Free Assuming Room Temperature (Keep Your Crowbar Handy Book 3) by S.P. Durnin

creatures, Kat remembered the two-foot thick, steel-reinforced walls of Rae and Foster’s respective hideaways fondly. The buildings might have been built to withstand the force of a thermonuclear blast, but they were more than sufficient to hold back the dead currently roaming the streets. Their little group could have stayed within either location, and remained safe from the clutching hands of the infected in relative comfort.
    Kat and the others had found it necessary to leave their hidden haven, however. The problem was they wouldn’t have had enough food to survive long term—in either location—even if they’d been able to combine supplies from both cashes. There was no help coming, as they’d discovered prior to the internet servers all crapping out, for a minimum of three years. The powers that be—along with what was left of the military—had pulled back beyond the Rocky Mountains, and were currently licking their wounds as they attempted to create some semblance of normalcy. The troops were holding the borders of the territory, after destroying bridges and access points, but had nowhere near enough men to attempt retaking any of the once proud nation. It would be years before the resources could be stockpiled to even begin making advances into ground currently occupied by the dead. That meant anyone east of the mountains was on their own. So Jake, his best friend Allen, and Foster had come up with a plan. It was well thought out and logical, but—as Jake’s ex-girlfriend Nichole had once put it—utterly, fucking, bat-shit crazy.
    So of course, they’d all agreed it was their only chance.
    “Rae, this is Mel.” Kat motioned the filthy girl over after Sampson helped the leery teen out of their Hummer. “She found us just after we salvaged supplies—”
    “Why can’t you just say looted?” Rae gave her an amused look.
    “If there’s no one left alive it’s not looting. It’s salvage, ” Kat replied. “We’ve had this discussion. As I was saying before I was interrupted? Mel found us just after we obtained some supplies at the local drug store. She’s been on her own since the day of the outbreak and she’s the last living person in Vanita, as far as we know.”
    The beautiful fixer turned and gave her a warm smile. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mel. You survived on your own all this time? That makes you sneaky and smart. Two qualities that seem to be a little thin on the ground within our group at the moment.”
    “Hey!” Kat heard the gigantic Sampson chuckle.
    “You do realize George is livid, don’t you?” Rae advised her.
    More chuckling came from the direction of the Humvee. When Cho turned to look, she saw Elle was fighting a grin as Leo faked a fit of coughing to cover one of his own. The ninja-girl gave them a level glare and raised one eyebrow. “Don’t the three of you have weapons to clean?”
    “Hi, Rae.” Mel came forward hesitantly as the still laughing trio moved off into the garage. “Nice to meet you. Um... Can I ask you something?”
    George’s counterpart smiled. “Well, sure you can.”
    Mel pointed through the open dock door. “What the heck is that?”
    Rae followed the girl’s gesture and laughed. “Ah, yes. That . That, my girl, is a MATTOC. That stands for ‘Mobile Armored Troop Transport and Command’ vehicle. It’s our primary mode transportation and sometimes home. Her name is the Screamin’ Mimi.”
    The vehicle that sat at the opposite end of the garage was massive. Almost as long as those triple-trailer, eighteen wheeler trucks had been before the outbreak, though not as tall. It had enormous all-terrain tires that provided a full three feet of clearance between the bottom of its heavily armored hull and the ground, and its axles were as thick as the filthy girl’s waist. The transport was segmented like a trio of subway cars—which would presumably allow it to make turns easily without having to jockey around—and there were no visible