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"Teacups on the table, too," said Benny "And it looks like all their stuff’s back there That’s Sister Shanti’s traveling bag on her bed Think they went out for a walk? A day trip or soot up and walked out" He knelt and picked up a pair of reading glasses One of the lenses was cracked from side to side "Brother David’s" He frowned "And there’s more I sent a load of supplies here Carpet coats, tents, cooking gear, extra rations, and some weapons I don’t see any of it here"

The door opened and Lilah caone … tracks lead east"

"How long?" asked Toain "I think that’s when everyone left"

They stood in the dusty sunlight, thinking that through, silently letting the ih daylight left to get back to town," said Tom, "and I sure as hell don’t want to sleep up in the hills tonight Tooon"

"I’ll second that," mumbled Benny

"So we have two choices We hole up here and fortify this place, or we push on to Sunset Hollow If we run most of the e canhis head Sunset Hollohere he and Toht It here the zombies of their parents had been kept by Tom for fourteen years; and it here they were buried now On one hand it had a high wall and a fence they could lock; on the other hand, Benny was sure that if he went back there he would go totally ape crazy

"Nix can’t do all that running," he said, fishing for a reasonable excuse "And Chong has to go home tomorrow"

"Don’t make this about me," said Nix defiantly "I’ll outrun your narrow butt any day of the week, Benny Imura"

Benny winced

"Stay here," voted Lilah "Five of us can hold this place"

"There’s no back exit," To She turned and looked at the others, then frowned "Where is Chong?"

They all turned to the door, each of the had not come inside with them

"Was he outside when you checked around back?"

She nodded but immediately rushed outside Toht

29

"THIS DAY CANNOT GET ANY WORSE," TOM SAID UNDER HIS BREATH

Benny shot him a look It was the kind of statement that he would never dare make because the universe always seee He cupped his hands and called Chong’s name

The echoes bounced around and ca frustration "Somebody that smart can’t possibly be this duested Benny "Chong’s pretty shy about that stuff … so maybe he--"

"Went to the bathroom where? In his damn parents’ house? There’s an outhouse twenty feet away, and there are bushes everywhere he could squat behind"

"He was pretty upset," said Nix "Maybe he just wanted to be alone"

To stare "Alone? In the Rot and bloody Ruin?"

She flushed bright red and iain Toed larynx ood; but her honey-colored eyesas she turned in a full circle and surveyed the surrounding forest

Lilah shot Nix an evil look "Are all boys this stupid?"

"Hey!" said Benny

Nix didn’t answer She called Chong’s nah it hurt her injury to do it If he could hear the shouts, Chong did not answer

Tooing to kill hi him back to town and chain him to his own front porch"

"I’ll help," offered Benny, as as angry as he was scared

Toain "Damn it" He turned to the others "Okay, everyone spread out Find Chong’s footprints He has those wedge-soled boots Keep your weapons in hand and stay in sight with at least one other person You find anything, call out Go!"

The four of them moved away from the front of the station as if they were propelled outward by an explosion

He’s gone, whispered Benny’s inner voice Be prepared for that

Benny didn’t want to believe it, but his ’s last words: "I should never have coer," Benny round and picked his way through the broken concrete "Stop screwing around"

Then he found sohtened and yelled as loud as he could

"HERE!"

Everyone caht on Tolitter on the wicked edge of Lilah’s spear as she closed in fro up behind him They all stopped and stared No one said a word The words had already been said

They were scraped onto the side of a slab of concrete pushed ale Tords

I’M SORRY