“You mean ass-end-of-nowhere, Montana?”
We both laugh.
“Yeah, that.”
“I was visiting my uncle. But he’s dead now.” He says it so matter-of-factly. But there’s sadness in his eyes.
“Where’s everybody else in town?”
His eyes shift downward, but he says nothing. That’s all the answer I need. It’s only him.
I nod. “I can relate. It’s tough.”
“Yeah, it sucks.”
“How have you survived out here on your own? With the Infected and all,” I ask.
“The Infected? Oh, you mean the sick ones?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “That’s what I call them.”
“Being in the middle of nowhere has helped. Off the radar. The rest is being resourceful. And lucky.”
Surviving alone is no simple feat, and it’s impressive he’s made it this long. But he’s right about being lucky. And it’s hard to say how long that luck will last.
He’s getting more comfortable with me. With his gun lowered and guard down, this would be the time to act. And I almost do it. But something holds me back. There’s something about this guy. Out on the road, I’ve learned to judge character quickly. Not everybody is ruthless. There are good people out there. If I can, I’d rather work with him instead of against him. And to be honest, some company doesn’t sound like the worst thing. It’s been weeks since I’ve talked to a soul. I’d guess it’s been longer for him.
“My name’s Aiden.”
“I’m Zach.”
Aiden. Zach.A to Z. Mnemonics help me remember names.
“We’ve got the whole alphabet covered.” Zach chuckles.
I snort out a laugh, more from surprise than anything. Great minds think alike, I guess.
“So, was that true about the cars?” I ask. “Nothing for miles?”
“Yep. Checked them all out myself. No gas. Looters took care of that long ago. But none of them run, anyway. No keys and dead batteries.”
I let out a sigh. “So whatcha think? Trade supplies for labor?”
“Look, you seem like a good guy.” His eyes soften. There’s kindness there, and it’s a bit disarming. “I’ll share some supplies. I’ll figure out how you can pay me back. Maybe some things around town you can help with.”
The tension in my body releases. If he turned me away, I don’t like to think about what I’d have to do. He must understand that too. He seems smart.
He starts to turn around but then faces me again quickly, gun slightly raised. “But don’t try anything. I’ve got my eye on you.” He’s trying to sound tough, but it comes across more as scared. I nod solemnly, but inside I laugh a little.
With that, he heads to a building with the words Big Sky Bank carved into the granite facade and gestures for me to follow. “Come on.”
“Thanks,” I say. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Zach glances back. “Don’t make me regret it.”
Chapter Five
Rabbit Stew
