The Hungry (Book 3): At the End of the World (18 page)

The old man’s name was Air Force Technical Sergeant Gunter H. Vollman. Scratch and Sheppard also learned his serial number—as if they gave a rat’s ass—but that was all Gunter was willing to say. And he said that over and over again. Sheppard tried repeatedly to explain to the strange old man that he wasn’t a prisoner of war and that they didn’t mean him any harm. However, when they explained that they weren’t prepared to allow him to move around his own turf, especially where any number of deadly weapons might be hidden on site, Gunter H. Vollman had clammed up.

Sheppard and Scratch gave in. They tied him to a chair with a pillowcase. Miller joined them, got filled in, and tried to get him to answer one simple but vital question.

“Gunter, is there another way out of here?”

“Under the Geneva Convention, I am not required to…”

“Okay, okay, we get it. You’re not going to answer our questions. This is a boring conversation anyway.” Miller turned to Sheppard. “Are you sure Crosby didn’t scramble his brains with that bottle?”

“I told you, Penny, apart from the cut and a mild concussion, he’s fine. I can’t speak to his sanity, but he’s pretty much as good as he was before he tried to kill us.”

“That’s all very comforting.” She turned to look through a doorway. She lowered her voice. “And what about her? Any news?”

“I still don’t know. She’s definitely got a flu virus of some kind. Whatever it is, it’s really kicking her ass.”

“Should Terrill Lee even be in there with her?”

“Penny, we checked her for bites and infections, and we didn’t see anything. This must be something else.”

“Can you help her? Can you protect the rest of us?”

“If we had some medical supplies that hadn’t expired in 1970, we might be able to do something. As it is…” Sheppard shrugged. “I’m afraid there’s not much we can do but wash our hands a lot and keep her comfortable.”

“How’s Terrill Lee holding up?”

Sheppard lowered his voice. “Not good. He still won’t leave her side and that isn’t good. Penny, whatever she’s got is likely contagious at this point, and if Terrill Lee hangs around he’s bound to pick it up eventually. He’s playing at being their hero now, and you of all people understand how he can be when he gets like this.”

“I can hear you, you know,” said Terrill Lee without looking up. He was seated quietly at Michelle’s bedside.

Miller walked to the doorway. She felt reluctant to enter the room. She knew perfectly well what a rogue virus could do to a body, and the last thing she wanted was another one to add to her already expansive collection. The zombie virus and Sheppard’s cure were both still in her system, in remission for a time. She didn’t need to risk destroying that delicate balance.

Miller cleared her throat. “Come on out here and talk to us, Terrill Lee. She’ll be fine for a couple of minutes.”

“I really think I should stay with her.”

Michelle was now lying sideways on the cot, holding her stomach and moaning.

“Can’t you do
anything
else for her?” Miller asked Sheppard from the doorway.

“No. Not unless one of these tunnels leads to a fully-staffed research hospital. I’d like to get her on fluids at minimum but we don’t have the supplies.”

“She’s going to be fine,” insisted Terrill Lee. He patted her forehead. “Michelle, do you hear me, you’re going to be fine.”

Michelle opened her eyes for a moment. “I feel so bad. I’m going to die, aren’t I?”

“Not if I can help it,” Terrill Lee said.

“You’re a terrible liar, Terrill Lee. Thank you.” She smiled and reached out to him. He took her hand and knelt next to her. In the small room, Michelle began moaning again.

“Ow. Ohhhh.”

Terrill Lee wiped her forehead with a small cloth. He pulled it back to reveal her pale skin. The cloth had left an actual impression on the fevered flesh.

“Uhh,” Michelle moaned. “
Uh-hunnnhh!
”

“Oh, shit!” Sheppard stiffened at the sound. He fumbled for his pistol. “Penny! Look at her eyes!”

Miller raised her machine gun to fire, but quick like a cat, Michelle pulled Terrill Lee’s bare arm to her mouth. She bit down hard.

“Mother
fucker!
” Terrill Lee cried, pulling back.

Michelle didn’t let go of his bloody arm. Her facial expression was as dull and dead as a shark’s. She sank her teeth deep into his flesh.

Her eyes were rolled back and completely white.

