other side of the rockies

   Several days come and pass as we slowly make our way across the mountains.  Reaching the peak, Rich finds a place to park and lets everyone out.  "This could be the last safe are we come across.  Plus I'm sure my grand baby wants to play a little bit."  Nobody argued with him, but then again I'm sure time out of the bus was on every body's mind.  Piling out of the bus, I remain vigilant, but I don't show it.  Everybody is in a good mood, why ruin it?   Sitting back I watch the others enjoy their time in the sun, seeing a glimpse of the old life.  Being able to be outside without the fear of being eaten alive.  Lost in my musings seems to be a pattern for me lately.  I'm brought back to the real world by a nudge, Chelle takes a seat next to me.  "Remember when we would sit out on the porch, with everyone and reminisce?"   Fond memories indeed, "Yeah, but there was more than just reminiscing going on on that porch if I remember correctly." Laughing as I looked back to the nights we would drink until we passed out.  Nights where the only thing we were worried about was running out of liquor.  We sat and talked about nothing in general for hours.  Watching the kids play, her parents making sure they were behaving, and most of all, we were watching the hill.  Making sure nothing stumbled up towards us.
       The sun had begun to set, and everybody was brought back on board.  Food was passed out amongst the crew and the engine was roaring with life.  After eating and talks of the future that lay ahead of us, the kids were put to sleep and everybody else had gone about minor chores such as inventory and weapon cleaning.  Not much is said, although we are full of hope around the kids, we are full aware of the depth of the nightmare we are currently living.  There was no help, what authority there was is most likely in hiding.  Waiting to come out when the dust settles and ready to take over where they had left off.  If there were still alive, that is.  should life go back to normal, how would we rebuild?  This was the topic for our discussion tonight.  I start the conversation off.  "So what happens when we do survive and all returns to normal?  What are you going to do?"  I look around waiting for someone to respond.  Nikki speaks up.  "I...I really don't know.  Ive been more worried about the now to worry about the future.  But I wouldn't even know where to begin.  Were so far away from home as it is, I guess I would settle where we end up and start over again."  The look on her face speaks for everyone, including me.  Like them I had a plan, but it ended at survival.  The future was  blank.  "I don't know where you are planning to go, but I'm headed north, to Alaska.  I'm not sure if there is anyone alive there, but if I'm going to die, I want to die somewhere special to me."
      The conversation had picked up, everyone throwing in opinions ranging from feasible to completely insane.  Losing interest in the conversation, I look out of the window.  Seeing more trees than snow and rock, I realize we are on the other side of the mountain.  One step closer.  Darkness covers the land stretching in front of the bus, the headlights oddly illuminating the road ahead.   It was like a nightmarish road, curving and covered in shadows.  Reaching for a switch, Rich flips it and several floodlights above the windshield turn the dark night into daylight.  Cruising down the winding road, we begin to see sings of the undead, mainly them blindly stumbling in the road.  But Rich kept on trucking, a loud thump followed by the sound of crunching beneath the tires.  No remorse.  Just another bump in the road.  A very tired voice floats up, almost unheard over the conversation.  "Chris, what was that noise?"  Looking down I see Chelle's daughter, she looks up to me with unfocused eyes.  Patting her shoulder I whisper to her.  "Its nothing, grandpa just hit a bump.  Go back to sleep goober."  She laugh, and then proceeds to roll over and go back to sleep.  Poor kid, have they told her what has been going on?  Could you possibly hide all of this from someone?  Not wanting to shatter the illusion had they managed to keep it from her,  I decide to drop it.  And as I begin to drift off into sleep I hear it, even through the bus.  The collective moan of the undead on the hunt.  I'm ready for a fight, but for now I relax.