Life After Death

Chapter 22

With the weather finally looking better, I decided that we needed another run to obtain clothes, food, guns and ammo. We went out in the large van and headed toward Pittsburg. We stopped at a mall in a town near Pittsburg. The Monroeville mall is fairly large as malls go. 

We backed the van up to Kaufman’s and got out with our AK-47’s ready for action. The door lock had been broken, a sign that someone had been here. We entered the store and proceeded in military style, Janet and Sharon covering Diane and I as we moved up, then, Diane and I covering them as they moved forward. 

“When we got to the teen section, things got weird. 

“Someone is over there,” Diane whispered, pointing at the dressing rooms. 

I got down and began crawling forward, and Diane imitated me. We ducked behind store dummies and peeked out. Janet and Sharon stayed back to cover our behinds. 

We saw two girls cowering near the lingerie section. I stood up. “Get up and put your hands up,” I yelled. 

Diane joined me, aiming her rifle at them. 

Two teenage girls stood up with their hands up. 

“Don’t hurt us, ya all,” one of them cried in a southern accent. 

“Who are you and where did you come from?” 

“I’m Adele Wilson and I’m a Texas gal from Dallas.” She was a buxom blond teen with a cute face. 

“My name is Janice Harper and I’m from San Diego.” She was a teen brunette with a lithe figure. 

“How did you girls get together?” 

“My car broke down near Kansas,” Adele said. “Janice here was kind enough to pick me up.” 

“Did you see any aliens?’’ 

She blinked. “We saw coyotes, wolves, lizards, snakes, scorpions, and rats but no aliens,” Adele said. 

“We did see a saucer-shaped craft fly over and shine a spot light on us,” Janice said. “It flew off.” 

“Where did that take place?” I asked. 

“Outside of Kansas,” Janice said. 

Janet and Sharon joined us. 

“I’m Jack, and this is Diane, Janet and Sharon. We’re living in a walled compound not too far from here. You’re welcome to join us. We have plenty of food and water and all the amenities.” 

“You’re on, Jack,” Adele said. “Are you the only boy?” 

“I’m afraid so,” I said. "Okay people, let's get busy and grab everything we can. I don't want to hang around here any longer than we have to." 

The girls ran off to pick out clothes, shoes, accessories and toiletries. I chose more jeans, shirts, tees, underwear, shoes and jackets. 

We stopped at a gun store and appropriated more rifles and ammo. 

The girls spent the ride back to the compound talking while I drove. I pulled into the garage and the girls piled out. 

"You go fix supper, Jack," Diane said. "We'll get the new recruits cleaned up." 

"Yes, ma'am." 

I headed to the kitchen to prepare supper. By the time they arrived I had six plates filled with steak, baked potato and corn. I also had a surprise. 

 "You sure know the way to a Texas girl's heart, Jack. These are some fine vittles." 

"What did you make for us, Jack?" Janet said. 

 "I made an apple pie." 

 "You gals are lucky to have a guy who can cook," Adele said. "That’s a rare commodity where I come from." 

George's avatar came into the kitchen." I see that you have a discerning eye for female pulchritude, Jack Siefert." 

"It has nothing to do with my eye, George. It's the fickle finger of fate." I pointed. "This is Adele from Texas and Janice from California." 

"Welcome to Life After Death, ladies," George said before turning and walking out of the kitchen." 

"What the hell was that?" Adele asked, wide eyed. 

"That was George Talbot, the son of a wealthy coal baron, who stored his memories in a giant computer so that he could live a virtual life in an android avatar. His computer brain also runs this compound." 

She made a face. "That'll take some getting used to." 

"We depend on George a lot," I told her. "We’re pawns in a war between two alien species, and he has provided us with a lot of the tools necessary for survival."

"I don't know about that, honey, but I'm glad you found us. We were on the desperate edge of starvation. I haven't eaten a steak this good in nearly a year. And, you have pie too. This is great." 

It would really be great if we didn't have to worry about aliens, but then again, life can be difficult even under normal circumstances.