Read Online Apocalypse Asunder by David Rogers - Free Book Online Page B

the dark, that was much harder.
    “We’re . . . what, a hundred miles from Florida?”
    Austin considered, then shrugged.  “About that, I think.  I didn’t count it up.”
    “So tomorrow we can do our next fill up south of the border.”
    “No sweat, unless we get seriously stuck back tracking and side tracking as we go.”
    Jessica sighed.  “It’s been a while since I drove it, but if I remember correctly, once you’re south of Valdosta, I-75 is pretty dead until you get a good ways into Florida.”
    “Sounds about right.  Easy enough to check on the map.”
    “And the GPS.” she pointed out.  They had a GPS picked up from an abandoned car a couple weeks earlier.  However completely screwed the Earth was with zombies rampaging around eating and destroying whatever they got their teeth into; satellites in space were working quite normally.  As far as she and Austin had been able to tell; the little unit was functioning without problems.
    “Yeah, but we’ll still need to stop somewhere and get a paper map that covers Florida.”
    “Why?”
    He shrugged.  “Call it habit.  Never rely on things that plug in.  Batteries go flat, get lost, go bad, whatever.  Don’t worry, we can probably combine it with the gas stop.”
    “Fine.” she said, deciding arguing about procuring a road map for the other state to back up the GPS wasn’t the worst idea she’d ever heard.  “So here’s my plan.  Find a spot to sleep in, same as we’ve been doing.  If dark comes and we can’t find something safe, we’ll park and sleep in the car.  Tomorrow, we head south and keep our eyes open for anything useful in the way of supplies, until we get south of Valdosta and can swing over to the Interstate.  If it holds up, we take the fast lane south.
    “With any luck, by the afternoon we’ll either be somewhere around, I don’t know, Gainesville or something, or we’ll have hit the jackpot on food and gas.  If our luck doesn’t hold, then we’ll just deal with it as it comes; but we keep heading south.”
    Austin nodded.  “Sounds like a plan.”
    She studied him, but – as usual on something important– he didn’t seem to be making fun of her.  He only did that when it was harmless fun, never when it was important.  “You know, you don’t have to go along with everything I say.”
    “I know.  And if you said stupid things, I’d speak up.  But your decisions are generally solid.  And, like I keep saying, you’re in charge.”
    “Austin, this is a team.  I’m not some warrior princess you’re sworn to protect.”
    He grinned.  “Now there’s an image I’ll enjoy.”  His grin widened as she turned a little pink, then he sobered enough to give her a calm look.  “Jessica, I’m not just sticking around because I’m hurt.  There’s nowhere else I need or want to be.  Honest.”
    “It’s just . . . I guess I’m not used to someone . . . someone like you being so . . .” she said haltingly before finally trailing off, her thoughts stumbling to a halt as she realized she couldn’t find the right word.
    “Accommodating?” he finally suggested as the pause went on long enough for it to be obvious she was stuck.
    “Patient.” Jessica replied.  “You’re just so damned patient it’s . . . strange.”
    “That’ll make Candice laugh, another middle name to add to my collection.”
    Jessica smiled.  “If all this ever goes back to normal, I’m going to make you print business cards.  Just so you can see how ridiculous having seventeen hundred middle names looks.”
    “Threats?” he taunted.
    “Promises.  I remember someone told me promises are a lot worse than threats.”
    He winked.  “That does sound familiar.  Well, we’ll file that one away for better days.  In the meantime, come on Your Highness.  We’re losing sunlight.”
    “Oh you are so not calling me that.” Jessica said as she grabbed the bag off the counter.  “Don’t even.”
    “Your