The Dead Divide Us (Book 1) by Vincent S. Tobia Page A

was that old Army-Major-looking guy you were talking to? He seemed to be all up on you,” Jan asked.
    Robert was abruptly reminded of Major Frost, convinced the man was indeed onto him. Frost knew Robert was different and he seemed to recognize that Robert knew exactly what was happening while other people like Jan were left in the dark about the truth. Robert was not looking forward to meeting up with Frost again and having to explain exactly how he knew about the infection.
    “Yeah, you’re right he seemed to really have it out for me,” Robert told Jan.
    Jan held up his cup and spit into it loudly.
    “Oh yeah, and Fran tried to call her mother up in Maine,” Jan said, accepting Robert’s vague answer.
    “Um, Augusta right?” Robert asked.
    “Yep, but she wasn’t answering. Fran is worried sick right now. She’s been trying to call her every 10 minutes,” Jan said.
    ‘Augusta Maine,’ Robert thought. ‘Maybe Fran’s mother is infected. Or maybe she’s just sleeping in this morning. There’s no way of knowing.’ What worried Robert the most was that Jan seemed to have no real idea about the infectious disease that was not only east of them, but also laying down dead in a bloody mess in Robert’s apartment. For the good of his brother’s old friend, Robert had to tell Jan what was really going on... hopefully without having to tell him about Carl in the process.
    “Jan listen, I know what's happening,” Robert blurted.
    “You do? It's war, isn’t it? Those fuckin' terrorists are up to something aren’t they?” Jan asked, surprised and angry at the same time. A chunk of black chew spit flung out of his mouth and landed on his chin.
    “No, it’s not war... or maybe it is; I don’t know exactly all of the details. But I talked to Paul this morning,” Robert explained.
    “Paul? In Seattle? Is he okay too?” Jan asked.
    Robert slowly took the truck around a right hand bend in the road. He thought he felt the Bronco slip a little in the snow but he straightened her out alright.
    “Yeah, Paul and his family are fine, but their news stations seem to be telling them a lot more than we’re hearing here,” Robert said.
    Jan didn’t say anything; he just looked at Robert with a look longing for explanation.
    “It seems there’s a virus or something heading this way from the east. It was reported in Manhattan and parts of New England,” Robert said.
    Jan leaned back in his seat.
    “New England, huh? What kind of virus?” Jan asked, rather calmly.
    Robert drew in a long breath; he didn’t like what he was about to explain.
    “It provokes some kind of hysteria, makes people mad,” Robert said.
    “Mad? Big deal, I’m mad all the time,” Jan said.
    “No, not mad like being angry. I mean like crazy; they literally attack other people and try to bite them,” Robert said convincingly.
    “Bite them? Holy shit, you gotta be fucking with me, Rob.”
    “No, I’m positive on this one. Trust me,” Robert said knowing it was a good idea not to tell Jan about the Carl Riggins incident... for now anyway.
    “Robert, stop the truck,” Jan said quickly, sounding rather serious.
    Robert looked up ahead. Up the snowy road and laying across Route 9 was a large tree.
    “Shit,” Robert said as he slowly brought the Bronco to a stop. The tree had fallen across both sides of the road, from guard rail to guard rail.
    “You think we can move it?” Robert asked.
    “Hell no. A tree that big? No fucking way,” Jan replied.
    “Fuck,” Robert said under his breath.
    “How the shit do you think that sucker fell down?” Jan asked, astounded.
    Robert looked out toward the fallen tree. The bottom of it, where it must have split off, was hidden in the midst of other trees and shrubbery. The area was a forest of rather large and lush pine trees.
    “I guess parts of this forest are pretty damn old, Jan. Think we gotta go out and have a look?”
    Jan turned around in the seat and looked out the window off to the