Meanwhile, on the RV roof.
Gavin propped up the eight-power binoculars and silently watched the road in the distance and Palmer Town even farther away.
They were stopped just west of the farm ruins. There was plenty of open space in every direction for their vehicles to speed away from the zombies, and the lake wasn't far off, either.
As for the highway, it was at least two kilometers away, while Palmer Resort was even farther—about three kilometers.
After confirming there were no signs of zombie activity in the open areas nearby, Gavin lowered the binoculars and jumped down from the RV.
As soon as he landed, Eugene, leaning against the Old Ford, asked, "Well, big star? Can we hide out in this godforsaken place for a while?"
"The surroundings are a lot better than I expected. We can at least have breakfast here."
As Gavin answered, Madison climbed out of the RV with Winnie.
Spotting Gavin nearby, Winnie trotted over to him and stared at the binoculars in his hand. "Boss, we've got a pair of binoculars in our RV. I'll ask my mom to bring them over in a bit~"
"What?" Gavin was taken aback.
"I mean, my dad has a pair of binoculars. He can't use them now, anyway."
"No, I mean, what's with calling me 'Boss'?"
Gavin smiled and patted Winnie on the head. Winnie turned toward Madison and pursed her lips at him.
Madison grinned. "I taught her that, Gavin. You're the only one I'll recognize as my boss."
"You beat me into submission four years ago, man. I'll never forget how you picked up a big guy like me and tossed me aside the first time I was late to practice."
"Besides, when you're the boss, I never lose. Not at the Super Bowl, and not against zombies."
"If you're not the boss, who am I supposed to listen to? That goddamn Redhead? I'm afraid I'll get up in the middle of the night and kill him!"
As he finished speaking, Madison glared at Eugene warningly. Eugene twisted his mouth into a smirk and waved his middle finger at Madison.
As for Gavin—
He casually tossed the binoculars at Eugene.
As the binoculars interrupted Eugene's middle-finger routine, Gavin nodded at Winnie and smiled. "I do prefer binoculars."
"Sure thing, Boss~"
Winnie immediately relaxed and headed back to the RV to talk to her mom about the binoculars.
After Winnie ran off, Gavin couldn't help asking Madison, "Her mom's awake?"
"Yeah, she woke up a while ago. She cried like crazy at first, but thankfully it didn't last long."
Madison answered. Gavin glanced amusedly at the passenger seat of the Old Ford, pointed at William, and said to Eugene, "The kid's mom is awake. How come this guy's still out cold? Is he even weaker than a woman?"
"Please. He's just a kid."
Eugene grinned. "Don't let his size fool you. He's just a kid who's lifted a bit of iron. He built up some muscle and started acting like a big shot, but he's a real weakling. He's probably less agile than some cheerleader bimbo."
After his harsh critique, Eugene opened the passenger door and hauled William out.
"Sleeping Beauty, it's time to wake the fuck up."
Eugene gave William a good shake. William opened his eyes in a daze, then frantically looked around.
"M-my dad?"
William asked in a tremble. Eugene dropped him on the ground nearby and replied, "Your dad's already in hell. You wanna join him?"
"I... Shit, where are we? Don't tell me you just left my dad like that!"
William looked around in shock, then jumped to his feet and shouted at Eugene.
"We're not even on the road! Where are we? Did you bury my dad before you left? You should've at least given him a grave!"
"Cut the bullshit, William! You wanted us to dig your dad a grave, then get chased into it by zombies and spend the rest of our lives sleeping there?"
Eugene kept laying into William until the veins in his forehead stood out.
"Fuck you, Eugene! Even if you didn't have time to bury him, you could've at least left me his clothes or his watch as a keepsake. Why the fuck did you knock me out?"
"Ha! I didn't want to spend any more time touching something that had been on a zombie. Who knows if it was infected? What, you wanna settle this with me? Come on, little cop. I'll give you a chance!"
