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Running down the stairs, Katie ran into a few other people, all uards There was a surprising lack of women in the fort and it had taken her awhile to realize this Most of the women were older and married It saddened her, but made her feel that she needed to prove herself and pull her oeight

Juan stood near the back door instructing everyone where to go One by one, the men spread out to take up positions Katie found herself to be the last one Juan paid attention to

"Travis wants us to meet him up on the balcony," Juan said He looked very tense

"Why?"

"I don’t know Hey, Loca, we’re wanted upstairs," Juan said to Jenni with an evil glint in his eye

"Bite me, redneck," Jenni answered andnoises at her

"I’m so out of this," Katie said, and hurried back into the building and up the stairs

"Redneck"

"Loca"

"Redneck"

"Loca"

"Redneck"

"Mucha loca"

"Redneck," Jenni said again as they followed Katie up the stairs

"Are you calling

"No! I’ you just a plain ol’ hick!"

"Oh, I am so out of this one," Katie said firmly, and walked down the hallway toward the balcony

Juan laughed and Jenni s by all the noise behind her, but she decided not to pay attention It has been clear since she had returned that Jenni and Juan were locked in a highly adversarial battle of the wills

Stepping carefully onto the rickety balcony, she found Travis looking over the zouards were visible to the crowd, the zo the perimeter

"I don’t see a weak spot," Travis said to her

Katie looked over the peri you, they’ve gotten smart," Juan said, his tone suddenly quite serious

Jenni timidly stepped out and surveyed the crowd below "They’re just doing what they always do"

"Yeah, but soet over the trucks" Travis shook his head "I don’t get it"

Katie’s gaze swept over the crowd slowly Soain, then sahat it was All the zouards, but one zo the trucks and the barriers that kept it fro its head back and forth

"So, "Katie said softly She pointed and they all looked out

"Shit, she’s right," Travis grunted with disgust

The zombie moved slowly to one side to let a s on one of the trucks It was one of the more stripped down zombies; not much was left on its bones It’s skull-like head once more turned to look at the perimeter

Kate slipped the safety off her rifle

The zombie e truck full of dirt with cehtly under it and between the cab of the truck and the load It pushed its way toward the crowd, reached up and started trying to open the door

"Gawdda shit! These things are breaking all the gawdda her rifle off her shoulder and raised it

"Katie?" Travis said softly

"Can’t afford for a san to close on the trigger, then she hesitated

"Travis…"

The zoave up the door It staggered to one side and began to claw at the sandbags, as if to get purchase to lift itself up Around its neck hung a crocheted purse

"Yeah?"

"I think that’s Laura," Katie whispered

"Shit"