Read Online Rise & Walk (Book 2): Pathogen by Gregory Solis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gregory Solis
Tags: Zombies
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vehicle for support. He approached slowly, holding the light stick up to show her that he wasn’t a threat.
“Its okay, I’m not one of those things” he assured.
She seemed to shrink with his advance. He stopped.
“My name’s Jack. I’m sorry I frightened you.”
“Margaret McCormack,” she said hesitantly.
“Nice to meet you,” he said and took another step. This time she straightened up a little. There was something so sad about her countenance. The way she held her scissors in both hands together almost in prayer, reminded Jack of a Donatello sculpture he had once seen in one of Tony’s college textbooks.
“What are you doing out here all alone?” He asked while catching his breath.
“I heard a car drive by. I was hoping someone would help me.” She almost whimpered. Jack found her terror heartbreaking.
“Anything you need, ma’am.” He offered her his hand.
Jack slowly escorted Margaret to the house while giving her his arm to lean on; an outmoded custom that somehow seemed appropriate to her advanced age. Tony, worried at his best friend absence, met them in the street and reported the situation with Nikki’s parents. He told Jack that he asked the girls to round up some clothes and supplies while they had time. Tony filed in beside Margaret and patiently kept pace. When they arrived, they found Nikki placing a large travel bag in the bed of the truck. Jack introduced the newcomer as Mrs. McCormack. Awkward pleasantries were exchanged as if the world was just fine. Veronica, now armed with a flashlight of her own, shined the light over the old woman.
“Are you injured? Did any of those things touch you?”
“Oh no dear, I’m fine.” Margaret answered looking to Jack, “Thanks to this young man.”
Veronica saw the brown smears on Jack’s protective vest.
“You should go wash that off.” Veronica urged.
Mason rushed under the direction of Tony’s flashlight into the modest first floor bathroom. He unclasped the straps on his protective vest and chucked it on the floor.
“Shine on me,” he said. Tony did as his friend asked. Mason spun the faucets open and splashed water on his face, neck and chest.
“Almost bought it out there man,” he growled while soaping up his throat. Tony hooked his foot underneath the plastic armor and lifted it from the ground.
“I want you close from now on; no more splitting up.” Mason said.
“Sorry,” Tony sighed, “I stuck to the plan.” Mason stopped washing.
“Right,” he said, squinting at Tony in the mirror. There was no discussion about Mason leaving his post. He was glad he did otherwise the nice lady outside wouldn’t be alive but it was off mission. Jack reached out and Tony handed him the protective vest. Jack ran it under the faucet and scrubbed with a washrag.
“We need to drop them off and get home,” Jack said.
“Home?”
“Soon as possible.”
Through all recent terrors, Tony hadn’t considered returning to Berkeley. He leaned against the door and took a deep breath.
“I still think we need to hole up for the night and get some rest.” Tony offered, “The high school is some sort of shelter for disasters. Nikki’s parents work there”
Mason grunted an acknowledgement.
“What about the girls, and that lady?”
“Veronica wants to stay, so I guess we drop them somewhere safe.” Jack said. Tony handed Jack the flashlight and left to join the others.
Six
The sickly glow of streetlights illuminated patches on alternating sides of the road. The orange radiance provided enough light that Mason was able to drive at a moderate pace without his headlights. The eyes of the party, except the elderly newcomer, had adjusted well to the darkness. Nikki, eyes wide with anticipation chose to ride in the bed of the truck with Tony. She now wore a jacket that she brought from home to brace her against the cool evening. She had
“Its okay, I’m not one of those things” he assured.
She seemed to shrink with his advance. He stopped.
“My name’s Jack. I’m sorry I frightened you.”
“Margaret McCormack,” she said hesitantly.
“Nice to meet you,” he said and took another step. This time she straightened up a little. There was something so sad about her countenance. The way she held her scissors in both hands together almost in prayer, reminded Jack of a Donatello sculpture he had once seen in one of Tony’s college textbooks.
“What are you doing out here all alone?” He asked while catching his breath.
“I heard a car drive by. I was hoping someone would help me.” She almost whimpered. Jack found her terror heartbreaking.
“Anything you need, ma’am.” He offered her his hand.
Jack slowly escorted Margaret to the house while giving her his arm to lean on; an outmoded custom that somehow seemed appropriate to her advanced age. Tony, worried at his best friend absence, met them in the street and reported the situation with Nikki’s parents. He told Jack that he asked the girls to round up some clothes and supplies while they had time. Tony filed in beside Margaret and patiently kept pace. When they arrived, they found Nikki placing a large travel bag in the bed of the truck. Jack introduced the newcomer as Mrs. McCormack. Awkward pleasantries were exchanged as if the world was just fine. Veronica, now armed with a flashlight of her own, shined the light over the old woman.
“Are you injured? Did any of those things touch you?”
“Oh no dear, I’m fine.” Margaret answered looking to Jack, “Thanks to this young man.”
Veronica saw the brown smears on Jack’s protective vest.
“You should go wash that off.” Veronica urged.
Mason rushed under the direction of Tony’s flashlight into the modest first floor bathroom. He unclasped the straps on his protective vest and chucked it on the floor.
“Shine on me,” he said. Tony did as his friend asked. Mason spun the faucets open and splashed water on his face, neck and chest.
“Almost bought it out there man,” he growled while soaping up his throat. Tony hooked his foot underneath the plastic armor and lifted it from the ground.
“I want you close from now on; no more splitting up.” Mason said.
“Sorry,” Tony sighed, “I stuck to the plan.” Mason stopped washing.
“Right,” he said, squinting at Tony in the mirror. There was no discussion about Mason leaving his post. He was glad he did otherwise the nice lady outside wouldn’t be alive but it was off mission. Jack reached out and Tony handed him the protective vest. Jack ran it under the faucet and scrubbed with a washrag.
“We need to drop them off and get home,” Jack said.
“Home?”
“Soon as possible.”
Through all recent terrors, Tony hadn’t considered returning to Berkeley. He leaned against the door and took a deep breath.
“I still think we need to hole up for the night and get some rest.” Tony offered, “The high school is some sort of shelter for disasters. Nikki’s parents work there”
Mason grunted an acknowledgement.
“What about the girls, and that lady?”
“Veronica wants to stay, so I guess we drop them somewhere safe.” Jack said. Tony handed Jack the flashlight and left to join the others.
Six
The sickly glow of streetlights illuminated patches on alternating sides of the road. The orange radiance provided enough light that Mason was able to drive at a moderate pace without his headlights. The eyes of the party, except the elderly newcomer, had adjusted well to the darkness. Nikki, eyes wide with anticipation chose to ride in the bed of the truck with Tony. She now wore a jacket that she brought from home to brace her against the cool evening. She had
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