Once inside, they nailed the board back into place. Jack looked around the diner at the booths and stools. He looked at Helen.
"It don't look that safe."
"Not out here. In the back. I found a food locker. Stayed there the entire night."
He picked up the lantern and held it out in front of him.
"Let's go."
He started to head toward the back and pointing the gun at him, she followed. He saw the door of the food locker and opened it. Shining the lantern light around in the doorway, he stepped in. Helen followed and bolted the door behind them.
Holding up the light, he walked toward the back of the food locker. Seeing the other door, he looked back at her.
"You check this out?"
"It's a stairwell."
Unlocking the door, he pulled it open. He saw the stairs and heard the strong rain pounding the windows and the wail of the gust. He stepped back into the locker, closing and bolting the door. He looked at her.
"If its sunny tomorrow, we'll check it out. I don't want those things surprising me in here."
He moved toward the back of the locker; spotting a can of peaches, he grabbed it. He looked at her.
"Can opener?"
"Yes."
"Good."
They moved to the very last row in between the wall and the shelf. Sitting cross legged on the floor, she handed him the can opener. Taking it, he opened the peaches. As he stuck his fingers in and pulled one out.
"So, where were you, when this thing started?"
He shoved a peach in his mouth.
"I was a nurse. Got called in on my day off. When I got there, police in riot gear was trying to hold back what seemed like gangs of crazy people. They stopped my car. Seeing I was a nurse, they let me through." She sat quiet for a minute, then she resumed. "When I reached the hospital, I heard the police open fire."
He held the can of peaches towards her and she took one.
"When I got into the hospital; it was total chaos. Bloody people and screaming everywhere. Nobody knew just really what the hell was going on."
She took a bite of the peach and chewed it thoughtfully.
"The news was on. But, ideas and reports were scattered. Army Reserve and the National Guard were being mobilized. The E.R was a total mess that morning. Then those that had lost control with the infection, began to attack."
He leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes as he chewed.
"Who would've thought that a mutated form of the rabies, would cause such pandemonium? Not to mention lay waste to the civilized world in a matter of weeks?" he opened his eyes and looked at her. "That was five months ago. Who knows, maybe six."
"I know, it's hard to keep track of the days and time."
He nodded.
"You married?" he asked.
"I was. He was a paramedic. I'd like to think he survived, but sometimes you have to face the facts."
"Sorry."
The wind blew across the roof, threatening to tear it off. They ate a little more in silence, then he spoke.
"I was making a run in Houston. When I got downtown. I saw the same chaos that you had described. But, I saw the police out numbered by dozens of those things. Stepping on the gas, I maneuvered my rig close to the sidewalk, plowing into a group of those damn things that were advancing on my truck." He handed her the last of the can and closed it eyes. "If someone would have noticed that something wasn't right, three weeks earlier, maybe non of this would have happened." He was asleep before she could say anything.
Finishing the peaches, she went down a couple of rows, taking one of the lanterns with her. Opening her duffel bag, she took out her blanket. Then, legs covered and her back to the wall; she fell asleep, as the storm raged outside.
