Ashes (A Project Eden Thriller) by Battles Brett

Author:Battles, Brett [Battles, Brett]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: mystery, end of the world, flu, virus, conspiracy, plague, suspense, thriller
Published: 2012-11-29T05:00:00+00:00

18

UPPER MOJAVE DESERT, CALIFORNIA

12:44 PM PST

MARTINA’S HANDS ACHED from gripping the steering wheel of the Webers’ car so tightly. The drive off the mountain had been the most nerve-wracking experience of her life.

While there had been areas where the snow barely covered the road, in other parts, the swirling winds had piled up drifts two—and even three—feet high. Every time she encountered one of these, she had to slow the car to a near standstill and find a way around it.

Then there was the ice. More than once, the car skidded on an unseen patch, threatening to slide off the road. She was pretty sure there was at least one time the tires on the passenger side had moved off the asphalt, edging dangerously close to the ditch that paralleled the road.

The scariest part by far, though, was when she reached the section of road that led down the canyon to the desert. Two lanes, barely any shoulder, no guardrails, and a seventy-degree downward slope on her right that promised a plummet to the rocky chasm floor several hundred feet below if she made even the slightest error.

Since there didn’t appear to be any other vehicles using the road, she stuck to the middle of the asphalt and kept her speed low and steady. About the only good thing was that the snow was only at the very top, and it wasn’t long before her worries simply consisted of taking a turn too wide and driving off the cliff.

When they finally reached the bottom, Martina stopped the car at the side of the road and climbed out. Leaning against the fender, she took several deep breaths until her body stopped shaking, and her heart rate slowed enough for her to concentrate on what to do next.

They were near the north end of Indian Wells Valley. Along the west side were the towering Sierra Nevada Mountains that she and Riley had just descended. Across the north was the smaller yet still imposing Coso Range. Hills in the south, and the gradual rise of the valley in the east served as the last two boundaries. In the distance on the east side, she could see the hump that was B Mountain. It was a big hill, really, located on the China Lake naval base. Its name was courtesy of the giant B the students at Burroughs High School—her alma mater—repainted on its rocks each year.

Home.

She looked toward the highway about a mile away. Usually during the week between Christmas and New Year’s, US 395 was packed with skiers from LA headed to Mammoth Mountain three more hours to the north, but today there wasn’t a car in sight.

She climbed back into the sedan and settled into her seat, her gaze pausing on the gas gauge. It had been at a little more than a quarter tank when they’d set out, but now it was nearly empty. Having never driven the Webers’ car, she had no idea how far it could go on fumes.

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