After we went back to Fort Lauderale something real strange happend.
We stopped at a gasstation, when it happend.
DOug got attacked by a strange looking man... he tried to bite him.. How strange is this?!
Both hurried back to car and Kenny ( gab vollgas richtung norden)
"What happend Kenny? Doug are u allright?"
"Yeaaah I'm fine, thanks mom.."
"We have to leave.. find a place where we can stay.."
"What about our.."
"NO WAY!"
We arrived at a little farm.. so called Hershel's Farm..
"U think we can stop here?"
"Why not Katja? This place looks safety.."
"But what about the people who might live here?"
"We're gonna to say hello.. let's go. Em, Duck get out of the car.."
"Allright daaaad.."
Duck left the car. I stayed, because I was unsure of what I should do. I looked to my aunt.
"Do u think we'll see the same guys, we saw back at...at the gasstation?"
"Hmm.. I don't know, darling. But don't be afraid. Kenny will protect us.. come hell or high water."
"I hope so..."
"Naaah, come on let's go to Ducky."
"Alrigth Ma'am."
I got out of the car and went to my little cousin.
"Hey Em you see that? They got a tractor! U think I can use it?"
"What? You're not a farmer, Ducky."
"But I would be good one... believe me Em. I'm the best farmer you've ever seen."
"Are you sure, little boy?"
I turned around by a strange and unknown voice.
"You guys need help?" ,the man asked.
"Ehhhm, well. Yeah I.. I think.. youu ..."
"Hey Em. Who's this?"
Kenny came towards us.
"I could ask u the same", the man said. "What do u want at Hershel's Farm?"
"Hershel's Farm?"
"Oh Geez. U stopped here, but u even don't know where you are?"
"No, we don't. We just need help and a place where we can stay the night."
"And u wanna stay here? I don't know u, but u wanna stay here?"
"Yes.. "
"Soo..."
"Shawn? Who are these people?"
A leery looking man came up to the other man named "Shawn".
"I don't know it. They didn't say their names."
"Well, I am Kenny and this is my son Duck and this is my niece Em. Right over there is my wife Katjaa. We need help, that's the reason we stopped here."
"And why do you need help?"
Kenny sighed. He looked at me when he started to tell the whole story.
I wasn't able to listen to it, so I left the group and took Duck with me.
"But I wanna stay.."
"No. You're coming with me."
We went back to Katjaa, who was stilll in the car.
"Hey you. What did they say?"
"Not much. Kenny just told them, what happened."
"You okay Em?"
"Yeaaah I'm fine. I'm just tired."
"...Maybe we can stay here. It's more comfortable than the car."
"Everything is better than the car.."
"I know Em, I know."
When Kenny came back I expected no good news.
"What did they say Kenny?", Katjaa asked.
"We can stay until further notice. They're preparing dinner so we can eat somethin'."
"And where do we sleep dad?"
"In the barn."
"Wow coool Dad. I never slept in a barn before."
"I know Duck. Why dont you go the barn and explore it?"
"May I?"
"Of course. Just go ahead."
Duck left and ran to the big barn.
"What do you think about these guys?"
"Well, they're are friendly and hospitable at first appearance. But they could be mean, too."
"Shall we go?"
"No, we have to stay here..we have no food. We just need a break to think 'bout everything."
"But u sayed...
" I know what I said. But we have no other choice. We stay and that's that." Kenny left Katjaa and me.
When Kenny was out of earshot I begun to speak again.
"What shall we do now?"
"We stay just as Kenny said."
"But what do we do, if they are evil?"
"Pray to god that they aren't."
Katjaa left, too.
I stayes at the car and gazed into the distance. I thought of Ben. I wondered where he might be now.
Was he still alive?
Was he dead?
Katjaa's voice interrupted my thoughts.
And for the rest of the day I stopped thinking of him...