21
Wade and his friends relaxed for a week. Jimmy and Howard sat in Howard’s living room for a private conversation.
“Happy you made it, Jimmy. Thought you were dead.”
“I wasn’t sure if anyone was alive. Glad you’re alright.”
“Did you ever see anyone else in the family?”
“Didn’t see anybody, but I did talk to Richard before it got really bad. He said he’d try to make it here if bad came to worse. Talk to Mom or Dad?”
“Nope. Wish I had.”
“Me too. Tried convincing everyone I could make it here.”
“I convinced you, didn’t I?”
“Got here as soon as I could. Took a while.”
“I haven’t left since this started, Jimmy. How bad is it?”
“Hell on earth, Howard.”
“That bad?”
“Zombies and crazy killers are everywhere.”
“Damn.”
“Remember Jacob?”
“Yeah!”
“He didn’t make it.”
“What happened?”
“He went too long without food. Collapsed and died on the road.”
“He was a good guy. A nutcase, but definitely a good guy.”
“So, any plans?”
“You mean for survival?”
“Yeah.”
“Same thing I’ve been doin’. Been doin’ great so far. No point in trying to fix what isn’t broken.”
“What you’ve done has paid off, Howard. This place is pretty impressive.”
“Hold on a second.”
Howard got up from the couch to ensure no one was eavesdropping and sat back down.
“Are the people who came with you decent?”
“Yes. Wouldn’t bring bad eggs here.”
“Good.”
“They’re useful, Howard.”
“In more ways than one. Remember that plan?”
“We don’t have to do that. We aren’t that desperate.”
“Eating people might be necessary, bro. I doubt it ever will be. But I’ll eat someone if I have to. They’d eat us if they got desperate enough.”
“I know. Let’s not speak on it unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s gross and evil.”
“Being gross and evil is how I got this place, Jimmy. We have it all here. We don’t have a worry in the world here. Times will be hard later, but don’t think too much on it. We’re gonna be fine. Your friends might be, too. Everything might be okay.”
“Might just do raids instead. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Raids could stop being successful.”
“Fine. I get the point.”
“I don’t want to go killer. Had to let you know. We’ll do the raiding when and if the time comes. Until then, relax. You made it.”
“Twenty-five miles through hell.”
“You survived. Congrats! Have another shot. It’s the best whiskey money can buy!”
“The dirty south just got a lot dirtier.”
Jeffrey McElyea's Zombie Compilation Page 23