OUTNUMBERED (Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

all were found to be in relatively good condition. Rodents had burrowed through walls at several buildings and would need to be forcibly evicted. The roof shingles of about half the structures had deteriorated and needed to be replaced.
    Across the potholed oil and chip main road was a twenty acre tract that had been used for overflow auto, camper and motor home parking during special staged events. The faded paint on the deteriorating sign indicated which dirt path customers should turn to. Now, after ten years of neglect, the land was covered with an array of noxious weeds and tree saplings. Many of the trees had grown past ten feet high. I knew Tony would definitely want a diesel powered tractor to reclaim that future parcel of farm land. He'd also want the nineteen mature trees scattered across the acreage taken out, stumps included. Ed and his explosives training would solve the stump and major root problem quickly.
    As a group, the six of us wandered through the complex for over an hour. There was a lot to see and many decisions to be made. Then we broke into pairs or individuals and examined the place on our own. At some point, there had been minor vandalism to the main building and several cabins, but overall the site survived the ravages of neglect in good form. The two guard dogs traveling with us made several runs around the perimeter before swimming in the fast and clear but shallow river. Exhausted from their efforts, they made themselves at home and took a nap lying under the small trailer carrying extra fuel and luggage.
    Before dusk, we pitched tents, made and ate supper, and discussed details about the new homesite and our proposed move. Ed claimed a cabin on the edge of the complex for the new armory. He'd already planned to place bars on the windows inside and out and reinforce the doors and add multiple new deadbolt locks. He and Marilyn would occupy a cabin twenty feet away. Doc proposed living in two rooms of a four room cabin and using the other two rooms for his medical practice. Another cabin had been reserved to be used as the office. Sadly, we were short at least eight cabins. Additional housing would have to be built before we moved.
    As darkness enveloped us, wood was added to the fire, and we lingered to talk several more hours. As we discussed the move, more tasks were identified with each issue we addressed. Before we turned in, Shane said, "It would be easier and more productive to leave a ten or twelve person crew here all winter to accomplish the list of work we've discussed." It was a good idea, but I hesitated to split our group and maintain two camps throughout the winter and early spring.
    John laughed, "I do believe if you listed all of our jobs, they'd fill a new roll of toilet paper from one end to the other."
    Kira grinned mischievously. "Are you insinuating some of those suggestions are crappy ideas?"
    With that, we all laughed then turned in for the night. Our guard dogs slept outside the tents but in close proximity. We hadn't seen any zombies close-by, but I wanted the dogs nearby to sound an alarm well before an attack was launched.
     
    Dawn came and passed, and at eight we drove back toward Deliverance. We routed our trip through four small neighboring towns to check on building supply stores. All had been vandalized, but enough stock remained that we wouldn't need to transport hardware, lumber or roof shingles from stores near Deliverance. Among the many pages of notes and sketches about our new homeplace were material lists for the tasks to be completed. I figured there must be a year's work just on the items we'd seen on our cursory inspections. When the repair work began, I was sure we'd uncover additional work that needed to be done.
     
    We arrived at Deliverance before dark. Morgan reported that the vegetable garden was pretty much cleaned out except for carrots, potatoes, watermelons, etc. The corn harvest had gone well and the field corn was stored in the corn crib