“Once the Mystery Bus is inside we can close the gate and back the truck up to hold it,” Top suggested.

“That’s good,” said Bunny, “but someone’s still going to have to place the charge, open the gate, and close it after the truck’s inside.”

“That’s a suicide mission,” said Chang, appalled.

“It’s your goddamn duty,” snarled the president.

“Mr. President,” said Chang, her face draining of blood, “maybe there’s another way.”

“I got it,” said Bunny and we all looked at him. “I’m the biggest, the strongest, and I have Honey Boom-Boom. We all know I have the best chance.”

Top’s hands tightened so hard on the steering wheel that the leather creaked. He wanted to tell him not to volunteer, to find some other way, but he knew—as we all knew—that Bunny was right.

“I’ll do the gate,” said Torres quickly.

Bunny shook his head. “Don’t even try.”

“She volunteered,” said the president. “Let her do it. We are running out of time here. Do something, for Christ’s sake.”

“Okay,” I said, “Torres, you place the charge. Bunny and I will provide cover. Top, you’re at the wheel, and Chang, you stay at the door to this bus. We go out, get it done, and everybody gets back inside. Hooah?”

“Hooah,” said Top and Bunny.

“Not sure what that means,” said Torres with a brave smile, “but hooah.”

Chang said it, too, and the president rolled his eyes.

— 16 —

Top began moving the Mystery Bus forward. We tried to tune out the sound of bones snapping under the tires.

I scouted around inside the bus and found two six-packs of beer, grinning as I handed one to Bunny.

“Seriously?” groused the president. “Beer? Now?”

I ignored him. Bunny and I quickly wrapped blaster plasters around as many beers as we could, sealing them with the adhesives. When Torres realized what we were doing, she said, “Coooool.” Dragging it out.

“Got to throw them pretty far,” cautioned Top.

“That’s my job,” I said. “I taught my nephew how to pitch a fastball that would make you cry.”

I went to the back of the bus. “Chang, I need you to open the rear window when I tell you. Do it fast and then cover me. I’m going to try and get some of the infected to pull back.”

She nodded. The windows were part of the old bus shell built on top of the truck. It had pinch-clips to lower the windows.

“Now,” I said, and she dropped the window. We were too high for anyone walking to reach us, but some of the nimbler infected had climbed onto the structure.

“I’ll clear it,” she barked as she drew her weapon, aimed with two hands, and fired five spaced shots. Three head shots, two kills. It was enough. I hurled the plaster-wrapped beer through the open window and Top immediately stepped on the gas. Chang jerked the window up, but then I hooked an arm around her and pulled her down as the blaster plaster detonated.