With her mouth hanging open, Amanda stood frozen as she watched Ares disappear into her sleeping bag. "Told ya," Nathan said with his eyes still closed. "When he's wet and someone tries to dry him, Ares crawls in their bed."

"Nathan, he's soaking wet! Where am I supposed to sleep!" Amanda screeched.

"Ares' pallet is dry," he mumbled with a smile before drifting back to sleep.

Chapter 5.

Day 11 Nathan woke up at 5:30 with his watch vibrating. Yesterday they had just lazed around, and Nathan taught everyone how to use the shotgun and the AK he had taken off the gang bangers. Next he'd gone over the M-4 for several hours then his pistols. The kids taught Jasmine how to read the map and, to their surprise, she already knew about edible plants. They ate like kings all day and cleaned all their clothes and packs off, simply enjoying having a moment to relax.

As Nathan sat up, he rubbed his shaven face and looked down to see Amanda's leg across his lap. He lifted it off and put it on the blanket. Her head was lying on Ares, with the rest of her body spread out on her blanket. Nathan leaned over and brushed the hair out of her face gently.

He stood up, buckled his pants and slipped on his flip flops. He looked over and saw Jasmine standing watch at her spot on the other side of Amanda. He waved at her and she returned it, smiling. Turning around he saw John on the other side of him. Nathan found it hard to believe he was the same kid he had taken under his wing just six days ago.

When they'd met John, he'd said he was a forty-six in the waist. Yesterday Nathan had given him his other pair of ACU pants. They were adjustable in size up to a thirty-eight. John put them on and b.u.t.toned them; he had to suck in his gut a little but he got them on. Even Nathan was worried about that much weight loss in such a short time. John still had excess skin but it was not taut anymore and his legs no longer had that bruised, scaly appearance.

John told them he had never lived on what he was eating in a day before this happened. When he told Nathan what he normally ate in a day, Nathan was shocked. He approximated it at fifteen thousand calories, and John said he never did anything except play on the computer. Nathan had even asked John to eat some more at supper last night. He had steadfastly refused, saying he would eat the same amount as Nathan did.

Shaking his head, Nathan smiled at John and walked over to the lake and just stared out over the water. Hearing movement behind him, he turned to see Jasmine carrying two cups. "I fixed you some coffee when I fixed some," she said, handing him the cup.

"Thank you," Nathan said, taking the cup. "Anything last night?" he asked, taking a sip and savoring it.

"Heard a few trucks on the road across the dam about an hour ago, but they didn't even slow down," she said.

"Traffic is moving again," he said.

"You thinking about trying to get a vehicle?" she asked.

"No, they have it locked down. It's much easier slipping through on foot."

"That's a long walk," she said.

"I ain't got nothing better to do," Nathan said, taking a sip.

"If you don't mind, can I come?" she asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

He blinked and glanced over at her. "It's going to be long and hard. I can tell you we will run into trouble," he said. "You'll have to fight," he added.

"I've thought about that, Nathan, and I figured out I'll have to fight anywhere I stay. At least with you I get to learn how to," she said.

Impressed she had figured it out without him pointing those facts out, Nathan smiled. "I don't mind, and I'm sure Amanda and John won't mind."

Jasmine coughed and a smirk spread across her face. "I don't think John knows what I look like. When he does looks at me he stares at my boo- my tah-tahs," she said, trying not to laugh.

"Well he is a boy," Nathan said, raising his eyebrows.

"Oh, I like him and he's so nice. I don't think I've met anyone who's happier now than before the power went off. I think if his mom was around he would be the happiest person on the planet," Jasmine told Nathan with a little regret in her voice.

"I really like that kid," Nathan said.

"John thinks you are some type of G.o.d sent here to walk among us mortals," she told Nathan.

"d.a.m.n, that sounds cool," Nathan said, thinking about it and making her laugh.

She got a serious look on her face that he had learned to avoid from the women he dated. "Nathan, you have good friends with families. Why haven't you married?" she asked.

Last night he had pulled out his computer and shown them pictures and videos of him with his four friends and their families. "I don't know, haven't found the right one I guess," he said.

