The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

The dog tilted his head and his gaze followed her motions to the floor of the cab. Obediently he got down.

"If they work anything like cops, they'll shoot him if they feel threatened," Katie told Jenni.

"They wouldn't!"

"Just answer them truthfully and calmly. This is a different world, Jenni.

We don't know how it works yet. "

Jenni felt her first pang of fear, then nodded and got out of the truck.

Katie stood next to the truck, as relaxed as possible as the black soldier approached her. He motioned for Jenni to join Katie and they stood side by side, the former prosecutor in her suit, high heels and a hunting jacket and a housewife in flip-flops, her nightgown and bathrobe. Looking back and forth between them, his green eyes were eerily intense.

"Are you two together?"

Jenni nodded and Katie answered, "Yes. "

"Did you come from the city?"

"Yes," they chorused.

"Are either one of you bit?"

"No, no," Katie answered.

Jenni whispered, "No. "

Without warning, he began to run his hands gruffly over their limbs, squeezing to see if there was a response.

Jennie started to protest, but Katie gave her a look that silenced her.

Jenni became all too aware of the soldiers standing nearby, guns ready.

They'll shoot us if we are bitten, she thought.

She endured the rough, large hands on her body.

"No signs of wounds!"

Jenni knew for sure that they would have been shot if they had shown any signs of having been bitten. The soldiers visibly relaxed.

"Head to the town of Madison. There’s a FEMA rescue center there. It'll be secure. " He looked into the cab to see Jack staring at him intently. With a small smile, he reached in and patted the dog's head. "Remember Madison.

Make sure you go there. "

Katie made a show of looking at his name badge, then said, "Yes, Lieutenant Reynolds. "

He nodded to them briefly and walked back to his vehicle.

As the jeep sped past them to rejoin the convoy, Katie shook her head.

"They're heading into the city," she murmured.

"Are we going to Madison?"

Katie shook her head. "No. I think we're better off on our own.

Something about it doesn't seem right. "