We continued North heading for Bend Oregon, between Lakeview and Bend was roughly 175 miles of flat roads, hills and everything in between. I remembered one stretch where some folks from some College was doing a test using wind to power a car with a boat sail strapped to the top of it. I swear the things people paid money to study could give you nightmares. It wasn't the topic of what was being studied, it was the vast amount of money being thrown at the stupidest things, for example a zombie virus.
Thankfully the Mountain bikes had a wide range of gears so the Mountains were not as terrible as they could have been, it could also be the changes to our bodies as well. Either way the hundred and seventy five plus miles was definitely giving the girls a good work out. As the days went by and the riding continued, they started riding faster, lasting longer and had energy to burn. They got use to the way their vision had changed and adapted to the rest of their senses much faster then I could have anticipated.
I did notice that Tami had had an easier time with the changes then either Charlie or I did. Kids naturally adapt much easier to conditions then Adults normally do. Could be the same with their bodies as well. It would have to be something for the Scientists to figure out, as for me I would drop off the documents, give them a brief on everything I had seen, done and experienced and after that, I was out of there. No way am I getting locked up again in some lab and getting experimented on like some damn lab rat.
Besides I made a promise to both Charlie and Tami that we would find a real home, one they would be safe in and not ever feel like they would ever be forced into anything again by anyone. I pulled over to the scenic overlook that looked out over Bend. Even from here I could tell that the City was over run by the Zombie's and they were spread out pretty evenly. Being that the Highway ran right down the middle of it, there was no way we would get past them easily.
"Looks pretty bad.." Tami said quietly.
"Yeah, but lets face it, it would be flat out boring if it was easy." I replied and she grinned at me. I glanced along the highway and pointed off down the road.
"We'll stop at the Mini-Mart and find a City map, we'll map out a route to take us around that mess." I said and they both nodded. We rode the bikes until we were roughly two tenths of a mile from the small building. Then we pushed the bikes along the road keeping our eyes and ears opened. With the Zombie's spread out it meant no one was alive within the City, no food readily available. But that didn't mean that people were not hidden around the out skirts just waiting to ambush the unsuspecting.
After the last ambush I had started teaching them self defense. The first rule, do whatever it takes to win, remember they are out to take what is yours, weather that means possessions, your body or your life. That means they will not stop until they have one of those and maybe not even then. So be prepared to do what ever you have to in order to win.
I have no problem nut punching a fool if it means I win. I also have no trouble killing someone if I must in order to save my life or the lives of others. Both were doing very well, turns out with the added strength from the Cure, both would be able to overcome most men especially sense most would underestimate them.
I continued to listen to the surrounding area and except for the few small animals, nothing moved or shuffled out of the ordinary. After parking the bike, I tapped the door on the building and watched to see if anyone, or zombie, might show up. Nothing appeared, it was unusual but not unheard of, mostly zombies caught inside these places were let out when they chased after the uninformed who just walked up and opened the door.
I found a City map and tucked it away and after a quick check, found most of the shelves empty of anything that might be of use. Walking outside I noticed that the small animals had gone quiet. The Girls had also noticed as well, we all scented the air. No zombies around but there was a human hiding off in the bushes.
"What do we do?" Tami whispered. I climbed on the bike while calling back.
"If they were friendly they would have come out and said something. If they are sneaking around, then they are not friendly and I have no use for them." I replied loud enough I knew they had to of heard me.
We all turned to watch a woman stumble out of the bushes. I remembered her as one of the faces that was in the first car that drove off from Reno after the others had been forced out as bait for the Zombies. I watched her in her ragged and torn dress, or what was left of it as most seemed to be held up by several knots. From her appearance and somewhat wild eyes, I figured talk would not do much at this point.
"Climb on the Camper and strap in." I told her. She looked at the small camper with a confused expression. Tami climbed off her bike and being smaller then everyone else the woman did not seem to be scared of Tami.
"This way." Tami said in a soothing tone. She took the woman's hand and guided her to the camper then showed her how to climb up and then buckled her in. The woman seemed to panic slightly when Tami tried to get back down.
"Ride with her for now, I'll put your bike on the rack." I told Tami and went about securing the bike and then making sure everyone else was secured. I also handed the woman a water bottle from inside the camper.
"Just sip it slowly, or you will get sick." I explained to her, she looked dehydrated. Then I handed her a couple of the pancakes from breakfast that we use as snacks along the way. Again I told her to eat slowly to keep from getting sick. No idea how long it was sense she last ate anything, and after a quick look over her appearance, it didn't appear she had been bitten by a zombie either. Time would tell and I wasn't about to share my blood with anyone who could end up being dangerous.
Charlie and I started riding, we took it easy to conserve energy in case we needed to outrun anything that happen to come at us from the tree line. Using the map we cut down small country roads that would have almost no traffic of any kind, or so we were hoping. One of the newer looking neighborhoods showed off one house near the top of the hill as having not only solar power panels but a system that heated water off the sun as well. I parked the bike and camper off the side and out of the way of easy view from possible zombie stragglers.
When I checked this house, I checked every door, every room and every closet. I would not be getting sloppy again in my securing a place for nightfall.
"Place is secure and even has running hot water." I told Charlie while Tami cheered for a hot bath. Charlie and I laughed at Tami while the woman just watched her. She was much calmer now after having listened to us while we rode for the last two hours. We pulled up and into the garage which I had opened up so we could secure the bikes and camper. Then we all went inside and took in a few things from the camper that could be cooked properly.
