End of the Line (Book 2): Stuck in the Middle Read Online Free PDF Page A

floor.
                  Jim sat at the table, talking to Keith. I was surprised that Tanya was no longer at the table. He had a mug of something hot in front of him but Keith didn’t. Three lanterns were lit and on the table. We had a lot of lanterns and flashlights. The solar panel in the back of the ship could turn on flood lights at night if needed but we didn’t sail at night.
                  “Hi Keith. Jim getting you up to date about the workings here?”
                  “Yeah,” he said. “I don’t know if I have any skills.”
                  “Don’t worry. There’s a lot of down time. Jim will make you a schedule. You’ll learn how to sail and maybe shoot. You can help cooking and cleaning.”
                  “Why do you live on a boat?”
                  “Tanya thinks we’ll be safer here in winter, from the zombies and other people.”
                  Keith didn’t respond. I thought what happened to him might have been other people rather than zombs.
                  “Come on, I’ll show you where you can bunk.” I took a lantern from the table and took the flight down to the crew quarters. There was a small galley which was now filled to the brim with supplies. We all ate in the salon or in our rooms.
                  “The ship has four bedrooms, including a two bedroom suite,” I explained. “They’re all taken. We also have three crew quarters-- all taken.” Both Grace and Dave’s room had bunks and could fit six more people all together but because Keith was a stranger it would probably be a good idea if he bunked alone.
                  “The only place I can offer is the big store room. It’s almost as big as a room. We have cots.”
                  I actually knew nothing about sailing and how these yachts were manned.
                  “Tanya has the room with one bed. Grace and Dave have the other two. Dave has a dog.”
                  “I know,” Keith said and he finally smiled. “She likes to lick.”
                  I smiled too. I don’t know how in a world of abandoned animals, Dave found the friendliest dog.
                  Idiot the cat, a grey tabby stood by the open door of Tanya’s room watching us with caution. When we walked by, she ran back into the room.
                  “You have a cat too,” Keith said.
                  “That’s Tanya’s cat, Idiot,” I explained. “Not as friendly as Olive but she doesn’t bit or scratch. Just warning you, it’s cramped in the storeroom because we didn’t expect any more people.”
                  “I know, Tanya told me. She also said you’ll be locking me in at night. Jim said he left a bucket to use for the bathroom—“
                  “I’m sorry, Keith, it’s just that we don’t know you.”
                  “I understand.”
                  I couldn’t tell if it bothered him or not. I opened the door. Jim had stored a lot in here but the cot was empty. Dena had been using it. A bucket sat next to the bed and a unlit lantern was on a box close by.
                  “Sorry about the mess. You can fix it in the morning. I don’t know if Tanya told you, but we try to stick to sleep when it gets dark, get up when it’s light except for those who have overnight watch.” I was glad not to be on watch tonight. I think Dave got stuck with it.
                  “It’s okay,” Keith said. He lied on the cot and put his head down. Five second later, he was out but his face looked uneasy.

Chapter 2
                  “Where is he?” Tanya asked when I came back up. She had resumed her brooding at the table. Jim was sorting the new supplies. Mike was cooking something on the stove. Hannah was at the table giving a