Read Generation Dead Book 2: What You Fear for Free Online Page A

holding his gaze.
    Jake was wrestling internally with agreeing with me or punching me.  I knew what he chose when he shook his head and turned on his heels.  We walked quickly through the streets of Leport, winding our way towards the presidential residence.
    Despite the name, it was simply a modest Victorian home, nestled within the confines of a hillside community.  Our father originally chose the place, saying that the president should not live in a palace, or reside anywhere that the people who elected him could not stop by on occasion to just chat.  The presidents, and there had been three since our father had been one, all agreed to the duty to the people, and hadn’t changed anything since.
    The house was a two-story affair, with a porch wrapping around most of the first floor.  As we approached, we saw a middle aged man sitting in a rocker on a corner of the porch, taking in the morning and breathing in the river air.
    “Hello the house!” Jake called. It was a courtesy of the times to announce yourself if possible.
    “Hello, yourself!  Come on up and join me,” a deep voice responded.
    We made our way to the porch, passing by some very nice gardens and flowerbeds.  Julia stopped to smell a rose, but Jake was focused on the man on the porch, who stood at the top of the stairs awaiting our arrival.  At the far corner of the porch, another man sat with a rifle across his knees.  The pose was casual, if you ignored the fact his hand was on the rifle’s grip and his finger was inside the trigger guard.  At the first sign of trouble, that gun could kill us before we had a chance even to react.  I thought it was a nice touch, but I could see Jake throw a few glances that way.
    The man who greeted us was tall, and the years hadn’t stooped him a bit.  He was about mid-forties, I’d guess, but that didn’t seem to bother him. He was lean, with quick eyes, and the demeanor of someone used to command.  His hair was blond turning to white, and he looked us up and down as we approached.  He looked the longest at Jake, and I got the feeling he knew who we were.
    “Welcome!  How can I be of service to you?” The President said.  “Please, sit down.”
    We positioned ourselves around the table, and at that moment, the guard materialized at the president’s shoulder.
    “Sir?  These people are armed.  Shall I gather their weapons?”  The man said.  The rifle was held low and out of the way, but he was fooling no one.  One flick of the wrist and a squeeze of the finger and someone was going to get blasted.
    The president looked at us and smiled. “I don’t think so.  These folks are the kids of friends of mine, and unless I seriously miss my guess, they don’t mean to harm anyone they don’t have to.”  The president looked at my brother.  “Right, Jake?”
     

     
    Chapter 9
     
     
    Jake started a bit.  I imagine the last thing he expected was for the President of the New United States to know who he was.  For that matter, I think I was a bit startled myself.  Julia looked quizzically at the exchange, and I hoped she wouldn’t do anything silly.
    The president smiled.  “Allow me to fully introduce myself.  I’m Trevor Jackson, formerly Captain Jackson of the Montana Minutemen, and formerly a friend of your father.  I knew you when you were just a babe, Jake, and I was with your father during the Zombie Wars.”  President Jackson looked at Julia.  “I knew your fa ther as well, young lady, and have the honor of calling him my friend.
    “Now that’s me.  However, I don’t think we’ve met, young sir.”  President Jackson looked right at me, and extended his hand. His grip was strong, and while his smile reached his eyes, something was behind them that made you cautious. 
    I had read about Trevor Jackson in my father’s book.  From the very beginning of the end of the world, Jackson was leading men, fighting zombies, and venturing into some very remote territory.