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Fate had been cruel to so many, but spared others

"Keep it short and sweet," Bill said

"We’re going to stir up the captive natives again," Curtis sighed

"Let them bust out We’ll shoot therin

Bill shook his head "Such a blood-thirsty wo the door open to the mini-bus, Jenni turned to the two itied his girth up the stairs and into the driver’s seat

Warily, Curtis slid past Jenni and sat in the front seat "Juan tells stories about you"

Jenni shut the doors and smiled back at Curtis "Ah, really? I didn’t know he still talked about irlfriend showed up"

Curtis shifted in his chair uncoed an eyebrow and held on, staying on the steps of the bus as it rolled forward

Bill just chuckled good-naturedly "Well, I think Jenni is a little girl who’s a killer shot and if she’s loca, I can deal with that"

Jenni smiled "Thanks, Bill"

Bill was always nice to her Ever since he had arrived with Katie and Travis, he had been so as she and Katie had Being outsiders to the townsfolk who had known each other all their lives, it had been hard to find their niche Only noere they starting to feel as if they were actually part of the coet to know people better and now a lot of the fort’s population knew him by name

The mini-bus slowly crawled down the street toward one of the residential neighborhoods bordering the don area It drove past a burned out gasoline station, abandoned restaurants, the old cineo, and a car lot that stood ehborhood of sood repair, but a few had fallen to the eleerously to one side, or had collapsed altogether

Bill drove very slowly; giving anyone as alive enough time to come to aor doorway Of course, this ine as well A few appeared at s

Jenni had gone through this before Sometimes the zombies broke out, sometimes they didn’t If they did break out, a bullet to the head settled the situation So far the bus had never been swarmed

"No one alive on this street, it looks like, "Curtis said softly

"Yeah" Bill answered sadly He turned a corner and they started down another street

Jenni watched the shrubbery and the houses with equal interest Once she had seen half a e She had wondered if he had tried to hide and had been pulled out and eaten So far, she didn’t see any zoreat fear in the fort that e on theuments, but had no opinion Maybe zo in one direction and happen upon the town Maybe there was a real danger of the Did it really matter? In the end, they just had to be prepared

"That looks like a situation," Curtis said suddenly He pointed to a house up ahead Two zo across the street toward a house where four others were banging on s The front door was in shambles and it looked like a piece of furniture had been shoved up against it The second floor as open and a teenage girl aving her arms

Bill slowed to a stop and the bus idled as they all stared at the situation

So far the zombies had not noticed theirl as so desperate to signal the bus

"Kill e to rescue her," Bill agreed

"Take the ones on the left," Jenni told Curtis "I’ll get the ones on the right"

"I’ll cover you both," Bill added

Curtis took a deep breath "Okay" He nervously fingered his service revolver He nodded grimly to himself and stood up "Okay"

Jenni opened the door and stepped out cautiously All the undead activity seemed to be centered at the house Curtis walked beside her and they took up positions near the bus so they could retreat quickly She looked out at Bill, who had the driver’s sideopen and his gun ready