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A. 9

A tour bus was turned into a city bus for people who wore rain coats, heavy boots, sunglasses, gloves, scarves, and even pant sets. There were so many people riding small tour buses throughout the city to get to where they were trying to go, this was the family's first encounter with other people. Somehow, the government managed to get the entire state of Florida, at least what was left of the population, housed in Plada. The family's eyes were wide with wonder as they noticed the amount of people who were walking, riding, and talking in Plada, they felt hope but they also picked up on despair in the city, things were not the same.

They walked up to the gated community after passing the gym, the gate did not open. There was a boxy, stiff chinned, beady eyed, bald headed man who wore a military uniform at the front gate gritting at the family. He spat out sunflower seeds before stating, "are you trying to get into the checkpoint?"

Michael's jaw clenched, "yes, we are," he replied as solemnly as he could.

"This isn't the checkpoint, this is just the right place to be to access help, but the checkpoint is located at the community center, wait over here, I'm Jerry by the way" he pointed to a spot where there were people huddled together, "we've been busing people to the place, trying to save lives if you catch my drift," he placed more seeds in his mouth, "you made it just in time. There isn't long to make it to the coast, just know we're moving as fast as we can, these tour buses can only go but so fast."

Tina and Michael eyed down the group of people to see if they recognized anyone, Michael turned to Tina, "okay, that's where we'll wait, how long do you think it's going to take the next bus?"

The man spat out empty sunflower shells, he lowered his glasses and then looked at the family of five, "you're going to need a bus just for all of you so it'll be after this one picks them up, I'll say about another forty five minutes."

The girls began to complain, "C'mooooon," Isabella stated, "Mom, we've been walking so far, can we just go already."

Tina really rolled her eyes, Isabella was her most patient daughter and she hated to make her feel that her needs weren't important, so she turned to her husband, "what are our other options?"

"I've already told you, we don't have many because we have to get to that fucking ship! If you want to walk to the ship then by all means, we can just start walking, but we never know, that thing could leave us!"

Jerry began to laugh, "I'm not going to leave you! Everyone at this checkpoint is getting on my submarine, I'm driving it, that's why I'm the last one to get on a bus. Now, the sorting of how we're going to make this really work is what is my concern, I don't know how the government is going to divide people, but as long as there are people at my check point I can't go anywhere."

Tina's eyes glowed, "you mean to tell me that you influence the delay in the ship?"

"Slightly, but I still have a Co-pilot who could always decide that I'm not that important and just leave me. So, in the meantime, I suggest you just listen to my words if you don't want to get left behind," and before he could reassure them more he turned to his walkie talkie, "I'm here, I'm listening."

It sounded like static to the couple but Jerry could make out what was being said on the other end of the walkie talkie, "we got another family here, they're the last ones. I haven't seen anyone else behind them." He laughed before placing more seeds in his mouth, "this is the last one, then we're headed out to the coast" more static, "copy."

"Just wait, I let them know that you all are here, just in time, be prepared for some help," he eyed them down one more time, "and good shit staying under the blanket, for that type of technique I'll see to it you're placed on my 'marine."