by Patrick Shea
The trip to New Orleans was uneventful if you ignored the unusual nature of other cars and drivers. Many were driving exceptionally fast, some used the shoulders to pass slower vehicles when that proved expedient, all seemed to be full of people and ‘stuff’, some of which was haphazardly tied to the roof. It was obvious that some of the items tied to roofs had been lost along the way. The roadside, and sometimes the road itself, had collected numerous items, such as bedding, clothes, small furniture pieces, etc. George and Maiya kept commenting on the wide variety of things that had apparently been lost that people did not know had come lose, or had been abandoned in favor of speed.
They stopped for gas once as they neared New Orleans. The first two stations at which they stopped were closed. One had been vandalized and its front window smashed. The third stop was a truck stop and it was open, with long lines. They realized from talking to the cashier that the place was open to serve truckers trying to get home. The owner would stay open as long as there was a need and a couple of employees still willing to come to work.
They noticed that some of the people at the truck stop were showing symptoms of the virus. It was the first time they had seen the disease first hand and it was a sobering experience. They filled the tank as quickly as possible and drove to George’s home. His parents welcomed them both.
George was more than relieved that his family was not yet showing symptoms. He didn’t know how he would handle that.
His Mother hugged him tightly and told him how relieved she was that he was not symptomatic. They talked briefly about the trip and about the people George and Maiya had seen showing symptoms of the virus. His Mother kept saying over and over how terrible this all was, and how she didn’t know what in the world to do.
His Dad told them that there wasn’t anything they could do. The world was totally helpless in the face of this disease and everyone felt the same helplessness and frustration. All they could do was make sure the home was stocked with whatever they needed to be comfortable from now until the end.
It was a sobering discussion, but no one disagreed with what had been said.
George’s brother Andy readily agreed to join them the next day for the drive to Dallas. They thought they would spend the night at Maiya’s house and return to New Orleans the following day. Maiya called her home to make sure her Dad knew they would have overnight company. Her Dad was thrilled to find that she would have both George and Andy to escort her home. He asked to speak to George’s Dad. When the conversation ended he hung up the phone and simply said, “Maiya, I like your Dad, he seems to be a practical man. All he wanted was to thank me for taking his baby in and to ensure me that he would take good care of my boys.”
Andy was a graduate student at Tulane University and lived at home in his old bedroom. George’s old bedroom was waiting for him, as always, but the extra bedroom had long ago been converted to an office and hobby room for George’s father. George offered Maiya his bed and said he would sleep on the couch in the living room. George’s mother made up the couch. The three young folks stayed up late talking about the crazy and horrible things going on. It was mostly a conversation about how they couldn’t believe what was happening, and the devastation the world was experiencing. They talked briefly about what they might expect on the road tomorrow, and Andy finally said good night and went to his room.
George looked at Maiya and said, “Can you find your bedroom and bathroom or do you want me to walk back with you.”
Maiya smiled up at George and said, “George, I can find the bedroom by myself, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to sleep by myself in your bed. I’m scared to death right now. I know we only have a couple of weeks left to live and I don’t want to spend any of it alone. In fact I’d like to spend as much of it with you as I can. I’m not trying to be forward but you know I’m attracted to you, and you told me today you feel the same way, but I’m still not 100% sure this is right. So if you think I’m nuts just tell me and I’ll go to bed alone and embarrassed.”
Smiling softly George said, “I don’t think you’re crazy. I’ve liked you a lot for a while now. I like the way you talk, your easy smile, the way you laugh, the way you dress and the way you look. I was just never sure how you would like a white guy coming on to you so I thought it better if I waited to see how things might work out. I was afraid of waiting too long, but I wasn’t sure what else to do”
“Yeah, I know. I think normally I’d be wary of dating a white guy. There’s just too much that can go wrong, and there is such a big cultural difference to worry about. I don’t know what would have happened if the world hadn’t changed, but I do know that tonight I’m not worried about those kinds of things. On the drive today I worried about your parents and your family and what they would think about me staying in their house. But they’ve been great. I always thought there was a big cultural difference between blacks and whites, but maybe it isn’t as big as I thought. I’ve never stayed in a white person’s house before and I thought I’d feel self-conscience, but I don’t at all. Everyone has seemed perfectly normal.”
George laughed and said, “I’m pleased you find my family normal, even I’m not always sure about that. But, more seriously, I know exactly what you’re talking about. When we made plans this evening for Andy and I to spend a night with your family I also wondered if I would feel awkward. I’ve never spent the night at a black person’s house so we’re pretty even on that score.”
Maiya smiled and said, “We’ll, I can only hope you find my family as normal as I find yours. For now let’s go to bed. I want you to hold me all night, I want to be warm, I want to be wanted and I want to be cared for.
“I was afraid you would want something I couldn’t do, but those are things I really want to do.”
With that they went to bed and spent the night wrapped in each other’s arms.
Thursday morning they restocked the cooler and were ready to start by 7:30.
