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Gutsy prompted Holly to explain where Site B was. Then Gutsy said, “We have to evacuate, and we should do it before those things get here. Like, now. Everyone should pack only what they can carry, and we can head right out. We need to do it on foot, because it’ll take too long for us to shuttle with cars and trucks. I don’t think we’ll be able to get a whole fleet back here in time. So, the farther we are from town, the better. We can set rally points so the cars can find us. Then they can take the old and sick people, and little kids, while the rest of keep walking. It’s about twelve miles, so we can get to Site B a couple hours after midnight.”
“The east gate is the best exit,” said Ford. “We can get out there and then turn north along the highway.”
“Good,” Chong said, “but what happens if the Raggedy Man has some ravager spies and sees us leave?”
“What about the tunnel?” asked Spider. “It comes out at the car wash, and that’s pretty far from town. There’s a lot of supplies down there, too, so if people brought wheelbarrows and carts with them, they could load up as they leave.”
“I like it,” said Gutsy.
“We need to set those rally points,” said Urrea, and he named several places where people could gather that would give them easy access to either the east gate or the hospital. Several others joined the discussion to work out details.
She he
ard Benny mutter, “This is the world’s most insane plan.” But then he stepped up and said, very loudly, “This is how we stay alive. Come on—let’s move.”
“Who are you to tell us what to do?” demanded one of the townswomen, Mrs. Gray, who ran the feed store. “You’re not even from here.”
“Well, lady,” said Benny, “I’m here now. And I sure as heck don’t want to die here. So, if you have a better plan to stop about a million infected from turning New Alamo into a breakfast buffet, let’s hear it.”
There was silence.
“Didn’t think so.”
Mr. Urrea and Mr. Ford stepped up and stood on either side of Gutsy. Karen Peak joined them and, surprisingly, so did the big man, Mr. Howard. That seemed to break the resistance.
Within minutes the plan was in motion. Spider, who was the fastest runner, zoomed off to the hospital to fetch the hazmat suits. By the time he returned, the Chess Players had located five adults willing to head to the base and drive vehicles back. Everyone suited up and the Humvee left at top speed, with half the town on the walls watching in a grave silence.
As soon as the truck vanished into the dusty distance, Karen took charge of the packing for the planned exodus.
Benny and Chong, accompanied by the armored hound Grimm, went to the hospital to start collecting medical equipment, and Spider hurried back to the orphanage to warn the Cuddlys and make sure the other kids packed.
That left Gutsy and Alethea momentarily alone.
“Whew,” said Alethea, wrinkling her nose.
“What?”
“Girl, you stink.”
“Gosh, thanks,” Gutsy said. “Maybe I’ll take a long soak with bath balm and get my nails done. Take the rest of the day off and read a book.”
“Hey,” said Alethea, adjusting her tiara, “just because it’s the end of the world doesn’t mean there isn’t such a thing as self-care and personal hygiene.”
Despite everything, Gutsy laughed.
It didn’t last, though. She turned and looked in the direction of the east wall. Alethea followed the line of her gaze.
“Alice?” she asked.
“I should check on her. Help her pack.”
“I’ll go with you.”
They headed off to Alice’s house.
PART EIGHTEEN THE ROAD TO ASHEVILLE
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed;And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!
