Katie licked her lips and glanced toward him. "Yeah. "
At least a hundred zombies were flooding the street between the truck and Jenni. Katie could see Juan pulling Jenni back off the top of the dirt truck.
"Turn and go," Travis said softly.
Katie spun the wheel around as she pushed down on the accelerator and the truck plowed through the zombies that had originally been giving them chase.
They were jostled around in the cab as the huge wheels churned over the dead. The truck broke free and raced up the long stretch of road out of town.
Katie's gaze flicked to the rear view mirror. She saw some zombies still in pursuit, but most of the others were now beating their fists against the truck barricade.
Travis was very quiet behind her, breathing hard, reeking of gasoline.
Her shower was a moot point and she felt hot and sweaty. She glanced toward him to see he was running a hand slowly through his hair. Lifting his head, he said, "We just do what we planned. "
Katie licked her very dry lips and nodded. "Yeah. Okay. " Her throat felt tight and scratchy and she forced herself to take a calming breath.
How they were going to get back into the fort would be dealt with later.
For now they had a job to do and they were determined to do it.
2. Left Behind
Jenni was dimly aware of Juan pulling her back as she strained forward, reaching her hand toward the red truck. She screamed loud and hard as it spun around and retreated as the throng of the dead filled the street between her perch on top of the enormous truck and Ralph's red truck that Katie was driving. Juan stumbled back with her in his arms as the dead began to bang on the
side of the construction truck, moaning and screeching. The heavy sandbags held the truck sturdy and it was too high for the undead to scramble over.
"They're not climbers as far as we know, but let’s not give them the idea to try it," Juan said in her ear and half carried, half dragged her down the ladder.
She struggled in his arms. "Katie, no! She can't leave without me!" Jenni felt like her head was going to explode as she thrashed about. Juan dropped her and they both fell behind the barricade. Safe but bruised, they were hidden from the zombies.
Katie couldn't leave her. Katie was safety. Katie was her friend. Her war buddy. Her comrade.
Jenni scrambled to her feet, drawing her gun, grabbing ahold of the ladder.
Juan gripped her wrist tightly. "No. They are gone already! They're safe.
Let them go!"
Jason was at the wall, waving at her from over the top. "Mom, come back!"
She felt the world spinning around her and she covered her face for a moment. Mom…? Was she still a Mom?
Those tiny fingers…
"Mom! Come back in!"
Benji…gone…Mikey…gone…Jason…Jason calling to her.
She stumbled forward and Juan helped her up onto the next ladder to scale the hurricane fence. She shoved her gun into her waistband and dropped to the other side.
She turned back, the morning sun blinding her for a moment.
Katie…
Juan pushed her up onto the next ladder. "Come on, Loca. Get up there. "
Jason reached down to her and she crawled up to him. His arms went around her for a moment in a tight hug, then he was pulling her down the steps someone had made and pushed up to the wall for easy access. Jack was at her feet whining.