Dead Hunger II: The Gem Cardoza Chronicle by Eric A. Shelman Read Free Book Online Page B

things.”
    “That’s an understatement,” I said, following the boys inside.  Charlie brought up the rear with Trina in her arms.  She laid the crossbow down just inside and checked her waistband for the Glock, which was still there.  She pulled it out and held it in her firing hand.
    We made it up to the lab without being accosted.  Flex peered through the glass to the lab, and saw Max, Cynthia and Taylor inside.  He pulled the door, but it didn’t open.
    “Hold on,” Max called upon seeing him through the glass.  “I’ve got it barred.”
    He removed something from inside and the door freed.  We went in .
    “Jesus,” Max said.  “What happened out there?  You guys look wiped.”
    “Just a little welcoming party,” I said.  “I guess the twelve you said you saw multiplied.  We ran into about twenty out there.”
    “I shut down the power.  We were running close and I wanted to save as much fuel as I could for necessities.  I was pretty certain the things wouldn’t be able to get in here.”
    “We didn’t run into any inside,” Hemp said.  “Max, do you have everything together?  The stuff we talked about?”
    Max nodded.  “Yes, Professor Chatsworth.  Some sniffers and soldering guns, blank circuit boards, and some components, as well as some more medical and lab supplies.  All the food and bottled water we have left, too.”
    “I want to get the stuff to the cars and load it up,” Flex said.  “Max, do you have any detailed maps of the United States ?”
    “Some excellent topographical maps,” he said.  “We use them to pinpoint areas of outbreaks and the like.  Wait.”
    He went to a cabinet and removed several long paper tubes, putting them on the table.  He unrolled one.
    “This is a map of Georgia , but we’ve got all of the states.  Which way are we headed?  Any idea?”
    Hemp spoke.  “We’re trying to find an industrial area near a large city, Max.  We want fortification and to be able to house all the vehicles, but we don’t want to be easy targets.  Our ultimate objective is survivability; to have easy access to supplies and at the same time be protected from the abnormals.”
    “No military out there?” Max asked.
    “We haven’t seen any,” I said.  “I’d think that some of them would have survived and joined together.  We haven’t ventured out that far, though.”
    “Look, Max,” Flex said.  “I understand there are quite a few military facilities near Birmingham .  We can take Hwy 20 straight across the s tate in to Alabama .”  He looked at the others and shrugged.  “Check out another state, have access to a shitload of weapons and maybe even a good stock of MREs in case cooking food goes out the window.”
    “Why Alabama ?” asked Max.  “There are military bases right here in Georgia , of course.”
    Flex shrugged.  “ We know this is widespread, but we need to find out how widespread.  We’re not going to learn anything by staying in one place.”
    “But you were content at your place,” I said.
    “And I guess I’d have stayed that way if it hadn’t been penetrated,” Flex said.  “But I was talking to Charlie on the way over here, and I think we need to change our approach.  Others may have come up with ideas we haven’t thought of, so we need to connect with other survivors and see what we can learn.”
    “I don’t really want to start a community,” I said.  “I like people as much as the next girl, but it doesn’t mean we need to take on the responsibility of a huge group.”
    It wasn’t that I lacked compassion; I had plenty of love for my fellow humans.  But I didn’t have any desire to make our group any larger than it had to be.  Hell, I’d be happy if Max, Cynthia and Taylor wanted out anywhere along the way.  Call me selfish, but I had my Flex and Trina, and both Hemp and Charlie were as good as family to me now.  I didn’t want major logistical issues every time we had to move.
    “I lean