Chapter 6

A quick count and it was confirmed 21 dead mutants. Even in the dark we were able to kill all the mutants quickly. The lights from the motel combined with the streetlights that were still working was more than enough light to see by.

Daryl and I climbed down from the roof of the motel, Daryl moved his trailer and I moved out to check the area with everyone else watching from the roof. It was very strange I could not hear anything it was deathly quiet; the only sounds I could hear were those of my friends and the motor of Daryl’s truck. There were no sounds from insects, birds, or any other noises. I could only sense the people in our group. No other life signs were anywhere I could detect. I had gotten use to the presence of all the life around me, it felt like a constant push from all directions. Now there was nothing. I called everyone down from the roof and had Daryl move the trailer back in front of the entrance. After making sure everyone had reloaded their weapons, I told everyone to get some sleep.

I volunteered to take the first two-hour watch. The girls played rock paper scissors to see who would get to stand watch with me. Tammy won and joined me for the first watch. Tia would take the second two hour watch with Steve and Dana since they were new to our group. Laura and Emily would take the third two-hour shift. Daryl and Jessica would take the last two-hour shift.

It was almost midnight when Tammy and I started our watch; it was calm and uneventful just like I wanted it to be. We took a shower together after our shift was over and carefully climbed into bed with Laura and Emily. Six hours later we woke with the other girls piled around us in the two queen size beds we had pushed together in room 4.

Daryl and Jessica had made coffee; the main office had a buffet for a light breakfast to be served to guests. There were pastries, dry cereal, milk and juice to go with the coffee. It was just past 0900 when we pulled out of the parking lot and drove to the Wal-Mart.

I sensed them before any of us saw them. Several mutants at the entrance to the Wal-Mart. It seemed to look like a pack guarding their nest or home. We decided to pass on stopping at Wal-Mart and just went to the full-service station to see what we could use from there.

I took over watch and Daryl led the first search team of Jessica, Steve and Dana. Tammy led the second team of Tia, Emily and Laura. My girls swept the outside, topped off the fuel and filled six fuel cans that were on display. Daryl and his team cleared the inside and loaded the fuel cans, spare parts, oil, coolant, transmission and brake fluid then we headed for the mountain cabin.

Just after noon we reached the dirt road cutoff that would lead us to the cabin. The goat trail for lack of a better description was rough on everyone’s back and kidneys. It was just about 1400 when we reached the cabin.

Magnificent was the first thing to come to mind as I looked at the cabin. Yeah right, two story ranch style home would better describe it. It was originally built by his father and uncle to be an outfitter hunting lodge. The uncle died of a heart attack and the dream kind of died too.