Eugene waved at William provocatively, still cursing.
William breathed heavily, then suddenly charged at Eugene!
Just as the two were about to fight, Madison pursed his lips and looked over at Gavin.
Meeting Old Mac's questioning gaze, Gavin leaned against the RV and shook his head.
"Let them blow off some steam."
"Sure. I could use a show, anyway."
Madison nodded with a smile, then watched Eugene and William wrestle.
William was younger, taller, and sturdier than Eugene.
But his fighting moves were stiff. He was clearly an academy-trained type, fresh out of police school.
Eugene, on the other hand, fought like a thug, aiming every move at William's lower body.
After only a few exchanges, Eugene seized his chance and kicked William in the groin, leaving the little cop clutching himself and wailing.
When Winnie and her mom stepped out of the RV, they saw William sprawled on the ground, wailing, while Eugene circled him, cursing and taunting him.
The sight completely broke Winnie's mom.
Doris, you have to be strong!
Winnie's mom repeated to herself over and over.
But tears immediately spilled from her eyes.
They're fighting. These people are so savage, so scary. Boohoo...
Honey... Boohoohoo...
Seeing her mom start crying again, Winnie's face fell.
Weren't you supposed to be strong?
Mom, were you saying that to the dog?
Nearby, Madison saw the two women get out and said to Eugene, who was still taunting William, "That's enough, Eugene. Don't scare the women!"
"Ha! Scare them? They'll have to get used to it sooner or later. The world's changed!"
Eugene replied, then kicked William in the butt once more before giving Winnie's mom a cold look.
Under Eugene's fierce glare, Doris clutched her chest in terror. She stumbled back two steps, braced herself against the vehicle, and took frightened, shaky breaths.
"Redhead, you scared my mom!"
Winnie had no choice but to step in front of her mom and yell angrily at Eugene.
Her behavior startled Doris. She quickly grabbed her daughter's hand, afraid Eugene would charge at her.
But seeing Winnie seemed to calm Eugene down.
He let out a rough breath, gave a cold smile, and nodded. "You're the only reason I'm holding back, kid. I've got faith in you. You're a lot tougher than William here, who hasn't even been weaned."
As he spoke, Eugene couldn't help glaring at Doris again.
"You're tougher than your mom, too. Take care of her. She needs to get used to this apocalypse fast!"
After another cold laugh, Eugene returned to the Old Ford and took out the half-full bottle of Coke. He took a satisfied drink.
William lay on the dry grass and pounded the ground, grief-stricken and heartbroken.
His crying had clearly affected Doris. She was frightened and sad, and began sobbing softly along with him.
Annoyed by their crying, Winnie snatched the binoculars from her mom and brought them to Gavin, offering them to him. "Boss, here are the binoculars~"
"Thanks. You're much easier to deal with."
Gavin took the binoculars and inspected them. They looked pretty good.
Winnie's family had clearly lived well. The binoculars were a name brand, and their Ford F-450 RV was a good vehicle, too.
Seeing that Gavin was pleased, Winnie relaxed. She then tugged her mom, who was desperately trying to hold back her sobs, over to Gavin and introduced them. "Boss, this is my mom, Doris. She's a great cook, and she can do laundry!"
"Mom, stop crying and come meet the boss. His name is Ga—"
"Legendary quarterback Gavin King, the King of Cowboys from Texas!!!"
Before Winnie could finish introducing him, Doris exclaimed in shock.
Madison gave Gavin an impressed thumbs-up. "That's our Gavin. Even a housewife her age knows who you are!"
"Heh."
Gavin smiled, about to say something, but Doris suddenly burst into tears.
Sobbing uncontrollably, Doris choked out, "My husband... Boohoo... My husband took us from Houston to Dallas in the early hours of the morning just so we could celebrate your Cowboys winning five Super Bowls in a row!"
"But he died on the road just like that. How could this happen? God!"
Before you continue