Empire of Salt by Ochse Weston

Author:Ochse, Weston [Ochse, Weston]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: zombies
ISBN: 9781906735326
Publisher: Abaddon
Published: 2010-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Gunshots rang out, followed by shouting.

Natasha checked her watch. It was past nine already. Derrick and Veronica should have been back long ago.

Metzger was already on his feet and peering through the window.

"What do you see?" she asked.

"It looks like Elvis, only shorter."

"What else?"

"I dunno. There must be a couple of dozen people. Some of them have guns. Hey, there's Derrick. It looks like he's been crying."

"What?" Natasha leaped to her feet and rushed to the window. There were at least twenty people outside, most of whom she recognized. Derrick stood behind Kristov, his head hung low. He pointed towards the trailer they were in. She knew exactly what had happened. They'd made him talk.

"They're coming in."

"They have guns," Metzger said. "Should I be worried?"

Natasha saw his feeble attempt at a smile. "Let me see if I can explain. Whatever I say, though, roll with it."

Banging came from the front door.

Natasha ran to open it but the door flew open, catching her in the head and flinging her back against the wall and stunning her.

By the time she came to, the people had Metzger by the arms and were shoving him out the door. Auntie Lin knelt and put a hand to Natasha's forehead. Natasha tried to stand, but the small Chinese woman, who was much stronger than she looked, kept her from getting up. "You had me worried sick."

The truth was that Natasha had been so captivated by Metzger that she'd completely forgotten about the fact that other people might be looking for her. She recognized a little bit of her father in her.

She pushed Auntie Lin's hands away and staggered to her feet, grabbing for the doorjamb to keep her steady. The others were dragging Metzger down the street. What had Derrick and Veronica told them? What was going on? She tried to get near him, but there were too many people in the way.

When Natasha stepped from the darkness of the Salton Sea night into the fluorescent-lighted interior of the Space Station, she looked around for her father. He'd put a stop to this. All she had to do was explain. But she didn't see him there. She did see Metzger, standing to attention before Deputy Sheriff Will Todrunner.

Derrick slid next to her. "They made me tell them where you were."

"Have you seen Dad?" she asked.

Derrick shook his head. "I'm sorry. Auntie Lin was just so -"

"Sshhh." Natasha made a chopping motion with her hand and took another step forward to get within earshot.

"Just passing through, you say," Deputy Will said, his face deadpan, eyes shadowed by the bill of his baseball cap.

"Yes, sir."

"Are you discharged or are you still in the Army, son?"

"Still in, sir. I had some leave built up after my time in Iraq and thought I'd head towards the ocean."

Natasha became aware of Auntie Lin and Maude standing together, whispering to each other with their arms crossed, gazing suspiciously at everyone. The soda fountain had been turned on and plastic cups were stacked on the counter for people to serve themselves.

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