Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse (Book 3): Salvation by Joshua Jared Scott Page B

way to your kitchens over the next few weeks, as you need or
want them.”
    “I do
enjoy mutton stew. You know, a surprising number of people just don’t like it.”
She made a face. “The complaints I get.”
    “As
wrecked as the world is, It’s a treat to have fresh meat near every night.” He let
out a short laugh. “Still, they are right about that. Beef is better.”
     
    *
* *
     
    Steph
had completed her review and was preparing to return when the transmission came
in. It is standard practice to carry handheld radios while tromping about the
Black Hills. These are of limited range and as such are used freely, the odds
of an outsider listening in being close to nil. Unfortunately, this also means
many messages have to be relayed.
    “Raiders
spotted in the south near point C-3, count is four.”
    Alan
lifted his own radio and repeated the information.
    “I think
I’ll go take a look,” remarked Steph, once she got over the shock this
unexpected news presented.
    “You
sure about that? Not to be cruel, but you are about as far from militia as a
person can get.”
    She
hesitated. “They didn’t say there was an attack, and if it is only four of
them, then they’ll be scouting. I should be safe enough, and not get in the way
either. Besides, I’m meeting up with Briana later. I can deliver the reports
about this too. Save somebody from having to make the trip.”
    “Fair
enough, and don’t get in the way of those who do know what they’re doing. Briana
may be the nicest thing on Earth when she’s happy…”
    “Yeah, I
know,” she finished.
    “Want my
truck?”
    Steph
shook her head. “I’m taking Snowball. It’s only a couple of miles, and I can
use the back trails.”
    “Newman!”
    The
scrawny teenager dropped his hoe and sprinted over.
    “Get on
your horse and go with her,” ordered Alan.
    Steph
sniffed, in a very unladylike manner. “I hardly need an escort.”
    “As if I
care.” He paused. “Actually, I think we will all be following.”
    “They
didn’t request any assistance.”
    Alan
hesitated a second time. “Even so. Get going. I’ll join you in a few.”
    The boy was
quick to saddle his gelding. Like so many in the Black Hills, he had taken to
horses. They were fast becoming the default mode of transportation. The animals
were also well suited to the rugged terrain and could make regular use of
pathways no car could ever hope to navigate.
    “Ready?”
    He gave
her an apprehensive smile. “Yes, ma’am.”
    “Let’s
get going then.” Steph gently tapped Snowball with her heels, pushing the mare
into a canter.
     
    *
* *
     
    “Newman,
why don’t you stash yourself a ways back on the trail and keep an eye out for
Alan and the others.”
    “Sure
thing.” He turned to go.
    “One
sec. While I got you here, is Newman your first name?”
    The
sixteen year old grimaced. “Last. I don’t like my first too much.”
    That
piqued Steph’s curiosity. “Why ever now? What is it?”
    “It’s,
um…” He began to fidget. “My parents named me Alfred.”
    “Nothing
wrong with that, although Newman seems to suit you better.”
    “There’s
a lot wrong with it.” The youth muttered something about Batman jokes as he
started back up the trail.
    Crouching
down, Steph scurried forward, toward a thick copse of trees. As she drew close,
she dropped to her belly and crawled the last few feet.
    “How bad
is it?”
    Renee didn’t
bother glancing in her direction. “Just the four originally reported.”
    The
senior militia member in the area, she had been patrolling and was first on the
scene, taking up a position seventy feet to the side of the lookout who initially
spotted the intruders. The thick foliage offered excellent concealment while the
hilltop provided a good view of the surrounding area.
    “They
aren’t doing much, mostly sitting in the shade under that tree.”
    “I think
they may be staring at the wall we made,” commented Steph.
    “Perhaps,
but it’s not much