Zoey and the Zombies (A Mondamin Court Adventure)

Chapter Fourteen #2

"Don't go too far," Maggie said as Ethan opened the front door.

"No, ma'am, I won't," he replied.

To the girls, she added, "Backyard, please."

"Yes, Mother."

Ethan stood on the front porch. The girls rushed past him and into the backyard. He was glad he hadn't been sent back there too. He knew Mom was worried about the new guy. Ethan was too. That was why he intended to keep watch, make sure the guy didn't try something.

It was funny how the street seemed more alive now than ever. Some of it was boredom. Most of the people on the street had "nonessential" jobs and were forbidden to travel for work. When the electricity was on, like it was this morning, the media was mostly blacked out anyway. So the adults prowled the neighborhood and checked in with each other.

Zoey and Caleb were already at their usual places on the porch, Zoey reading and Caleb inspecting one of Zoey's medieval weapons. Philip was coming down from one direction and Mr. Harrish from the other, with Jack at his side. Mr. Harrish had an ugly bruise across his face. Danielle stepped out to greet them as well. Ethan crossed the street and joined the growing throng.

"Electricity was on all last night and so far all day," Danielle said.

"I wouldn't be too happy about that," Philip said with a grimace.

"They did it then?" Jack asked.

"Seems so," Philip replied with a grim look.

"Did what?" Danielle asked.

"Cut the lines going east." Philip said. "Power and communications both."

"How far east?" Zoey asked as she and Caleb came up.

"Mississippi River," Jack said and spat. "They are blowing the bridges too, according to some of my sources."

"The Mississippi River?" Danielle gasped. "It's gotten that far?"

Ethan shared her shock. He'd been camping on the Mississippi once, a couple years ago. It was one thing to think about mindless monsters who were miles away in places you'd never been. Now he thought of the campsite and the river. He could imagine the hordes gathered on the far edge, watching him malevolently. He shuddered.