THE SAGA OF THE DEAD SILENCER Book 1: Bleeding Kansas: A Novel Of The Zombie Apocalypse Read Online Free Page B

barks someone with staff sergeant stripes.
    “ I just checked in with the people at my office,” I say. “I’m on my way back to the hotel.”
    “You’re going straight back to the hotel.”
    “Yes, I am.”
    A 2 nd lieutenant steps up and whispers something in the sergeant’s ear, then walks away.
    “Go to your hotel,” says the sergeant . “Stay there. We’re locking down these streets. If you don’t have a reason to be out, you will be shot. Understood?”
    “Got it. Thanks, Sergeant.”
    I see Guard patrols at the entrance ramps. They’re likely up and d own the Interstate, too. I request an alternate route back to the hotel on the GPS and thread my way through the city.

     
     
    5
     
     
    My heart sinks as the hotel comes into view. My luxury prison. I was hoping to see the wide-open Interstate by now but here I am, by orders of the National Guard. So who’s paying for this? What if Giselle has already checked me out?
    T he parking garage is nearly empty. I get the spot closest to the door. I take my luggage through the back to the elevator bank faced away from the desk.
    I park my luggage in my room but leave off unpacking it. I wash my face, freshen up from too much time spent in the hot and humid Kansas City morning. I dry myself over the air conditioning unit beneath the window.
    I consider changing into comfortable clothes but I’m thinking about the Guardsmen. They didn’t ask for my ID. I could have spent the better part of an hour explaining why I’m here from Colorado, the nature of the job I was interviewing for and what the hell I’m still doing here when the manager hiring me is dea d, etc. Sure, the sergeant’s tone might have been more pleasant, but in the end it was my suit and the Luxury Tank that got me back here to the hotel. It’s not the open road but I’ve got a bathroom, air conditioning, and a lot more freedom of movement than I’d have under guard. Or shot. 
    I go over myself with the lint roller, do a round of breathing exercises. Then I head out for the elevator.
    Angie’s face lights up as I step out. “When did you get back?”
    “A few minutes ago,” I said.
    “How was it at the company?”
    “They said they’d be in touch.”
    “I’ll bet. You checking out?”
    “I can’t. The National Guard is locking down the streets.”
    “Yeah, I heard,” said Angie. “Well, for what it’s worth, no one from the company called to check you out. So you’re still good to go on their dime.”
    “Nice to know,” I try to say as blandly as possible, while my inner Poor Worried Bastard whoops with joy.
    “Not that it matters. I can’t check anyone in or out with the network down. I mean, I could do it old school with a big wide book, but it’s no good until we can process the company credit card. We don’t have Internet, so….”
    I can’t take my eyes off the bandage on her arm. She didn’t have it when I left earlier. I’m about to ask when there’s a loud roar, then the steady clatter of heavy diesel machinery getting underway. “I guess that’s the first trench,” I say.
    “Yeah. Every park in the city. They’re having a televised service at six o’clock. Did you see the trucks?”
    “One, the way I was coming. ‘Bring out your deceased.’ Not something you want to hear from a loudspeaker on top of a truck. Not in this century.”
    “Yeah.”
    I nod towards her bandage. “What happened there? You all right?”
    “No.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “I was bitten by the guy in 604.”
    “What?”
    “I thought he was going to try and kiss me the way he came at me with his mouth open. His tongue and the inside of his mouth—God! He’s making these ‘ unnnnh!’ noises like he’s retarded or something and I put my arm out to push him back and he grabs it and—oh, gross! ”
    “Where did this happen?”
    “Officer Dalton came by to look in on us and I asked if he’d come with me to check on the sick people. To see if they…anyway, we hadn’t