Will to Survive by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online

I’ve noticed a lot less people on the road now, you know, walking by,” Todd said. “The guards on the wall say that now they’re seeing the same people again and again, first going one way and then coming back the other way.”
    â€œThose are people living close by going about their daily business. Things have stabilized,” Herb said.
    â€œThat makes it sound positive,” I said.
    â€œNot positive or negative, just neutral. And that’s the best most people can hope for.”
    â€œWill it get better?” Todd asked.
    â€œNot before it gets worse.” Herb paused. “Winter will be hard. Food supplies will dwindle, sickness will spread. Simple things like flu and pneumonia without medication and treatment will result in high mortality rates.”
    â€œShould we be worried?” Todd asked.
    â€œWe have food, shelter, fuel, doctors and nurses, medical facilities, and enough medication to combat simple illnesses. We’re as prepared as we can be,” Herb said.
    â€œBut most people down there don’t have those things,” Todd said.
    â€œMost are unprepared or underprepared. They’re waiting for someone to save them.”
    â€œAnd that someone’s not going to come, are they?” Todd asked.
    â€œProbably not.”
    â€œThey should be more worried about who else might come,” Quinn said.
    There was no need to say anything more. We all knew. Quinn had been part of it. I couldn’t forget that. I didn’t know if anybody could. I knew that certainly the survivors from the Olde Burnham community would never forget and probably never forgive.
    â€œBut I guess in some ways it’s good that there are so many small communities out there,” Quinn added.
    â€œHow do you figure that?” Todd asked.
    â€œPredators go for the weakest. That’s why I think they’ll leave us alone,” Quinn went on.
    â€œUs?” I asked—and then suddenly felt bad for the tone of my voice.
    â€œI guess that’s how I think of it,” Quinn said. “I’m not them anymore. I hope people in the neighborhood will eventually come to realize that.”
    â€œI have,” Herb said.
    â€œThanks. I really appreciate that,” Quinn said.
    â€œAnd you’re right. As sad and tragic as it sounds, the weakness of others makes us less vulnerable,” Herb said.
    â€œMaybe it would be better if we could help them become less vulnerable,” I said.
    â€œYou know we aren’t equipped to protect everybody,” Herb said.
    I wanted to argue, but I knew he was right. It wasn’t like we could extend our walls. But still, could we do more?
    â€œCan you please swing us down farther toward the lake?” Herb asked, pointing in the direction of the giant body of water twenty miles to our south.
    â€œOf course. Do you see something?”
    â€œIt’s got more to do with what I want to see. Do you know where the oil refinery is?”
    â€œI know exactly where it is. It’s at the bottom of Southdown Road, on the lake.” I banked sharply to take us farther south, away from the direction of the compound and away from our neighborhood.
    Quinn leaned over the seat. “We also knew about the oil refinery being there. That place was on the radar as a potential spot to hit.”
    â€œBut you didn’t get around to it,” Herb said.
    â€œThere were closer and easier ways to get fuel than taking on the people there.”
    â€œObviously, your recon knew that it was well defended,” Herb said.
    â€œI don’t know how well defended the refinery is, but there’s still enough fuel out there that’s closer and completely undefended. Along with our Cessna flights, there were always recon groups out on the ground searching for targets,” Quinn confirmed. “I guess we’re doing the same thing here today.”
    â€œNo, we’re not!” I snapped.