Sympatico Syndrome (Book 1): Infection (A Pandemic Survival Novel) by M.P. McDonald Page B

an incredulous look.
    “Were you hoping they would, Trent?” He smiled to soften the accusation. Trent was just at the age where something like this seemed incredibly exciting, and the danger was secondary.
    “No, but man, they had rifles and everything! It was crazy!”
    “Yes, it was insane, I’ll grant you that, but they were just protecting the neighborhood. I guess some outsiders were trying to come in, thinking they would be safer here for some reason. The first guy with the gun, he’s a dentist. He’d never shoot anyone. He’s only dangerous when he has a drill in his hands.”
    Trent’s face fell, and Jenna shook her head with a wry smile.
    The truck door slammed, and Sean approached. “Good job dealing with those guys, Cole. What did you say to them?”
    Cole shrugged and faced the keypad for the lock on his garage door. He keyed in the code and stood back as the door lifted. “Nothing. Just told them I lived here. I knew the first guy. He’s Hunter’s dentist.” Cole didn’t want to get into too many details with the kids around.
    “No kidding? Jeez.”
    “Yeah, anyway, we have a lot to do.” He pointed to the supplies he’d left in the garage. “All of that has to be loaded, and I have more stuff in the house.”
    The kids groaned but Sean sent them a stern look, and they began carrying the boxes to the truck.
    Jenna said, “I’m going into the house and see if I can organize it.” She left the garage.
    “Sorry, guys. I know you’ve already worked hard today, but once we get settled in the cabins, it’ll be like a great vacation. There’s fishing and a beach. Kayaks—”
    “Kayaks? Cool! Will you show me how to use one, Uncle Cole?”
    “Sure will. And when Hunter gets there, you guys can learn together.”
    “Hunter’s cool.”
    Cole smiled. Trent had always followed Hunter around like a little puppy, worshipping his older cousin. “Yeah, he thinks you're kind of cool too.”
    Sean started arranging the boxes, and when Cole went to help load, Sean waved him away. “We got this. You go and help Jenna in the house.”
    “Okay. If you see anything in here you think we’ll need, pack it in. We have plenty of room.” He waved a hand towards the tools hanging on the wall.
    As he entered the house, he sighed as he smelled something cooking. Something good.
    He turned into the kitchen to find Jenna stirring something on the stove. “I hope you don’t mind, but I saw some pot pies and frozen chicken breasts in the freezer. And this,” she pointed to the pan, “is something that was labeled ‘soup’. I think it’s split pea’.”
    “Oh, yeah. I made that about three months ago. I made way too much since Hunter wasn’t here and froze it. Just be warned—I’m no gourmet cook.”
    She smiled. “It smells good. I figured I’d cook as much of it as I can so we can eat it now and save some for later. Otherwise, it’ll go to waste.”
    “Good thinking. Get the kids to drink up the milk and juice and anything else you find in the fridge. I have some ice and a cooler so we can take some of the frozen items, as long as we cook them when we get to the island.”
    “I’ve been meaning to ask, how are we getting to the island, exactly?”
    Cole rubbed the back of his neck. “Um, well, I’m assuming the boathouse has a boat in it. One is listed in the will as part of the holdings, so I hope it’s in working order. Since Uncle John did, apparently, still use the island, I’m assuming he had to get there somehow and would have a boat in the boathouse.”
    “Will it be ready to go?”
    “I guess we’ll find out.”
    “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
    Cole pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. Fatigue and stress tapped against the inside of his skull. “Look, Jenna—I don’t like this any better than you do, but do you have a better idea? You saw what’s happening out there.” He flung his arm out, pointing to the front door. “Do you think it’s