11

MAX

The pickup truck came speeding towards them. It looked like two drivers in the cab, and no one in the back. The bed looked empty. It was an older truck.

They all had their rifles ready.

Max’s hand was on his Glock.

The driver of the pickup didn’t hesitate. Whoever it was drove it right up to them, stopping only about twenty feet away.

They weren’t acting like they were looking for a fight.

The engine cut off.

The highway was silent once again.

“What do we do, Max?” said James. His voice sounded shaky.

“Stay calm,” said Max.

Max walked, Glock ready, towards the pickup.

He could see through the windshield more clearly now. There was only one person. Someone with long hair.

A woman?

The driver’s side door opened.

A woman stepped out.

She was tall, with long legs clad in tight black jeans. Her hair was thick and dark, tied behind her head in a messy ponytail.

She wore a gun on her hip, but she didn’t reach for it.

Not yet, at least.

She and Max locked eyes.

“You’re entering our territory,” she said.

“Whose territory?”

“Ours,” she said.

“You represent a group?”

She nodded.

She was in her early forties, most likely. Her face was pretty, with slightly angular features. No makeup. Her expression was serious, and she stood tall and didn’t waver or quake. She seemed like someone who was sure of herself and used to getting her way.

“Look,” said Max. “I don’t know who you are, or what group you represent. But we’re just passing through. We’re not looking for any trouble.”

She just stared at him.

“What’s the name of your group?”

“We don’t have a name. We’re a self-sufficient democratically organized community.”

Max nodded. “That’s great, but you don’t own the highway. As far as I can tell, it belonged to the people of the United States. The EMP didn’t change that, even if the government has fallen all over. And it seems like it has.”

“How many of you are there?”

“Six.”

“Men, women, children?”

“Three women, three men. No children.”

Max didn’t consider James and Sadie children. They were quickly becoming adults.

“Where are you headed?”

“That’s our own business.”

Max didn’t want to reveal their plan to head to Kentucky. He didn’t know who this woman was, and while she didn’t seem interested in physically harming them (she wouldn’t have been a threat, anyway, against them all, or even Max alone), she could do damage to them in some other way.

“My name is Kara,” said the woman, taking the conversation in a new direction. “You should come with us. We welcome newcomers to our group.”

“We’re not interested in joining.”

“You might change your mind once you see our community. We’ve been building it for years before the EMP. We have medical facilities, showers, bathrooms. We grow our own food.”

“Not interested.”

Max didn’t trust her, or her supposed community. It was better to strike out on their own, take matters into their own hands.

“You could come and see what it’s like. Get a shower. Eat some food. Good food. No pressure, no obligations.”

“Sounds too good to be true.”

Max didn’t trust her, even though she looked like a trustworthy person. Or at least as trustworthy as they came after the EMP.

“Talk it over,” said Kara. “You have time.”

Max didn’t like to take orders from a stranger, but he was smart enough to realize that she had a point. Talking it over would be good.

Their supplies were perilously low, as they always seemed to be. Even a single meal would do them good, allow them to continue pushing on.

And information. They could get information from Kara and her group. Information about the route ahead, about the dangers that lay in their path.

“Come on, James,” said Max, walking away from Kara and heading towards the Ford Bronco.

Chad stood there, looking dazed. Max didn’t know what was going on with him. He didn’t bother calling him for a group discussion.

“What’s going on?” said Georgia, leaning out the window of the Bronco.

Max explained the situation.

“We’re going, right?” said Mandy. There was eagerness in her voice. Maybe it was the thought of a hot shower, or maybe it was just the idea of getting off the road. Hiding away, resting in some place that was safe and secure.

“Sounds like a bad idea,” said Georgia.

“I don’t know,” said Max. “Let’s at least talk it over.”

Georgia had enough respect for Max that she was willing to at least consider any idea he presented. She nodded at him.

“Pluses,” said Max. “Well, there’s the food, the brief security, and information. I’m not saying we stay there. Just check it out and head out.”

“Why don’t we just move there?” said Mandy. “Sounds like what we’ve been looking for, right? A place to stay safe, a place to build a new life.”

Max fell silent as the rest of them discussed the issue among themselves.

He knew which way the tide was turning with the group. They were tired and hungry.

He himself was badly injured. He could push himself, but sooner or later he’d get sloppy and make a mistake. Without resting and recuperating, that is.

They couldn’t go much farther with what they had.

In the end, Max simply said, “Come on, let’s go. But we’re not staying.”

Mandy couldn’t stop smiling. Even Georgia looked relived. And who could blame them? After all, it all sounded too good to be true.

And that was exactly what worried Max.

Загрузка...