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Katie’s body was jolted as the pallet swung about and she screamed

The moans and shouts of the zombies below made her tre and she could hear Jenni screaht to the heavy chain that held the pallet up

Bill was holding on for dear life, nearly falling off hi crazily froht This is how it ends for h the air and get a better grip on Travis Her free hand finally ers barely fit around it She was gagging on the sheer stench of the dead below and her terror felt as if it was choking her Travis’ grip on her felt tenuous sorim determination

The pallet that made up their makeshift elevator continued to throw the loops over the heads of the undead, ly from it

How had it come to this?

The drive to the town had been uneventful Travis had driven the old white truck while Katie had been squeezed in between him and Bill Laura had sat quietly on Bill’s lap, a crocheted purse hanging around her neck

Nerit had given it to her and had put the VCR tape and remote control into it

Laura had seemed to find this acceptable and had stared out of the windshield all the way to town as her fingers stroked the purse

Travis had traveled an alternate route, avoiding the main street into the heart of the town that lead to the fort They had taken a series of side roads until they came up to the outside of the enormous hotel that’s back faced the fort The improvised wall that kept the zoe container and sandbags: very ingenious It was evident that Juan was very clever

No zombies had made their appearance as they parked the car On the road they had seen a few, in the distance, usually running from a farmhouse, but none had appeared in the town The evacuation to the school had been highly successful

The enormous crane, perched over the fort, had been already intoward them Travis had slid out of the truck and uns drawn Bill kept one hand on Laura’s shoulder as they got ready to return to the Fort

"…not fast…enough…" Laura had begun to murmur

She had been so silent and it startled the up," Bill had whispered

They had worked as quietly as possible, trying not to draw too much attention By the cries andthem safe, they had known the zombies ell aware of their presence

Travis had clie hook froh, he had hooked the pallet onto it

"Okay, reht distribution to keep us fro over," Travis had said

Laura had whispered, "…not…fast…enough…"

Katie had helped Bill get Laura up onto the pallet Katie had pressed Laura’s hands to the ropes Travis had ripped them firmly, despite her continuous blank stare Katie had taken up her position, slinging her rifle over one shoulder, while Bill and Travis took theirs

"Nervous?" Travis had asked

"Not at all," Katie had lied

The pallet had lifted rather sh to be safe, they had started a long, sloing over the zombies toward the Fort

The stench of the sensation, and the screaaze on the fort and had tried not to look down Occasionally, she checked on Laura who stood near her, holding the ropes tightly Her lips had beenand Katie had barely heard her whisper, "…not fast…enough"

Bill had looked down and let out a whistle "Damn There’s a lot of zombies"

Katie couldn’t help herself and she had looked down It hadup and doinging their ar in vain to reach them

Laura had looked down as well Her voice had risen in voluh…"

"Laura, calm down Look away," Travis had said firmly

"Laura, don’t look," Katie had said

Then Laura had stopped her feveredand looked at each of theh," she had said clearly

And had let go