Eden in Hell-4

 

     The heat wore down their attempt to get past ten miles a day because finding food supplies and water was of grave interest daily. Finding or scavaging every home for food and water was quite an adventure in itself, once they entered a booby-trapped home, a very sophisticated and elaborate home, and they later found out it belonged to a wealthy physician, and after nearly getting their heads blown off by shear luck because they both slipped and fell when the gun went off, they just left that house as it is, and they mostly just entered old vacant and decaying supermarkets, convenient stores, and drugstores. Huck kept his makeshift and trusty Geiger counter, virus tests, and water tests with him, and when they found any ramshackle drugstore that wasn't pilfered or purloined Huck would upgrade his tests because most vandals would just steal the drugs and canned food and leave whatever tests there. Huck and Dwayne never ate anything contaminated, they knew the danger of viral infections. 

     Dwayne found a picture in one of those fancy cases that showcased various oddities that most drugstores displayed at the checkout register. He picked it up, and it reminded him of his youngest child, Lily, who was his baby girl. Tears rolled down his face and Huck glanced over and rescued him from further melancholy and said, “Will be that check or cash?” 

     “Do you take credit?” Dwayne was laughing so hard returning the rescuing favor.

     “Let’s get the Hell out of here!” Huck had enough of that drugstore, it was empty except for those tests and a few other knick-knacks. 

     Dwayne led the way out of that town and knew those who were infected would soon surface at night because the heat only exacerbated their sickly condition. The lifespan of those infected was less than a week but those infected always wanted a cure and would seek out anyone for help. Nighttime was best spent deeply in the forest and far from cities and rural towns. 

     “Did you find any food?” Huck said knowing it looked dismal. 

     “Not a damn thing, Huck!” Dwayne blurted out and kicked up the dust at his feet in disgust. 

                                                          4