CYOA Page 59
You'd better not try a berry when Joel isn't sure what they are. You can have some when you're safely home, if they're deemed edible by people who are more expert than the two of you. You select your branch and return it to Joel to finish filling the jars.
Joel takes it from you but keeps watching you. "You didn't eat one, did you?"
"No! I'm not stupid," you scoff.
"Good."
"Although I really don't think one teensy little berry would hurt..."
He arches an eyebrow at you.
"I didn't eat any, okay? Jeez."
"One prob'ly wouldn't kill you, but it might make you sick."
"Whatever. I am kinda hungry... can we eat now? We're already stopped and all."
Joel agrees, and you two eat some salad with olive oil (which you're glad you didn't mix in ahead of time, because it would've wilted the lettuce... Joel was right about that, too) and a little beef jerky. You forget all about the stupid berries. Your little picnic is a pleasant way to start the afternoon.
Nothing at all out of the ordinary happens... for about two or three more hours. Then Joel's 'people sensors' start going off... "You hear that?" he says, halting.
You pull up on the reins and listen. "Um..."
"Over there. It's like a moanin' sound."
"Infected?"
"Maybe... it sounds a little different, though..."
You're sticking close to the highway now as it's the only way to get through some of these rocky areas you've encountered, and you've passed through little areas that have just a gas station, a motel, and not much more... this stretch of road doesn't even have that. But you do see a camper in that direction... "Hey, look -- there's a horse over there!"
And then there's a scream loud enough to wake the dead! It sends chills down your spine. You're still not sure if it's an infected person or not... but if it's not, clearly it must be someone in trouble.
Joel looks at you. "You wanna go check it out?"
If you investigate the area, turn to page 116.
If you get the fuck out of there, turn to page page 118.