After George and Andy’s Mom had said goodbye to the three of them their father looked at them and said, “I don’t want to scare you but I do want you to be concerned. From what you told me about the drive yesterday it’s obvious that some folks are starting to panic already. I want you to be as careful as possible. I want you to be on your guard through the entire drive. No sleeping on the way. One of you drives and the other two serve as lookouts. Watch the sides of the roads and the traffic behind you. Danger always seems to sneak up on people, mostly because people aren’t diligent. Think about what you’ll do if something goes wrong. Think hard about letting someone force you to stop. Don’t hesitate to leave the road if need be. That pickup truck will handle off road driving. Don’t be surprised at anything that happens. The world is no longer normal. Most importantly, if you have to do something, do it. Don’t over think it and don’t hesitate.”
“Boys, your Mother and I love you deeply; we want to see you back here in one piece. Maiya, I wish we had more time to get to know you. You’re the kind of young woman we had always hoped George would meet. I can’t tell you how sorry I am it happened so late for the two of you. Please tell your folks how impressed I am with how they raised you.”
Maiya started the drive with tears running down her cheeks. Andy took over in Shreveport only because he was anxious to drive. A short distance later they crossed the border into Texas. The drive had been quiet to this point, although they talked a little, all three of them seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.
Andy broke the silence by asking if they thought things would get any crazier. They had found the highway the same as yesterday with speeding drivers, cars full of families, an amazing amount of debris littering the roadway and an occasional car abandoned on the roadside or in the median. People didn’t seem to be paying much attention to traffic or speed limits and it didn’t seem to matter who was driving the cars. The women were just as aggressive as the men.
George was explaining that things looked the same as yesterday when a large black sedan car
rying four men in cowboy hats passed them on the left shoulder, pulled immediately into their lane and slammed on the brakes.
Andy yelled, “Hold on” as he hit the brakes hard. As soon as the pickup truck slowed down the black car accelerated quickly away from them. The two men in the back seat of the car looked back and laughed at them. The front seat passenger put his arm out the window and shook his fist.
Andy took his foot off the brake but did not accelerate. He said, “I don’t know what that was about but I’m going to give them some time to get ahead of us. We don’t need any trouble with the locals.”
Maiya asked, “How do you know they’re locals?”
“Actually I don’t, but they are from Texas, or at least the license plate is from Texas, I got a close-up look at it. But you’re right, I don’t know where they’re from and I don’t care. I just don’t want to see them again.”
George was in the back seat and said, “I wasn’t thinking earlier about our seating arrangement, but maybe I should be in the front seat instead of Maiya. Maybe there are still people who would try to harm a mixed race couple.”
Maiya said, “If we were just sitting around in Atlanta and talking I’d say you were too worried, but after seeing what just happened I’m not so sure.”
Andy said, “Okay, you’ve convinced me. I’ll pull over at the next rest stop or exit and we’ll shift around.
A couple of miles later Andy said, “The sign says the next exit is a mile up the road. I’ll exit so we can change quickly and get back on the road.”
As they approached the exit Andy said, “Oh hell, look on the overpass. It’s a black car and I think it’s the same one that cut us off.”
George looked up and said, “You’re right. Two of them are leaning on the side rail of the bridge and it looks like one of them has pistol in his hand. Andy, we can’t get off here and it’s too late to do anything but drive fast. Accelerate and if they shoot at us I’ll use James’ shotgun. Maiya get down on the floor, fast now.”
As George was talking he pressed the button to put the passenger side window down and grabbed the shotgun from Maiya who was passing it to him.
As George racked a shell into the firing chamber one of the men on the bridge pointed a revolver with a long barrel at them and fired. Nothing hit the truck, either due to Andy’s quick acceleration or because the guy was a bad shot.
The gunshot sounded like a small cannon but George did not hesitate. He leaned out the window with the shotgun, aimed quickly, and fired the 12 Gauge at the car and the two men. It happened so fast that neither of the men had time to take cover until after George fired, and then both of them dropped below the railing.
Andy yelled excitedly, “Great shot George; I don’t know if you hit either of them but they’ll stay down for a couple of seconds anyway and we’ll be past them.”
George responded, “Just keep accelerating”. They were quickly approaching a small car that had been ahead of them but in the other lane. As they went under the overpass they also passed the small car whose driver was looking around wondering what was going on.
As they passed the car George twisted in the seat and put his lower back on the window sill so he could aim the shotgun to the rear. He yelled to Andy to grab his belt so he could keep his balance if he fired again. Instead Maiya leaned over the front seat and grabbed George’s belt with both hands. George racked the gun again and fired at the men on the bridge.
He yelled to Maiya to help pull him in and said, “One of them was on this side of the bridge. I don’t know if he was armed because I started shooting as soon as I saw him. He was a little slow getting down so I fired again. I don’t know if I hit anyone or not. By this time George was starting to shake and Maiya asked him if he was okay.
“Yeah, I am. I don’t know why I’m shaking; I’m just glad it’s over.
Maiya said, “George, you were amazing. You didn’t hesitate for a second. You knew what to do and you did it. I couldn’t have done that; at least I couldn’t have reacted so quickly.
