The Living Dead Boy (Book 3): Journey Across Zombie Texas Page 16

  Out of the sea of people appeared a tall man in camouflage with two other soldiers behind him. At first Josh didn’t recognize him since his hair was shorn and his beard was gone, but when the man smiled, he knew.

  “Dad!” Josh pushed past the people around him and flung himself into his father’s arms. “Dad!”

  “Found you!” His father lifted him off the ground in a tight bear hug.

  “How, Dad? How?” Josh was so shocked he couldn’t even process that his father was really there on the road hugging him.

  Setting Josh down, Sergeant Jamie Rondell pulled a small tablet from his pocket. “That smartphone you snatched from Sam’s dad has a GPS tracker on it. Nathan set me up with the info to track you, but you kept turning it on and off. Made it tough to find you.”

  “I had to save the battery,” Josh said, grinning so hard his face hurt.

  “Josh, I swear to God! I don’t know if I should whip your behind or give you a medal.” Jamie wiped tears from his eyes and hugged Josh again. Kissing Josh fiercely on the cheek, Jamie chuckled. “I guess for now I’m just going to be happy I found you.”

  “Do you know if Sam and Corina are okay? We had to leave them behind.”

  Jamie looked a little exasperated, but was too happy to let the emotion hold onto him. “Yeah, they’re fine. When you took off, Nathan let me know you were on the way. That’s when we started trying to track you using the GPS on the phone.”

  “Corina got hurt. Her leg. She’s okay?”

  “As far as I know, she’s fine.”

  “There were zombies in the town when we left. Did they kill them all?”

  “Yep. They fought off a herd of zombies. The town is safe. You should have stayed there, you know.”

  “I couldn’t, Dad. You know that.” Josh stared into his eyes, willing him to understand.

  With a weary sigh, Jamie nodded. “I know.”

  “Hi, Mr. Rondell,” Troy said shyly, stepping next to Josh.

  “Troy!” Jamie picked up the smaller boy, and bear hugged him. “You made it, son! And you’re covered in mud.”

  “We kinda had a close call,” Josh explained.

  Jamie’s gaze flicked toward the fields where the extermination of the zombie herds was taking place. “You were there, weren’t you?”

  “We kinda just barely made it,” Troy said as he was set down on the road again. “Well, some of us made it.”

  Dulce stood quietly to the side, her expression haunted with sadness.

  “You were on the bus,” Jamie said to her. “I remember.”

  “So was my cousin, but he...” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “He got lost in the field.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Jamie said, and gave her a hug.

  People surged around them to the spot where they were being divided into smaller groups by the soldiers. The first of the evacuation helicopters rose into the air, carrying away the survivors.

  “Are we going to San Angelo now? I can’t wait to see Drake,” Josh said.

  “No, we’re heading to the FEMA camp,” Jamie answered. “Drake is already there with Savannah and Yessica. They were airlifted there last night.”

  “Did you come out here to get us?” Troy stared up at Jamie with a look of awe in his eyes.

  Josh could see why. His dad looked very impressive in his uniform. It was clear that Jamie was most comfortable when he was a soldier. Josh had never fully understood that until these last few days.

  “Well, I came out here to get you, yes. But you were lucky enough to arrive at a newly-designated evacuation zone, which made it easier. Otherwise, I would’ve had to get creative to come out here to get you. In that regard, we’re a lot alike.”

  “The military had to come get people because of the zombie horde,” Josh said, understanding. “They don’t want zombies making more zombies.”

  Jamie nodded. “That’s true. The more people we save, the less zombies there will be. I was just glad you finally left the phone on so I could track you. I figured if you’d run off from Pious, you’d be heading toward San Angelo. This was the nearest evacuation route to Pious. I had hopes that you would make it to the escorted evacuees. And you did.” Josh’s dad turned and signaled to the two soldiers who had accompanied him. “Okay, kids. Let’s go. I got a helicopter waiting for us.”

  Josh took a deep breath and looked toward the field. There were now four helicopter gunships patrolling. Dulce also turned to watch for a few seconds.

  “We safe now,” she said finally.

  With a weary nod of his head, Josh said, “Yeah. We are.”

  Chapter 27

  The flight to the FEMA camp would have been much more exciting if not for the loss of Danny. It was strange to have only Troy and Dulce with him. Josh didn’t even want to think about what had happened to Danny in the field. It hurt too much.

  When the FEMA camp finally appeared, Josh was shocked at its size. It was like a small city. Fully enclosed within a high wall were neat rows of prefabricated structures. Military vehicles patrolled the outside and there was a huge airstrip carved into the flat landscape

  “Wow,” Troy whispered. “Look at that.”

  “Walls? You already have walls?” Josh said in surprise.

  “Someone at FEMA apparently took zombies seriously,” Jamie said. “Those were prefabbed. They were airlifted here. Well, maybe it wasn’t planned for zombies, but they sure came in handy.”

  When they landed, Jamie rushed them past very long lines of people and into a huge hanger where the evacuees were examined for infection, registered in the database, then assigned a living space. Josh was impressed when his dad used his influence to get them processed immediately.

