out his hand.
This time, Tyler shook it.
A blond guy approached Ma
He shoved the picture in my face. “Please, you have to help me. My wife and daughter are still in Marshall. If you can give me some supplies, I can go back for them while the others go ahead and find somewhere safe.”
“Bill, we’ve talked about this already,” Ma
“I know, but I can’t leave them alone for much longer. I need to get back to them,” Bill replied before looking again at me. “Please. It’s my family.”
My lips tightened. He was clearly trying to get me on his side, likely because I was a woman. He was playing to the wrong person. Of the pair in front of him, Tyler had the softer heart. He was generous, always ready to help someone in need. I was selfish. Everything I did was to protect Jase, Clutch, and me. With every stranger we helped, we put ourselves at risk. Our days were already full from sunrise to sunset with keeping Camp Fox clear of zeds and searching houses and gardens for food. The idea of giving up even one day to help someone I didn’t know or trust brought on an instant tension headache.
“We’ll consider your case later,” Tyler said, pressing Bill’s hand down. “You need food and a good night’s rest.”
The man frowned and fervently shook his head. “No. This can’t wait. The herds will hit you here, just like they did in Marshall. Then there will be nothing left. I have to get my family and head south, find an island or somewhere the herds can’t get to us. If we stay here, we’ll die. Just like you’re all going to die.”
Chapter IV
Tyler let Bill ride back to the park square with us so no one else had to listen to his endless pleading. I couldn’t imagine how he must’ve driven the other survivors crazy while they’d been cooped up in that house. Ma
As we headed back to the park square in the Humvee, Bill detailed his plans about getting back to Marshall to find his family. Though, for pointing out all the obvious details, like stopping by farmhouses to look for food, his plan was really simple: drive back to Marshall while watching out for the herds.
Even though his constant talking grated on my nerves, I could relate to how he felt. If I’d been separated from Clutch or Jase, nothing short of death would’ve stopped me from finding them. However, as much as I understood Bill, I was also disgusted with him. He was too afraid to head after them on his own. It was bad enough he’d abandoned them in the first place.
“We’re here,” Tyler said a few exhausting minutes later, as he pulled the Humvee into the small parking lot for the park office, where all Camp Fox business took place, including three group meals per day. “Welcome to the Fox Park square. It serves as our command center, chow hall, and the place for just about any other group activity.”
“The university’s student center was our town square,” Ma
Bill had quieted when we arrived, likely from the smells of di
Inside, I found Kurt already hitting on one of the women who’d arrived today. It was par for the course for the Guardsman who treated every day like a frat party rather than the end of the civilized world.
Tyler grabbed a tray, stepped into the cafeteria-style line, and nudged Kurt. “I need you to check on the north gates.”
“I’m sure they’re fine,” he replied all too quickly before smiling again at the young woman basking in his attention.