“Thanks, I’m glad I did okay. I spent some time this morning thinking about what I would do if anyone tried to bother us on the trip. I don’t think I could have done the same thing yesterday; I just wouldn’t have been ready. This morning it was different. I was ready and I knew if we did run into trouble that there wouldn’t be any police or anyone else to help us.”
Andy said, “Hey guys, I think the car just come down the entrance ramp. I don’t know if it was the same one but in the mirror it looked like a black sedan and it might be them. George, what do you want me to do?”
There isn’t much we can do except defend ourselves. I think trying to outrace that big car would be asking for disaster.
Maiya slide over so I can shoot out of the driver’s side rear window. I can only shoot right-handed.”
Maiya said, I’m left handed but I afraid I’m not very good with a shotgun.”
Andy said, “How are you with a handgun?”
“I’m decent. My dad is a retired policeman and he taught us how to shoot.”
Andy said, “Great” and leaned over and opened the glove box to remove a hard plastic case that was so large it almost didn’t fit. He handed the case over his shoulder to Maiya and said, “This is a 1911 model 45 caliber semi-automatic. There are two ten round clips in the box and one in the gun. Can you use it?”
As Maiya jacked the slide back and chambered a round she said, “I sure can, this is a lot like the 9mm my Dad taught us to use. George, what do you want me to do?”
“Shooting out the window is tough because of the wind that will be pushing on your shoulder and arm. Do you think you are strong enough to hold the gun steady and shoot? If not you can shoot through the back window.”
“I think I should be able to handle it. If I feel it’s too much I’ll pull the gun in and shoot through the window.”
“Good. I want you to aim at the center of the windshield; low on the windshield. Andy, where did that .45 come from?”
“Dad handed it to me when Maiya was saying goodbye to Mom. He told me he was sure we wouldn’t need it but gave it to us just in case. I took it out to the truck and put it in the glove box and forgot about it until now.”
George said, “Thank goodness for Dad being careful. He must have forgotten about the shotgun, or maybe he thought two guns were better than one.”
Maiya said, “I don’t know if it’s them but a black car is driving crazy back there and coming very fast.”
George said, “Andy, see if you can speed up enough to pass those next four or five cars. There looks like an open space ahead of them. If we’re going to shoot I don’t want to hurt any other people.”
Andy did as George asked and was about fifty yards ahead of the last car when the black sedan came roaring around the last car behind them. Andy said, “It’s them. The two guys in the back are already holding guns out of their windows.”
George said, “Okay Maiya, when they get about thirty yards from us start shooting. Shoot slowly but steadily, but be careful of the recoil, the 1911 model kicks like the dickens. I’ll start shooting after you do. They’re in the left lane so I’m going to aim at the front left tire. If either of us hit our targets they should stop. If they don’t we’re going to have to shoot at the driver. If you can’t do that don’t worry, Andy and I will understand.”
Andy spoke up to agree with George and said “I’m going to hold the wheel steady while you shoot. But if they hit our truck I’ll start moving back and forth so don’t let that surprise you.”
At that point Maiya leaned out of the window, aimed and fired. Her first shot missed everything and she fired her second shot as George leaned out quickly and fired the shotgun. Both shooters in the black car opened fire with western style handguns. Both seemed to be shooting as fast as they could and neither hit anything.
Maiya’s third shot hit the windshield of the black car, but high on the passenger side. The front seat passenger apparently didn�
��t have a gun, but he did seem to have enough of this gun battle. He grabbed the steering wheel, and jerked it down, the car immediately jumped to the right and then swerved sharply back to the left as the driver tried to control the car with one hand and beat the passenger with the other hand. As he fought with the passenger the black car started a slide that continued until the passenger side of the car was facing the back of the pickup truck.
While this was occurring both George and Maiya had continued to fire. George was already reloading. He knew he had hit the front of the car at least twice but didn’t know if any of the pellets had hit the tire. It didn’t look like it. He was on his knees on the seat and kept looking down to the box of shells and then up to the rear window to watch the action as he loaded the gun. He saw the star on the front passenger window as Maiya’s next shot (the seventh?), hit the window. George thought it might have hit the driver as well. But the black car was sliding broadside to them and he couldn’t tell for sure.
Now Maiya was coming back in to reload and George again leaned out the window and aimed. The black car was out of control and George realized that’s coming so quickly that it was going to slam into the back of the truck.
He fired the shotgun directly into the rear passenger window of the car. The near side passenger was still trying to reload his revolver and had a panicked look on his face. As he looked up George realized that he wasn’t a kid as he had originally thought. He looked like he was in his mid or maybe late thirties; he had a couple of day’s growth on a face that was also covered with red splotches. George’s shot blew in the window and caught the near passenger in the head and shoulders. At the same time the passenger on the far side of the car fired his revolver. George’s shot had pushed the nearside passenger towards the other side of the car and slightly forward. The shot from the other rear seat passenger hit him in the head and George heard the loud thunk! as the round then hit the tailgate of the pickup. He didn’t know if his shot had killed the first man, but he knew he was now dead.