  “I can’t go with you through the first part, but I’ll meet you after you’re cleared. Give me the pistol and smartphone, Josh,” Jamie instructed.

  “I’m scared,” Troy admitted, staring at all the armed soldiers.

  “You’ll be okay. Just do what they say. I’ll see you soon.” Jamie hugged all three kids, and they were taken by soldiers to three different doors.

  It was a little intimidating to enter the examination room and have two armed guards and a doctor in a full biohazard suit waiting for him. Josh tried not to be scared he was checked for bites, his blood drawn, and his vitals registered. A part of his brain kept panicking that the doctor would find something.

  After he was cleared, Josh was escorted through a series of heavily guarded chain-link gates and into a decontamination room he had to walk through wearing nothing but his underwear. Foamy, hot water was shot out at him from all directions, soaking him instantly. The spray smelled medicinal and stung his skin a little. The next room had big blowers that dried his skin to the point where it felt parched.

  “That sucked,” Troy said when they were reunited outside the showers.

  “Totally,” Josh agreed.

  Their next stop was a big room filled with tables loaded with piles of clothing in various neutral and earth tones. His dad was waiting for them with two stacks of clothes and new shoes in his arms.

  “New clothes. New life. Ditch your old underwear in the bins over there. Everything you wore in here is going to be burned,” he said.

  “Where’s Dulce?” Troy asked, looking around.

  “On the other side of that wall is where the women and girls are.” Jamie handed them the new clothes. “Go ahead and change.”

  Josh tugged on an Army green shirt, new underwear, and dark khakis. The socks were thick, which was a good thing because the new boots he was given were just a little too big.

  “We look so boring,” Troy complained, his fingers plucking at his afro. His cap had been confiscated at some point.

  “You’ll get used to it,” Jamie assured him.

  “I doubt it,” Troy replied.

  On their way out of the room, they were handed a bag with a second pair of clothing and what looked like pajamas. Troy curled his lip in disapproval at the bland cl
othes, but didn’t say anything.

  Their final stop was a huge room with long lines. At the end were people with tablets recording information and assigning lodgings.

  “This part we can skip since you’re both my kids,” Jamie explained.

  “What about Yessica?” Troy asked.

  “She’s registered as my kid, too. You got two new brothers and a sister,” Jamie replied. “And a new dad if you want him. Technically, you’re my foster kid until this is all over.”

  “And then what?” Troy asked.

  “They’ll try to find any members of your surviving family to place you with them, unless they decline. I already applied for adoption if they can’t place you with family. The same with Yessica.” Jamie gave Troy a worried look. “That okay?”

  Troy contemplated this for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. Sounds good.”

  Jamie smiled and patted the small boy’s shoulder. “I’m glad.”

  “Brothers for real, huh? I like that Josh,” Troy said.

  “Totally cool,” Josh agreed.

  Dulce emerged from the women’s dressing room a few minutes later. She looked a little lost until Jamie spotted her. Relief filled her eyes when she saw them approaching. She was dressed in brown pants and a beige shirt. The bruises and scratches on her arms and face were a sad reminder of her fight to survive. Josh realized the three of them looked in worse shape than most of the people around them.

  “You look nice,” Troy said, trying to cheer her up.

  “I look boring,” Dulce answered, but smiled slightly. “Where we go now?”

  “You need to stay here, sweetheart, so your mom can claim you. She’s on her way,” Jamie explained. “I had her notified of your arrival. Okay?”

  “Okay. I stay here.” Dulce’s red swollen eyes shifted to Josh and Troy. Wordlessly, she hugged both of them.

  Josh clung to her for a few seconds, then said, “I wish Danny had made it.”

  “Me, too,” Troy chimed in.

  Dulce forced a smile. “He almost did. He was brave. He was a good Zombie Hunter.”

  Guilt was a heavy burden, but Josh knew he’d carry it for a long time.

  “Like you are,” Troy said, and hugged her again.

  It felt strange to leave Dulce behind, but she smiled and waved to them as they departed. It didn’t feel like a permanent goodbye, which was a relief.

  Josh’s father escorted the boys through another door into an area filled with jeeps and other military vehicles. After a few minutes of his dad speaking to someone at a counter, they were all packed into a jeep and driven through the brand-new streets of the FEMA camp. The ground was hard packed earth, and the wheels kicked up rusty clouds behind the jeep. Beyond the bigger military buildings and barracks was the evacuee living area. The prefabricated homes were small, white structures with solar panels on the top. Josh spotted some kids playing in the shadow of a sun shield that extended over the front entrance of the houses.

  “Are these our new places to live?” Troy asked.

  “For now. Until we can get this war won, and people can start over,” Jamie answered.

  When they arrived at their new home, it didn’t look any different from any of the others except for the red number stamped over the door. As soon as the jeep stopped, the front door opened and Drake rushed out clutching Rex in one hand. His golden curls danced in the sunlight and once again Josh thought how deceptive it was that he looked like a cherub.

  “Josh! Josh! Josh!” his little brother cried out.

  Scrambling out of the jeep, Josh threw open his arms to welcome his brother. Drake hugged him fiercely, then laid a slobbery kiss on his cheek.

