Dark Road by David C. Waldron Read Free Book Online

this morning?”
    Nice. No pretense, no falsehood, just “where were you.” Dan really wasn’t in the mood, though. “I’m sorry? I didn’t realize I had to check in and out of my house.”
    “Well, that’s not what I meant, Dan. I hope it didn’t come across that way.” Carey said. “What I meant was I came over earlier because the Spencer boy has been complaining about his arm again and it’s looking real angry. Then your wife said you were out trying to get some air and some exercise and I was just wondering where you went, that’s all.”
    Right, that’s all it was. Instead, Dan said, “Sorry, I guess we’re all getting more on edge the longer this thing goes on. The lack of food, poor nutrition, people dying. It’s just getting to me. That’s why I had to get out and try to do something different. I guess it didn’t help as much as I hoped it would.” And for some reason I just don’t trust you. I can’t put my finger on it but I just…don’t…trust you. That and it’s none of your business.
    Dan started walking into the house-hospital again without giving Carey an answer, “Well, let’s take a look at that arm and see what else has happened in my absence.”
    …
    “Two weeks,” Marissa said to Dan as soon as he closed their front door. “I think I can have us as ready as we can be in two weeks.”
    Dan nodded in agreement. “I think that’s about as long as we have before things reach a breaking point. I don’t know if Carey’s become newly paranoid about the neighborhood in general or just us in particular, but he certainly seems to have taken an interest in me recently. In fact, I hope we have even that long.”
    Dan ushered Marissa to the couch, which she had moved to form an “L” with the loveseat and block off the unusable fireplace and thus give them more usable room in the living room. “I’m getting worried about the health situation here. I mean, seriously concerned.” Dan swallowed for multiple reasons; he had to push back tears, but he was also going to bring up a painful subject for both of them.  He didn’t want to cause a fight but was aware that it was a distinct possibility.
    “Rissa, there are two kids in the hospital with fevers that won’t go down and they’ve both started wheezing. One of them is so lethargic she’s almost catatonic.”
    Dan didn’t know what he was expecting so he wasn’t entirely surprised when she just looked at him for a couple of seconds and said nothing. The look on her face didn’t change; she didn’t blink, and at first she didn’t seem to have even heard him. Then Dan saw her pupils dilate, her eyes start to glisten, and he realized she was holding her breath.
    He reached out to take her hand and she flinched back as if his hand were hot. “Rissa,” he said.
    She held up her hand to stop him and looked away, wiping her eyes with her other hand. After taking a deep breath she looked back at her husband and said “I know. I just can’t right now, Dan. Not yet. Believe me when I say I haven’t forgotten. How can I when I say his name a hundred times a day, when I see him in your eyes? But I just can’t talk about it right now, ok?”
    Dan reached for her again and this time she didn’t pull away. “Ok. Thank you.”
    Marissa only nodded.
     
     

Chapter Six
    Promised Land – August 20, 2012
    “You feeling alright this morning?” Joel asked his wife as they were getting dressed in their well-broken-in but clean Government Issue fatigues.
    “Yeah, pretty much, why?” Rachael replied.
    “Well, you were gone when I woke up the first time and then back a few minutes later.” Joel answered.
    “I had to use the facilities, if it’s any of your business what a lady does in the wee hours of the morning.”
    “Oh, and again fifteen minutes later when we both ‘woke up’?” Joel asked.
    “Ok, fine, I had to go throw up! Happy?” Rachael snapped.
    “Yes, no, yes. Can I get back to you on that?” Joel said.