Undead Ultra (A Zombie Novel) by Camille Picott

Author:Camille Picott [Picott, Camille]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Public, Manuscript Template
Publisher: Pixiu Press
Published: 2016-04-07T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Tunnel

It takes us a good hour to pick our way around Willits in the dark, even though we only travel about four miles. We’re too far away from the main artery of town to see if there’s any military presence, but I suspect we’d find a checkpoint at the very least. All the more reason to keep ourselves to the shadows of the open land.

Other than tripping on a rock and disturbing a dog chained to a doghouse, we make it without any major mishap. We reconnect with the railroad tracks at mile sixty-five.

“We’ve run over one hundred kilometers,” I say. One hundred kilometers is a popular distance for ultra races, which is equivalent to sixty-two miles.

“Only one hundred thirty-five to go,” Frederico replies.

I’m about to respond when I feel my phone vibrate. A shot of elation goes through me. I nearly drop the phone in my haste to fumble it out of my pack.

“It’s Carter,” I say, naked delight and relief in my voice.

Had 2 move 2 another room, his text says. Everything OK. Where r u?

What happened? I type back. I recognize my son’s reticence to give me the whole truth. He’s trying to protect me, like he did when Kyle died.

You don’t have to protect me anymore, baby, I think.

A few seconds later, his answer comes.

Fire in room next door. Burned through wall. Everything OK now.

“What the fuck?” I mutter, ire rising in my voice. Fire? A hole burned in the wall of his dorm room?

“What’s going on?” Frederico asks, tense as he watches my face.

“What the fuck are the soldiers doing on campus if they’re not helping the students?” I snap.

Where r u now? I type.

Another dorm room. I’m safe. Where r u?

I grind my teeth, knowing I’m not going to get any more information from him.

Just passed Willits. Only 135 miles to go.

LOL. Only u and F can say that about 135 miles on foot.

A smile pulls at the corners of my mouth, dispelling some of my earlier anger. He must be relatively safe if he can joke.

Keep safe baby, I type. See u soon.

See you soon.

I pass the phone to Frederico, letting him read the exchange. I study my old friend as he scrolls through the conversation, seeing the telltale signs of weariness. His shoulders slump, eyes blinking a little too rapidly as he struggles to focus on the text. We need to stop and rest before he falls and breaks something.

“Our boy is smart and strong.” Frederico passes the phone back to me.

“Takes after his dad.” I glance at the phone. Shit. Battery is three-quarters of the way gone.

“Takes after his mom, too,” Frederico replies.

I shrug. I might be able to run a long way, but I didn’t have the strength when it really counted.

“It’s three in the morning,” I say. “We’ve been on our feet for seventeen hours. “Let’s find a place for a catnap. Thirty minutes or so will give us some extra energy.”

He nods. “We’ll have to sleep in shifts.

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