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“Yeah,” Rune answered, then exhaled as he shrugged. “I see the dead. ”

“How do you know she’s dead?” Nerit tilted her head.

“Because I saw her last night in the hunters blind where I was sleeping.

She was a spirit. She’s dead. And she told me that there is a whole mess of zombies heading this way. She told me to get my own ass moving. Sure enough, I saw a mess of zombies like I’ve never seen coming out of the valley. ”

Travis looked at Nerit, his expression troubled, and obviously unsure of what to say.

“If you think I’m nuts for thinking I saw Jenni, I get that. But you gotta go check it out for yourselves. I saw some helicopters out there. Send one of them. ”

“We need to check it out, Travis. ” Nerit stood up slowly. “We have to see if what he is saying is accurate. ”

“They’re heading straight for the fort. It will take them a lot longer to get here cause they’re going over every hill, through every forest, every pasture along the way. But they’re coming. ” Rune would have felt resentful if not for the fact he was used to people doubting his abilities.

He probably shouldn’t have mentioned Jenni.

“We’ll send one of the helicopters and check it out,” Travis assured him.

“Welcome back, Rune. ”

“And I did see Jenni,” Rune declared. “I did. ”

“I don’t doubt it. The dead don’t seem to stay dead in this world anymore. ” Travis smiled ruefully. “Let’s talk to Kevin, Nerit, and get this ball rolling. ”

Satisfied, Rune finally let himself relax and fell into a nearby chair. With relief, he listened to Nerit calling for the helicopter pilot and someone named Kevin. He would tell them where to look, then find a hot plate of food, and a place to sleep.

Despite the terror of the night before and the coming dangers, Rune was glad to be back at the fort. It was like coming home.

2. Family Life

Juan wasn’t real sure he could deal with this.

It was almost too much.

His stomach was clenched in a tight little ball and his heart felt fluttery.

He felt dizzy for a moment.

Slowly, he lowered the tiny pink panties with the bows on them into the dresser drawer.

Jack lay on the bed next to the trash bags full of clothes and toys Juan was unpacking. The dog was trying to edge his way toward a stuffed bear.

Jack was doing his best innocent look while being very sneaky.

“My bear,” Juan’s new son said to the dog and grabbed the teddy bear.

Jack whined and looked as pathetic as possible.

The kids were moving into the suite he had shared with Jenni and Jason.

It had been a sad little home for him and Jason and the ever-faithful Jack, but now it was filled with laughter and loud little voices. Jason sat on the bed opposite him, smiling from beneath his thick bangs, as Margie talked his head off. Holly, the middle child, was busy stuffing her toys into the shelf in the side table, talking to each one as she transferred them to their new home.

“Bad dog,” the little boy chided Jack.

“Troy, don’t be mean to Jack,” Margie scolded her brother, then went on talking to Jason in her rapid, little-girl speak.

I’m a father, Juan thought. I have four kids. And a dog. How did this happen?