Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
They sat together for a few minutes after they’d finished the afternoon snack, but there were only so many hours left until dusk, so Colin gave Taron a kiss and stood, returning to the kitchen. The chickens likely wouldn’t lay any eggs in winter, and while they could always buy some in the winter months, Colin no longer wanted to leave his future to chance. So maybe the apocalypse wasn’t coming yet, but with all those cows dropping dead, who could reassure Colin that chickens wouldn’t be next? Not to mention that the cost of eggs could increase, since people needed to get their protein somewhere if they couldn’t have it in the form of a steak.
He’d used the goat butter of their own making to grease some of the eggs and preserved others in salt, to use in the winter. It was his first year doing this, and while Taron didn’t make any comments, Colin knew he was proud.
One piece of civilisation that Taron kept up with was the radio. Not the kind of radio that played the latest hits and revelled in gossip about celebrities, but the kind that kept them up to date with news of weather, and in touch with the group of preppers Taron was acquainted with. The fact he’d never told Colin which guy he’d had radio sex with was still a thorn in Colin’s side, but he’d find out sooner or later. Most of the time, the radio frequency stayed silent with breaks for regular updates in case of storms or the like, so it came as a surprise when it suddenly made noise while Colin was busy cleaning the plates.
“Taron? Colin? Over.” The voice belonged to Gus, a guy who liked to keep everyone informed, which made him useful even if he sometimes peddled too many conspiracy theories. Colin always got a bit giddy knowing that Taron had introduced him to the others with pride. As his partner, no less.
He wiped his hands on the apron and picked up the mic. “This is Colin. What’s up?”
“Colin, don’t wanna be scaremongering, but I’m pretty sure this is it. Shit’s hit the fan.”
Colin rolled his eyes. “Like that time you said there was an EMP coming because the locust were acting weird?”
Gus exhaled, making the connection crackle. “One can never be too careful. But that’s beside the point. I am serious right now. They were just talking on the news about it. The quarantine center in Dallas is full.”
Colin frowned, but his heart was already beating faster. “The quarantine center? What are you talking about?”
“You two haven’t been out of the woods for the past week, have you?”
A horrible, twisting sensation curled over Colin’s insides, and he sat down on the nearby chair. “No.”
“Good, stay where you are. Have the radio on twenty-four-seven. The cattle disease seems to have passed to humans. The government’s just admitted to covering that up in the last two weeks. They advise staying indoors until they declare it’s safe. Over a thousand people have already died, it’s mental out here.”
Colin swallowed hard, and he hovered his hand over the console. “Thanks, Gus. We’ll report to you at the usual time. I’ll let Taron know.”
They said their goodbyes, and Colin walked to the door on strangely heavy legs. They had been preparing, but deep down he never really believed their efforts could prove life-saving.
The infection in Dallas could still be contained, but the transmission to human hosts did not bode well.
He walked down the porch and toward Taron, who looked over his shoulder, standing straight when he spotted Colin’s expression.
Colin spread his arms and combed back his hair, not sure how to communicate what he’d just found out. “It’s not Yellowstone.”
Taron frowned with the question in his eyes, and Colin let his hands drop. “People are dying from that cow disease. Something’s happening. Maybe we should… bug-in.”
Taron nodded and leaned down to give Colin a kiss. There was no ‘I told you so’ or excitement in him, just cold determination.
Colin squeezed Taron’s hands and looked into his eyes. “I’ll take the food downstairs.”
They took a moment just looking at one another, and the exchange brought Colin peace. He didn’t need to be afraid. Taron had been right all along—Colin was safer here than he would have been anywhere in the world.
They both were.
* * *
The end