This Plague of Days Season One (The Zombie Apocalypse Serial) by Robert Chazz Chute

Author:Robert Chazz Chute [Chute, Robert Chazz]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3
Publisher: Ex Parte Press
Published: 2013-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

The Ungrateful Living face new laws

Jack and Oliver stepped out into his backyard to let Theo sleep and to avoid Anna’s eavesdropping.

The grass had grown long in his absence and Oliver absentmindedly bounced a tennis ball off the concrete patio deck. At the rear of the property, along the base of the tall wooden fence they could still see where Oliver’s big German Shepherd had scratched and pawed at the dirt beneath the fence until he had escaped.

“Ordinarily I’d come out here and play a little fetch with Steve.”

“Thanks,” said Jack, “but I don’t think I’m up to it at the moment.”

The old man smiled at her. “I’m glad you are willing to take Mrs. Bendham along. In the spirit of the new economy, I’ve got a good-sized bag of trinkets to pay for my ticket on the Spencer Express.”

Jack began to protest. “You’ve already taken us into your home — ”

“No, no. This is just enlightened self-interest at work. I’ve got some good jewelry. I’ve got an eye for it, of course. In my business, I know cheap costume stuff from the real thing. Mrs. Bendham has food to contribute and I’ve got loot. And my startling good looks, of course.”

“How soon can she be ready to leave…you know, if we have to?”

As if on some unconscious signal, they both turned to look up. Plumes of dark smoke gathered so the sky looked like a black thunderhead hung low over the city.

Jack put a finger in her mouth to wet it and held it up to the wind. “If the wind doesn’t shift soon, we may be leaving faster than we thought.”

“I miss firefighters, and not just for their calendars, anymore.” Oliver looked at his house and yard, as if already saying goodbye.

“So Mrs. Bendham is ready to go when necessary?” she asked.

“Jacqueline, that old woman started packing up as soon as her husband died. She’s been holed up over there, rocking back and forth and praying and she never takes her mask off so her glasses are always steamed up. She’s driving me batty. She’s over there boiling and listening to the radio and praying to Jesus. When we look back on this, we’ll think of those who died. When she looks back on it, she’ll say the cabin fever was worse. For the next apocalypse, everyone will be better prepared, and they’ll all have decks of cards and Scrabble games ready. ”

“Has she gone crazy?”

“No, just grieving. Mostly she’s doing it quietly so I approve. She’s stopped singing. That’s really a shame, too, since I’ve never liked her that much — Al was more my friend than she ever was — but she does have a beautiful voice.”

“That just leaves the big question,” Jack said. “If we have to go, what’s the route?”

“Can’t go south. Too many people and I’ve heard of trouble around the state border.”

“From whom?”

“TV. Radio. Around.”

“What kinds of problems?”

“Too many people with too many guns. It’s the old west, but without the helpful sheriffs to keep the towns clean.

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