96 Miles by J. L. Esplin

Author:J. L. Esplin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

12

I GRIP THE flashlight tighter, crouch down on my heels, and stare at the wide trail of dirt like I’m inspecting it.

I don’t need to. It’s obvious that the tracks are recent, the impression of tire tread crisp and clear. This morning’s windstorm would have erased any tracks that were already there, would have blown the dirt road smooth.

“I guess this means there are people already at the reservoir,” Cleverly says behind me. “Think it could be Spike and his pregnant wife, Killer?”

You better hope I don’t see you again.

My pulse kicks up a beat, though I hate that I’m letting that stupid threat get to me.

“That would be my guess,” I say, as if it’s not a big deal. I push to my feet, wincing as my arches stretch, pulling at that sore spot on my right foot.

“Oh, good. We can get Stew’s canteen back,” she says, but I hear a nervous tremble when she speaks.

“It’s a big enough reservoir,” I tell her. “I think we can avoid running into anyone who’s camped out there. You ready?”

We start down the road, heading west toward the far-off mountains. I hand her back the flashlight so she can continue her scanning, our path flat and dusty now.

“What do you miss most?” I ask, just to get my mind off threats from tattooed bodybuilders twice my size. “Can’t be a person,” I clarify. “Something that uses power.”

“Listening to music,” she answers after thinking about it. “With my headphones in, full blast, walking through my neighborhood—”

“You miss walking?” I say, bumping her with my shoulder.

“No,” she says, bumping me back much harder, causing me to stumble a little. “I don’t know how those words even came out of my mouth. What do you miss most, John? And don’t say something stupid, like your Xbox.”

“But that’s what I miss most,” I say, throwing my hands up. Then, “Fine. My cell phone.”

She gives me a look. “That’s cheating.”

“How is that cheating?” I ask, even though I already know.

“The only reason you miss your cell phone is because you want to use it to talk to someone,” she says. “Missing a cell phone is basically missing a person.”

“You can do a whole lot more with cell phones than just call people, you know,” I argue. “Maybe I miss taking selfies—”

Cleverly grabs my arm to stop me. “Hang on, I’m getting kind of cold.” She gives me the flashlight to hold and unties my hoodie from around her waist.

The temperature has dropped more since we left. I wonder if Stew has felt the chill and woken up to pull the sleeping bag over himself. If he’s realized we’re gone.

“Do you think we should have left a note for Stewart and Will?” I ask. “Just in case they wake up?”

“Will won’t wake up,” Cleverly says like she’s sure. “He sleeps like the dead, even when he hasn’t spent an entire day walking.” She pushes her arms through the sleeves, pulls the hoodie over her head. “You would know more about how Stew sleeps, but he seemed completely exhausted to me.

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