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The sound of the gun fired inside the van would’ve been the loudest thing I’d ever heard if it hadn’t been followed by the sound of George falling That’s the loudest thing I’ve ever heard That’s always going to be the loudest thing, no

But I’ood shot, and there was no shrapnel unless you wanted to count the aerosolized blood released when the bullet hit my when I shot not unless you counted the blood I had to count the blood because it was enough to turn the entire damn van into a hot zone If I was infected, I was infected—too late to worry about that kind of shit now—but that didn’t mean I needed to make my chances worse I ainst the wall, the gun dangling loose against e turned the security caot too before it was too late to worry about that sort of stuff I watched the Center’s security forces rush around with the senator’s nize Ry Sacraot out of the quarantine zone before things went to hell And things had gone to hell I could spot at least three of the infected on every uards who’d never dealt with a for-real-and-true zo stupid They would have known they were shooting stupid if they’d paused to think for five seconds You’re not a sharpshooter, you don’t go for the head, you go for the knees; a zombie that’s been hobbled can’t come at you as fast, and that leaves more time to aim You’re out of ammo, you leave the field You don’t reload where you stand unless there isn’t any choice When you’re fighting a disease, you have to fight smarter than it does, or you may as well put down your weapons and surrender Soh to infect if you don’t put up a fight and if the pack’s too s to defect to the eneet out there and help them, because it was clear they were pretty fked without some sort of backup Most ofthe blood dry, watching the last signs of George slipping away forever

My pocket buzzed I slapped at it like it was a fly, fu it on “Shaun”

“Shaun, it’s Rick Are you okay?”

It tooksound in the van asmy throat before I said, “I don’t think that word applies at this point I’ whether I’ until soet me before I run a blood test Seeet out before the quarantine ca to the explosions when I got to Georgia’s bike; they hadn’t had tiht behind me I—”

“Do me a favor Don’t tell me where you are” I let my head tilt back to touch the van’s wall and discovered“I have no idea how tapped our phones are or whoI’m still in the van Doors are probably locked anyway, since we confiroing to trust any atteistered uninfected It would need an outside agent to free me That or a rocket launcher, and even I don’t pack that heavy for a little political rally

Rick’s reply was subdued “I won’t I I’ain This tiled sound seeot out Tellnow”

“That’s why I called Shaun, this is—it’s insane We’re getting so many hits that it’s swa this; everyone is propagating it Some folks started the usual ‘it’s a hoax’ rumors, and Shaun, the CDC put out a press statement The CDC” He sounded awed He damn well should The CDC never puts out a statement with less than a week to prepare it “They confirmed receipt of her test results with a tis—it has wings, and it’s flying around the world”

“The name on the press release It wasn’t Wynne, was it?”

“Dr Joseph Wynne”

“Guess our trip to Me wasthan the blood on the walls It was thinner up there It was drying soHer story—our story—it got out”

Suddenly, I was tired So godda No one should have died for this You get away from here Far as you can Du that could be used to bounce a signal, stick Georgia’s bike in a garage, and don’t call again until this is over”

“Shaun ”

“Don’t argue” A bitter smile touched my lips “I’m your boss now”

“Try not to die”

“I’ll think about it”

I hung up and chucked ainst the ith a satisfying crunch Rick was out of the quarantine, and he was still running Good He rong—George daht She would have thought this justified things She would have said this was enough to pay for h her spine Because she put the truth ahead of absolutely everything we ever had, and this had been the biggest truth of all

“Happy now, George?” I asked the air