George was waiting beside a heavy steel door, corroded and scarred, probably older than the two of them put together. When Karl finally stood beside him, he turned the handle.
The first thing that hit Karl was the smell. A thousand times worse than the soiled sheets he and George had changed, and punctuated with sweat and blood and fear.
Worst of all, this didn't smell like it had just happened today, this week, or maybe this year. The stench was thick enough that Karl could taste it at the back of his throat.
"Doesn't anyone ever shovel this place out?"
"I doubt they have time," George said. "If they did, it would smell this way again in a day or two. They bring it with them."
"Who?" Karl said. "Who brings it?"
"The ’sters, Karl. These are the new ones, too. You should smell where t
