And This Too: A Modern Fable by Emily Owenn McIntyre Read Free Book Online Page B

the rampant limbs of the zombies outside. It was only a matter of time.
    *****
                  Martin’s house was lit by lamps. He noticed his daughter look skeptically around the scene as she sat her black cat on the floor.
                  “Derby has its own grid, and no one's taken out a power line yet,” Martin explained.
                  Fehny was crocheting on the couch. Harley snuck up behind her and gave the woman a huge bear-hug.
                  “Harley baby,” Fehny squealed, putting down the blanket that she was crafting, “I’m very glad you’re safe.”
                  “I’m glad that you guys are okay too,” Harley replied.
                  She let go of her step-mother and stepped over the back of the couch, lavishing in the near normality of the reunion. Fehny Monroe was Harley’s Japanese mother. The girl had never known her bio-mom because as soon as the hospital released the flighty woman, she disappeared. Martin never knew what became of the beautiful, mixed Sioux woman, but he was relieved that they never married. Martin hadn’t wanted to make a mom out of the twenty-something exchange student, but they had known each other since their freshman year of college, plus they were perfect for each other. The two got married when Harley was three, and the girl accepted Fehny as her mother without reluctance.
                  Martin sat in his arm chair before inquiring. “Where’d you get the car?”              
                  “Uhm…I stole it. I didn’t jack it from anybody or anything. It was completely abandoned.”
                  Martin chuckled. “That’s my girl.”
                  “I can’t stay long. Only a night or two,” Harley added, looking at her feet. “I wanna go see Allie.”
                  Allie DuBois was one of Fehny's friends from college. Harley had bonded with Allie's nephew when they were young and so Allie and her nephews were practically part of the Monroe family.
                  Fehny sighed and Martin rolled his eyes. “I figured as much,” he replied with a smirk on his lips.
                  “I won’t stay in Sandy; I just want to go make sure they’re alright.”
                  “I wish we knew how Trevor and Tsgumi are.”
                  Harley didn’t want to think about that. They had been away at college when disaster struck and all those possible recipients of the strain didn’t make for likely chances of survival.
                  “Do you want to tell her, or should I?” Fehny asked, continuing to crochet.
                  “Tell her what?”
                  “About Derby.”
    “Oh.” Martin pondered for a moment, as Harley looked at him intently. “Well, I don’t know if you saw the news last night.”
                  “I did.”
                  “Well, once Missy Roulette pounced on the camera man, Derby panicked, as would be expected. But, it was such an amazing outburst that I find it hard to believe myself. Some families stayed behind, but I’m pretty sure that they’re all ‘dead’ now because none of the other houses are shut up. I’m sure you noticed that.” Harley nodded. Martin pulled up his sleeve to reveal a heavily bandaged wound. Harley gasped. “The convenience store clerk bit me yesterday.”
                  “Dad!”
                  “It’s fine,” he said, pulling his sleeve back down, “I figured it out.”
                  “What?”
                  “I’m pickled.”
                  “What?”
                  Pixel jumped up on Harley’s lap.
                  “I’d been drinking since I was thirteen-”
                  “I thought you were