Chaos Evolves: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (After the EMP Book 6) by Harley Tate

Author:Harley Tate [Tate, Harley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harley Tate
Published: 2017-11-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

COLT

Highway 58

Northwest California

5:00 p.m.

“How much longer?” Will leaned over his grandfather’s lap to look out the window. “We’ve been driving in trees for hours.”

Harvey smiled. “We’re in California, so probably another three or four.”

Gloria twisted around in the seat next to Colt. “Will the Humvee make it? They keep falling behind.”

Colt glanced up in the rearview mirror. “I hope so.” The last time Larkin pulled over, Colt almost hadn’t heard the horn. If they drifted too far apart, he might not know when the Humvee stalled. He eased his foot off the gas and let Larkin catch up.

“There’s got to be a place near here for gas. We’re coming up on some towns, aren’t we?”

Harvey nodded. “Should be soon. We’re on the downward slope toward Lake Almanor now. There’s a small town there. Tourist-type place.”

“We haven’t been there in twenty years. Who knows what it’s like now.”

Colt glanced at Gloria. If that was true, they might as well be heading into the area blind. Twenty years was a long time in Northern California. Whole towns could transform from sleepy little hideouts to destination spots. Colt had lived in Sacramento long enough to see it happen to nearby places like Solvang and Auburn. There was no telling what Lake Almanor and the towns around it were like now.

They needed to be cautious. He glanced at the fuel gauge. It had been stuck on a quarter tank for way too long. Pretty soon it wouldn’t matter what kind of town they came across. He would need to siphon some gas.

Colt puffed up his chest and stretched. Riding four across a bench seat didn’t give much room for comfort. Gloria almost sat in his lap and poor Will perched on the front of the seat like a bird on a wire. It didn’t even have seatbelts.

“As soon as we see some signs of life, we’ll need to keep an eye out for gas. Think abandoned cars, farm equipment, motorcycles. Anything with a gas tank that we can siphon.”

“What about the Humvee?”

“If it’s still running, then diesel or vegetable oil.” Colt rubbed at his face and fought off the exhaustion. After his run-in with the punks the night before, he’d barely slept.

“If you need me to drive, I can take a shift.”

Colt turned to thank Harvey when the horn from the Humvee made him pause. The horn sounded again and a burst of chrome and speed flew from the tree line like a silver bullet. Shit! Colt cranked the wheel as he slammed on the brakes and Will slid off the seat. The kid’s shoulder slammed into the dash as the truck fishtailed.

“Everyone hold on!” Colt screamed and braced for impact. Gloria scrambled for Will. Harvey tried to shield them both.

The pickup didn’t stand a chance.

Four thousand pounds slammed into the side of the truck. The bed crushed and crunched and a roll of linens and water jugs flew over the windshield.

The car didn’t stop. It kept coming like a beast dredged up

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.