To the North by Bruce W. Perry

Author:Bruce W. Perry [Perry, Bruce W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Dystopia, Fantasy, Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781718199576
Google: e_D1ugEACAAJ
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print US
Published: 2018-08-19T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

He opened it up and read. It was longer than the others–a line of computer type with the forum heading above it.

"Is someone out there? Anyone? We're in southern Idaho, near Ketchum! Please help! The food is almost gone. I can't move. I'm sorry…if I try to move outside…it's dark…and we'll smother to death. Ash is everywhere. God bless you. If you can help! Please!"

Garner set the message down on the seat next to him. He started up the engine and stared at the dashboard lights. At San Antonio, NM, off Route 25 he could go east on 380; it was probably passable. That route would take them to Roswell and then down into Texas. Then possibly interstate 10 would take them through to the east, if it's clear of ash, to the Gulf and beyond.

He looked at the man, who'd lit another cigarette. He was staring down at his boots. Garner put the Bronco into gear and accelerated out of the gravel of the parking lot. Darkness had set in. They hit a rut between the pavement and the gravel, then they were back on Route 25 again.

It was a musty blackness, not the clean desert night air he admired. He opened the window just enough so some cool air blew over his face and kept him awake. He pulled the buff up past his chin.

He was heading north again, toward Route 60 west at Socorro, then through to the Zuni Territory in New Mexico. It was the only thing for him to do. Going east appeared…selfish. This was the way he could get to Utah right then for the long passage north.

# # #

The evening was black and impenetrable, like a purple ocean had poured over them. All he could get on the radio was static, so he shut it off. The festive mariachi tunes that had salved his loneliness had run their course. The roadside was barren and nothing was open on their side of the highway. The engine of Julie's Bronco rattled and shuddered. It was an old, tired, but rugged car, he thought. Julie had no doubt beat it up on her frequent off-road excursions to commune with the desert spirits.

She brought so much beauty, he thought regretfully, imagining her face and black long hair and beaded necklace as she held a glass of wine and smiled at the sunset.

He prayed under his breathe, Get us at least as far as the highways are clear of ash. He figured they'd be lucky to get all the way through Utah–Salt Lake City was devastated by up to a meter of ash–but you just never knew how the all the roads would hold up.

He cast a weary eye to the scrubby roadside, dimly lit in his headlights. Visions of indistinct forms appeared on the side of the road, mostly mirages. But one time, he saw two cow carcasses, limp and sickly luminous as he shot past them.

He slowed down, wondering about useful carrion to scavenge. He had a big hunting knife with him.

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.