  “I made it, Drake!”

  “Kiss, Rex.” Drake shoved the dinosaur at his brother.

  Before Josh wouldn’t have done it, but he was so happy to see his brother, he kissed the stuffed animal.

  “Rex likes you now. He won’t eat you,” Drake announced.

  “That’s good to know.”

  “Did you kill zombies?” Drake asked.

  “Yeah. I did,” Josh answered, his happiness fading when he thought of Danny. Looking up, he saw Yessica in the doorway beside the young woman from the bus. He was surprised to see Savannah. “Hi, Yessica!”

  Yessica’s bottom lip trembled. “Where’s Sam? Is he dead?”

  “No, no. He’s with Corina. He’s fine,” Troy answered.

  “Does that mean he’s in Heaven?” she asked, doubt in her eyes.

  “No, they’re in a town called Pious with Sam’s dad. He found us,” Josh assured her. “I promise you, Sam is alive.”

  “Okay. Cause he’s kinda dumb,” she replied.

  “Yeah, he’s dumb,” Drake said, laughing.

  “I’m glad he’s not dead. He was nice to me,” Yessica decided.

  “Well, he would want you to know he killed a zombie,” Troy said, grinning.

  “No way! Really?” Yessica looked impressed.

  Josh nodded. “Really.”

  “So what’s up, shorty?” Troy asked Drake.

  “The sky.” Drake gave him a snarky little smile.

  “Hi, Savannah.” Josh greeted the young woman who had tried so hard to take care of the kids in the convoy. Her brown hair was in a ponytail and she looked a little nervous. It was hard not to miss his mom in the moment, but he couldn’t resent Savannah for helping his dad.

  “Hi, Josh. I’m so happy you’re okay. We were so worried.” She gave him a quick hug.

  “Are you living with us?” Troy asked suspiciously.

  “Yeah. Your dad needs someone to watch the kids,” she said nervously. “I’m not trying to replace anyone’s mother. I’m just your friend.”

  “She’s not his girlfriend,” Yessica said helpfully. “Even though everyone thinks she is.”

  Savannah blushed. “It’s a little awkward.”

  “Where’s my girlfriend?” Drake looked around with a troubled look on his face.

  Leaning over his smallest son, Jamie said, “Corina is safe with Sam. Remember?”

  “But he’s stupid,” Drake protested.

  Josh blushed, remembering Corina’s lips on his. Maybe, when the time was right, his dad could rescue her from Pious. Josh believed in his heart that one day they’d see each other again.

  “Okay. Enough chatter. Let’s go inside for grub,” Jamie said, herding the kids inside.

  It was cool in the interior. The main room was big with gray-colored sofa that wrapped around the corner of the living space. A large square coffee table appeared to also serve as a dining table. There were plates with partially eaten sandwiches sitting on the surface. A larger plate in the middle held a stack of sandwiches. There was a small flat screen television on the wall playing cartoons. The kitchen was just a stove, refrigerator, and small counter space against one wall. There was a ladder that climbed up to a loft area, and two doors on one wall.

  Savannah held out her arms. “This is our home now. Not too fancy, but comfortable. So, here’s the tour. Upstairs is where you boys will sleep. There’s two air mattresses up there. The roof is really low, but you boys should be fine. Jamie sleeps with Drake on the sofa bed that pulls out. Through that door is the bathroom. And that other door goes into a small bedroom I’m sharing with Yessica. I know it’s not like your old homes, but it’ll do, right?”

  Josh and Troy exchanged looks, and started to laugh.

  Savannah gave Jamie a worried look.

  “I think after what the boys have been through this is pretty much heaven,” Jamie assured her.

  “Oh, okay!” Savannah sagged with relief. “Yessica, Drake, finish your lunches. Boys, grab some food.”

  “After I go poop. I’ve been holding it for days,” Troy said.

  “Ew,” Yessica said, making a face.

  Drake and Yessica resumed eating, and Troy let himself into the bathroom. Savannah started pouring water in glasses in the kitchen area.

  Jamie grabbed a sandwich and took a bite.
“I gotta get back, but you’ll be okay, right, Josh?”

  Thinking of all he’d endured since the zombies invaded the school, Josh hesitated in answering.

  Jamie’s gaze became sorrowful, and he leaned over to hug Josh again. “You did good out there, Josh. I’m not too keen on you running away from Pious, but otherwise, I’m proud of you.”

  “Not everyone made it,” Josh answered solemnly.

  With a sad nod, Jamie answered, “Not everyone does in war. You just have to do your best, and keep doing your best. Understand?”

  Josh thought of Corina’s kiss and how she’d spoken of the future. There would be a future for them. Josh believed that with all his heart.

  “I’ll be okay,” Josh said finally, and his dad smiled.

  And he would be okay.

  Eventually.

  Maybe not today.

  Or tomorrow.

  But someday.

  THE END

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  About the Author

  Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor) as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living (declared the #1 Zombie Release of 2012 by Explorations Fantasy Blog and the #1 Zombie Novel of the Decade by B&N Book Blog). She was born and raised in Texas where she currently resides with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets). She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.

  You can visit her online at www.rhiannonfrater.com.