Miller was still holding the Stoner. She stepped forward, put the barrel up to Michelle’s forehead, and fired a three-shot burst. It was intensely loud in the small room. The zombie’s head ceased to exist. Brains became fog and a cloud of cordite. Michelle’s corpse collapsed onto the bed with one leg twitching.

Miller turned to Sheppard. She was furious. “Jesus, I thought you said it wasn’t the zombie virus!”

Sheppard ignored Miller. He practically knocked her over running out of the room. There was the sound of breaking glass. He reappeared with a fire axe.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Terrill Lee shrank from the sight of the axe.

Sheppard shouted, “No time to argue. Penny, hold his arm!”

Miller was sickened, but she dropped the big machine gun and pulled Terrill Lee’s arm away from his side.

“Against the wall,” ordered Sheppard.

Miller shoved Terrill Lee against the wall. His eyes grew wide.

“No, wait!” he protested.

But Sheppard was already swinging the axe. There was a sickening crunch, and Miller fell backwards, loose but still holding Terrill Lee’s severed forearm. She landed on the floor, winded.

Terrill Lee didn’t cry out. He just stared down at the bleeding stump. “It’s already gone numb.”

“Oh, shit,” said Sheppard softly.

“It didn’t work?” Miller asked.

Sheppard and Terrill Lee locked eyes.

Terrill Lee looked away first. “I think I’m fucked,”

“Don’t say things like that,” said Miller. Her mind was racing in circles. Was this really happening?

Sheppard wrapped a bandage around Terrill Lee’s stump. He looked at her, held her eyes for a long moment. He then looked at the floor. He was on the verge of tears. “Terrill Lee, Penny, I’m… I’m so sorry.”

Miller was beside herself. “How could this happen?”

“I don’t know.”

Terrill Lee put his right hand on Sheppard’s shoulder. He was calm—much calmer than Miller would have expected. “Karl, I’d appreciate it if you would let me talk to Penny for a minute.”

Sheppard stared at him for a long time. Then he tied the bandage around the stump and walked out of the room. Miller thought she heard him sob.

Terrill Lee stood in the corner. He swayed but didn’t look her way. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“For what?” Miller said softly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“For
everything.
I’m sorry for betraying you way back when and breaking your poor little heart. I apologize for being such a self-absorbed jerk all these years.” Terrill Lee held up what was left of his arm. “And I’m especially sorry for fucking up like this. I knew better than to take Michelle’s illness lightly, no matter what Karl said. I wasn’t using my head. This is my fault.”

“Oh, Terrill Lee.” The tears rolled down Miller’s cheeks, but her voice never quavered. “You are a good man.” She pulled the revolver from the holster on her hip. “I’m so sorry, but…”

Terrill Lee stared at the big, silver-plated revolver. Courage and resolve settled on his face. “No. I’ll do it,” he said. “I don’t want you last memory of me to be putting a bullet in my brain. I want you to remember the good times, not… this.” He waved the dripping stump at her. Then he held out his remaining hand for the revolver. Reluctantly, Miller gave it to him. She reached down and picked up the Stoner.

“Promise me something.” Terrill Lee looked deep into her eyes. “I need you to make it out of here, Penny. No matter what else happens. Make it out of here. I need to know that you are going to survive.”

She swallowed. “I know that feeling.” She looked at him back, holding his gaze. “Terrill Lee, you already know I loved you, don’t you?”

“Always have, always will.” He smiled weakly. “You should go now, before I change.”

“Goodbye.”

“I love you, Penny. Say goodbye to the fellas for me. Lock the door behind you.”

Somehow Miller found the strength to turn and walk through the doorway. She stood with her back to the room. The others waited outside, watching her, waiting for her to tell them what to do next.

“Don’t look back,” Terrill Lee said from the room behind her. “Don’t watch. Remember me the way I was, honey.”

Miller closed the door behind her.

Sheppard stood before her, shoulders hunched. He looked beaten. “I’m so damn sorry, Penny.”

“It doesn’t matter now. Not anymore.”

Miller tried not to think about Terrill Lee or Michelle, or Sheppard’s apologies. Instead, she focused on the present situation, and the one person who stood between them and escape. She turned to face old Gunter.

“Now, dickhead, you’re going to answer the question or get castrated with a dull putty knife. Is there another way out of here or not?”