“It’l
l
be
okay,”
I
said,
surprised.
It
became
readily
apparent
I’d
overstepped
my
bounds.
“How
do
you
know
that?”
I
shrugged
and
sat
on
his
desk.
“I
don
’t
know
, but
it’l
l
work
out
the
way
it’s
supposed
to.”
Liet
jumped
to
his
feet
and
shoved
the
papers
onto
the
floor.
“The
way
it’s
supposed
to?
Do
you
have
any
idea
what
’s
going
on out
there?
Those
people
are
using
supplies
that
are
supposed
to
keep
the
zombies
at
bay
for
their
own
personal
gain.”
He
stuck his
face
inches
from mine.
“Do
you
know what will happen
if
one
zombie
gets
in
here?
Huh?
Do
you?”
I
flinched.
“We
’l
l
all
be
dead.”
He
grabbed
me
roughly
by
the
upper
arms.
“Tha
t’s
right.
We’ll
all
be
dead.
I
t’s
not
about
them
and
their
personal
needs
and
wants,
it’s
about
us
, as
a
community.
The
sooner
those
people
figure
that
out,
the
sooner
we
can
get
the
wall
built.” He
released
me
and
turned
away.
I
rubbed
my
arms.
“Why
don
’t
you
go
with
them
on
their
supply
mission?
It
might
be a
good
idea
for
you
to
see
wha
t’s
really
going
on.”
I left
the
room
without
saying anything.
I
wanted
to
run,
but
thought
it
best
to
keep
my
composure.
I
was
about
finished
packing when
Liet came
into
my
room.
“I’m
sorry
for
what
happened
downstairs. Sometimes
I
get
so
caught
up
in
my
job
and
stress
out
with
everything
that’s
going
on,
I
forget
how
to
act.
Do
you
forgive
me?”
Liet
was
so
unpredictable. One
minute
he
was
sweet
as pie,
and
the
next
he
was
ready
to
gouge
your
eyes
out.
My
fear
of
him
renewed.
I
thought
it
best
to
keep
the
situation
calm
and
not
do
anything
to
upset
him.
“Of
course.
I
understand
how
stressful
your
job
is.”
Liet
smiled.
“Thank
you.
You
don’t
have
to
go
on the
supply
run
if
you
don
’t
want
to.
In
fact,
I’d
actually
prefer
it
if
you
don
’t
.”
“No,
I
think
you
’r
e
right.
I
should
get
out
there
and
see
wha
t’s
going
on.”
He
placed
his
hands
on
my
shoulders.
“Be
careful.
You
’l
l
be
in
the
East
so
there
aren’t
a
lot
of
zombies,
but
there
are
still
some.
Keep
your
eyes
open
and
use
your
head.
I
’l
l
be
anxiously
awaiting
your
return.”
“I’l
l
see
you
soon.”
I
brushed
past
him
and
headed
downstairs,
never
so
thankful
to
be
out
of
the
house.
Pam
drove the semi
east
on
I-80.
We
traveled
all
the
way
through
Nebraska
and
into
Iowa. At
Des
Moines,
we
stopped
for
gas
at
the
military
checkpoint.
I
got
out
and
stretched
while
she
filled
up
and
talked
to
the
soldiers.
The
air
was
sticky
with
humidity,
and
the
sky
was
gray
and
threatened
to
rain.
I
stared
at
the
ruins
of
the
city,
wondering
how
many
zombies
hid
in
closets or
locked
cars.
Pam
called
my
name,
so I
headed
back
to
the
truck
and
climbed
into
the
driver’s
seat.
She pulled
a
map
out
of
the
glove
compartment.
“We
’r
e
going
to
have
to
head
to
International
Falls.
According
to
the
soldiers,
the
re’s
nothing
left
around
here.
Between
our
needs
and
the
demands
of
Florida,
they
’
ve
been
picked
clean.”
I
leaned
forward
and
stared
at
the
map.
“International
Falls?
Where
is
that?”
“In
Minnesota.
Near
the
Canadian border.”
“Why
International
Falls?”
Pam
sighed.
“It
was
some
kind
of
international
port
of
entry.
It’s
on
the
border
near
Canada,
so
he
thinks it
might
have
supplies.”
“
We
’r
e
not
supposed
to
go
to
the
border.”
Liet had
told
us
that
once
at
a
meeting
a
few
weeks
ago
when
the
possibility
of
supply
trips
became inevitable.
I
think
everyone
was
curious
as
to
why,
but
no
one
asked.
“I
know.”
I
furrowed
my
brow.
“Why
aren’t
we
supposed
to
go
to
the
border?”
Pam
shrugged.
“How
far
away
is it?”
“Another
six
to
seven
hours.
If
you
drive
halfway,
I’ll
drive
the
other
half.
They
weren
’t
too
optimistic
that
we
’d
find
anything,
though.”