Dry Rot: A Zombie Novel by H.E. Goodhue Read Free Book Online Page B

chance to go chase some memories. And even if you do find them, it might be worse than not knowing.”
    “Mom, that’s not cool,” Jared said. “Chill out about Lucas’ family. I’m sure they’re fine. I’m sure he had them just as prepared.”
    “I know where Lisa and Kara are,” I said. I stood up and walked to the other end of the bunker. “I’m staying. You’re going. That’s the deal.”
    “What’s first?” Danni asked.
    “First?” I repeated. “First we get something to eat and then we get some rest. We’ll start in the morning.”
    “Should we wait that long?” Danni asked. “Senator Heathway said we should leave as soon as possible.”
    “He also said that there were going to be more of those things like Ian, more husks,” I said. “Do you want to go outside in the dark to find out if he’s right? I don’t.” I grabbed a can from the shelf without looking at its label and began opening it. I wanted to do anything other than continue this conversation.
    Danni shook her head. She was upset, but being impulsive would get someone killed. I would help her and Jared, make sure they were safe, but I wasn’t going with them. I was going to see my family.

 
    -15-
     
    I listened to the sound of Danni and Jared snoring softly. Once I was sure they were asleep, I fished my cell phone out of my front pocket.
    Kara: I miss you, Daddy. I love you.
    I thumbed the keys on my cell phone, but nothing happened. The keys must have been broken as I was thrown to the ground and arrested. I wanted to write something back to Kara. I wanted to tell her that I loved her too, to tell her that I even still loved her mom. I wanted to be where they were, to make sure that they were safe.
    Tears stung my eyes as I read Kara’s text message for a second and then a third time. She was my little girl and I wanted to tell her that I loved her, but my shitty phone was broken. Lisa thought it was funny to tease me about still having a flip phone. She and Kara had smart phones. I resisted, claiming that those phones gave away too much personal information, but I would have traded anything for a phone that could reach Kara. But who knows? Even if I had been able to send it, it wouldn’t have made the situation any better. She was still there and I was still here.
    Kara: I miss you, Daddy. I love you.
    I read the words again.
    “I love you too, baby girl,” I said. I knew she couldn’t hear me, but prayed that she knew, that no matter where Lisa and Kara were, that they both knew that I loved them.
    I would hug them and tell them that I loved them. I would do whatever I needed to do to see them again.

-16-
    My old 1988 blue and white Ford Bronco II sat in the garage behind my house. Like most other things, I made sure to prepare it for the years I would be away. I drained the fluids and covered the truck. Still, I worried a squirrel or rat could have made a nest in the engine. It wouldn’t be the first time I had seen one of the little bastards strip wires and stuff an engine with leaves and garbage.
    I opened the door and popped the hood. Jared lifted it up. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw no signs of rodents.
    “We need to refill all the fluids,” I said and pointed to varying cans and drums in the corner of the garage. “Drag those over here while I switch out the spark plugs and check a few other things.”
    Jared stopped near the open driver’s side door.
    “What is it?” I asked.
    “No offense man, but this truck kind of sucks,” Jared said. “I would have guessed that you had some bad ass Road Warrior thing in here.”
    “That Mad Max shit will get you killed,” I said. “You don’t want metal plates and saw blades. What you want is something with four-wheel drive that’s easy to maintain and has a lot of parts available. And that’s this ugly beast right here.”
    “Still, man, it looks like it handles like a fat kid on roller skates,” Jared said.
    “It does,” I said. “But I know