they weren’t bringing any new infected cases across the border. What a silly notion, these things respecting borders and checkpoints, or that they’d be docile on a train long enough to go unnoticed. Daniel seriously doubted the infected even knew what a line in the sand was anymore, let alone what repercussions might be incurred by crossing it. He did manage to fall asleep that night as the train continued on cautiously. Close to the refueling stop in Knoxville, Daniel woke to the air brakes slowing them down. Having just barely gotten to sleep, the conductor tapped him lightly on the shoulder, as well as anyone else still out of it.
“We’re in Knoxville, kid. Best stay in the lighted areas where the sentries can see you. Knoxville’s being attacked on the outskirts of town as we speak. We’re not taking any chances.”
“Is there anywhere I can feed this one?” Daniel asked groggily, trying not to upset Kaylee when he woke her. He didn’t feel like being clawed again.
“Yeah, there’s a chow tent. I’d bring some stuff with you if you’re traveling with us any farther. I don’t think we’re stopping before we get to Florida.”
“Is it safe in Florida? Disney World is in Orlando, my Grandpa took me there.” Kaylee smiled up at the conductor. She smiled back, her eyes betraying the concern she was feeling for someone not presently with her. Daniel admired the notion of this woman’s bravery, to continue her job when surely all she wanted was to be with her children.
“Last I heard it was.” Daniel detected a lie, but didn’t say anything. He doubted anywhere was safe anymore, he just needed for Kaylee to stay positive.
They disembarked the train and went to find food. Kaylee found the desert table first, but didn’t complain when Daniel dragged her to the real food. Some of the local restaurants were dumping their stock since they’d had to close indefinitely. Free burgers and all sorts of other meals were being cooked by FEMA employees, free to anyone who didn’t try to eat other people first. Daniel couldn’t believe how few people there were, now. Free food should have drawn them in by the hundreds. He might have been able to count them all without trouble. Daniel could see a fire in the distance and made Kaylee eat a little faster. They were about to board the train again when one of the sentries in a tower opened fire with an M249 SAW. People screamed and shouted, bumrushing the doors of the train just as Kaylee was lifting her foot onto the first step. Daniel snatched her up and launched them both up in one great leap to avoid being trampled.
The crew didn’t waste time trying to seat everyone. The engine revved and, painfully, excruciatingly slowly the train started forward with people still jumping on board as it cleared the station. The FEMA workers they left behind were corralled into a safe zone as the first infected sprinted into sight. Men on the train with guns opened fire too, but who knew if they hit anything. The engine started blowing its horn and ringing bells, something was up ahead but they weren’t slowing down for it. Daniel got a look through a few buildings as the train rounded a gradual turn. Someone had parked a tractor trailer on the tracks ahead, burning tires piled on either side like a scene from the movie Blackhawk Down. Curiosity over the who and why was completely absent.
“Kaylee, get down.” Daniel pushed Kaylee as low in her seat as he could. The conductor shouted for everyone to brace themselves moments before the engine took the trailer broadside. The wood and aluminum trailer exploded, the rear wheels being dragged along among the twisted metal for a few hundred feet. Kaylee screamed when gunfire pinged off the solid metal train. Glass shattered in the rows behind them, people screaming too when glass ripped into their skin and others moved to bandage their friends.
Daniel racked a round into his M4 and aimed through a shattered window. He
“We’re in Knoxville, kid. Best stay in the lighted areas where the sentries can see you. Knoxville’s being attacked on the outskirts of town as we speak. We’re not taking any chances.”
“Is there anywhere I can feed this one?” Daniel asked groggily, trying not to upset Kaylee when he woke her. He didn’t feel like being clawed again.
“Yeah, there’s a chow tent. I’d bring some stuff with you if you’re traveling with us any farther. I don’t think we’re stopping before we get to Florida.”
“Is it safe in Florida? Disney World is in Orlando, my Grandpa took me there.” Kaylee smiled up at the conductor. She smiled back, her eyes betraying the concern she was feeling for someone not presently with her. Daniel admired the notion of this woman’s bravery, to continue her job when surely all she wanted was to be with her children.
“Last I heard it was.” Daniel detected a lie, but didn’t say anything. He doubted anywhere was safe anymore, he just needed for Kaylee to stay positive.
They disembarked the train and went to find food. Kaylee found the desert table first, but didn’t complain when Daniel dragged her to the real food. Some of the local restaurants were dumping their stock since they’d had to close indefinitely. Free burgers and all sorts of other meals were being cooked by FEMA employees, free to anyone who didn’t try to eat other people first. Daniel couldn’t believe how few people there were, now. Free food should have drawn them in by the hundreds. He might have been able to count them all without trouble. Daniel could see a fire in the distance and made Kaylee eat a little faster. They were about to board the train again when one of the sentries in a tower opened fire with an M249 SAW. People screamed and shouted, bumrushing the doors of the train just as Kaylee was lifting her foot onto the first step. Daniel snatched her up and launched them both up in one great leap to avoid being trampled.
The crew didn’t waste time trying to seat everyone. The engine revved and, painfully, excruciatingly slowly the train started forward with people still jumping on board as it cleared the station. The FEMA workers they left behind were corralled into a safe zone as the first infected sprinted into sight. Men on the train with guns opened fire too, but who knew if they hit anything. The engine started blowing its horn and ringing bells, something was up ahead but they weren’t slowing down for it. Daniel got a look through a few buildings as the train rounded a gradual turn. Someone had parked a tractor trailer on the tracks ahead, burning tires piled on either side like a scene from the movie Blackhawk Down. Curiosity over the who and why was completely absent.
“Kaylee, get down.” Daniel pushed Kaylee as low in her seat as he could. The conductor shouted for everyone to brace themselves moments before the engine took the trailer broadside. The wood and aluminum trailer exploded, the rear wheels being dragged along among the twisted metal for a few hundred feet. Kaylee screamed when gunfire pinged off the solid metal train. Glass shattered in the rows behind them, people screaming too when glass ripped into their skin and others moved to bandage their friends.
Daniel racked a round into his M4 and aimed through a shattered window. He
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