Free Sometimes We Ran (Book 3): Rescue by Stephen Drivick Page A

stranger. God knows where he's from. We don't even know who he is yet.”
    “I know. It was my call. I was going to drive away. Leave him there to freeze to death or become zombie food. Just couldn't do it,” I said.
    “What stopped you?” Denise asked.
    “Claire. She's always been that little voice in my head helping me on the road. I stopped because it felt so...so wrong to leave him there. It was a bad feeling, like a punch to the stomach.” I leaned back in my chair, feeling defeated.
    “Okay,” Denise said, taking off her glasses again. “Just remember the River Mills rescue. We can't go through that again. I don't think we could survive that, John.”
    “I remember River Mills. Still trying to put it behind me, I guess. You can't save everybody, but humans are becoming pretty scarce outside the gates. I thought maybe we could save at least one,” I said, standing up to leave, as I wanted to check on Karen.
    Denise stood up, and we walked into the hallway. We paused for a minute in the lobby of the Admin building. “Maybe you're right. You're a good friend, and I trust you. You've always come through for me and the residents of Cannon Fields, so I'm going to trust you now with our friend in the infirmary as well. I'm making him your responsibility.” Denise opened the glass door, and the winter wind swirled into the lobby.
    “A guard will be assigned to him. When he wakes up, I'll find out who he is and where he belongs,” I said.
    The first smile I had seen in a couple of days lit up Denise's face. “Sounds good. Go home and take care of Karen.” She moved aside to let me leave.
    I stepped onto the wooden porch and pulled on my gloves. The temperature was dropping, and it was going to be a cold night. I walked down the steps, and began the walk home to my sick wife.
    “One more thing,” Denise called from the porch.
    I turned. Denise was in the doorway hugging herself against the biting cold. “Despite what Michael says, you and Claire did the right thing.”

Chapter 8: Lyle and the Interrogation
    T he stranger in the infirmary refused to wake up, so I was finally able to give my wife the back rub I promised. When Karen is sick, the muscles in her back go on strike. She stiffens up and goes into a bad mood. It was time for my magic fingers to go to work. Karen sat in the beat-up recliner in our living room. I gently rubbed her shoulders and back with technique learned through trial and error and back rubs in the past. It was working, as Karen was actually smiling and laughing at my lame jokes. Her laugh was music to my ears.
    I finished the massage session and walked into the kitchen to get her tea. It was a blend invented by Doctor Connelly that consisted of medicinal herbs and berries taken from her personal garden. It was supposed to clear the sinuses and stop sore throat and cough. The Doctor was studying ways to cure disease with natural plants and fruits as an alternative to conventional medicine, preparing for the days when the medicine was going to run out.
    As I prepped the tea, Karen shuffled into the kitchen rubbing her neck. “Feeling better?” I asked.
    “Actually, I feel pretty good,” she answered. She moved her head around, stretching her neck. ” The last few days had seen some improvement in her condition. At least, she wasn't coughing as much. I put a steaming cup of the doctor's miracle tea on the table. “I think you missed your calling. You should rub backs for a living.”
    “Then I would miss out on all the action packed adventure around here,” I said, pushing the cup of tea towards her. “Drink up. Doctor Connelly's personal blend.” I sat down, and took a good look at Karen. The sparkle was finally coming back into her beautiful green eyes. A feeling of relief washed over me like a refreshing breeze. The sickness was not going to take her.
    Karen took a sip of the hot liquid and made a face. “Tastes like dirt,” she said. She took another large sip and put the