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“Where did you get the sausage?” Shaw asked.

“Okay, it’s hotdogs, but with the Cajun spices I always have with me, BAM! andouille sausage.”

Priest leaned over to smell it, “Whatever it is, it looks and smells delicious.” Neville dipped some out for everyone. He was smiling a smile that hadn’t been on his face in quite some time. It was good to see.

Just then, the doors from the opposite hallway burst open and Dr. Holtz came power walking through. In his hand was a huge insulated coffee mug the size of a full-size coffee can. He walked up to the coffee station, emptied both pots into his enormous mug and zipped off back towards the labs. Everyone turned and looked at Dr. Caulfield.

“Yeah, well, get used to it. That is an everyday occurrence. Actually, it occurs multiple times a day. He is a brilliant scientist, but a tad bit quirky.” Caulfield said with a look on his face that signaled acquiescence.

“Ya, think?” Neville said.

Priest shrugged and grabbed his plate, “I got to watch so I’ll take it with me.” He got up and turned when he heard a throat clearing. He turned back around to see Lia looking at him with a smile on her face. “What? Oh shit, sorry. Just not used to it.” He bent down and kissed her and then turned to walk away.

“That’s ok,” she said and then slapped his ass. Priest jumped and let out a girlish scream and then walked away shaking his ass way too much.

“Damn, didn’t need to see that,” Webb laughed.

“You and me both,” Shaw added.

Priest just started singing “Jealousy” by Queen as he went down the hall to relieve Doc.

A few hours later Webb showed up in the CC while Priest was scanning the perimeter with the cameras.

“What’s up Cap?”

“Nothing much, just seeing what was going on.”

“I’ve been thinking. I think we need to scout the town down there and see if there is anything we can use. Plus, I wouldn’t mind finding out if the “Redneck Mafia” that attacked this place before, has a base of operations in that town.”

Webb looked pensive for a moment, “I had the same thought myself. A little recon would do us good for some local intel.”

“Agreed. Another thought I had was possibly looking for a chase vehicle. You know, something small, quick and maneuverable. Something we could scout out the infected with or possible even use as a bait vehicle to lure the infected away if needed.”

“Hmm… I like it.”

“Okay. I’ll take Big Man with me and we will see what is what tonight.” Webb nodded and left the CC.

CHAPTER 35

The town of Boone was a small to medium size country town, anchored by Appalachian State University. The college was a major source of employment and commerce. It supplied consumers for the town’s goods and services and was the lifeblood of Boone’s existence.

The town was as dead at night time. The streets held an even more eerie feel since power to the town had shut off. With no one manning the nations’ power plants, it was a crap shoot which towns had power and which ones didn’t. The CDC facility has its own generators, along with a solar farm and battery banks.

Deep into the night, a vehicle made its way down the gloomy streets. No lights illuminated from the vehicle interior or exterior while the two figures rode silently.

The figures had their NVG’s activated, which allowed them to move undetected and still being able to see everything as if it were daylight. The vehicle traveled through the town at a slow creep, looking for other signs of life.

Priest wondered how many kids made it home or succumbed to the virus, never to go home again. He couldn’t imagine being a parent and worrying whether your child, not knowing where they were, if they were safe, if they were dead or not. The anxiety in trying to get to them through all this shit.

Shaw noticed Priest was more quiet than usual, “Hey Sarge, you okay?”

“Yeah, just thinking about this place when it was in full swing. Wondering how many kids made it home or got infected before they ever made it there.” He couldn’t imagine being a parent and worrying whether your child, not knowing where they were, if they were safe, if they were dead or not. The anxiety in trying to get to them through all this shit.

“I know what you mean. I think about that myself.” They bo

th fell silent as they navigated through the empty streets.

Shaw broke the silence again, “You think any of those rednecks are out here somewhere. Maybe occupying a couple of these buildings out here?” Shaw asked.