America The Dead Book Two: The Road To Somewhere Read Online Free PDF

looked around, he realized he wasn't the
only one. Everyone seemed to be able to put the food away, yet
everyone seemed to be thinning down, dropping the excess weight
they had once carried. He himself had noticed that the few extra
pounds he had once carried were gone. His stomach had not been as
flat as it was now since junior high school. Maybe not even then,
he admitted to himself. He sipped at his coffee and watched the sun
rise across the fields, burning the mist away as it
rose.
    Jeff Simmons had called on the radio some
fifteen minutes earlier to let them know his party was on the way.
The whole camp was waiting, including Brian and Janelle. Even Tom,
Bob, Molly and Nell who had had their day all planned out were
hanging around, waiting for the newcomers to come into camp. It
seemed everyone had changed their plans to wait.
    “ You waiting also?” Mike had asked
Brian as he wandered by him.
    He nodded solemnly. “I want to see the new
kids.”
    “ Might not be any new kids,” Mike
told him.
    “ Oh,” Brian said. He looked
worried for a few seconds. “Nellie said there would.”
    Nellie meant Janelle, his constant companion,
one year older. Looked like she was a God to him, because she knew
so many things that Brian didn't.
    “ Well, if Nellie says so,” Mike
allowed.
    Brian nodded. “She's really smart.”
    “ She is. Most girls are,” Mike
said seriously.
    “ All of us are,” Kate said leaning
in. She planted a kiss on his cheek, making Brian
giggle.
    The Dog wandered by looking for
handouts. He seemed a little put out that he wasn't getting all the
handouts he felt he deserved. He stopped in his wandering, looked
towards the interstate, stiffened his posture, and gave a little
woof. He turned and looked at Mike, his lower lip pulled back
slightly from his bottom teeth, his head tilted at an angle as if
to ask, Did you hear that?
    Mike patted his leg. The Dog wagged his tail,
came over to Mike, allowed his hand to fall on his back and scratch
there, but kept his attention focused on the highway in the near
distance. Mike scratched him under the chin too, patted his head
and told him he was a good dog. He woofed once more and then sat
down, content to wait along with everyone else.
    A few minutes later the sounds of the vehicles
came to Mike's ears as well. The Dog's ears were perked now, his
body tense with excitement.
    “ Good dog,” Mike said and patted
his head once more. “Well,” he said to the others close by, “Looks
like our company is almost here.”
    A half minute later, three Hummers came into
view running on the side of the interstate. Mike raised his radio
from his side. “That's you then, Jeff?”
    The lead Hummer flashed its lights and then set
off on a diagonal across the field headed for the small complex of
buildings where Mike and the others waited.
    “ It is, Mike,” Jeff answered. His
voice was loud and clear from the radio's small speaker, seeming to
jump out into the air.
    ~
    The Hummers pulled up onto a broken section of
pavement that fronted what was left of the diner and shut down.
Bob, Ronnie, Patty and several others walked across to the Hummers
as they rolled to a stop.
    Mike stood, brushed imaginary dust from the
front of his jeans and then pulled Kate to her feet. He stooped
down, picked up Brian and settled him onto his shoulders. The Dog
followed them as they walked over, completely unlike his usual
exuberant self. He stayed at Mike's side taking small, measured
steps to match his speed.
    Mike looked around him. Everyone was carrying a
weapon in their holster, over their shoulder or both. No one was
really expecting trouble, but after the past few weeks no one was
taking any chances. Even Janet Dove, who had never handled a gun,
wore a shoulder holster with what looked like a huge rubber gripped
forty four Magnum pistol, something straight out of a Hollywood
movie, flat beige camouflage paint, black rubber grips and a heavy
duty nylon webbed holster. She wore a