The Emissary (Horse Women of the Zombie Apocalypse) by Jordan K. A

Author:Jordan, K. A. [Jordan, K. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: zombie, apocalypse, horse, archer
Publisher: K. A. Jordan
Published: 2013-04-03T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Beth took her position behind Julie and the pack horse. There was a breeze in their faces. The freeway was clogged with smashed and burned vehicles, so the truck used the far right shoulder behind them.

They made good time, but Beth noticed the guys chafed at the pace. They probably traveled the freeway at 90 mph since there weren't any police to stop them. If that truck broke down, they'd have to walk through stinker territory.

By the time the sun was low, they were far from towns or subdivisions. They didn't take long to find a good place to camp. They set up camp in another bowl between an overpass and an off-ramp with trees and grass. The sisters cared for the horses before hobbling them for the night.

The guys built a campfire and prepared canned soup to go with the last of the soda and sandwiches. Their low-voiced conference ended when Hector threw his empty soda can past Zack's head.

The sisters stopped grooming the horses, turning to the fireside drama.

Hector said, "I'm not sleeping outside like those perras locas. We'll be dead by morning. Muerto are everywhere."

The other guys nodded, looking from Hector to Zack.

Zack glanced at the sisters before firing back at Hector in Spanish.

"Estamos mas cobarde que las chicas?"

"Say it in English!" Dani snapped.

Zack ignored her. He kept eye contact with Hector, who flipped him the bird.

"It's suicide to sleep outside." Hector said.

Dani made chicken noises. The guys glared at her.

"The horses are too slow," Hector said. "We could be back at the Fort by now, safe behind the fence."

"That's enough," Tyler said, making a throat cutting gesture with his hand. "We didn't drive out here to fight about horses."

"I say we leave the horses for the muerto."

"The first jackass who touches my horses loses his nuts." Dani scowled at Hector, whipping her hunting knife out and into fighting position.

"Bring it, chica," Hector challenged, rising to his feet.

"Knock it off." Alexis sprang between them. She blocked Dani, taking her knife and faced Hector. "Would you leave one of these guys behind, if they got hurt?"

"That's different." Hector shook his head.

"Not to us," Alexis said.

Tyler stood up, confronting Alexis and Hector. "Hey! Focus on getting through tonight alive."

Everyone fell silent.

"Why didn't you come in trucks?" David asked.

"Trucks can't go across rough country, can't jump fences or ditches," Alexis said.

Dani added, "Trucks run out of gas. Getting stranded in stinker country is a death sentence."

"A horse has a better sense of smell than a dog. They alert us when stinkers are nearby." Alexis said.

Tyler nodded thoughtfully. "So the horses are transportation and early warning systems? I get that." The night sounds seemed very loud without the arguing.

Alexis looked at each of them in turn. "My sisters need the horses to get home. We wouldn't make you leave your truck behind."

"I hate being outside at night." Hector's head cocked to one side, listening to night sounds. "Muerto are more active at night."

"Amen," Tyler said. The tension eased. Everyone could agree with that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.