Chasing Bedlam (Shattered States Book 2) by Charles E. Yallowitz

Author:Charles E. Yallowitz [Yallowitz, Charles E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-02-12T00:00:00+00:00

Nuts!

The two travelers patiently wait outside of the circular wall that protects the small town of Dothan. Spanning Ross Clark Circle, the defensive structure is more of a tunnel since it allows anything smaller than a semi-truck to go around and reach the offshoots without having to disturb the locals. A toll booth sits at every entrance to the roundabout, the metal arms covered in spikes to damage any vehicle that tries to break through. The occasional military jeep comes into view as the guards patrol for anyone trying to sneak in through one of the many maintenance doors. Oddly shaped turrets are on top of the wall along with black cauldrons that sit over crackling fires. Those patrolling the highest walkway repeatedly stop to dip a piece of food into the vats and blow on the snack until it is cool enough to eat. Some of the guards are too slow and drop the morsel when their fingers are burned, but they always try to lick off whatever is left behind. Scrubbing marks are on the stone beneath the containers that swing on poles and threaten to tip over whenever the wind becomes too strong.

Standing next to a toll booth, Cassidy and Lloyd can only stare at the large, peanut-shaped gate that sits on the other side of the well-maintained road. Having let Whiskey and Norman take the gaudy truck, the pair have spent the last two days walking and hotwiring abandoned cars to continue their journey. They have learned that neither of them are very good at hunting, and fishing off the coast is awkward due to ships from the naval blockade constantly coming close to give them warnings in foreign languages. Nearly out of ammunition and supplies, the pair have been begging every god they can think of to give them a spark of good luck. So they are beaming when the front door opens and out marches the woman who greeted them an hour ago from the top of the locked gate.

Their smiles falter when they see the fifteen armed guards that are surrounding the young leader. Wearing a slinky dress and mud-caked work boots, Mayor Vivian Moche walks with grace and purpose. She carries a nice purse that she takes a handful of shelled peanuts out of and eats them one by one. Her brown hair is kept in pigtails by peanut-shaped clips that match her earrings and necklace. Strapped to her back is a shovel that has its head wrapped in dark red cloth to avoid getting dirt on Vivian’s dark orange dress. Holding up her hand, the woman stops to adjust her modest cleavage when she thinks she looks too proper and forgettable for their guests. A tiny frown appears on her face in response to Lloyd yawning and looking around the area instead of at her.

“Welcome to Dothan, the Peanut Capital of the Shattered States,” Vivian declares, throwing her arms wide. She nearly drops her purse and crouches to nimbly pluck a few peanuts that have fallen into the dirt.

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