![]() ![]() They had spent last night in the windbreak of an overturned pick-up truck bound-up bales of hay had been scattered around, and Josh had lugged them over to build a makeshift shelter that would contain their body heat. If not, I'll say have a good trip to Detroit." If you want to go back with me, you'll be welcome. My cabin's about two miles north of here, as the crow flies. "Sounds like the makings of a stew to me. The outlines of small, blocky one-story buildings and red brick houses began to appear from the deepening scarlet gloom. ![]() He thought he must look like a zombie, or like the Frankenstein monster carrying the fainted heroine in his arms. He carried the exhausted child in his arms, as he had for the past two hours, and walked stiff-legged, the soles of his feet oozing with blisters and blood in shoes that were coming apart at the seams. The wind was still shoving mightily at his back, but after what seemed like eight hours of walking yesterday and at least five today, he was about to topple to the ground. ![]() "Take care," he said, and he started gliding across the snowy highway toward the woods. But you do what you want to do I'm hitting the trail." He shrugged into his pack, wrapped the cord around his shoulder and picked up his rifle. Like I say, they'll come out of the mountains with knives and forks between their teeth. It'll freeze up pretty soon, but you'll have a blood smell on your clothes. "If you don't mind, we'll just go on our way." "Leo-" And then it was interrupted by a strangling, terrible spasm of coughing. "Leona" a weak voice called from inside the house. "Money ain't worth nothin' no more I'd blow your damn head off if I wouldn't have to clean up the mess" Whatever Sullivan had once been, it was dead now. It took Sister about two more seconds to make up her mind. He headed for the next house, further along and across the road. He approached one of the houses but stopped when he saw a body curled up like a question mark on the front porch steps. She held onto that Cookie Monster doll like life itself and occasionally flinched in her tormented sleep. Josh was stiff with cold, and he knew Swan must be freezing, too. He lifted his foot and kicked at its center, knocking it off its hinges, and they crossed the porch to the front door.īut he was already moving again, heading into the edge of the dense forest. "Wake up, now." She mumbled, and he set her down then he tried the door but found it latched from the inside. Josh walked across the dirt lot and up the porch steps to the screen door. The hand-lettered name was Davy and Leona Skelton. The mailbox, supported on a crooked pedestal, was painted white and had what appeared to be an eye, with upper and lower lids, painted on it in black. "Friend, that's going to attract every scavenger within smelling distance-and believe me, some of those bastards can sniff blood a long, long way." Johns is about four or five miles west." The man looked at Artie, who was dripping blood onto the snow. There may be a few people left, but after that flood of refugees washed in from the east I'd be surprised if you'd find much in any town along I-80. Hazleton's the nearest town of any size, and that's about ten miles south of St. Josh had just put his hand on the knob when the door flew open and the barrel of a pistol looked him in the eyes. ![]()
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