Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment (Plagued States of America Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

He looked at everyone in the room, but his eyes lingered on Penelope’s.
    “What do any of you care about what’s going on out there?”
    “I care,” Tom said. Houston’s eyes shifted to Tom. “I think we can get to them before anyone else does. I think we can save them.”
    “I admire your dedication to duty, chief, but why him?” Houston asked, pointing at the Senator’s image. “He’s got to be the biggest ass I’ve ever met.”
    “He’s my father,” Tom admitted dryly. He sounded ashamed to say it, tired words that came as though he had been making this same apologetic revelation to people all his life. Penelope squeezed Tom’s hand gently.
    “You’re joking,” Houston said. He looked at Hank, who only raised his eyebrows. “He’s not joking, is he? Are you all in on this?” He looked from person to person again in disbelief, hoping to find some evidence that this was all a joke.
    “M, you used to make runs to the camps to bring supplies in the worst weather, remember?”
    “The camps were easy. You’re talking about St. Louis, Hank. Ground zero.”
    “Not exactly,” Tom interjected. “We only need to get as far as Scott Air Force Base.”
    “Oh, well, just the air base. Whew,” Houston said , waving his hands theatrically. “So we’ll just derail along the way and follow the highway, right?”
    “We’ve got another plan for ground transportation once we’ re there,” Hank added.
    “Oh, another plan. I hope you’ve got an additional plan for getting us home, too.”
    “ The train. Both ways,” Tom said.
    “Sure, except how are we going to turn it around?”
    “Just drive backwards. Trains do it all the time.”
    “Shows what you know about trains and weather ,” Houston said dismissively. “The engine needs to be in front so the snow blower can clear the tracks. We’re going to need to find a turntable or roundhouse—” Houston’s face showed a revelation and he snapped a finger. “Or a wye.”
    “Why?”
    “No, not why, a wye. Tracks for turning trains around. Never mind.”
    “ Those are just logistics issues. Are you gonna help or what, M?” Hank asked.
    “Of course I’m going to help,” Houston replied.
    “What?” Tom and Hank asked in unison. Everyone else wore looks of utter surprise. Even Penelope thought it seemed too easy from the way Tom and Hank expected things to happen. They thought he would demand some kind of payment.
    “Are you kidding me?” Houston asked. “ Your dad’s the front runner for president next year. The next president of the United States owing me his life?”
    Hank’s mouth was open, but he said nothing.
    “But I also want the story rights, too. Not just yours,” Houston said, pointing at Tom. “Everyone’s. Especially you, soldier. We should ink a deal right now, in fact.”
    “Not everyone’s agreed, yet,” Tom said. “ Hank and Jones and the doctor, they’re not part of it.”
    “I’m in,” Jones said. Everyone stared his way in silent surprise. Doctor O’Farrell wore a critical scowl. “He can clear my name. I’m in.”
    “Are you sure it’s just the Senator you’re going up there for?” O’Farrell asked him.
    “Saving Kennedy won’t hurt,” Jones added.
    “Glad to have you aboard, soldier,” Houston said with a grin. “We’re going to need some guns for this.”
    “I’ll go too,” O’Farrell added.
    “No,” Jones told her. “You’re safe now. Get across the channel.”
    “And then what? I’m a zombie research scientist, Mason. This is what I do. And Midamerica has the highest concentration of half-breeds alive.” O’Farrell’s gaze fell on Penelope. Penelope shrank behind Tom. “I’m going. If I can observe them and bring back photographic proof of their human-like behavior out in the wild, do you know what that will mean to our research? I just need to borrow one of your cameras.” She spoke directly to Houston while pointing toward the tripod at the other end of the coach.
    “No