The Rising Son: A Wilderness Survival Thriller (Scorched Earth - A Climate Collapse Series Book 4) by Saul Tanpepper

Author:Saul Tanpepper [Tanpepper, Saul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: catastrophe, climate change, global warming, wildfire, disaster survival thriller, mystery thriller, Suspense
Publisher: Brinestone Press
Published: 2023-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Damien Hollis felt conspicuous sitting in the high cab of the panel truck. That normally wouldn’t be a problem, as it was usually his job to be seen and recognized, and he was good at both. But the last thing he wanted at the moment was scrutiny. He wanted anonymity. His face might not be plastered all over the place like his brother’s was, but all those years working for his father, all the PR, meant he was no stranger to the public. Thankfully, far fewer people should recognize him here in California, but the border wasn’t an absolute barrier, and the possibility remained someone might know him and know he was missing.

They had stopped for fuel at a dusty roadside pullout in a place called Junction City, a few miles shy of Weaverville. With a population of a few hundred and a single road running through it, the place was neither a junction nor a city. Yet Zander’s photograph, along with a handful of others, had already been taped to the window beside the door. The truck’s owner, Eli Whittaker, had asked him if he wanted to run inside the little shop for some more food and water. “It’s four-thirty in the morning,” he’d said, “the ghosting hour, which means they ain’t gonna have nothing like a hot meal or nothing, which by your looks you really need.” After Damien had declined, he’d said, “Suit yourself, but we ain’t gonna find much open for at least another hour.”

“Think I’ll stay here.”

Eli’s eyes had narrowed, his brow furrowing with concern. “On second thought, you just stay put, relax. I’ll run in and grab something to tide you over. Then, once we get into town, we’ll get us both some proper breakfast. There’s a little diner there I like to go to. Penny’s. We can sit down and figure out how best to get you home. I’m sure I got a friend or two heading back up that way, but you might have to detour south to get around the fire.”

He’d been gone only a few minutes, but Damien had fallen dead asleep. That’s how exhausted he was. He had startled awake when Eli dumped a bag of powdered donuts and a quart of orange juice onto his lap. “You were snoring,” he reported, chuckling. “Figure that’ll give you the boost you need. Coffee looked and smelled old, though. Not worth spending five bucks on that sludge.”

Damien had told him he didn’t have any money, and Eli waved it off.

“You done lost enough already— your car, a week in days, almost your life, by the looks of you. That damn wildfire,” he’d rambled on, shaking his head, “burning through here all summer. It just keeps taking and taking. Got friends who were burned out down in Shasta. Living in a FEMA trailer now. Lots of others like them too. I been lucky, me and Martha, so I’m glad to be able to help you find your way home again, but first, let’s get to that diner in Weaverville.

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