Tammy and Ringo by N.C. Reed Read Free Book Online Page B

aren’t at your sharpest if you can help it.”
    “Where did you two come from? Memphis, was it?” Hiram asked. The talk then turned to what the two had encountered during their adventure so far, a bit more detailed than their earlier accounting. The older couple was forthcoming with information they had and what their day had been like as well.
    “I’ll call a friend of mine with the State Troopers later on,” Hiram promised. “To see if he knows about the other bridges and traffic in general. Maybe he’ll know.”
    “The bridge here is probably not going to re-open at least for a few days,” Ringo told him. “There. . .there were infected on the bridge. No way of knowing how many. Or what damage they’ve done.”
    “I remember,” Hiram nodded. “Well, there’s the HAM and the CB. I can try and reach out to folks I know and see what information they have. Can’t hurt,” he shrugged.
     
    “We’re grateful to you,” Tammy said softly. “I can’t begin to tell you.”
    “All I ask is that you help someone else if you have the chance and the means,” Helen smiled. “I’ve lived my whole life like that, sweetie. It’s never failed me.”
    “I promise,” Tammy replied, meaning every word. She sighed, looking down at her cleaned plate.
    “I think I’d like to clean up and get some sleep,” she said. “I know it’s still light out, but today. . . .”
                  “Don’t you worry, honey,” Helen nodded, rising. “Come and let me show you where you’ll be staying.” The two women left the room, still talking. Hiram looked at Ringo.
    “You’ll do whatever she decides, won’t you?” he asked after a minute.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Yeah, I recognized that look,” Hiram chuckled. “Give it to my missus all the time.”
    “We’re really not a couple,” Ringo shrugged. “I. . .I just don’t have anywhere to go, anywhere I need to be. She helped me when she didn’t have to. I didn’t really need it, but she did it anyway. So, I made it my business to see to it she can get home if I can manage it.”
    “You’ve no family, then?” Hiram asked.
    “None,” Ringo shook his head. “Not anymore.”
    “I’m sorry, son,” Hiram said gently.
    “It’s okay,” Ringo shrugged. “You can’t miss what you can’t remember. My parents were always traveling. Died that way, in a plane crash when I was a boy. My uncle took me in, taught me. . .well, he taught me to be a man. This sickness got him, late yesterday. Seems like a lifetime ago, now,” he admitted. “So there’s no one to miss me, now.”
    “I’d say that girl would miss you if something happened to you,” Hiram noted.
    “She’ll have to miss me if I can get her home,” Ringo replied. “No way they’re letting me on an Army base. But if I can get her to one, then. . .well, then I’ll go my way and see what I see.”
    “This virus,” Hiram changed the subject, “you know it’s spreading fast. Too fast.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “The news people have started calling them 'zombies' late this afternoon, you know that?” Hiram was watching him closely.
    “Just panic, I’d say,” Ringo eased back in his chair, finally full. He paused to drain his tea glass. When he set it down Hiram refilled it.
    “They have to call it something,” Ringo went on. “But they aren’t really zombies. They’re not ‘undead’, or anything else supernatural. They’re just sick. Rabid.”
    “And there’s no cure or vaccine,” Hiram nodded. “One bite is all it takes, according to the news, and you’re infected. Takes a few minutes to a few hours according to what information they’re giving out. Any rabies I ever saw took days to show itself. Sometimes longer’n that.”
    “This is something new,” Ringo nodded. “I don’t think it’s entirely natural, either,” he added.
    “What makes you say that?” Hiram asked, eyes bright.
    “It spreads too fast, like you said,” Ringo shrugged. “If this strain of