Read Slow Burn (Book 2): Infected for Free Online Page B

happened?
    Amber: One of the guys, Darren, I think, is infected.
    Me: What happened?
    Amber: He was lethargic for a while after you left. Nobody thought much of it but then he started acting weird. Now we think he’s infected.
    Me: Did you take his temperature?
    Amber: We don’t have a thermometer. They locked him in one of the dorm rooms. After they locked him in he screamed crazy gibberish for a while. He’s quiet now. Mark is sure he’s infected. But he has a gift for certainty.
    Me: Those kind of people worry me.
    Amber: Me too.
    Me: Maybe Darren couldn’t take it all and just went nuts. Maybe all he needs is a Valium.
    Amber: Mark wants to shoot him but nobody wants to open the door and go in. Wilkins is against that but again, nobody except Wilkins wants to open the door to find out for sure. Every time Wilkins brings it up, Mark goes ballistic.
    Me: Not good.
    Amber: I think Mark is really insecure. I don’t think he’s handling all of this very well. I think he and Wilkins are going to have it out at some point.
    Me: Why do you say that?
    Amber: It’s like every time they talk, Mark seems less respectful, more assertive. He doesn’t want to be a team player. He wants to be in charge.
    Me: What did he say, exactly?
    Amber: Mostly it’s subtle stuff. Maybe I’m wrong. I’m just worried.
    Me: I don’t know what to say.
    Amber: You don’t have to say anything. I’m just telling you because I need somebody to talk to.
    Me: What about Marcy and Felicity?
    Amber: Felicity has been sleeping on the couch in the lounge most of the afternoon.
    Me: She’s not infected, is she?
    Amber: No, she’s just tired. Marcy is following Mark around like she’s a puppy. I’m embarrassed for her.
    Me: Sounds like junior high for grown-ups. I’m almost glad we got evicted.
    Amber: Except for Jerome, I guess.
    Me. Yeah.
    Amber: Yeah.
    Me: Well, like I said before. Wilkins is a good guy. He’ll keep it all under control.
    Amber: I hope.
    Me: Can you do me a favor if you’re not doing anything else?
    Amber: You saved my life. You know I will.
    Me: You know that stuff I talked about? That stuff about downloading whatever we could about farming, and solar power, you know, anything about how things work, or how to treat people when they’re sick. Anything about survival.
    Amber: Yeah.
    Me: Could you download as much as you can from the internet, please?
    Amber: Sure. I’ve got a 64 gig flash drive. I can save it there. How will I get it to you?
    Me: We’ll work something out. I’ll talk to you later on, okay?
    Amber: Okay. Bye.
    Murphy said, “Man, don’t look so down. What’s going on over there?”
    I told Murphy about the conversation.

Chapter 7
    The smoke thickened and reduced visibility down to several car lengths. The air got hard to breathe. Nothing was moving anywhere.
    “The fire must be close,” I said.
    “Yeah,” Murphy agreed.
    “Do you know where we are?”
    “More or less.”
    “Well, it seems like we’re headed right for the fire.”
    Murphy shrugged. “I’m just looking for a wide street to head north again.”
    “Okay, because I don’t think I want to get roasted or suffocated.”
    “I hear you, man.”
    A few minutes later, Murphy made a slow left turn onto a wide, car-strewn boulevard.
    “Murphy, what are we going to do after we find your mom’s house?”
    “Well, I’m not going to be your superhero sidekick if that’s what you’re going to ask me, Null Spot. Heh, heh, heh.”
    “Whatever.”
    “So, Zed, tell me about this peaches and cream world that you grew up in that made you wanna go and help everybody. It’s like you’re a Boy Scout trying to earn that merit badge you missed out on when you were fifteen.” Murphy laughed again. He always found himself funny.
    “Not even close. I was never a Boy Scout. We spent all of our time at church.”
    “You didn’t ride a bicycle around to people’s houses did you? Heh, heh, heh.”
    I shook my head. “Definitely not. I never