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“The curtain in the background, see how it’s folded at the edge there? The cinder block wall behind it? There’s a bunker in a secret location where the top government officials are supposed to be moved in case of emergencies just like this. We used to call it the ‘Bug-Out Bunker.’” Carl refilled their glasses again.
Carly’s hand shook so hard she sloshed some of the liquor out of the glass. She set it on the end table before she spilled it all and dropped her face into her hands. Her dad rubbed comforting circles on her back until she managed to get herself under control again.
“Hey, why don’t we watch a movie, Sugar Bear?”
“Okay.” Carly’s voice didn’t sound like her own. She liked the idea, liked the thought of being able to escape for just a little while.
“Go put something in. I’ll make us some popcorn.”
Carly had grabbed the first one off the shelf and put the disc into the player, not knowing what she had chosen until the first scene began. And so they had watched all three Lord of the Rings movies because Carly didn’t want to go back to watching the news, and when the movie was over, she’d feel like she had to. She had laid her head on her father’s shoulder, and they’d watched the movies as things fell apart all around them. But for a few, precious moments, they escaped reality.
Carly put the DVD back into her pack. Her father had been looking forward to The Hobbit. They’d never get the chance to watch it together, and that thought made her throat tighten. Sam, sensitive as always to her moods, hopped up beside her on the bed and laid his head on her thigh.
A large shadow crossed in front of her window, and Carly gasped. She ducked down behind the bed. The shadow moved away, and she heard something clatter, like metal on concrete. It wasn’t Justin. He wouldn’t lurk outside, moving back and forth as though he were searching for a good hiding place.
Carly picked up the gun and gritted her teeth. She had never thought she’d be able to kill anyone in cold blood. It just wasn’t in her nature. But imagining whoever was out there setting up an ambush for Justin made her willing. Carly crept over to the door, crouched low. Sam joined her, crouching himself, his ears pointed forward like horns, and when that clatter sounded again, he gave a soft growl. She had to stand to flip the latch, but she sank back down. Deep breath. You can do this.
Carly opened the door in a flash and held the gun out with both hands, prepared to take the shot... and found herself staring into the face of a curious horse. Carly was so surprised she lost her balance and fell back onto her ass. The horse lowered its head and snuffled at her. At her side, Sam sniffed back at the horse, and the horse recoiled a bit, its instincts telling it the smell of a wolf meant danger. But it appeared the horse’s fear was outweighed by the desire for companionship since it didn’t retreat.
Carly stood and the horse turned its massive head to look her over with one of its large, soft brown eyes. She reached out and stroked its nose. “What are you doing here, horse? I thought none of you survived the Infection.” She supposed if some people were immune, the same would hold true for animals. And this poor horse must be lonely.
“Are you a girl horse or a boy horse?” Carly peeked beneath it. “Ah! A girl horse.” The horse’s brown coat was shiny, with white socks on all four legs and a lightning-shaped streak down the center of her face. She wore a red halter which had the word “Cloud” stitched on it. “Is that your name? Cloud? You don’t look like a Cloud to me.”
The horse pushed forward with the obvious intent of coming inside and making herself comfortable.
“Oh, no you don’t. No horses on the bed.” Carly took hold of the horse’s halter and pulled her out of the room, just in time to see Justin coming across the parking lot.
“What the fuck?” he said succinctly.
“I found a horse!” Carly chirped. “I think I’ll name her Shadowfax.”
The horse lipped at Carly’s fingers. Carly giggled and stroked her neck.
“Carly... you named her?” Justin looked dismayed. “What are you going to do with her?”
“She can come with us.” Carly gave Justin no room for argument. Just like Sam, Shadowfax wouldn’t survive on her own, and Carly couldn’t bear to abandon her to a lonely, miserable fate. “Maybe if we find a saddle, I can ride her instead of the bike.”
“Have you ever ridden a horse before?”
“No. But how hard can it be?”
Justin rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Why not? She can pull the wagon, so you don’t have to hook it up to your bike.”
“Horses need to be taken care of, Carly. If she’s going to follow us on the roads, she’ll need shoes or her hooves will split.”
Carly looked at the horse’s feet. She saw a hint of silver metal below each hoof. “I think she has them.”
“Right. But what if she throws a shoe?”
“I don’t know, Justin, but we can’t just leave her here.” Carly crossed her arms and glared at him.
“Aw, Christ...”
She could tell he was wavering and had to suppress a grin. “And horses eat grass, right? She’ll find plenty of that along the road.”
“I’ve been around horses, some. Not much, but enough to know they need more than just grass.”
