Read Online United States Of Apocalypse by Mark Tufo, Armand Rosamilia - Free Book Online
Authors: Mark Tufo, Armand Rosamilia
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breathing target,” Darlene said.
“So do I. Let’s get home,” Herbert said.
As soon as they got back on the road, Darlene tried calling her aunt again, but the call wouldn’t connect. She dialed a couple of the women she worked with at the mall, but again, no connection.
“No luck?” Herbert asked.
“Nope.” Darlene put her phone away and slumped in her seat. As much as she appreciated what Herbert and Pheebz were doing for her, she wished she were home. In times of trouble, it was the most comforting place to be, and she couldn’t be farther away from Maine right now.
Herbert turned on the radio. There was no music, only news.
“You mind if I listen for a bit? Pheebz gets really emotional, so I want to keep the TV off tonight if possible. I’d rather know all the bad things before she does,” Herbert said.
“Not a problem.”
Darlene had been listening while she drove the Suburban and Camaro back to the house. The reports were all the same information regurgitated over and over in an endless loop. The whole country was already reverting to animalistic tendencies—people attacking neighbors and looting at will. It was as if the thin curtain of civility had been lifted easily away. All anyone really needed was the weakest excuse to kill and steal, and that was what they seemed to be doing, at least according to the radio reports.
By the time they pulled into the long driveway and Herbert parked next to the porch, Darlene had heard enough. She gladly turned off the radio and went inside.
Pheebz was sitting on the couch watching the television, and she and Herbert exchanged a look without a word. Once again, Darlene knew the important information had been passed between the married couple.
“We need to shut all the windows and lock the doors tonight,” Herbert said.
“I made some coffee,” Pheebz said without getting up. She looked at Darlene and smiled. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks,” Darlene said, but she helped Herbert shut the house down first.
Herbert went into his bedroom and came out with three rifles. He propped one near the front door, one by the back door in the kitchen, and the last by the door to the garage.
“Rosemary called,” Pheebz said when Herbert walked back into the living room.
Herbert made a face like he’d sucked on a lemon. “What did she want?”
Pheebz frowned. “She’s coming over tomorrow and bringing the boys. She doesn’t feel safe at her house.”
“Please tell me you’re joking,” Herbert said.
Pheebz shook her head.
“I’m going to call and tell her not to come.”
“Dear, she’s family. What if this is really as bad as they’re saying?”
Herbert stopped and glanced at Darlene. “My sister is a mess, to be nice about it.” He touched the side of his head and spun his finger. “She’s loopy. Not the sharpest pencil in the box, and she sees things. Weird things. Her kids, on the other hand, are just two little animals.”
“Be nice,” Pheebz said then clucked her tongue. “They’re rambunctious twins. Rosemary was nearly fifty when she had them. No one knows who the father is, either. She’s had a heck of a time raising them with all of her problems.”
“I don’t want them here,” Herbert said.
“You don’t have a real choice. I told her to bring all of the food and supplies she could put into her car and be over early, before people got on the road again,” Pheebz said.
“I’m going to call her just the same. Knowing my sister, she’ll bring a bunch of loud toys for the kids and nothing else,” Herbert said. He stared at Pheebz. “As if this wasn’t bad enough.”
“She’s family,” Pheebz said, but Darlene could tell she was saying it without believing what the words really meant. Pheebz was just as mad as Herbert was, but she’d probably dealt with his sister for a while today when he was gone and had resigned herself to the fact that the woman and her brats were coming tomorrow.
Darlene didn’t want to
“So do I. Let’s get home,” Herbert said.
As soon as they got back on the road, Darlene tried calling her aunt again, but the call wouldn’t connect. She dialed a couple of the women she worked with at the mall, but again, no connection.
“No luck?” Herbert asked.
“Nope.” Darlene put her phone away and slumped in her seat. As much as she appreciated what Herbert and Pheebz were doing for her, she wished she were home. In times of trouble, it was the most comforting place to be, and she couldn’t be farther away from Maine right now.
Herbert turned on the radio. There was no music, only news.
“You mind if I listen for a bit? Pheebz gets really emotional, so I want to keep the TV off tonight if possible. I’d rather know all the bad things before she does,” Herbert said.
“Not a problem.”
Darlene had been listening while she drove the Suburban and Camaro back to the house. The reports were all the same information regurgitated over and over in an endless loop. The whole country was already reverting to animalistic tendencies—people attacking neighbors and looting at will. It was as if the thin curtain of civility had been lifted easily away. All anyone really needed was the weakest excuse to kill and steal, and that was what they seemed to be doing, at least according to the radio reports.
By the time they pulled into the long driveway and Herbert parked next to the porch, Darlene had heard enough. She gladly turned off the radio and went inside.
Pheebz was sitting on the couch watching the television, and she and Herbert exchanged a look without a word. Once again, Darlene knew the important information had been passed between the married couple.
“We need to shut all the windows and lock the doors tonight,” Herbert said.
“I made some coffee,” Pheebz said without getting up. She looked at Darlene and smiled. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks,” Darlene said, but she helped Herbert shut the house down first.
Herbert went into his bedroom and came out with three rifles. He propped one near the front door, one by the back door in the kitchen, and the last by the door to the garage.
“Rosemary called,” Pheebz said when Herbert walked back into the living room.
Herbert made a face like he’d sucked on a lemon. “What did she want?”
Pheebz frowned. “She’s coming over tomorrow and bringing the boys. She doesn’t feel safe at her house.”
“Please tell me you’re joking,” Herbert said.
Pheebz shook her head.
“I’m going to call and tell her not to come.”
“Dear, she’s family. What if this is really as bad as they’re saying?”
Herbert stopped and glanced at Darlene. “My sister is a mess, to be nice about it.” He touched the side of his head and spun his finger. “She’s loopy. Not the sharpest pencil in the box, and she sees things. Weird things. Her kids, on the other hand, are just two little animals.”
“Be nice,” Pheebz said then clucked her tongue. “They’re rambunctious twins. Rosemary was nearly fifty when she had them. No one knows who the father is, either. She’s had a heck of a time raising them with all of her problems.”
“I don’t want them here,” Herbert said.
“You don’t have a real choice. I told her to bring all of the food and supplies she could put into her car and be over early, before people got on the road again,” Pheebz said.
“I’m going to call her just the same. Knowing my sister, she’ll bring a bunch of loud toys for the kids and nothing else,” Herbert said. He stared at Pheebz. “As if this wasn’t bad enough.”
“She’s family,” Pheebz said, but Darlene could tell she was saying it without believing what the words really meant. Pheebz was just as mad as Herbert was, but she’d probably dealt with his sister for a while today when he was gone and had resigned herself to the fact that the woman and her brats were coming tomorrow.
Darlene didn’t want to
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