Surviving Day by Day (Book 3): Still They Come Read Online Free PDF

for these oh great white man of Wal-mart?” His sarcastic smile let everyone know he was making jokes.
    Beth and Ceara were showing Niz what they were willing to part with and Niz began telling them about their camp. Beth motioned for her to sit at the kitchen table and poured all of them a glass of water. Colt came in just as they all sat down, Beth gently rubbed his arm, “Colt this is Niz, she came with the men to trade. Niz, this is Colt. You have met or at least seen everyone but Tabitha, I am sure she will be up and moving soon.”
    Colt shook her hand with polite greeting added, then looked to Beth, “I’ll leave you ladies to talk, and I’m going to go join the men.”
    As soon as Colt was out the door, Ceara looked to Niz, “I don’t want to sound rude but could I ask how your people survived the outbreak?”
    Niz set her glass down and watched the men working outside the back door, lost in thought. Ceara sat in silence but wondered if she messed up again just as Niz began talking.
    “We were not left alone, we have quite a few, and they were losses we would not wish on anyone. We are not so set in the old ways that we didn’t have some of the modern conveniences. Many of us had TVs and computers, most of the teen-agers had cell phones. We watched as the newscasts showed what was happening, we watched videos that were posted. Our chief banned anyone from leaving; those returning were checked before they were allowed back in.”
    Niz looked into her water as she twisted the glass, “My younger brother was returning from Albuquerque, he went to school there. We were calling everyone back, the chief saw what was happening before most of the government did. He wanted his people home. My brother arrived and I ran to greet him as I had each time he returned, but he pushed me away. He was bit and didn’t want others near him. He said he returned to die at home but to also allow us to see what the true result was of the infection.”
    Beth laid her hand on Niz’s arm, “I’m so sorry, you don’t have to tell this story. We have all had horrible losses.”
    Niz took a sip and shook her head, “No, it is better you know how we stayed safe, perhaps you will be safer for the knowledge.”
    Beth nodded and moved her hand away as Niz continued, “We took him to what was to become a quarantine building, and we restrained him for his own protection. He had a very high fever and would thrash about so much that we feared he would hurt himself. We had no idea that it would save our lives.”
    Niz looked to Ceara with tears brimming in her eyes to see tears in Ceara’s, “My brother joined our ancestors the same night he returned. Whatever is happening to the world happened to him the next morning as we were building his funeral pyre. I went to say good-bye alone and I saw my brother trying to break free. Our medicine man said we had to kill him again or his spirit could not leave. My father did it…. We now saw what my brother wanted us to see.”
    Our chief setup lookouts, he sent men out for food, weapons and ammo, he cut off all communications. The women were making hand-made bows. You may have noticed we ride horses more than drive. Our Chief told us it was better to feed a horse than to rely on a supply of gas. He put our village back to the eighteen hundreds. Those that disagreed were allowed to leave but knew they could not return. Our number is small but thanks to our chief and our knowledge of the old ways we have done ok.”
    She took another drink, “So to answer your question, those that did survive have survived because of our chief.” Niz lifted the glass looking at the water, “Your water well is fed as ours is, by the river. You would do well to still boil it, we don’t know if or when the river will get contaminated.”
    Ceara pushed her glass away, “I’m sorry I asked you that, I had no right.”
    Niz looked confused, “You have every right to know about anyone in your camp!”
    Beth stood