Aftermath (Invasion of the Dead) - Part I by Owen Baillie Read Free Book Online

“You know we should be prepared for the worst.  If this thing has gotten into the town, there’s a fair chance some of the people we know might be infected, or worse.”
    “Let’s not get presumptuous,” Callan said.
    “He’s right,” Sherry said.  “The newspaper said millions were dead on the east coast.”
    “Doesn’t mean Albury is infected.”
    “That w as three weeks ago,” Dylan said. 
    Kristy said, “The old man said the symptoms started yesterday, which indicates the virulence is high and it moves quickly.”
    “ Will they be working on a vaccine somewhere?”  Greg said.
    “Maybe.  Do you remember the H1N1 virus a few years ago?  It took a few months to formulate a vaccine.”
    Callan laughed.  “You’re dramatizing it.  Flu strains come and go every few years.  Who knows if that guy wasn’t just crazy?”
    “Just be prepared,” Dylan said , walking off to stretch his legs. 
     
    3.          The Checkpoint
    They stopped at another gas station in heavy scrub, no more than a dilapidated shack sprouting an ancient bowser with the faded MOBIL logo on it.  Two cars sat out the front and dust clung to the windows in a thick film.  Callan wanted to keep the fuel tank full and although the place appeared deserted, Greg decided to look inside.  Kristy needed to stretch her legs.
    Sherry had fallen asleep and Dylan couldn’t be bothered moving , preferring to sit and consider the circumstances with greater thought.  This happened whenever he felt nervous or stressed and wouldn’t cease until the issue was resolved.  He thought it might be a long time before that happened.  He wound down the window and the strong smell of gum leaves filled the car.
    Sherry opened one sleepy eye and said, “Where are we?”
    “Another gas station on some dirt road in the middle of nowhere.”  He thought about joining Kristy.  He wasn’t fond of Sherry, although she seemed compelled to unload her problems on him and had done so a number of times on the trip.  She and Callan had seemed distant over the past five weeks and Sherry had told him one or two minor things.  He felt for Callan having to put up with her bossy, obnoxious ways, and nothing he did ever made her happy.  His obsequious efforts gained little thanks.  It reminded Dylan that she had referred to an incident a few days ago during a brief discussion but had not elaborated.  It had roused his curiosity.    
    “Great.  Another delay.”
    Dylan added unrealistically impatient to her list of flaws.  “The other day when we were talking near the swimming hole, you mentioned an incident that had happened before the trip.”
    Sherry watched Callan pump gas.  Kristy was standing in the doorway of the shack, talking to Greg who was inside.  Sherry let out a big sigh.  “I cheated on Callan,” she said.
    Dylan’s mouth fell open.   It was the last thing he had expected her to say.
    “You’re not gonna say anything to that?”
    “To be honest, I couldn’t think of an appropriate response.  Are you joking?”
    “No .  No joke.”
    “Why haven’t you told him?   You haven’t, otherwise he’d be majorly pissed.”
    She shrugged.  “I will.  When we get home.”
    “Shit.  This whole time you’ve been carrying that around.”
    “I know.  It’s been difficult.”
    “Not for you.  For him!  You’ve been pretending to love him.”
    “I stopped doing that a while ago.”
    “Oh fuck me.  Why are you telling me this?”
    “ You asked, and I’ve got nobody else.”
    “ Why did you come on this trip?”
    She rolled he r tongue over her lip.  “Guilt, and I wanted see if there was any love left.”
    Dylan closed his eyes and lowered his head.  Callan wouldn’t think so, but he was better off without Sherry.  What a mess.  Nobody deserved this.  The guy was hapless with girls.  Dylan thought back to grade ten.  He knew Callan still blamed him for his breakup with Emma Sandhurst.  Dylan had barely