When Paul and Myron returned, they were shocked at the number of infected that had congregated around the school. In only a little under two hours, the numbers had doubled.
Getting close to the school was difficult and they had to plow through the infected to get to the back area, where they pulled the car into the playground, then backed it against the fence.
Their behavior had changed. The infected grew agitated when Paul and Myron invaded their space. While they still didn’t attack or rage after them, they swung out defensively.
“This isn’t good,” Paul told Myron. “We have no means to get out of this building. We have to think of something.”
“You saw that woman,” Myron replied. “Honestly, you’re a medical professional. How long will she last?”
“You mean live or walk around?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Have you seen some of the infected? They shouldn’t be walking around.”
“You know, the news said some were dead. I have a theory.”
“I welcome it.”
“Whatever this is, it infected the brain and these people aren’t feeling pain so they keep moving until they stop.”
“Let’s hope you’re right.”
Stanton was there to greet them with a few men to help unload. “Glad you guys made it back alright. Myron, your grandmother is worried sick about you. Make sure you stop and see her. We have been keeping her busy.”
“Thanks, I’ll do that.”
“Anything new?” Paul asked.
“Trying to figure out a few things, is all,” Stanton said. “One, what do we do with the infected? We have enough ammunition to start taking them out. Or are they going to die?”
Paul shook his head, at a loss. “I really don’t know. Maybe if we waited another day or so…”
“Can we wait? Can we sustain all of these infected?” Stanton questioned. “I mean, we are cornered. We have no way out of this building.”
“We were just discussing that,” Paul said. “Too bad we can’t build a walkway over them.”
Myron snapped his finger. “Maybe we can.” Both men looked at him. “Not sure it will work. There’s a man inside I need to speak to. Will you excuse me? I’ll help with the stuff in a little bit.”
After he walked away, Paul turned to Stanton. “I wonder what that is about.”
“Haven’t a clue, but any idea is better than none. We’ve been monitoring the emergency band, when you get in, Tara needs to speak to you. Says she has information regarding the infected.”
“Did she say what?” Paul asked and walked with Stanton to the building.
“No. Also, the local radio DJ is holed up at her station. People are calling in. I have someone listening now and trying to get information. Did we want to call her?”
“It could be beneficial,” Paul said. “I don’t see how it can hurt. Anything else?”
“Our shelter residents are dealing, but they are upset. I still stand firm on having that group meeting.”
“And again, I will ask,” Paul nearly whined, “tell them what?”
“What you know. That the infected are sick. Tara has information. Whatever that is, share it. A calm shelter is a productive and better shelter. Anything you can tell them to make them feel at ease, safe, and secure.”
Paul had to chuckle at that. He would make the attempt after hearing what Tara had to say. Hopefully she had viable information, though he had to wonder about the effectiveness of anything he had to tell them. How was he supposed to make them feel at ease and secure when he himself was scared to death?
Mt. Hallow, PA
After a failed attempt to get close to Washington County Hospital, Eugene sought the next logical hospital that wasn’t in the city. It involved turning around, but they had to. Infected swarmed the streets around the medical center.
Cars were spewed across the road, blocking any passable routes, and it looked like a war zone. Desecrated bodies, torn apart, dotted the streets.
They discovered their next medical destination by accident. Opting to head north, they ran across the outpatient clinic seven miles from Washington. The main hospital associated with the outpatient center was another seven miles away. Deep in a borough, the hospital actually seemed a logical place.
Max’s hand finally stopped bleeding, but it didn’t look good. Without a doubt he had several lacerations that needed stitching.
None of them were familiar with the area and they relied on the Rand McNally Atlas Eugene had grabbed from the Shotz.
“We’re going to need a plan,” Eugene said. “It’s already after three, couple hours it’ll be dark. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to be anywhere in the open after dark.”
“It’s possible,” Grace said, “that if the hospital is operational, we can stay there, right?”
“Right,” Eugene replied. “And if not?”
“What about that shelter? That community is not far from the hospital.”
Max interjected, “I think the shelter should be for tomorrow unless we can safely guarantee we can get there before dark. We don’t know how long we’ll be at the hospital. I’m sure there are places to go that are safe.”
“Let’s do this one thing at a time,” Grace suggested. “Hospital first.”
They had taken what looked like on the map, small secondary routes. Pockets of traffic jams made up of abandoned cars and groups of infected were all over the main roads. It was longer, but easier. The last leg of the hospital voyage would be made on the main road, a two mile stretch.
Blue road signs indicating a hospital zone told them they were on target. It was easy to spot Saint Clair Memorial hospital. At least a block beforehand, the sign was visible, and so were a couple of other things. The road was a parking lot and the top two floors of the hospital were smoldering fires with smoke flowing steadily into the blue sky.
Eugene stopped the car at the end of the traffic jam a block away. Walking was out. Infected were moving about between the cars.
“I’m, sorry,” he said, looking back at Grace. “I can’t get any closer.”
“We’re so close.”
“I know. But we don’t even know if it’s operational.”
Grace stared at Macy. The little girl was out like a light, her shoulders heaving as she breathed thick, snoring breaths.
“I have an idea,” Max said. “Back the car up.”
Even though it was on a main road, it was primarily a residential area. Eugene did as instructed and pulled over once Max noted there weren’t any infected around.
After telling them to stay put, he got out of the car, closed the car door, and walked to the house that he had spotted just before the traffic jam. It was exactly like the other homes on the street, constructed in the same era, but the story and a half home caught his attention. It was different than the others. The front screen door was open, there was a blanket and another small object on the lawn, and the garage door was lifted. There was no car in the garage or on the street in front of the home.
To Max, it looked like the residents up and left in a hurry.
He checked out the garage; it was empty and he immediately shut the door between the garage and the basement. Then he walked up the few steps to the front of the house and tried the door, finding it unlocked. He didn’t worry about encountering any infected, he just wanted to make sure the house was safe and empty.
“Hello?” he called out as he stepped into the house. It wasn’t a big house, no entranceway, and the front door opened directly into the living room. A couple of the couch cushions were disheveled, a lamp knocked over. The dining room was in clear view and no one was there. He peered up the steps to his right, called out again, and walked up.