A Stop Along the Way

Engines roared in the darkness before dawn as several vehicles jolted along the cracked interstate.

Their headlights illuminated twisted guardrails ahead, overturned wrecks, and shambling shadows that occasionally flickered at the edges of the beams.

The vehicles were packed with people and reeked of sweat and blood. Every jolt drew muffled groans.

Lynn leaned against the cold passenger seat, his eyes closed but not asleep.

At the edge of his vision, a crimson countdown ticked on the system screen: 69:45:22... 69:45:21... The zoo was still far away.

In the rearview mirror, Carol huddled in a corner, holding Sophia as she sobbed and trembled slightly, her eyes fixed on the darkness outside as though afraid something unexpected might happen.

Lori held Carl tightly. Rick leaned against his wife's shoulder with his eyes closed, his face ashen.

Shane pressed his lips together, staring ahead with a dark look.

Behind the jeep, the old Airstream lumbered along like a heavy ox. Dale gripped the steering wheel, struggling to keep up with Davis.

Daryl held his crossbow, his jaw tight. Merle tilted his head as though dozing, but his eyes moved beneath his lids.

The RV's lights were dimmer, and it rocked and creaked along the potholed road.

"Goddamn road..."

Davis swore and jerked the wheel to avoid an SUV lying on its side in the road. The jeep tilted violently, drawing startled cries from inside.

Just as the jeep passed through a wide, open bend-

Clang! Hiss-!

A dull crash mingled with the sounds of snapping metal and escaping air came from behind them. Then the RV's lights went out, and its engine coughed violently before dying.

"Fuck!"

Davis slammed on the brakes, and the jeep stopped with a screech of tires.

Lynn's eyes snapped open.

The silence inside shattered as everyone turned back in alarm and uncertainty.

In the faint dawn light, the white Airstream sat crooked in the middle of the highway, its nose sagging, with a huge gash where its left front tire should have been-it had run over an abandoned industrial component fitted with sharp, rusty iron strips. Its edges had torn through the tire, and the impact might have damaged the chassis and suspension.

"No... no..."

Dale's voice shook with tears. He pushed the door open, stumbled out, and rushed to the leaking gash, his old face deathly pale.

"My RV... my home..."

Lynn opened the door and stepped out. Cold morning wind carrying the smell of dust struck his face. He walked over to the RV and crouched to inspect the gash and twisted wheel rim.

"Can it be fixed?"

His voice held no emotion as he asked Dale, his gaze sweeping beneath the vehicle.

Dale shook his head, trembling. "The wheel... it's completely ruined! The spare is a standard size, but this is an oversized off-road tire... the suspension looks bent, too... this'll take tools, and time... a lot of time..."

He looked despairingly at the desolate highway around them and the dark shapes wandering in the distance.

"Fuck!" Merle swore as he jumped out of the jeep and kicked the twisted rim. "What a fucking time for this."

Daryl got out too and silently inspected the damage, frowning.

Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea, and the others climbed out and gathered around, anxiety on their faces.

Shane stood a little farther away, his arms folded as he watched coldly.

Supported by Min-seon, Rick walked over. He looked at the disabled RV and the despairing Dale, then surveyed their surroundings, his expression grave. "We can't stay here long. It's almost light. The noise will draw walkers."

Lynn stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone's tired, anxious faces.

Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea, Carol, Dale, the Dixon brothers, and the others all looked at him.

Shane remained silent and stopped sneering as well, waiting for a decision. Even if he was unhappy, he would not show it at a time like this.

"Davis!"

Lynn's voice broke the silence, utterly calm.

Davis immediately got out of the jeep and walked over to Lynn.

"Take Merle, Daryl, and T-Dog."

Lynn swept his gaze over the three men. "Fan out and search within a hundred-meter radius of the RV. Clear every walker you can see."

He stressed his next words, his gaze fixed on Merle's face. "Use knives, crossbows, clubs, weapons like that. Unless you have absolutely no other choice, no shooting!"

On such a quiet night, gunfire would only draw more walkers.

"Understood, Boss!"

Davis answered in a deep voice, reaching behind his waist to draw a thick-backed fire axe.

He had always followed Lynn's lead without question, so naturally he had no objections.

"Tch, got it, boss."

Merle drew his razor, Daryl silently cocked his crossbow, and T-Dog tightened his grip on his machete and nodded.

The four quickly spread out, disappearing into the tall grass and among the abandoned vehicles on either side of the highway.

"Glenn! Andrea!" Lynn turned to those who remained. "Take some people and check inside the RV. Sort out everything useful-food, water, medicine, tools-and carry it over beside the jeep."

"Got it!"

Glenn answered and immediately got to work with Andrea.

"Min-seon, take care of the wounded and check everyone's condition, especially Rick. We can't let him develop an infection."

Lynn looked at the female doctor. She was the only doctor in the group, and her role mattered more than anyone else's.

Risking his life to rescue her from the hospital when the apocalypse began had not been in vain.

Min-seon nodded and walked toward Rick and the pale-faced Lori and Carl.

"Dale," Lynn said, looking at the distraught old man, "you know this vehicle best. Give it a thorough inspection. Aside from the tire, how badly are the other critical parts damaged? Can they be repaired? What tools and parts do you need? Give me an assessment as soon as possible."

Although he did not think much of this battered RV either, at least it could carry more people, which was what they needed right now.

A flicker of life returned to Dale's eyes, and he wiped his face hard. "Okay! Okay! I'll... I'll check right now!"

He bent down and crawled under the vehicle to inspect it. It was his lifeblood; no one knew it better than he did.

"Carol." Lynn's gaze settled on the woman sitting in a daze, his voice gentler but firm. "Help Min-seon. Look after Lori and Carl."

Carol jolted, her nails digging into her palms. She nodded and took Sophia's hand, silently walking toward Lori.

Finally, Lynn looked at Shane, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines. "Deputy Sheriff Shane, watch the perimeter. Check for anything Davis misses on his side, and watch for new herds coming from either direction along the highway. Put your eyes and your gun where they're needed."

The corner of Shane's mouth twitched. He gave a cold snort, then climbed to a higher position on the RV's roof with his shotgun in his arms, scanning both ends of the highway and the wilderness.

With the orders issued, the brief chaos was brought under control.

Glenn and Andrea quickly carried cases of canned food, bottled water, a first-aid kit, and assorted tools out of the RV.

Dale tapped away beneath the vehicle, occasionally calling out part names and damage.

Min-seon quietly asked Rick and Lori about their condition, while Carol mechanically sorted blankets and water bottles.

Lynn stood beside the jeep, surveying the temporary camp.

At the edge of his vision, the crimson countdown ticked: 69:30:18... 69:30:17... Time slipped away.

He was somewhat speechless. Events were following the same course as the original story. This wreck of a vehicle really knew how to cause trouble.

Was Sophia going to go missing next?

At that thought, he looked toward the little girl sticking close to Carol.

Occasionally, a dull thud or a wet squelch came from the distance as Davis's team cleared the approaching walkers.

The highway stretched away in the faint dawn light.

The RV's breakdown was a major setback, but it had also established Lynn's command.

Repair it or abandon it?

Repairs would take time and luck; abandoning it would cost them supplies and make things harder.