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"Where?"

"Out there? Austin, Houston, Fort Worth…" Jenni asked

Katie thought about theso fast, I don’t think it’s going too well Maybe the aret a handle on it I don’t know I know yesterday there was that cooing crazy and attacking everyone and a race riot in Philadelphia But now I have to wonder"

"I didn’t see the news The kids atching Disney ot back Some bum bit him on the hand when Lloyd had rolled down theto hand hihed "He was such an asshole to his faenerous to everyone else"

"He used to hurt you, didn’t he?"

Katie’s voice was gentle, but she knew her words stung

"Better ot into the habit of not listening to the news until I got to work

Lydia and I had a strict policy of s as peaceful as possible It made the rest of the day just easier if we could relax, drink coffee, have breakfast, watch the sun co came back to her

Lydia had been wearing a long, dark dress with stylish ethnic jewelry around her neck and wrists Her short, spunky hairdo had looked rather retro and cute They had spoken about their weekend plans and Lydia’s plans for the su She could still remember how cool and soft Lydia’s hand had been in hers when they had kissed one last time before the world had fallen into chaos

Jenni’s hand on her wrist brought her out of her reverie and she could feel tears on her cheeks

"Maybe if we had paid attention to the news," Katie said with a slight sob in her voice

"There is a lot of bad stuff in the world Sometimes it was just better to shut it out"

Katie nodded briskly and tried to pull herself together She had to concentrate on the here and now and get them to a safe place Where that was, she wasn’t sure, but they had to keep

As the truck sped around a curve in the road an old station wagon caeddesperately Katie autoripped her arm hard

"Maybe we shouldn’t stop," Jenni said fearfully

Katie considered her words, then shook her head "If we can save someone, we should" She slowed the truck down to a stop and listened to the hot engine tick and ruripped the edge of thefra My wife isn’t doing so hot We broke down about two hours ago"

"What’s wrong with your wife?" Katie asked though she knew the answer

"Got so other people out of cars and doing all sorts of just-" He shook his head "I can’t even explain it It was just insane Wife had her n and some little kid bit her ar too good right noas heading back hohe broke down Now I think she needs a doctor"

Katie sighed softly The man had a very earnest face and kind eyes His skin eathered fro nose For ahim and comfort him, but he wouldn’t understand He didn’t understand Not yet

The passenger door creaked open and Jenni slipped out Jack started to follow, but she shut the door on him and he woofed at her

"Lady, we need your help bad," the man said, obviously unnerved by Katie’s silence

"There isn’t any help for her," Katie said finally "Anyone bit is…doo about?"

"You kno people were attacking each other on the highway? It’s that way in the city too Everywhere People get bit they get sick and attack other people" She wasn’t sure hoould take to the zoht her eye and she looked tohere Jenni was staring into the car Jenni took a step back and glanced back toward Katie

Sadly, she shook her head The war it, and sent bits of dry grass and leaves spinning across the road

Thehard

"Then we gotta get her to the hospital before it’s too late"

"She’s alone," Jenni said as she stepped up next to the man

"She’s real bad, Katie I think un

"Mister, I know you love your wife Trust me I kno you feel, but you need to co to be the woman you love in just a short while," Katie said to him Impulsively, she laid her hand over his "Please, corowl

All three of the hu blond hair was struggling out of the open passengerHer greenish skin and opaque eyes said it all She was dead and hungry