"You're not like a serial killer or a man that collects morbid things are you?" Jasmine asked seriously.

"Well I have to admit I've killed over twenty people in the last week. I collect guns, knives, video games, gold, and military equipment," he admitted.

She shook her head. "You know what I mean."

"Ah no, I don't. I met you less than forty-eight hours ago, Jasmine," Nathan reminded her.

She laughed, spilling her coffee. "I'm sorry, you're right. I feel like I've known all of you for years," she said, shaking the coffee off her hand. "I'm just trying to figure out why a woman hasn't wrestled you to the altar."

Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "Guess I haven't found one who knows how to wrestle. What about you?"

"What about me?" Jasmine asked.

"Are you engaged?" he asked, not seeing any rings on her hands. "I mean, I don't see a ring or any jewelry."

"I usually don't wear much more than earrings, but seeing what happens when you bring attention to yourself, I took them off when all this started. But to answer your question, yes I was, till I caught him with a girl when I went home on spring break. I wanted to surprise him and boy, was I surprised," she said, forcing a smile.

"I'm sorry I asked," he said, feeling awkward.

"No its okay, I just couldn't believe he'd do that. Everyone told me but I wouldn't listen," she said.

"Well we all have to do something that makes no sense every once and a while," he said.

Jasmine looked back at Amanda where she was sprawled out. "That girl is amazing. I don't think I could've lived through what she has been through and remain sane. Don't you think she and John should be more mournful?" Jasmine asked him. Yesterday when Nathan told her Amanda's story, Jasmine wanted to go to Atlanta and start mowing down people.

"That child is tough," Nathan admitted. "And to answer your question, no, people live for the day now. If you start feeling mournful you'll die, and those two know that. Any that don't know that will die off. Bereavement will come in time," Nathan said, looking out across the water.

She nodded her head, thinking about Nathan's answer and liking it. "You ready to start the day?" Jasmine asked.

"h.e.l.l no, but let's do it anyway," he said walking over to wake the two up.

John jumped up and pulled on his new pants with little effort. It took Ares licking her face for Amanda to get up. Jasmine had joined the group workouts yesterday morning and John just about pa.s.sed out when she put her arms around his neck in a chokehold. They were practicing how to get out of holds and Nathan was sure if Jasmine tried to choke out John, he wouldn't fight and would in fact probably volunteer. After that Nathan was the one who worked with John in hand to hand.

After they went through the morning routine they ate and packed up. It was just after eight as Nathan sat there looking around the clearing, lost in thought. This spot held a lot of good memories for him in the short time they'd been there, and he just wanted to savor it. He had taken a ton of pictures but Nathan just wanted to burn it in his mind. Ares brought him back to the world by rubbing his head on Nathan's lap.

"Okay, we're leaving," Nathan said, reaching down and rubbing Ares' head. He climbed to his feet and shouldered his pack, then turned around and headed through the woods till he reached the dirt road. They started off in single file at first; Amanda was behind him with her AK across the front of her chest and the little .38 on her hip. John had the shotgun across his chest and had given Jasmine the 9mm. She carried it in the front pouch of the belt to her pack that locked around her waist.

Nathan turned around and walked backwards for a moment, taking them all in. He smiled as he looked at John, who was beaming from ear to ear as he walked along at the back of the group. Nathan turned back around and followed the road.

He led the small group along the dirt road, pointing out things of interest as they went along. It was when Nathan noticed a church up on the right that he stopped, holding up his hand. He pulled out the map to check where they were as the others came around him.

"Are you lost?" Amanda asked, grinning.

"No, I'm looking for a tree to tie you to," Nathan said, looking up from the map to the church.

"You aren't leaving me so forget it," she said.

Nathan lowered the map and looked at her. "Amanda, I think Ares would whine until I came back and got you."

Shock spread across her face. "You wouldn't?" she almost shouted.

"Well yeah, I'd whine too," he admitted. "For about an hour," he mumbled and she hit his arm. "Okay," Nathan said, smiling.

Jasmine came over. "What are you studying so hard?" she asked.

"Making sure I'm adding right," he said.

"Adding up what?" Jasmine asked.

