"Awesome, actually. It almost looks like a castle. "
"Yeah, I can see that," Travis responded with satisfaction.
The only way into the new area at this point was by long ladders.
Looking over the new area gave her a sense of hope.
"It almost feels like we're on top of this," she said.
"Yeah, almost. " He glanced back at the hotel and the many windows shimmering with the fading sunlight. "That's gonna be the big victory. "
"When are we going in?"
"As soon as the entrance is done. You can see by discoloration of bricks where they bricked up a back entrance of the hotel. We'll go in there. But I'm not comfortable just breaking in and going in. If there are more zombies that we think in there, they could flood the fort as soon as we break open the wall. "
"So, what are you planning?" Katie tilted her head and looked up at the back end of the hotel. Her blond hair billowed around her face in the cool breeze.
"Build a small wall encapsulating the new doorway and use the old wrought iron gate as the door. When we go in, we'll have the gate locked behind us with guards standing post," Travis answered solemnly.
Katie sighed and shook her head. "Everything we do comes with such a great risk. "
Travis also sighed and leaned back against the railing. "We have a great opportunity right now to get ourselves secure before we get slammed with a bunch of those things again. I feel them coming, don't you?"
"Everyday," Katie answered truthfully.
Travis nodded. "Once the gate is fully operational, we'll extend our search out a few more blocks. "
"We may just lure more back here," Katie warned him.
"I know, but I have a feeling any survivors out there are quickly running out of time. "
Katie turned her gaze toward the reinforced truck perimeter. It had been built up higher and now spikes rose up before them. If there was a push to get to the trucks, the zombies in the back would end up impalin
g their comrades in front of them.
"We need to get into the hotel, too. Things are getting cramped in here.
We're up to a hundred survivors. "
Travis made a face. "We don't have enough men, Katie. "
"Then teach the rest of us how to do it. I can probably help build that entrance to the hotel you are talking about. "
Travis studied her and laughed. "Yeah, probably. "
"Jenni is going out on rescue missions. Jason and Curtis are trying to figure out how to make new weapons. Belinda is working hard to become a self-taught doctor. Peggy runs inventory like a general. Give me something to do, Travis. " She gave him an intense look. "And stop protecting me. "
He looked startled at her comment. "You got hurt. "
"Yeah, but I'm healing. "
"I just thought…"
Katie raised an eyebrow.
Night was settling over the fort and people were lighting lanterns on the tables set up in the "residence" area of the site.
Travis just stared at her. "Okay, okay, I'm trying to protect you. "