Free Omega Pathogen: Despair by J. G. Hicks Jr, Scarlett Algee

started,” Hank explained.
    Hank told Jim about what they had heard from radio broadcasts, along with some word-of-mouth from the newest arrivals to the farm. All the information had been more confirmation on the rapid spread of the infection. Some camps were being hastily erected to accommodate refugees, but life on the camps was difficult and dangerous.
    Not only did non-infected have the infected to worry about, but they also had to be concerned about falling prey to other non-infected. Jim started to sweat even in the cool early December day. Part of it was that what Hank relayed to him was terrifying news, but a bigger part was due to his headache, vertigo and nausea.
    Hank talked again about reports of how those that had been infected early on in the plague were becoming less sensitive to sunlight. It seemed the infection continued to evolve or mutate, making changes to the brains of its victims. Large groups had been spotted during the daylight hours recently, although nowhere near the sizes of the hordes that could be seen at night in what had been large population areas.
    “I guess the good news is, they’ll be easier to find and kill during the day,” Hank said.
    “It also means we’re more vulnerable during the day,” Jim replied.
    Hank brought up the official reports from the government that said the SCAR virus infection had started from an act of terrorism. Those responsible had nearly simultaneously released the disease in most of the international airports and populated cities around the world. Jim had already learned that information when he met Colonel Salas on the way from Texas.
    Jim and Hank returned to the Matthews’ camp near the barn. Jim thanked Hank again for taking his family and friends into their compound. Hank made an official invitation to Jim and his family to remain on the farm as long as they liked. He asked if Jim would consider meeting and discussing security matters with him when he felt better. Hank noted they had several military veterans at the farm, but everyone was open to any suggestions.
    Jim agreed to meet with Hank and the others, and offered any help that he could. Jim told Hank as soon as he was capable, he would sign up for guard and scavenging details as his sons had.
    Royce and Kathy had been staying very busy at the farm, where they were in high demand for their mechanical skills. Arzu, with her civil engineering background, had been busy as well. Jim felt a pang of guilt for having been incapacitated and of no use. 
     
    Chapter 8
     
    Over the next few weeks, the trickle of infected that came near the Yates’ farmland turned to a steady stream. The influx didn’t cause panic, but everyone’s anxiety level was up. Sleep became more difficult, since the number of guards had to be increased. More infected were seen during the daylight hours, but still not in the numbers that came at night. Those infected that ventured out during the day, the walkers or slow-walkers as they had been nicknamed, weren’t very coordinated and like their nickname, they seemed to be only able to walk and stagger.
    Some could only crawl. The walkers also made no noise. They didn’t make the unnerving growling like those that only emerged at night. Most found this even more terrifying when out scavenging. Unless you heard them bump into something or heard their footsteps, they could get too close if you weren’t alert. They didn’t seem to care if it was day or night, or hot or cold.
    Through conversations with others in the group, a curious thing about the walkers had been mentioned. Unlike the runners , no one had seen them drink. The faster and more aggressive infected had been watched. If they weren’t chasing something they could be seen sometimes drinking water from wherever they found it.
    Although the walkers couldn’t move very quickly, they were still aggressive. A normal healthy person could generally avoid several unless cornered or surrounded. Or unless someone was caught