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to be popping up more often.  One such place, Zoomertown, it was called, built itself right up to the Wall.  They were fairly lawless, and was a good place to go if you were looking for trouble.  A lot of youngsters from the capital came up that way to get their first drink, sleep with their first whore, and look at their first zombie. You had to have money though, and it was rumored that someone died every week from a knife wound or a bad drink.  A lot of kids didn’t come back, and it was rumored that agents from Zoomertown roamed the capital, looking for young girls to steal.  When we passed these places, Jake would put down his paddle and pick up his rifle until we were clear.
    Once we cleared the heaviest of the suburbs, I could see the capital lands.  Soon we would be passing the orchards and the grazing lands, and finally, the farmlands for the capital.
    Around mid-morning, we reached the outskirts of Leport, the capital of the New United States.  In the twenty years since its renaming, the population had grown from several hundred to tens of thousands.  Dad had said it was one of the few places around, which looked like a city used to look.  None of us had any clue what he was talking about.  Going to the capital as kids used to be such a treat.  We would ride up the river, waving at the stray zombies on the canal edges, coming up to see old friends and play with new ones.  We would see a movie and go to dinner, and spend some time with people our fathers called the ‘old guard.’  They would talk about the Zombie Wars; drink to fallen friends, and in a couple of days, head back for home. The capital now, for us, was a place to do business.  Lately, it was trouble, too.
    At the docks, we slipped into a small opening and Jake tied off his end while I took care of mine.  I helped Julia out and she carefully pulled up the duffle bag that carried our precious cargo, the thing we went through miles of zombie territory for.  We left our heavy melee weapons in the boat; they’d be safe until we returned.
    Walking up the dock and onto the street, we threw waves to people who knew us, had known our parents, or had done business with us.  Several people looked us over, unused to the gear we were wearing and the weapons we were carrying.  They knew what we were, but seeing one of us up close was different.
    “Lots of new faces,” Jake said, looking over at a group of men standing outside a wine-seller’s place.  One man noticed Julia and jostled another, causing that one to notice her as well.  Both men openly stared until we passed from view.  Julia couldn’t help herself. She was, for lack of a better word, stunning. She was also completely oblivious; her attention was always focused on the children that ran around the town.  She loved kids and they loved to be with her. She was a natural mother; caring, compassionate, and fiercely protective.
    “Yeah,” I said, looking at the men, who stared back defiantly until we rounded the corner.  “Let’s get done and get home.”
    “Sounds good,” Jake said.  “You guys get the business done, I’ll see the Melter and check to see if there is any new business worth looking at.  I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”  Jake turned down a side street and was off without another word.
    I looked down at Julia and she shrugged.  Jake was like that, and there was no changing him.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 10
     
    “What’s the address?” I asked, looking up at the homes on the hills.  I hoped it would be a short walk.
    Julia looked at the piece of paper attached to the duffle bag.  “Says here that it’s up on fourth, on the other side of the cemetery.” 
    I thought a minute, and then groaned.  “Damn.  It’s up the hill and another half mile walk besides.”
    Julia started walking.  “Never knew you disliked exercise.”
    I followed a second later. “I dislike extra exercise,” I said, defending myself.  I kept up, but also kept an