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your days forever,” he said.  Without another word, he went into the house and we could hear small sobs coming from within.
    Maggie smiled at us and explained.  “This is the photo album of our family from the time we were married.  All of our pictures and memories are here.  All of our good memories, anyway.”  Her eyes grew sad for a moment, but it quickly passed.  “That other book is Charles’ family bible, which was brought over from Ireland over a hundred years ago.  That bible is his family, and his place in the world.  You’ve no idea what you’ve brought back to us.  Thank you.”
    Julia smiled.  “You’re very welcome.  I hate to be awkward, but we did have a few expenses, and we will need the other half of our agreement?”
    Maggie put a hand to her mouth. “Oh, of course!  Where are my manners?  Good heavens!  I’ll be right back!”  She went into the house and a few minutes later Charles came out.  His eyes were red but he was smiling. 
    “Maggie says to pay what we owe.  Here it be, and my thanks to you both.”  Charles held out a small purse, and Julia took it gently, putting it in her vest pocket.
    “Thank you, sir, and if you have any friends who might need something collected…?”
    “I’ll be sending them your way, no worries, lass.”  Charles, who originally didn’t have an accent when he first showed up at the door, had developed a bit of an Irish tilt to his voice.
    I shook his hand and we left the home, walking back the way we came.  Julia and I basked in the feeling of a job well done, and once we were out of sight, she pulled out the purse.
    “What’s up?” I asked.  “Something wrong?  I can’t believe Charles would short us.”
    “No, it’s not that, it just feels funny; like it weighs too much.”  Julia pulled out the purse and opened it.  Reaching in, she pulled out the coins and gasped.  Instead of our final payment of five silver coins, Charles had replaced two of the silvers with gold coins.
    I whistled when I saw the flash of gold.  “Damn!  If Jake even gets two for the stuff he found, we’re doing well.”
    Julia nodded and put the money back into her vest.  “Do you think he’ll find another job?”
    “Probably.  There’s always work for the likes of us,” I said, hopping over the ditch and climbing the small hill.  “Everyone loves the collectors.”

 
     
     
    Chapter 11
     
    Collectors.  That’s what we were.  We went out and collected the memories, the artifacts, the remnants of lives left behind when the world suddenly ended.  People who had fled their homes way back when began to have a hankering for the things that defined them.  We collected books, curios, keepsakes, and heirlooms.  Stuff that had to be left behind became accessible once again.  It all came down to who was willing to go for it and who was willing to pay to have it done.  We charged ten silver coins for a job, five in advance and five when it was finished.  We charged extra for longer distances, and reserved the right to refuse a job after we began, for an expense fee of two silvers.  We never had to do that, but Jake said it made sure the people who sent us out knew they could lose out if it was a wild goose chase. 
    Over the last three years, we must have made a couple of dozen trips to the city, and a few trips out of state.  We had made trips across the lake a couple of times, and went as far south as Texas, once.  We wouldn’t do that one again.
    Other people trained for various jobs, like blacksmiths, plumbers, electricians, and so forth.  From the time we were able to fight, we trained on how to handle zombies and how to survive far from help.  Our fathers taught us to think on our feet, fight like the devil, and stay alive.  Our mothers gave us our education, and I doubt there was a book within fifty miles of our home that we hadn’t read.
    We walked down the hill, feeling pretty good about ourselves, when the first hints