Generation Dead by Joseph Talluto Read Free Book Online

of trouble began.  The back of my neck started to prickle and I distinctly got the feeling we were being watched.  Around the corner, I sized up the street and figured the best place for an ambush would be before we reached the storefronts.  A house was there that looked abandoned, but as I learned very early, looks were often deceiving.
    Julia’s dad always taught us that if we thought we were walking into a trap, to turn around and run the other way.  It confused the hell out of your ambushers.  Julia was happily walking along when I put my arm around her waist.  She stiffened and looked up at me, but I just smiled as if it was something I did every day, don’t you know?  Julia smiled back, but I could see understanding in her eyes, especially when there was a man suddenly lounging on the porch of the seemingly abandoned home.
    “Excuse me…hey!”  The man exclaimed loudly when the two of us suddenly turned and ran the other way, running up the hill and around the bend in front of the old school.
    We ducked around the corner of the building, and I waited quietly.  I sent Julia along at a brisk walk, almost as if she had suddenly forgotten something.  If she was followed, I knew the men were up to no good.  If no one showed up, we would just head on back down the hill another way.
    A minute later, three men hurried past.  They were about my age, but skinnier and greasier-looking.  Their clothes were mismatched pick-ups, and they had various weapons, which peeked out from under their jackets and shirts.  The leader, if that’s what he was, was slightly taller, with a lean look that usually meant a cruel streak.  The other two were as unmemorable as they were ugly.  Lank hair and pudgy, they could almost pass for twins.  They had the sloped shoulders of the weak, and were probably vicious to make up for it.
    Julia was about fifty yards ahead when the leader called out.  “Hey, pretty lady!  You mind if I talk to you for a minute?”
    Julia smiled prettily.  “Thank you!  Sure thing!  What can I do for you?”  Julia could play at stupid really well when she wanted to.  She turned and faced the man squarely, cocking her hip and tilting her head to the side.  I almost felt sorry for the man; he was being set up so well.
    I slipped out of my hiding spot and moved along the ditch of the road, trying to keep a low profile.  It wasn’t easy, since I would almost surely be seen before I could get close enough to make a difference. 
    “Well, sweetie, I was hoping you might ask that.” The leader leered at Julia, obviously sizing her up and liking what he saw.  “You see, I’m a recruiter, and I am out here at the capital looking for pretty ladies to ask if they want to partake in a business opportunity.”
    Julia scowled.  “Do you mean, like, a job?”  She glanced my way and crossed her arms under her breasts, lifting them slightly and capturing the full attention of the pudgy brothers.
    “That’s right, darling.  A job.  My boss wants me to find really pretty ladies like you to work around the town and help out with things that need to get done.”  Leader was in his full pitch, thinking he had one hooked.  Julia was acting as if she was really interested, and not watching the two men who were edging around her from both sides.
    I was close enough that I was able to get out into the street and behind the leader.  The other two men hadn’t seen me, and I was just going to wait to see what would happen.  Maybe these guys were legitimate with their job offer.  Maybe Julia wanted another line of work.  Maybe the next game the kids will try is Kiss the Zombie.  Who knew?
    About a second later, I did.  The leader wrapped up his spiel and put his hands on his hips.  I could see at least two knives from my vantage point and a third that was peeking out of his sleeve.  Julia pretended to think, and then said, “Sorry, I don’t think so.”  She started to turn and leave when the