More Than Just Surviving

By Jeff Ping

This is the story of Scott Tyler and his evolution from a computer programmer to a Post apocalyptic warrior and leader. With the assistance the girl next door, a 13 year old boy and the boys mother Scott sets about taming the new world they have been thrust into.
Scott and his brave group of survivors battle zombies and ruthless survivors alike. The war that these survivors wage is against the fate of becoming just scavengers of the old world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeff Ping
• Release date: Aug 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463809877

Jeff Ping

Retired RF engineer, currently living in Northern California. My interests include writing post apocalyptic novels and working with my hands. When writing I find the most difficult thing for me is editing. I free flow write, so I am visualizing the scenes and action as I write so I have to edit and re-write with detail what I see in order to allow the reader to see it as well. I also enjoy light construction, welding and machining. I have restored motorcycles and cars. My hobbies other than writing give me at least some degree of comprehension of the difficulties that would be encountered if you were required to build, construct, or forage for everything you needed.

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Jeff Ping

Copyright Jeffery A. Ping 2019

Published at Smashwords

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Book 1

Chapter 1

OBLIVIOUS

Awakened by a piercing scream, I sat up in bed, and looked at the bedside clock. I see that it is 3:00 AM. Holding my breath an listening I hear nothing but the sound of the infrequent passing car in the street and my girlfriend Rachel’s steady breathing.

Slipping from the bed and being careful to not awaken Rachel I make my way to the window that overlooks the street in front of my apartment building.

Pulling back the curtain, I look out on the street. There’s an occasional car driving past but there’s nothing unusual or out of the ordinary.

What are you looking at? asks Rachel’s sleepy voice.

Nothing, I just thought I heard something. I guess I was dreaming. I said and dropped the curtain back in place and return to bed.

When I lay back down Rachel scooted her back against me and drifted back to sleep.

I lay listening for several minutes but then I too slipped back into a sound sleep.

I finally wake up and look at the clock, 9:15 Sunday morning. I spend the morning loafing around and watching TV.

I’m forced to get dressed around 2:00 in the afternoon when Rachel asks me to run down to the grocery store and pickup a few items for supper.

As I push my cart down the aisle, I notice almost frantic behavior from a couple of the customers. I push my cart up to a pallet of bottled waters. I grabbed one flat and start to get a second one when a large well-dressed middle aged woman bangs her cart into mine pushing it aside.

Without uttering a word of pardon she starts tossing flats of water into her cart. I just shake my head and move off toward the canned goods.

The rudeness of people never seizes to amaze me. I wonder how she stayed off her cell phone long enough to load all of that water.

I pick up the remaining items on my list and as I pass by the cooler I grab an eighteen can pack of beer. I missed out on the water but I'm not going to skip the beer I think, That’s just not going to happen."

At the checkout I notice more flats of water stacked close to the checkout. I ask the bag boy to run and grab another flat of water. When the kid returns with the water and finishes bagging my purchases I hand him a five dollar bill and thank him.

I push my groceries to the car and load them into the trunk, then jump into my car and pull out of the parking space and prepare to leave the parking lot. At the point where my lane intersects the main exit, I notice a car had swung wide and had slammed into the rear bumper of a delivery truck.

The accident appears to be minor with no injuries except for the way the cars front tire impacted the trucks heavy duty bumper. The cars right front tire appears to be turned at an almost ninety degree angle much further than it could normally be turned.

Spotting the driver I notice that it was the same rude woman that had pushed my cart away from the water pallet. I smile and wave as I pass her window.

In my rear view window I see her flip me off as she exits her car and starts yelling at the truck driver who is calmly unloading cartons of soda from the side of his truck.

When I return home I carry in my groceries and go back to watching TV. The news was covering a riot in New York City, like I said before the behavior of people never cease too amaze me.

The knuckle heads could have been rioting to celebrate a sports teams win or loss or some other random perceived injustice. You just never could tell what would set people off. They may just have thought it was a good day to break shop windows and burn cars in the street, it could be anything. Continuing to flip through the channels I finally settle on an old movie.

I think some people just have it too good, with too much free time on their hands. They have their noses in everyone else's business instead of minding their own business. I think it was better when they had to worry more about putting food on their table and keeping a roof over their head.

Chapter 2

DAY 1

RACHEL

Monday morning I awake to the sound of the alarms persistent buzzing.

Shut that damn thing off! I don’t know why you go in so early. Rachel grumbled and she swung her arm over to hit me.

Early in early out and the traffic is much lighter making the commute a lot better. I say, much perkier than I actually feel. I reached over to the clock and shut the alarm off.

Just keep the damn light off. she said.

I climb out of bed before she could give me another back arm to the chest. I go into the bathroom and close the door before I switch on the light. I shower, dress and prepare to leave for work. I switched off the light and exit the bathroom. I stop by Rachel’s side of the bed and give her a quick kiss on the top of her head. I said, Bye...see you tonight babe.

Yeah, yeah, see you after work, now go away. Rachel groused as I left the room.

As I pull the door shut I am met by the empty hallway. Usually there are a few early risers like myself leaving for work. Bob from apt. 28 and Randy from 23 usually leave for work around the same time I do. I glance at my watch, 5:08. I guess I’m running a little early. I don’t give it anymore thought. I just walk down the hall to the stairs and leave the building.

I get into my car and head for the coffee stand where I stop every weekday morning. I pull up to the drive thru window and notice the lights are off and no one is manning the drive thru window. I wait and wait, but no one ever comes over to take my order.

Cursing, I pull back out onto the street and think to myself that, if the coffee stand isn’t open yet, I guess I am saving three bucks. Man, great way to start the week. I’ll just have to get a cup of the lousy coffee at work.

I drive the five miles to work listening to talk radio. The show’s host is talking about the latest pandemic scare in Europe. It was the current hot topic of the week on all of the talk shows and newscasts. On the radio a caller is complaining about the constant