Free After the End: Survival by Dave Stebbins Page A

florid face wet with perspiration. Pete was watching the preacher's eyes, fascinated. They were deep blue, and totally without expression. He was reminded of a friend's Siamese cat. The animal languidly observed everything around him but his eyes never registered any emotion.
    "I can't disagree with you, Harold." You wouldn't listen anyway. "Take a look at this, would you?" Handing over the portrait.
    "Oh my God." Sitting down, shaking his head, looking at the copy of the dead girl's face. "Dear Lord, it's her." Shaking his head some more. "The murdered girl, am I right?"
    "You recognize her, then?"
    "Oh yes, I have no doubt. It's Susan. Susan Shupe. Oh, this grieves me. She'd been coming here, to this church, every Sunday and Wednesday. I had taken a special interest in the girl. Lost her family in the Change, of course. The church gave her comfort, as it does for a great many of us." He stared at Pete significantly.
    "About a year ago she stopped coming. Just all of a sudden. I visited with her adopted family to try to understand why. As I said, I'd taken an interest in the girl's wellbeing. They said she'd just left and wouldn't tell me why or where she went. It sorely disappointed me. I prayed for her, for the Lord to watch over her, that she might find peace and salvation. I can only believe that she was needed in Heaven. Did she...die quickly?"
    "No. She died a slow, miserable death. She fought with her attacker. She was in pain for a long time."
    "He performs His work in mysterious ways." Harold shaking his head some more. The room grew quiet.
    "You said you knew her pretty well?"
    "Yes, I did. Mind you, we’re all in a unique situation. Our family and friends, all dying over a period of just weeks. There’s been nothing like it in history. We all respond differently. But Susan, she was...there was just a special quality about her. Calm, quiet, but you could feel an inner strength there. And a pretty girl. Always dressed in white. With her black hair, she looked just like one of His angels. Beautiful. And now, you tell me she's dead. Poor little Susan."
    More head shaking. Pete decided the guy looked like one of those little dolls with the spring loaded heads that people used to put in the back windows of their cars.
Boing, boing.
    "Is this picture a true rendition of her face? She looks a little thin."
    "She was thin."
    "She must have lost some weight."
    "Reverend, I'd like to visit with her family. Where do they live?"
    "Oh yes, the Langleys. They don't live far from here." Harold wrote directions on a small card.
    "Please tell them hello for me. I'm afraid they were rather hostile towards me the last time I saw them."
    "Why?"
    "Jealousy. Because of her strong religious belief. They're a Godless couple. They actually believe that I had some responsibility for Susan leaving their household. That girl was this close," holding a thumb and forefinger about an inch apart, "this close, to reaching salvation. I only needed a little more time with her. Such a pretty little girl." His entire face was crimson.
    "So why do you think she left?"
    Those deep blue eyes never left Pete's face.
    "I have no idea."
    The Langley house was eight blocks south of the church, a single story ranch style house. A tall woman with a white blouse and jeans met him at the door, pulling unruly strands of hair from her face.
    "Good afternoon. My name's Pete Wilson."
    "I thought that's who you were. I recognized your car but we've never met.”
    A girl about five banged up against the woman's leg.
    "Who is it, Momma?"
    "This is Dr. Wilson, honey. He takes care of sick people."
    The girl looked at Pete for a few seconds.
    "Oh." Then she tore off back into the house. He heard voices of several children playing.
    "I'm Sarah Langley."
    "Yes, ma'am. Harold Dingman said I might find you here."
    At the sound of the man's name, the smile left her face and her eyes became hard.
    "I don't know him well," he added, noticing she obviously was not on friendly