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Nerit nodded with approval. “Agreed.”

“Since we’ve got only one way up on a narrow road lined by trees, we’re not going to have any visibility until we’re at the top where there’s the clearing. Usually, you can fit around ten cars on the gravel parking area. People would also park between trees. We might not have much room to maneuver if that’s where Ed’s people are, so we need an expert driver.”

“That’s me. I can drive anything on wheels. I can parallel park a transport vehicle,” Arnold said with confidence. “I’m better at driving than a Hollywood stuntman.”

Juan dug into his jeans and pulled out a green lucky rabbit foot keychain with keys dangling on it. Tossing it to the other man, he said, “You might have to prove it.”

“What else is in the clearing, Katarina?”

“I’ve only been up there a few times, but I recall the restrooms are in a concrete structure with a corrugated metal roof. There was some plan a while back to make it a tourist spot. Some folks wanted to put a big metal cross up there, kinda like the one in Fredericksburg, but the idea got shot down. Since people were already going up there to picnic, the town built the restrooms and had plans to expand the road and pave it. When we ended up with a new city council the whole thing got shut down. So we got dense foliage, a narrow and winding road, a restroom, gravel parking area, and a few old picnic tables.”

With a somber look, Nerit said, “So plenty of places for the zombies to be lurking.”

“It’s not like they hide,” Monica said around a mouthful of taco.

“No, but if Ed’s people did take refuge up there, some may have run into the trees or restroom to hide and died from their bites,” Nerit reminded her.

“You’ve got a good point,” Monica admitted.

Nerit started toward the bus and everyone followed. “We may have to improvise once we’ve reached the top of the hill since we’re uncertain of the situation and what we’re exactly looking for.”

Shifting from foot to foot and rubbing his chin, Juan gave her an incredulous look. “It’s survivors. We all know it.”

“It’s a possibility,” Nerit replied, completely unruffled by his glare.

Arnold unlocked the bus door and shoved it open. “How many people left with Ed?”

“Twenty-three,” Nerit answered. “Martin spotted Eddie. Juan identified six others.”

“And we could have stragglers from the horde who followed them up there,” Juan said.

Monica waved her taco around for emphasis. “Why would Ed’s people come back? They were a pretty salty lot when they took off.”

“My guess is they ran into something dangerous on the road that made them reconsider and turn back,” Nerit replied.

“Another herd?” Juan wondered.

“Banditos,” Monica grunted.

“Or maybe they had a change of heart. It’s rough out there,” Emma said. “They were used to being safe behind high walls. I don’t think it would take too long for them to reconsider. I wouldn’t want to be out there again.”

“Whatever the reason they turned back, we need to be careful. Let’s move out.” Nerit followed Arnold up the steps into the bus with Monica right behind her.

“Ready?” Juan asked in such a way that Emma understood he was giving her a way out if she was reconsidering volunteering.

Squaring her shoulders, she wrapped her fingers around the strap connected to her rifle. “Ready.”

17

All Signs Point to Bad

The small bus shifted gears and roared up the winding narrow road leading out of town. The few zombies that had given pursuit after the rescue team had driven out of the paddock quickly fell behind.

Emma watched the scraggly creatures flounder in the dust tossed up by the wheels until the bus turned a corner. The undead were old and slow, definitely not the newer zombies that were a threat to the people who lived inside the Fort.

With a sigh, she settled into her seat near the back of the warm bus. The air conditioning barely put a dent in the heat that had accumulated inside the vehicle during its time being stored in the garage. She ran her palm over the back of her neck, sweeping the beads of sweat away. The only signs of life on the outskirts of town were birds hopping about in the trees and a squirrel running along the edge of a porch.

Spray paint markings decorated the exteriors of all the buildings. There was uniformity to the marks, evidence they’d been made by people from the Fort. She’d also tagged buildings as she had meticulously cleared her town. It was another spot of familiarity in this new world, and she found it comforting.