Fountain of the Dead Read Online Free PDF

the town’s resources. He was handed a plastic cup filled with water, which he guzzled and held it out for a refill when empty. Frank scoffed and shook his head when the cup was refilled. The next cup full he sipped. A dish was handed to him; he poked at the various lumps with the spoon. A chunk of bread was dropped in the bowl.
    “You said something about a cure?” Catherine asked.
    “You’re very self sufficient here.” Pierce said avoiding the question. He tore into the bread and dragged it through the stew, then nodded in approval at his meal, barely stopping to breathe between bites.
    “We have to be,” Catherine answered. “You make what you can for yourself, because no one else will.” The stranger shoveled a spoonful of stew into his mouth and grimaced a little as he chewed. “That food is a little old, go easy with it.” She looked at him expectantly, waiting for the cure to flow from his mouth. “No one is waiting outside to save us or keep us safe and fed.”
    “What am I eating? Exactly?” Pierce asked and forced down the mouthful.
    Micah smiled knowingly.
    “We call it critter stew,” Sharon said. “Rabbit, squirrel, whatever we find that scampers and isn’t undead.”
    “Sharon is a hell of a cook. And if you don’t piss us off or cause harm to my people, you may live for another dinner.” She leaned in close to Pierce. “Now let’s have a chat.” Catherine stood. She nodded to the snipers and they went back to the towers; Danny put fresh clips into his pistols along the way. Lily punched him in shoulder and went back towards her tower. “The rest of you lot clear off, go to sleep, finish your dinner, and go to your houses.”  Catherine waited for the crowd to break up.
    Sharon draped her arm around Micah’s shoulders and led him back to their small house. They were one of the few with their own house with no housemates. Some of the other houses had five or more people in them. Micah reached into his shoulder bag and pulled out the white board. He wiped it clean with his hand and scribbled on it.
    “Busy night.”
    “You know it, kiddo.” She kissed him on the top of the head.
    “Tomorrow I need to update the journals,” he wrote.
    “You update them every day,” she said and ushered Micah on to the stairs. “I think Meredith has a crush on you,” she whispered and closed the door behind them. Micah’s cheeks turned red and he locked the door after they were inside.
     
    * * * * *
     
    “Beverly, you need to check out our guest,” Catherine called out. She leaned towards Pierce and whispered into his ear. “If you bring anymore threat to my village and my family, I will end you myself.” Catherine took a swallow of coffee, shook the remnants in the cup out onto the ground and set the chipped mug down; she swung her braid around her neck like a scarf. “I’ll get a pistol and shoot you three times. Twice to make sure you’re dead and once for pleasure, and I won’t tell you which shot will come first.”
    Pierce dry swallowed and placed his plate on the ground near the fire. He finished his water and was led off by Beverly. “Check those bite marks and the scars and report back. If any of them are very fresh or bleeding, call for Frank, he’ll know what to do.” Catherine leaned in close “and don’t get too close. You need us, scream. Don’t be shy about it.” Beverly led him away from the fire. Meredith took a seat near Catherine and the two ladies waited.
    “What do you think?” Meredith asked in a soft voice.
    “I think he’s more than a little crazy, malnourished, and exhausted. If his claim on the cure is legit, I don’t know what we’ll do. If he’s stringing us along for shelter and food, there’s going to be problems.”
    “Do you think he’ll hurt my mother?” Meredith looked up at the older woman.
    “I don’t think we have to worry about that. Your mother is no one to be trifled with especially when I have someone hidden in the shed with