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to be. They landed this thing here, right?” Palmeri said.
    I shook my head. “Really doesn’t look long enough.”
    Palmeri didn’t say a word. Possibly she agreed, and if she did so out loud, knew it would make everyone that much more apprehensive about flying.
    Sues stopped the buggy, turned with one arm draped over the seat and stared at the plane. Without being able to see what was happening, I’d guess Dave was running to unhook the rope from the front.
    “Go get your seat. Buckle in. It’s going to be bumpy, loud and cold.”
    “Yeah, I get that,” I said, and turned to leave but stopped. “Will there be any movie, or meal served? I didn’t see a single stewardess--”
    “Ask a flight attendant,” Erway said. “We’re pilots.”
    “Right,” I said, and smiled, knowing the slight attempt at humor was appreciated. “Well, there were no flight attendants anywhere--”
    Palmeri yelled. “Ah, shit! They need help!” 
    I looked out the window again. I couldn’t see what caused alarm, but neither was I going to wait to find out. I ran out of the cockpit.
    “What is it?” Allison said.
    “Stay!” I said.
    I went out the opened door on the side of the plane and jumped the few feet down to the tarmac. “Dave!”
    The buggy was off to the side, a chopped up zombie on the ground beside it. Dave held Sues in his arms. “She’s not dead! She’s okay. She’s going to be fine, Chase. She’s all right.”

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Sues Melia was far from fine. Dave was wrong. Her eyes were open, and she was breathing. The zombie bit her shoulder. Shredded cloth and skin flapped in the November breeze. Holding her tight, Dave kept telling me how everything was going to be okay.
    “Let’s get her on the plane,” I said. It was against better judgment. Taking a now-infected person onto the plane with us would be foolish, but more than foolish, dangerous. Dave had my back since the start of this thing. I’d watched him bury his brother. I couldn’t tell him to just leave her. Should have, but couldn’t.
    “Help me, Chase. Help me.” Dave reminded me of a child. His tears streaked the dirt from his face. His hands covered in blood kept shifting their hold on Sues’ body.
    I knelt beside them. “How are you feeling, Sues?”
    “I don’t want to turn into one of them.” It was a mere whisper. I heard it, though.
    “We’re going to help you,” I said.
    The lie was just as bold as it was obvious. Might be the only one who believed it was Dave. The smile he wore was forming on trembling lips. “That’s, right, honey. We’re going to help you. We are. I am.”
    I looked back at the plane. I knew Erway and Palmeri had to be watching. I couldn’t see into the cockpit, but I felt their eyes on me. I could almost feel their thoughts. Feel them. What’s the hold up? Come on. We have to go.
    “Let’s carry her to the plane,” I said, and stood up.
    “I’m not going with you, Chase. I’m not going anywhere.” The color in her face drained before my eyes. Her skin clammy, lips grey almost blue.
    “She’s lost a lot of blood,” I said.
    “We need to stop the bleeding,” Dave said.
    Stop the bleeding, I thought. What good would it do? “Let’s just get her to the plane. Erway can have a closer look.”
    Sues grabbed my shirt tight and I was surprised by the strength exhibited when she pulled me close. “I’m not going. You need to take care of Dave. You need to be there for him. He looks up to you . You know that, don’t you? That he looks up to you?”
    “Stop it, honey. We’re going to get you on that plane. Tell her, Chase, Tell her Erway can help her. We can stop this. Fix it. You, you’re not going to be like one of them. You won’t turn into one of those things,” he said. That smile he’d worn was gone. He ran his hands through his hair, brushing in dirt and sweat, and Sues’ blood. “Chase, man. Chase.”
    “Sues,” I said, “let us get you to the plane,