The red pick up truck rumbled to a stop in front of the Hill residence as the people of New Arlen gathered around. Hank climbed out of the drivers seat, smiling.

"Everybody, come and see this!" Hank shouted, beckoning everyone to the pick up, where Dale and Lucky were busy carrying off a large metal square shaped contraption.

"Hank? What's going on... is that a ?" Peggy asked, awestruck.

Hank nodded, "Yep, we found one, a propane fueled grill, in near perfect condition! We're having a barbecue tonight!"

The people cheered.

"Oh Hank! That's wonderful!" Peggy hugged her husband, who blushed, "Whoa Peggy, control yourself... there's people watching" He whispered, but no one was paying attention. The sight of a functional grill meant they were finally retaking the past, but best of all, it meant the return of the Hill's backyard barbecue parties.

"You done good, red... neighbor" Kahn said.

"Yo man, let's get it fired up. Grill grill" Boomhauer suggested.

Bill approached the commotion, finally awake. "What's all this... Hank? Is that a grill!?" He exclaimed.

Hank nodded, "We're eating good tonight, lets get this baby set up, Dale, find the little generator, lets get eating while the suns still up."

Dale nodded then jogged off to his van where most of the electrical supplies were stored. Hank began ordering everyone around so that the barbecue could go smoothly, but Peggy interrupted him, "Hey Hank. There's uh... someone inside who you should see"She said nervously.

"Someone inside? Who? You don't mean from ... the wasteland?" His expression changed to a more serious one.

"Yes... he's right inside" Peggy said.

Hank led the way to the house and opened the door...

"Mr. Strickland! Is that really you!" He exclaimed.

"Hell yeah, old top! I'm alive!" Buck exclaimed back.

Hank ran forward to shake his old bosses hand, trying to say as many greetings as possible, "Mr Strickland! We thought you were dead! The end of the world... and ... and the zombies! And the exposure! How did you survive?! Are you alright!? I'm so thrilled to meet you again, so thrilled you could make it!" Hank could barely contain himself, not allowing Peggy or Buck to get a word in edge wise. Ladybird ran past Peggy, pushing her out of the way to greet . She immediately picked up on Hank's excitement.

"It's so great you're here! You have no idea... Woah Ladybird, down girl, don't jump all over the man!" Hank let go off Buck's hand to pull Ladybird back, who was attempting to jump up on him and lick his face.

"Woah girl, calm down!" Buck said cheerfully, petting Ladybird's head, "Let me get a word in, Old Top! I've been wandering out there for days, trying to survive... dodging zombies and freaks and god dang gangs! There's gangs out there , Old Top!" Buck explained.

"Gangs? We've heard of a group, but haven't run into anything yet, did they get you?" Hank asked, still struggling to calm Ladybird down.

"Oh, they tried Old Top, but I got away from all of them, not an easy thing, they got guns, but I made it. And then last night i'm wandering around... see , night is the best time to travel because the freaks can't see you so good, and I see lights and hear singing in the distance, and I wander over to here and fall into a great pit!"

Hank looked shocked. Peggy was a little in shock too. This was the most emotion her husband had ever shown.

"A great pit? You mean the trench? Oh no! but you got out alright, right?" Hank asked with concern.

"OH yeah, Bobby and Peggy found me, and after a while-" Peggy gave him a glare "-I mean, they pulled me out as soon as they found me, even checked out my leg! I thought it was broken, but it was just a strain!" Buck said in a slightly forced cheery voice.

"Oh good! I mean, good it's not broken. Come on , we're having a Barbecue, and we scavenged a golf club set from the ruins, here let me help you up, you're the guest of honor!" Hank pulled Buck's arm around his shoulder and helped him outside, smiling the whole time. Buck chanced a quick look at Peggy, who scowled at him.

"Hank, we got the grill up and running and the foods all prepped, just need you give it the magic touch" Dale said as Hank stepped outside. Kahn and Dale's dining room tables had been pulled outside to make places to sit. With the supplies from the bunker, they're was more then enough to make at least two hamburgers per person.

"In a second, Dale" Hank said. He waved everyone's attention to him, "I would like to formally introduce everyone to our new guest of honor, Buck Strickland of Strickland propane, who found his way to New Arlen late last night, but was trapped in the trench until my family saved him!"

Everyone except Peggy.

"Now, let's get this barbecue started! Peggy, pass out the beers, Bobby, help to a seat." Peggy gave Hank a look, but he didn't see, he was too busy starting up the grill. The look on his face was priceless. Peggy didn't feel like ruining the moment. For once, she didn't have to cook.

For once, New Arlen was beginning to resemble just another day on Rainey street. So she cracked a beer, grabbed a burger, and joined in the party.

After the barbecue was done, Hank called all the men together.

"Check this out guys, I say we end the night with a Tee off" He said, with the golf club carrier strapped over his shoulder.

"Wingo! Let's do this!" Dale exclaimed.

Hank, Kahn , Bill, Dale , Boomhauer and Buck headed over to the edge of town.

"Hey, John Redcorn, you coming?" Hank asked, looking back. John Redcorn was sitting at one of the tables with Nancy, his hand hovering over hers.

He looked up at Hank, confused for a moment, "What? No, I do not golf, Hank, but thanks for the offer." His hair was caught in a slight breeze, dancing in the wind.

