by Bruno Miller
“You jumped out of a moving truck? Nice,” Brad gushed.
“I don’t recommend it,” Ben joked. “It didn’t feel too nice.”
“Your dad’s the real deal,” Martin added.
“Well, what do you say we hit the road? We still have a long day ahead of us.” Ben was eager to steer the conversation in a different direction, and he really did want to put this place behind them. Thinking back on all they’d been through was tiring in and of itself, and it all felt more like a bad dream than reality. But there were reminders all around them, and standing around here wasn’t doing them any good.
Ben and Joel went over the hand signals with Martin, Rita, and Carlos for the drive. Allie even wrote down a quick cheat sheet on a piece of cardboard in case they forgot. Rita and Carlos wouldn’t be going all the way to Cloverdale, but they would be with them on I-70 for quite a ways. Ben thought it best that they at least be able to communicate the basics since there weren’t enough radios to go around.
They also discussed and agreed that they would need to stop at the first place they saw with fuel. The last thing any of them wanted to do was stop once they started, but they had no choice in the matter. The Scout would do no better in terms of gas mileage than the Blazer or the Jeep, and all three were below half a tank. Ben was surprised to see that the jerry cans were still full of fuel, but it wasn’t enough for all four trucks. He wasn’t sure where the moonshiners had been filling their vehicles with fuel, and he didn’t want to take the time to find out. It was time to put this place behind them.
Ben would drive the Blazer with Sandy riding shotgun, at least for now. He was more than willing to take her up on her offer to drive, especially with the way he was feeling, but he wanted to get out of the mountains first. Emma took her usual spot on the back seat and resumed jockeying for space with the dogs, only now she had Sam and Bajer to contend with.
Following behind, the Toyota pickup with Rita and Carlos would be the second car in the caravan, although for the time being, Allie would drive them, at least until they reached a paved road; Rita wasn’t confident in her ability to navigate the rock-and crater-littered trail down the mountain. Once they reached the highway, Allie would rejoin Joel, Brad, and Gunner in the Jeep at the very rear of the pack.
Ben wasn’t crazy about Joel bringing up the rear, but it was the smart thing to do. Joel had the other radio, and in case of an emergency, he could communicate with his son in a hurry. He also trusted Joel and Allie to keep an eye out for trouble at the back of the caravan and to keep tabs on Martin as well.
Martin would be the only one driving alone, and Ben was concerned about that. Not because he didn’t trust the guy, but because he wasn’t sure if he could manage to stay awake behind the wheel. It was a very real problem and something they would have to monitor closely.
Ben knew the feeling all too well. Even when he was well-rested, the hum of the tires and the glare of the sun could put a person in a sort of trance on the highway. It was a hard sensation to fight off, and the lack of sleep they were all suffering from might prove to be the biggest threat of all.
Ben rubbed his side and wondered how far they’d actually make it today. They had to be careful not to push past their limits physically. He glanced at the spot where his side mirror had been, forgetting all about the encounter with the deer for a moment. He shook his head. That seemed like it happened a lifetime ago.
Using the rearview mirror instead this time, he checked on the readiness of the vehicles behind them. Joel was loading up the last of the five-gallon jugs they’d filled with water and was putting it in the back of the Toyota pickup. Ben watched as he stopped by the open window and said a few words to Allie before heading back to the Jeep. Gunner’s wagging tail was visible through the windshield, as was Brad in the passenger seat. Joel climbed behind the wheel, and a few seconds later, he stuck his arm out the window and gave a big thumbs-up.
Ben focused on the trail ahead and ignored the small container houses as they drove out of the compound and headed down the mountain. This was a place he would try to forget but knew he never would. As they passed the site of the explosion, his curiosity got the better of him, along with his fear that one of the moonshiners had survived the blast and was lying in wait along the trail.
He kept one hand on his pistol and one hand on the wheel as the Blazer lumbered forward, bouncing from side to side over the rocks. He wasn’t alone in his concern and was glad to see Sandy with her AR handy and pointed out the window.
Emma was busy playing with the dogs and seemed happy. Whether that was on purpose in an effort to put this place behind her or if she was genuinely occupied with making sure Sam and Bajer were comfortable for the trip made no difference to Ben right now. He was just grateful for the distraction while they passed by the worst of the carnage.
He began to notice body parts among the debris and soon realized they didn’t have to worry about any survivors. He and Sandy exchanged looks as they took it all in. Then Ben spotted a moonshiner some ten feet up in a tree, impaled by a broken and bloodied branch running through his midsection. Sandy saw it, too, but thankfully, for Emma’s sake, she remained silent.
Ben increased their speed ever so slightly in spite of the rough trail and took one last look at the body. It was a gruesome sight, for sure, but one he hoped would serve as a warning for anyone unlucky enough to come to this area. And for those who would prey on the innocent, it was a reminder that not everyone on the road was an easy target.
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About the Author
Bruno Miller is the author of the Dark Road series. He’s a military vet who likes to spend his downtime hanging out with his wife and kids, or getting in some range time. He believes in being prepared for any situation.
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The Dark Road series:
Breakdown
Escape
Resistance
Fallout
Extraction
Reckoning
Deception
Restitution
Cloverdale series:
Impact
Survival
Endurance
Confrontation