Chapter 4

As I roll into town, I can see how fascinated the kid is with our small little town. We don’t live like the city folks, there are no walls, but there are land mines and barbwire around the town, but once you’re in town it is just like any old town, a bit run down with the years and not as clean. The houses nearer to our defense lines are all empty or abandoned because they are first in line in case of an attack, and secondly, because our landmines are pretty close to those houses, so they would be impacted if an explosion occurred.

“Hey kid, do you want to stay in the car as I get my ammunition, or do you want to come along?” I ask as I get out of the car, the kid joins me and stays close to me.

“Hey Joel, I need some new supplies, I’m down three missiles so I’ll buy 4, a box of shotgun bullets, and half a box of bullets for my handgun. Got anything new?”

“Sure, I do and I’ll get you that right away but first who’s the kid, I haven’t seen one in a year.”

“His transport truck got ambushed on one of my roads, saved his ass, and blew up some Zombs, they sure are getting smarter. Making me use all my strong firepower first because they group up now.”

“Yeah, so how many did you get?”

“There were 15 of them plus my morning hunt so 20 total, but Jess shot down some. That should cover my payment for the ammunition and buying a small handgun for the kid and two knives.”

“Sounds about right. Welcome to our town kid, hope you get out soon, this kind of place ain’t for you city people.” He tells the kid with a smirk.

I pack up our things and we head to my place. It’s out of town but near our orange grove since I’m always in need of orange juice. Before we head to my place, I stop by the orange juice seller and buy 3 gallons, with the rest of my reward then head out to my place. It’s not as safe as in town but I got my own collection of protective gear. I got myself a tank, a trigger system with electric wires, so if anyone intrudes without my authorisation they get them bolts, that goes for both the zombies and the townpeople. I also recently laid out some barbwire around my perimeter for more protection. I also have my own garden, in it some poisonous plants and some orange trees, to keep away the Zombs. And just like every house in town I have a gate and protective walls around my property. This was my house even before the zombie epidemic, it used to belong to my father, which I inherited after he died.  I park the car upfront and go inside, the kid following closely behind.

“Excuse the mess, don’t get many guests here, you can sleep on the couch for tonight. I’ll make us some food; you just chill for a bit. It would be best that you didn’t go upstairs.”

I cook us some tomato soup, fresh from the garden with some garlic bread. Look at me being all fancy, but then again, I have no clue what they eat in those towns. But I can tell the kid is intrigued by the smell, I guess they don’t have flavourful food over there.

“Kid, foods ready, come on over.”

“What is it? It smells delicious. It's red, so tomato, right?”

“You ain’t ever had tomato soup? What are you guys eating up in those towns? Is there no fresh food?”

“There is but, that’s for the upper class, we middle or lower class don’t get much fresh produce, we usually eat canned goods or military rations that they distribute to us from time to time. The lower class have it worse though, they aren’t able to afford much, so they usually rely on the ration distributions. I don’t like the rations, so I usually give them to the adults in the lower class.”

“This isn’t something I make every day, I usually eat some bread and homemade cheese but I wasn’t sure your stomach would handle it, since it’s a bit strong. Eat up before it gets cold, you can tell me all about how your life was after you’re done.”

I’m proud to see that the kid likes the soup, he even asks for seconds. After his second bowl, the kid starts to talk about his Sector.