"Oh, alright... uh , carry on" Hank said, uncomfortably, putting his hand behind his neck. John Redcorn waved Hank away. Hank turned around and saw Lucky and Luanne heading back to the trailer.

"Hey, Lucky, you want to come golf? Tee Off at the edge of New Arlen!"

Lucky shook his head, "Nah, can't join in uncle Hank, got to cook up something of my own" He said, winking at Hank. Hank wasn't sure if this was sexual in nature or something else.

"Alright, well have-" "Lucky, lets go!" Luanne growled, interrupting Hank and tugging on Lucky's arm.

"Luanne, you alright?" Hank asked. She was looking skinnier and more unhealthy with each day.

"Yes uncle Hank! Everythings A-OK!" She stuttered back, before tugging on Lucky's arm again and pulling him away.

Hank watched them walk away until Dale called him, "Come on Hank! you got the clubs and we're all waiting!" The five men were lined up at trench, waiting impatiently.

"I'm coming!" Hank shouted, running over.

They lined up the golf balls and prepared to swing.

"Ten points if you can knock out a zombie!" Dale joked, even though the wasteland ahead of them was empty.

"Shut up , Dale" Hank laughed. The setting sun cast long shadows as the six men all swung.


Far off in the wasteland, Joe Jack wandered aimlessly, letting out low moans. His body was decaying rapidly, and he hungered for flesh. The darkness made it difficult to see anything alive, but also made it easy to find anyone sitting around a campfire. He let out a low gurgling moan as he stumbled, trying to catch a whiff of fresh meat, but there none to be found.

Then there was something. Something buried underneath the primal urge to feed, but somehow took priority. Like a voice, calling out in the darkness. It's message was one of good bounty, and it drew Joe Jack in it's direction. He let out a groan and headed towards it. The signal became more powerful with each step, as did the need to discover the source. With each step, the urge to feed was replaced by the urge to discover. Other's like Joe Jack could feel it's signal and hear the call, and were drawn too.

Joe Jack's consciousness and sense of awareness was too broken to react when another bumped into him, also heading towards the signal. Nothing mattered, as long as he reached the source, even if a dozen others surrounded and blocked his path. But it did not matter, they were all heading to the same place. A slow moving stampede, trampling across the barren waste, all towards one place.

Light could be seen in the darkness of night in the distance. A few small blips in the waste. Joe Jack and the others lurched towards it. The signal grew louder the closer they stumbled towards the lights. Whatever was calling to them was there. The stampede were like moths drawn to a candle, getting closer and closer. Joe Jack stepped on something small, hard and plastic, but he ignored it. They all ignored the small white golf ball in the dirt, as they drew closer to the lights and the signal.


Hank couldn't stop talking.

"Can you believe it, Peggy? Buck Strickland, the perfect American businessman, still alive! And he's here, sleeping in our very home!"

"I know Hank, it's great, but can you just let me go to sleep?!" Peggy grumbled, turning over in the bed so she wouldn't have to look at Hank.

"I know, I'm sorry... but I just can't sleep! I've never felt this excited! I mean, how often does this happen?" Hank asked.

"Urgh..." Peggy grumbled, trying to sleep.

Lady Bird whined outside the door.

"Can you get her to stop whining? She's been acting weird all night" Peggy said.

"No, she's just lonely, that's all, I'll let her in" Hank said, getting out of the bed. He opened the bedroom door and Lady Bird climbed onto the bed. Buck Strickland's snores could be heard from Bobby's room. Bobby was forced to sleep on the couch.

"Whose a good girl? Whose a good girl?" Hank said, petting Lady Bird before climbing back into bed.

"She don't smell right Hank, I think she's sick" Peggy said.

"She's not sick, Peggy, she's just getting old." Hank said, "Dog's act different when they get old, she was acting funny all day while we were out, it's just what they do."

Peggy groaned, trying to sleep.

"Alright, I'll let you sleep."

But Lady Bird continued to whine. And make other noises too. Weird growls.

"Hank, she's creeping me out, can't you take her outside?" Peggy asked.

"No, she's perfectly fine, she's just getting old" Hank said, trying to calm Peggy down.

Lady Bird started making more growling and gurgling noises.

"Hank, what the hell is wrong with her?" Peggy demanded.

"I don't know! I'm trying to calm her down!" Hank was attempting to pet Lady Bird, but she quickly snapped at him, "Girl! What's wrong?! Are you alright?!"

Lady Bird let out a low growl and started barking.

"Hank, Lady Bird didn't get..." Peggy asked cautiously, now fully awake.

"No... well... she may have bit a zombie.. .but she was saving someones life!" Hank pleaded, "-HANK!" Peggy jumped out of bed and reached for the shotgun. Lady Bird lunged after her but Hank grabbed her and held her down. She began barking furiously at Peggy, trying to break free of Hank's grasp.

"Don't shoot her!" Hank shouted.

"Get out of the way!" Peggy screamed.

"MOM! DAD!" Bobby screamed from the living room. His shout distracted Hank for a second, and Lady Bird jumped out of his grasp and charged straight at Peggy. She went straight for the neck, but her jaws only wrapped around the shotgun. She yanked it out of Peggy's hand, just as they both ran out the room, slamming the door shut behind.

"Jesus, Hank! She's infected!" Peggy shrieked at her husband. But Hank didn't hear her. He was busy staring at the front door, which was opened about three inches before the bolt blocked it, and several decomposing pairs of hands were trying to reach through, grasping for the Hill family.