Lean on Pete by Willy Vlautin

Author:Willy Vlautin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2011-11-27T21:41:41+00:00

Chapter 17

I drove for a long time without seeing anyone. I was out in the middle of a desert. I checked the rearview every once in a while but there were never any police cars or headlights behind me. Then the road began to incline and the engine lugged. I tried to shift down but it wouldn’t. It was stuck in third gear. I pushed the clutch in over and over and used all the strength I had to try and get the gear shift out of third but it wouldn’t go. The hill kept getting steeper. The engine lugged more and the truck slowed until the engine finally quit.

I made it to the side of the road and stopped. I tried again and again to take the truck out of third but it wouldn’t go. I sat there for nearly a half-hour trying. I found a flashlight in the glove box and opened the hood but I didn’t know what to look for. I waited until the truck cooled down and I then tried again but it still wouldn’t leave third. I started the engine and revved it and tried to go forward but it just lugged and stalled. I looked around but there was nothing but darkness. No house lights or headlights or moon. I gave up. I turned on the cab light and gathered everything I could. I kept the flashlight and took the road map and there was a pack of gum on the dash. Under the seat I found an old National Geographic, a pair of gloves, and an old yellow rope. I took all those things and got out of the truck.

I left the headlights on and went to the truck bed and took my duffel bag and emptied it out. The only things I kept were my two trophies and the picture of my aunt. I put the photo in my back pocket and wrapped the trophies in shirts and put them back in the bag. I put on my coat and stuck the two cheeseburgers and the flashlight and the map and magazine in the pockets. Then I filled the bag with hay. I took the rope I’d found and cut a piece and tied it around my sleeping bag in two places so I could put it over my shoulder. There was an empty gallon water jug and I took it and tied it to the sleeping bag, then I went back to the trailer.

I turned on the flashlight and opened the door. Pete’s eyes looked worried but I don’t know if he was. I took the lead rope and led him out. I carried the sleeping bag and the duffel of hay and we started walking up the hill. There were no cars but it was spooky out there alone. I couldn’t hear anything ’cause Pete’s shoes were banging and clanking against the asphalt. We walked for an hour before we saw a truck pass. It slowed down for a bit but it didn’t stop.

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