We continued on the road for an incredibly long time. I cradled Daniel in my arms everynight. We shared water and food. We slept in trees and in abandoned houses. I never let Danny out of my sight. Everywhere we went I always had the wagon. At night I wrapped Danny in large fleece blankets I found in the bag. The retractable craddle was helpful in an emergency exit. I killed every Carrier that approached me. I couldn't risk loosing Danny. For a while it almost seemed that I didn't exist. It was all Daniel all the time. I gave Daniel and myself baths whenever we passed an uncontaminated body of water. I was guardian, guardian all the time and I'm only 15. Finally I was so tired I closed my eyes. We were in the woods and I had scanned a 200 foot radius. No carriers. I decided to only close my eyes for five minutes. I awoke ten minutes later. Where Daniel had been sitting, he was GONE!!!!!! I shot to my feet. Unable to think I called his name I pulled out my gun. I ran. I called frantically. No resonse. I fell to the ground I rolled into a ball. I cried. I couldn't think of anything else to do. He was gone. I imagined him being dragged away horrified. And he cried for me as they.....NO! He couldn't be gone I continued to run and scream. Then I saw smoke. Maybe there was another person here! I ran to see maybe they thought I was dead and they saved Danny. I approached slowly remembering no to trust anyone now. I pulled out my gun. I took a few deep breaths then barged into the cabin. I took aim at an elderly couple. The man was a t a pot and the woman was holding Daniel. The woman let out a cry and the man raised his hands. I aimed the gun at the woman and stared at her. I put out my hand to her. "Give me my son." I said to her. Anger lingered in my voice. She looked me up and down and said. "Your son? What are you 15?" I stared at her still. "Yes. I adopted him. Now give him to me. Or I blow your husbands head off and then yours." She carefully brought him to me. I took him in my arms and hugged tightly. I then looked at them and still aiming. "Would you like to stay for dinner we have stew." The man offered. I agreed. Taking Danny along I went to retrieve the wagon.