Could It Even Taste Right?

When she saw her mom wake up, Winnie hurried over and clung to the gate, calling out to her.

"Mom, Edward is dead, but I'm still alive!"

"How could this happen... God..."

At the sudden news that her beloved son had died, the woman sat up and grabbed her daughter's hand. Tears sprang into her eyes.

"I shouldn't have listened to your father. We shouldn't have gone to Dallas for some stupid celebration. We shouldn't have started this trip. God, is this your punishment for me?"

"How could this happen? Why did it have to be like this? Oh, God, what should I do? I..."

"Uncle Redhead!"

While the woman sobbed incoherently, little Winnie suddenly turned to Eugene, who looked thoroughly impatient, and spoke with a serious expression.

"Can you make my mom lie still and quiet for a while, like that police officer did earlier?"

"What?"

Hearing Winnie's words, Eugene's eyes widened theatrically.

Winnie continued speaking to him.

"I think it was better that way. I'm not the only one who thinks my mom's noisy, am I?"

"She's always like this, at home and outside. I really admire my dad for putting up with her."

"So can you help her? Let her rest for a while?"

"Ah-ha, you little... I like you, kid! Ha ha!"

After hearing Winnie out, Eugene laughed and climbed up the steps, reaching out to grab the woman by the throat.

Then he lifted his head to glare at Madison and sneered.

"You hear that, shithead? It's what the kid wants!"

Before the woman could even struggle, Eugene squeezed hard and knocked her out.

After taking care of the woman, Eugene laughed and hopped down from the RV, vigorously ruffling Winnie's hair.

Nearby, Gavin watched the farce and flicked his cigarette ash away before clapping lightly.

Clap... clap...

After drawing everyone's attention with the sound of his hands, Gavin spoke calmly.

"I'm glad to see that there's more than one person here with enough sense to think clearly."

"But maybe I'm celebrating too soon, because there's another danger waiting for us up ahead."

"We don't have time to waste here. Eugene, drive the Ford. Madison, drive the RV. Kid, take care of your mom. We have to head toward Ennis and see what's going on!"

As he spoke, Gavin pulled a map from his pocket and checked the nearby terrain one last time.

Then he pointed to the intersection outside Ennis Town and addressed everyone.

"If we reach the zombie horde before they block the intersection, we'll head straight for it and cut through Ennis Town!"

"But if they've already blocked the intersection and we can't get around them..."

As he spoke, Gavin placed his finger near Palmer Town, which they had just passed, and continued.

"Most of the roads around here are bordered by dense forests that have been nourished by the East Coast sea breeze. There are very few large clearings that vehicles can pass through."

"But luckily, Palmer Farm... that is, the old farm site kept by Palmer Resort, probably still has an undeveloped patch of grass connected to the Artificial Scenic Lake."

"If we can't get through Ennis, we'll turn back and camp near the lake, waiting for the Ennis Zombie Horde to pass Palmer—or just lure them into speeding through the Palmer area!"

"That's the plan. Everyone, get in. Let's go say hello to the zombies!"

With that, Gavin put away the map and headed straight for Tyrannosaurus.

Watching Gavin's retreating back, Eugene froze for a moment, then instinctively said,

"That's fucking crazy... Cough, cough!"

As he spoke, Eugene noticed Madison looking at him, so he hurriedly changed his tune.

"I mean, that's a little undemocratic. I thought he'd at least ask who was for it and who was against it or something. Believe me, I didn't mean anything by it."

"If you didn't mean anything by it, then get over there and pat your old Ford on the ass. Pray it doesn't leave you and the little cop in the middle of the zombie horde when we make a run for it, asshole!"

Madison cursed, then beckoned to the little girl before carrying the unconscious woman to a bed in the RV.

After settling the woman in, Madison spoke to Winnie, who had climbed aboard, from the aisle.

"Take care of your mom, kid. When I was your age, I was already running the streets of Chicago."

"No problem. I can do it. If she wakes up, I'll do my best to make her go back to sleep!"

Winnie quickly replied, lifting her little head.

At her words, Madison's dark face stiffened.

"Uh, you don't have to take care of her that strictly. Anyway, no matter what, don't get out of the vehicle, and don't shout!"

After warning her, Madison went to the driver's seat and slowly started the RV, following Tyrannosaurus toward Ennis.

Eugene did a stationary spin, swung his vehicle in behind the RV, and slapped the steering wheel while grumbling. Who knew what he was saying?

They drove about ten kilometers toward Ennis before Tyrannosaurus gradually came to a stop. The RV and Ford naturally stopped as well.

Gavin jumped out, took his eight-power binoculars, and ran up to the RV. He grabbed the roof, planted a foot against the side, and vaulted up.

Watching Gavin's nimble movements, Eugene had just gotten out and was clicking his tongue in amazement. Grinning mischievously, he said,

"Promise me, Quarterback, that you won't turn into a zombie!"

"Even if you turned into a zombie ten thousand times, my boss would still be just fine. Shut your foul mouth."

Madison got out behind him and jabbed Eugene with an elbow, making him stagger, then looked up at Gavin on the roof.

Bracing his binoculars, Gavin gazed at the immense zombie horde in the distance and couldn't help feeling a prickling sensation across his scalp.

There were definitely more than a thousand zombies in that horde. Gavin figured there were at least three thousand of them!

That was because, looking at the zombie horde, he was reminded of the crowds of high school students on vacation in his previous life!

The zombie horde, at least a kilometer away from him, had completely taken over the road, forming a barricade nearly seventy meters long.

The edges of the horde were also slowly spreading into the woods on either side.

After observing them, Gavin determined that once the sprinting zombies completely lost sight of their target,

they generally slowed from a sprint to a jog, continuing to run in the direction where their target had disappeared.

However, during the chase, if a zombie fell or ran into a new obstacle,

the zombie that got back up might not keep going in its original direction.

After watching for over twenty seconds, Gavin spotted three zombies that had fallen.

One stayed where it was, wandering in circles. The other two fell in different places, then jogged off in different directions and disappeared into the forest.

As for the key thing Gavin was watching—the intersection that would determine their fate—

Gavin shook his head. Even with the eight-power binoculars, he couldn't see the intersection from atop the RV. That meant the zombie horde had passed it by at least a kilometer or two!

After confirming the situation, Gavin jumped down from the RV and beckoned to Madison.

"No chance of making the intersection. We're going to Palmer. Hurry!"

"Don't worry, Gavin. Maybe we can still grill some meat by the Artificial Scenic Lake and get some sleep while we're at it."

Madison replied optimistically. Gavin patted his arm, then went to the bed of the pickup and pulled out two glass bottles of cola.

He tossed one to Madison, then brought the other to Eugene and threw it to him.

"Stick with me in a minute. I'll pick a good spot to leave the road."

"For the sake of this cola, I'll fucking keep my eyes open."

As Eugene answered, he raised his boot and knocked it hard against the mouth of the bottle, then lifted the cola, chilled by the cold wind, to his lips and took a swig.

"Ha..."

After letting out a satisfied breath, Eugene raised the bottle toward Gavin and laughed.

"Cola in a glass bottle is the real deal. Thank you, Mexico!"

Gavin knew what Eugene meant. The United States had two common kinds of cola. The glass-bottled kind was imported from Mexico, cost a bit more, and was made with cane sugar.

Cola made in the United States, on the other hand, used cheaper corn syrup and came in plastic bottles that didn't require an extra environmental fee. How could that stuff possibly taste right?