out of the rain tonight,” I said. “Can we at least get that? We’ll leave in the morning and give you no trouble.”
Hector stared. I think because I wasn’t speaking like a raving lunatic, he didn’t know what to say at first. It didn’t last long.
“Oh, and we’re just supposed to trust that you’re not infected yourself? No way. Out. Now.” Hector puffed himself up as big as possible.
“We’re not infected!” Rosa said.
“And just how do you know that?” Hector chided.
“Fine. We’ll leave,” I said. “If you can help us with one thing.”
“What?” Hector’s surprise was obvious.
“You know this area, I assume. It’s raining like hell out there. You must know some place close by where we can shelter for the night.”
Hector thought about it. He seemed very reluctant to give up any information. Everyone was silent, looking back and forth at one another for a moment.
“The supply shed. Behind the bleachers.” It was David who spoke up. “It stays dry, and we’ve been in there, so we know there aren’t any zombies.”
Hector put on a sour expression for effect and to maintain his air of control, but acquiesced. “One night,” he said. “And you go there now.”
In minutes we stood at the back door, gauging the rain and the best route to run to the shed. David pointed the way. “Sorry for, you know, knocking you in the head.”
“Don’t worry about it, kid. Thanks for trying to help us.” I looked back at the gym, the warm beds and bright lights and plentiful supplies, and gave a regretful sigh. And we ran into the rain. The distance was maybe a few hundred yards, enough for us to get pretty soaked on the way. The shed was large and dry, but not built for comfort. As the storm intensified outside, we slept on the concrete slab floor. In the end, it may have saved our lives, despite the hours we spent shivering in our cold, damp clothes.
* * *
The next morning the rain had stopped. We awoke, ate some canned food from our provisions, and started back toward the highway. As we went past the gymnasium, a door flung open and Hector appeared. He ran toward us. He was holding a pistol.
“ You killed them! ” he shouted. Others piled out behind him, including David and Siobhan.
“It’s not their fault!” David yelled, pushing past people to get to Hector.
Shocked by the scene, I stood in place as Hector approached. It was one part fear that running would mean a bullet in my back, one part good old-fashioned inaction in the face of danger. Hector charged right up to me and trained the pistol on my forehead.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked quietly. Beside me Rosa gasped and leapt forward. Hector slid the pistol over toward her and she stopped short. He pointed it back to me.
“Last night,” Hector panted. “Because of you, we were attacked. Zombies everywhere . Goddammit. We were holed up all night. We ended up killing all the damn things — 23 of them. Eight of my people died . Just because you had to show up.” He cocked the pistol. From what we saw the day before, there were only 30 or 40 people living there in the first place. The community had gotten a heck of a lot smaller in one night.
“Hector!” Siobhan shouted. “She’s dead. This won’t bring her back.” Hector paused, and the pistol dipped a bit. Then he raised it in fury, back at my head.
“Please. Anna wouldn’t want this .” Siobhan extended her hand for the gun. I could only guess who Anna was. Hector’s wife or girlfriend or mother or sister. The specifics didn’t matter at the moment.
Wheeling around, Hector changed his focus. “Actually, I suppose it was you two who are really responsible.” He looked toward David and Siobhan. “Pack up your things, you’re out of here today.”
Siobhan stepped back. “No! We’ll die outside!”
I looked at Hector, into his eyes. He was on the
Hector stared. I think because I wasn’t speaking like a raving lunatic, he didn’t know what to say at first. It didn’t last long.
“Oh, and we’re just supposed to trust that you’re not infected yourself? No way. Out. Now.” Hector puffed himself up as big as possible.
“We’re not infected!” Rosa said.
“And just how do you know that?” Hector chided.
“Fine. We’ll leave,” I said. “If you can help us with one thing.”
“What?” Hector’s surprise was obvious.
“You know this area, I assume. It’s raining like hell out there. You must know some place close by where we can shelter for the night.”
Hector thought about it. He seemed very reluctant to give up any information. Everyone was silent, looking back and forth at one another for a moment.
“The supply shed. Behind the bleachers.” It was David who spoke up. “It stays dry, and we’ve been in there, so we know there aren’t any zombies.”
Hector put on a sour expression for effect and to maintain his air of control, but acquiesced. “One night,” he said. “And you go there now.”
In minutes we stood at the back door, gauging the rain and the best route to run to the shed. David pointed the way. “Sorry for, you know, knocking you in the head.”
“Don’t worry about it, kid. Thanks for trying to help us.” I looked back at the gym, the warm beds and bright lights and plentiful supplies, and gave a regretful sigh. And we ran into the rain. The distance was maybe a few hundred yards, enough for us to get pretty soaked on the way. The shed was large and dry, but not built for comfort. As the storm intensified outside, we slept on the concrete slab floor. In the end, it may have saved our lives, despite the hours we spent shivering in our cold, damp clothes.
* * *
The next morning the rain had stopped. We awoke, ate some canned food from our provisions, and started back toward the highway. As we went past the gymnasium, a door flung open and Hector appeared. He ran toward us. He was holding a pistol.
“ You killed them! ” he shouted. Others piled out behind him, including David and Siobhan.
“It’s not their fault!” David yelled, pushing past people to get to Hector.
Shocked by the scene, I stood in place as Hector approached. It was one part fear that running would mean a bullet in my back, one part good old-fashioned inaction in the face of danger. Hector charged right up to me and trained the pistol on my forehead.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked quietly. Beside me Rosa gasped and leapt forward. Hector slid the pistol over toward her and she stopped short. He pointed it back to me.
“Last night,” Hector panted. “Because of you, we were attacked. Zombies everywhere . Goddammit. We were holed up all night. We ended up killing all the damn things — 23 of them. Eight of my people died . Just because you had to show up.” He cocked the pistol. From what we saw the day before, there were only 30 or 40 people living there in the first place. The community had gotten a heck of a lot smaller in one night.
“Hector!” Siobhan shouted. “She’s dead. This won’t bring her back.” Hector paused, and the pistol dipped a bit. Then he raised it in fury, back at my head.
“Please. Anna wouldn’t want this .” Siobhan extended her hand for the gun. I could only guess who Anna was. Hector’s wife or girlfriend or mother or sister. The specifics didn’t matter at the moment.
Wheeling around, Hector changed his focus. “Actually, I suppose it was you two who are really responsible.” He looked toward David and Siobhan. “Pack up your things, you’re out of here today.”
Siobhan stepped back. “No! We’ll die outside!”
I looked at Hector, into his eyes. He was on the
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