Free Outbreak: Boston by Robert Van Dusen Page B

He turned his back to the Humvee and pretended to pull security. “Did you just want to threaten us or something?”
    “The way I see it, this is a decision that I can't make for you.” Amy said sharply. She dug into her pockets then remembered that her cigarettes were ruined. This did not improve her mood. “You should know the consequences of your actions.”
    “Fine, fine.” Lacey grumbled as he ambled back towards the Five Ton. “Let's get going. It's a long drive to the Air Force Base.”
    The roads out of the city were almost impassible in places, causing their merry band to drive on the shoulder or alongside the road to get around the various traffic jams and accidents. They were perhaps ten miles outside the city when a lone figure approached their convoy, waving her arms over her head.
    Eamon slowed the Humvee to allow them a better look. “Hey, it's a little old lady.” he said and brought the vehicle to a full stop. “We can't leave her out here.”
    Amy frowned. “You're right.” she picked up the handset and told Lacey to keep his eyes open. She looked the old woman over critically. The dirt smeared on her clothes concerned her less than the M16 slung over her shoulder. Frays pointed the .50 cal in her general direction. “Hold it right there. Were you bit? Did one of them throw up on you?”
    The old woman halted perhaps fifty or seventy five meters away. “No. No.” she said, raising her hands over her head. “I'm Jean Ann Lewis. They tried busing us out of the home before everything got too bad. I don't think it worked out quite as well as they planned.”
    Amy studied the woman. “You talk funny. You’re not from around here, are you?”
    Jean smirked. “I'm British.”
    “Get in.”
    Eamon looked at the old woman out of the corner of his eye as she climbed into the passenger's seat of the Humvee. Once they got everybody situated the convoy started off down the road again. The EMT looked at the old woman in the back seat. “English.” he snorted.
    The road became clearer as they left the city behind and drew nearer their destination. The shoulder of the road was torn up where the treads of heavy vehicles shoved stalled cars out of the way and into the ditch. Amy got Eamon to stop the convoy for a moment.
    “Hey, Eamon.” Frays said as she ducked down inside the vehicle. “Can you get up here for a minute?”
    “I don't know how to use that big ass thing.” he said from the driver's seat. The man scratched his chin and pulled something out of his beard. He flicked whatever it was out the window.
    Jean Ann piped up. “I can. I used to be in the army back home, Airman.”
    Amy frowned down at the older woman. “Fine.” she said and dropped down out of the cupola. “Keep an eye out. I'll be right back.”
    Amy kept her eyes peeled as she approached the crumpled rear end of a Crown Victoria. Nobody appeared to be inside, though Frays still pointed her M4 at the inside of the vehicle. She tried the door handle of the car and found it locked. The young woman frowned and smashed in the window with the butt of her rifle. The others looked on curiously as she pulled open the door and leaned inside. They could hear loud noises coming from the car.
    Frays came back a few minutes later, a pile of electrical parts clutched in her hand. “What's all that there?” Eamon asked as the woman came around to his door.
    “Once we get to the AFB I'll hook us up with a cell phone charger.” she answered as she pulled open the driver's side door. “Why don't you take a break? I'll drive for a little while.”
    Strangely, the road seemed reasonably clear as they made their way back to Hanscomb Air Force Base. She steered the truck on autopilot, barely even paying any attention to the road ahead. A silence settled over them as they drove. Frays found herself trying to block out the voices coming in over the radio after awhile. Listening to the people screaming for help left her feeling cold and numb