Exposed by RJ Crayton

Author:RJ Crayton [Crayton, RJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-13T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

They rode about a mile down the road and pulled over at a park with a small wooden pavilion that had two picnic tables beneath it. They carried the bike over the gravel pathway so as not the damage the tires, and then rested it against one of the pavilion’s posts.

It felt good to sit at a real table. This seemed like a nice area. Elaan could imagine children playing here, mothers sitting at the tables, watching them frolic as they chatted with each other. She could remember normal life, if she tried. But then, of course, reality came slamming back at her. There was no one here.

“Do you think most people are dead?” she asked as Josh handed her a can of pork and beans from the bag.

He just pulled out a bottle of water and set it down.

He must not have heard her. “Josh,” she said. “Do you think —”

“I don’t think we should speculate about that,” Josh said, cutting her off. “Let’s just eat our food. It’s good stuff. Lots of protein. Let’s just enjoy this for right now.”

She was surprised at his testiness. He’d been so level during the trip. But maybe this was his fear, the one he didn’t want to tell her. That too many people had died. That maybe they weren’t getting supplies in the scientist housing because too many people uptop had died. That living down there was going to become a tomb if they were relying on the uptop for help. That the uptop was a goner.

She pulled the tab to open the can of beans and wieners.

“Hey, check it out,” Josh said. He smiled as he held out a plastic knife, fork, napkin set. She thought she’d have to scoop out the food with her fingers. “He must have had them lying around still. There are two sets in here. We should keep them, to reuse.”

Elaan nodded as she took the packet from him. “Yeah.” She smiled. It was nice to have utensils. She ate quietly and quickly. It tasted wonderful. Might it have tasted better hot? Maybe, but it was so much better than granola and those crappy prepackaged PB&Js. The meal lifted her spirits. They ate another granola bar for good measure, then finished off their dinner with shortbread cookies.

Elaan gazed west at the setting sun. “There’s no way we’re going to get there before nightfall,” she said, sighing.

“Yeah, I know,” Josh agreed.

“How much further do you want to ride before we search for a place to sleep?”

Josh eyed the horizon and said, “I don’t know. Maybe a couple of miles. Hopefully, it won’t be so hilly.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “No more hills, please.” It had taken longer to ride through this area than they’d anticipated. Illinois was known for being flat, but the last twenty or so miles had been up and down hills. Not typical of the rest of the state. Josh thought it was because the river cut through the region. Part of it reminded her of the rolling hills of Virginia that they used to drive through on road trips.

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