"Well, it's 10:30 and according to the map we've gone nine miles in two and a half hours."

"Really, it doesn't seem like it," she said, peering down at the map.

"You added wrong, Nathan, that's over three miles an hour and the best we've done is two and a half. Unless we're getting away from something then we do three," Amanda said, counting on her fingers.

"Like I'm going to take the word of someone who counts on their fingers," Nathan said, grinning.

"You count on yours," she shot back.

Jasmine looked at Nathan, "No, we've gone that far," she said and the others agreed.

"I say let's keep to the route and camp just south of Ashville. I don't want to get caught close to the Interstate close to dark," he told them.

"You mean we're going to stop for the day at noon?" Amanda whined.

"Yes, and you did that without using your fingers," Nathan said, and she stuck out her tongue. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his Skoal and put a dip in before she could grab the can.

"You spit in my ear and I pee in your sleeping bag," she warned.

Nathan just spun around and headed off to the camping spot. They could at least make sure it was a good one. As they pa.s.sed a field they saw a tractor out spraying the crops. In another mile they saw another one. Nathan knew tractors and both of the ones they saw were old 1960 models, but they were working.

A mile from their campsite they saw a man working on a fence by the road. The man looked up at the group. Seeing them all armed, he picked up a rifle and Nathan waved at him. The farmer waved back. Once he saw the others were kids he lowered his rifle as they stopped on the road in front of him.

"Thought y'all was coming to invade us," he said, smiling, and set his rifle down.

"Well I'm glad to see you have it with you," Nathan said.

The man shook his head. "It's a shame that you have ta work with your gun at your side," he told Nathan.

"That's the truth, but the alternative is worse," Nathan said and the man started laughing.

"You got that right, fella," he chuckled, slapping his leg.

"Had trouble around here?" Nathan asked.

"h.e.l.l who ain't, but yeah the Joneses lost two cows the other night. Someone shot 'em and didn't know how to clean 'em and just left em ta rot. The Millers had someone break into the chicken coop last week and take ten hens. But the worst was two day ago when someone killed Old Man Mac. Thing is, nothing was missing," he said grimly.

"Sounds like you and your neighbors need to bring on some help," Nathan said.

"s.h.i.t, I can't afford to be payin' someone," he said.

"Let em work for room and board, just check them out before you bring them in. Not telling you how to work, but I'd take in a family. Man's much less likely to get into mischief if his family is about," Nathan said.

"Now that's worth thinkin' about," the man said, looking off.

"Glad I could help," Nathan said. "Any trouble ahead? We're going to Ashville."

"Not till you get to the Interstate and there might be none. But yesterday they said a pa.s.sel of people were just walking down the Interstate. They said they was goin' to Chattanooga, why I don't know, but Merle said it took four hours for the group to walk past. Merle is the constable and said they found eighteen dead bodies on the road after they pa.s.sed. Two of em was stabbed, an' the others died of dehydration the doc said."

"Thought the government closed travel to other states?" Nathan asked.

"I heard the same, but they still went that way," the old man said.

"We won't hold you up anymore, sir, and remember to get some help. If they can't do nothing but watch your back that should be enough for a plate at supper time," Nathan said, holding out his hand. The man shook it and they headed off.

When they were a ways down the road the three flocked around Nathan. "What was that about?" Jasmine asked.

"Oh, I just wanted to see if someone ahead was taking weapons," he said.

"No, about the animals?" she asked.

"Jasmine, people are hungry. They are going to take. Not many people know how to hunt, and even fewer know how to skin and butcher an animal," he said.

"What about the old man someone killed?" John asked.

"My guess? He p.i.s.sed someone off a long time ago and they came a calling," Nathan said.

"What?" Jasmine said.

"Think about it. He gets killed and nothing is taken. That's because someone didn't need it at a time when everyone needs something," Nathan said.

"That's horrible," Jasmine said, frowning.

Letting them accept this new world on their own, Nathan didn't reply and just kept walking till they came to a point where the woods came down and met the road on both sides. Nathan saw the fence and started to worry about sleeping on someone's land. Since asking was out of the question, he shrugged and crossed anyway and the others followed.