After the Outbreak: The Complete Series by Dave Bowman

Author:Dave Bowman [Bowman, Dave]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-23T06:00:00+00:00

21

“Jemez Springs,” Bethany said, reading the sign on the side of the road as she drove. “Are we getting close?”

“Yeah, we’re getting closer,” Matt said. “I remember going through this town. It never looked like this before.”

“You mean totally deserted?” Bethany asked.

Matt nodded, looking out the window at what had become a ghost town. They followed the state highway as it traversed the tiny town and then began its ascent to higher elevations.

“You just stay on this road. We’ll climb up into the mountains, and the road will become gravel, I think.”

“And you’re sure you remember how to get there?”

Matt hesitated. “I think so…”

The truth was, Matt wasn’t sure at all. He knew there would be at least one or two turns until they arrived at the turn-off for the lodge. He was far from confident he would remember which way to turn. And worst of all, the path to the clearing where his family had always parked the vehicles was hidden.

“I think it’s a big rock. Or maybe some pine trees,” he mumbled to himself.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just trying to remember the landmark for the path to the lodge. It’s kind of hidden.”

Bethany snapped her head to look at him. “You mean, we can’t see the lodge from the road?”

Matt looked down. “No, we have to turn off the gravel road and drive through the woods to a clearing. Then, after we park, we have to walk in a little bit to get there.”

Bethany’s mouth was agape. “Wait, you didn’t tell me we’d have to hike in to get there. This is more complicated than I thought.”

Matt flashed her a weak smile. “It’s not as bad as it sounds, I promise. It’s just… Well, everything is dark right now. And I’m starting to worry I’ll take a wrong turn somewhere.”

Bethany groaned. “I was so looking forward to a nice, warm bed.”

“Me too. But I don’t want to get us lost in the woods. Maybe we better plan to sleep in the truck tonight. The sun will be up in a few hours, then we can look for the lodge by the light of day.”

“All right. It’s a good thing I got some warm clothes. Are you sure you can find the lodge after daybreak?” Bethany asked, taking her eyes from the road for a moment to look at him.

Matt smiled and nodded, trying to convince both Bethany and himself that he could.

In a few miles, they arrived at an intersection with another gravel road. Matt stepped out of the truck and looked around. But he didn’t recognize the area, especially not in the dark.

He was starting to realize that being a passenger was different from navigating. All the times he had been here before, his dad had done the driving, and he had just looked out the window without paying too much attention.

Those days, he realized with sudden clarity, were over.

Bethany rolled down the window and looked at him. “You don’t know where to go?”

He shook his head.

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