Station Hope (Book 1): Humanities Last Stand by Thomas Bach Page B

the window, exhausted and in shock. He still had information that I needed but interrogating him further would have to wait. The day was half gone so we ate a quick lunch and headed further into the city. I was hoping to fill the cargo truck today and then the armored and 4x4's tomorrow. I'll have to rethink that based on the new information. We sat around the trucks, mostly in silence, and ate. David came out of the Dodge and joined us. He didn't say anything just ate and looked at us. After finishing we loaded up and drove down the street. This was a commercial area so I hoped finding another store would not be difficult.
    We headed down what was once a nice boulevard, some of the trees that lined the middle had fallen onto the roadway. Either they had been hit by lightning or just died. The boulevard was wide enough that we could easily maneuver around them. As we rounded a corner a large strip mall came into view. A large department store at one end, a series of small businesses, and then a grocery store at the other. The grocery store would most likely be a waist of time. If there was any food it would be spoiled now, even the canned stuff was usually no good. Once in a while we find some dry goods that are usable but by now wild animals would have gotten to it. Depending on what we find in the other stores I might have James and Spencer check it out last.
    We pulled into the old parking lot, now covered in grass and random trees. A few old cars were parked sporadically, covered in a thick layer of dust. A few light posts were knocked down, nothing out of the ordinary. The CB clicked and James voice came through loud and clear.
    “Billy, Eddie here says one of those stores looks like an electronics store, he wants to check it out.”
    “He wants to check it out?” I replied back with a sarcastic voice.
    “Well, he wants us to check it out.”
    “OK, which one is it?”
    “Third down from the grocery store, the one with half the front window missing.”
    “I see it, lets start there and make our way down to the department store. Swing around back and take a look then meet me in front of the electronics store.”
    “You got it Boss, we will be right back.”
    I watched the cargo truck travel across the parking lot and disappear around the department store. It still struck me funny when James called me boss, just not use to it yet. We met up in front of the electronics store and gathered in front of the Dodge.
    “James, you and I will clear this store.” It was too small for all four of us to go into. “Spencer, you and Ivy stay out here and keep an eye on Eddie and David. It should only take a few minutes to clear it, then Eddie can go in and have a field day.”
    We entered though the front window that was missing half the glass. The store was small with tight compact isles. Cell phones, car radios, remote control toy cars, and all sorts of electronic parts filled the selves. A few minutes later Eddie was picking through the selves with a big grin on his face.
    “Is this the shit you were looking for?” I asked.
    “Yes, yes this will do nicely. There is more here then I hoped for. We will need to take most of this stuff.”
    “No problem, I'll send James and Ivy in to help load the stuff up. Try to hurry, it's getting late and I want to be back at the hospital way before night fall.”
    “You'll get no argument from me on that.” Eddie said in his squeaky, annoying voice.
    I walked outside and noticed Spencer was walking towards the department store, looking in all the store fronts. David decided not to leave the back seat of the Dodge, I think he felt safe there. James and Ivy were standing near the back of the trucks surveying the parking lot.
    “Everything alright back here?” I asked, slapping James on the shoulder. He turned and looked at me not with his usual annoyed grin but a look of concern.
    “He's freaking out, or just going nuts.” Ivy said.
    “What does that mean.”
    “He thinks someone