Read Online The Omega Protocol Chronicles (Book 1): Exodus by Courtney McPhail - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Courtney McPhail
Tags: Zombies
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and Craig coming up from behind them where he had parked the cube van. Kim joined them as Malcolm spread a map across the hood of the pick-up.
“There is a gas station a couple miles up the road,” Malcolm said, pointing to a spot on the map. “This far out, it probably only services the farms. There’s a good chance they’ve gone untouched by all this.”
“What if they have no interest in sharing with us?” Craig asked. “I saw it happen in the city. People started hoarding right quick and had no interest in parting with their stash.”
“We can negotiate with them,” Malcolm said. “We’ve got the food. We can always find more food but there is a finite amount of gas in this world. We need as much of it as we can get if we have any chance of making it north.”
“And they may not be up for negotiating either.” Craig shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet before looking up at Malcolm. “What I’m getting at is if they don’t want to work with us, are we going to take what we want?”
Malcolm was silent, contemplating the implications of what Craig was asking. Kim had wondered about it herself. It had been one thing to take the abandoned cars. The owners were long gone--most likely dead--and they had needed them for their immediate safety. But the idea of stealing from people who would fight them was different. It was wrong.
She watched Malcolm, waiting for his answer, hoping that it would be the same as her own. She had admired him for his bravery last night, part of the reason she was following him was because she believed he had honour. She did not want to be disappointed.
“No. If they don’t want to work something out with us, we leave them be. There will be other places.”
She was relieved to hear it and she could see the others felt the same.
“Craig, I want you to lead the way in. When you can, I want you to turn the van around so the broadside faces whatever buildings are there. As soon as you stop, duck down and wait on my signal. Kim, you and I will use the van for cover. Park behind it and wait while I check the area out. Wakefields, you’ll keep watch from the truck. No one moves a muscle until I give the signal.”
Everyone accepted the orders without question. Malcolm had become their unofficial leader in the short time he had been with them. She supposed it had been natural. He had been the one to lead them off the highway and provide a plan for them. He oozed authority from every pore. He was the obvious choice as the group’s leader and she had the feeling that the others were relieved they did not have to take up the mantle themselves.
With the plan sorted, they all climbed back in the vehicles, Craig heading out first, Malcom following him in the van and Kim took up the rear position in the convoy. She related the plan to Jenny and Trey, both of them now wide awake as they prepared themselves for what they would find at the gas station.
It wasn’t long until a structure appeared in the distance. A stout building made of cheap siding and tin roof not too far off the road. The tall sign at the side of the road advertised it as a gas station and diner, home of the best rhubarb pie in the county.
The small parking lot out front was empty, no obvious signs of life as they turned onto the lane. Malcolm’s plan was executed perfectly, Craig swinging the cube van around and Kim stopped the pickup when its front bumper kissed the side of the van. She watched with baited breath as Malcolm climbed out of the minivan, ducking into a crouch as he rounded the front end of the cube van and disappeared.
It felt like hours that they waited in silence, ears straining to hear any signs of trouble. What if there were people here and they were the type to shoot first, ask questions later. What if the infection had reached here as well and there were a bunch of cannibals waiting to rip Malcolm to shreds.
She jumped off her seat when Malcolm’s voice
“There is a gas station a couple miles up the road,” Malcolm said, pointing to a spot on the map. “This far out, it probably only services the farms. There’s a good chance they’ve gone untouched by all this.”
“What if they have no interest in sharing with us?” Craig asked. “I saw it happen in the city. People started hoarding right quick and had no interest in parting with their stash.”
“We can negotiate with them,” Malcolm said. “We’ve got the food. We can always find more food but there is a finite amount of gas in this world. We need as much of it as we can get if we have any chance of making it north.”
“And they may not be up for negotiating either.” Craig shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet before looking up at Malcolm. “What I’m getting at is if they don’t want to work with us, are we going to take what we want?”
Malcolm was silent, contemplating the implications of what Craig was asking. Kim had wondered about it herself. It had been one thing to take the abandoned cars. The owners were long gone--most likely dead--and they had needed them for their immediate safety. But the idea of stealing from people who would fight them was different. It was wrong.
She watched Malcolm, waiting for his answer, hoping that it would be the same as her own. She had admired him for his bravery last night, part of the reason she was following him was because she believed he had honour. She did not want to be disappointed.
“No. If they don’t want to work something out with us, we leave them be. There will be other places.”
She was relieved to hear it and she could see the others felt the same.
“Craig, I want you to lead the way in. When you can, I want you to turn the van around so the broadside faces whatever buildings are there. As soon as you stop, duck down and wait on my signal. Kim, you and I will use the van for cover. Park behind it and wait while I check the area out. Wakefields, you’ll keep watch from the truck. No one moves a muscle until I give the signal.”
Everyone accepted the orders without question. Malcolm had become their unofficial leader in the short time he had been with them. She supposed it had been natural. He had been the one to lead them off the highway and provide a plan for them. He oozed authority from every pore. He was the obvious choice as the group’s leader and she had the feeling that the others were relieved they did not have to take up the mantle themselves.
With the plan sorted, they all climbed back in the vehicles, Craig heading out first, Malcom following him in the van and Kim took up the rear position in the convoy. She related the plan to Jenny and Trey, both of them now wide awake as they prepared themselves for what they would find at the gas station.
It wasn’t long until a structure appeared in the distance. A stout building made of cheap siding and tin roof not too far off the road. The tall sign at the side of the road advertised it as a gas station and diner, home of the best rhubarb pie in the county.
The small parking lot out front was empty, no obvious signs of life as they turned onto the lane. Malcolm’s plan was executed perfectly, Craig swinging the cube van around and Kim stopped the pickup when its front bumper kissed the side of the van. She watched with baited breath as Malcolm climbed out of the minivan, ducking into a crouch as he rounded the front end of the cube van and disappeared.
It felt like hours that they waited in silence, ears straining to hear any signs of trouble. What if there were people here and they were the type to shoot first, ask questions later. What if the infection had reached here as well and there were a bunch of cannibals waiting to rip Malcolm to shreds.
She jumped off her seat when Malcolm’s voice
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