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He stepped outside and held the door as the line of infected people shambled out

Adults and children

Billy Trout and JT’s partner, Desde a small child in their arms

The National Guards lot to attract thedead On that side of the lot, behind the chain-link fence, all of the Guard trucks sent up a continuous ith their sirens The dead shuffled that way, drawn by light and noise

One of the victims, a man who had been bitten by what had been his oife and children, stared glassily at the stifflybodies Then he raised a weak arm and pointed to the soldiers

“Are they co to help us?” he asked

“They’re co herself for the implied lie She told the wounded to sit down by the wall Some of them ilowing flares high in the sky

For a , each of the child The tableau was horrific and surreal They stared at each other, frozen into this moment because the next was too horrible to contemplate Then they saw movement

JT peered into the shadows “They’re co”

“The Guard?” asked Dez, a last flicker of hope in her eyes

“No,” he said

They heard the moans For whatever reason, pulled by soer, a few of the dead had not followed the flares and the sirens, and now they staggered toward the living standing by the open door More of the Perhaps drawn by a more powerful force

The smell of fresh meat

“We have to go,” said Trout

“And right now,” agreed JT He kissed the little boy on the cheek and set hihed brokenly and did the sairl in her arms

“There’s more of them,” said Trout

“Dez, come on…” murmured JT

But Dez turned away as if protecting the little girl she held from him “Please, Hoss…?”

“Dez”

“I can’t!”