the list by ja konrath

Author:ja konrath
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: government conspiracy
ISBN: 9781452881263
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2010-07-14T05:00:00+00:00

“Your vehicle is in the third space on the right. Thank you for using Hertz.”

Bert picked up his bags and followed Roy out the door. When he saw their car he halted mid-step. Yellow. Round. Volkswagon.

They’d rented a Beetle.

“Slug bug yellow no hit backs!” Bert dropped his luggage in the parking lot and launched himself at Roy, his fist seeking out the sore spot on the larger man’s shoulder.

Roy set his jaw and rubbed his arm. “Remind me to smack Tom upside the head for reserving this damn car.”

“That’s why this place is called Hertz.”

Bert went back for his bags. He shoved them in the rear seat and got into the car. Roy unlocked the fire box and put the revolver in his shoulder holster. Then he fussed with his donut.

“Damn donut is leaking again.”

“Is the nozzle pushed in?”

“Don’t start with me. It’s a hole.”

“I may have something in one of my bags.”

Bert scooted around and unzipped the panel on his larger bag. He found the metal box and set it in his lap.

“Camping emergency pack. Waterproof matches, candle, compass, flashlight, cable saw, tablets to purify water, fishing line, and a repair kit for patching tents. Gimme the donut.”

Roy handed it over. Bert found the hole—a split in the seam—and dabbed on some rubber cement.

“It’s gonna take some time to dry. Can you live without it for a while?”

“I guess I have to.”

Roy got in the driver’s seat, wincing as he sat down.

“Maybe you should turn the other cheek.”

“Funny. Where the hell are we going?”

“Honest Abe’s Used Car Emporium. He’s on Route 2.”

Roy turned the ignition and Bert consulted the complimentary map of Lincoln the rental company had provided. “When you get out of the lot you’re going to get on 80. We can take 80 to 180, and that turns into 2.”

“How’s my donut?”

“Drying.”

Bert set the camping kit by his feet, rather than bother putting it back in the suitcase. He reclined his seat a few more degrees and opened the window. The breeze felt nice. Not as warm as LA, but the air was fresh and clean. The sun was looming over the western horizon. It would set in about an hour or so.

Bert closed his eyes, thinking about the past week and the events leading up to it. He felt… alive. This went beyond finding out he was a clone of Einstein. This was an actual adventure. He was a part of something, something big and scary and exciting. Bert had no idea how this was all going to end up, but he wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

They drove in companionable silence. Roy managed to find Route 2, and a few minutes later they were pulled up to a weather beaten billboard stamped with “Abe’s Pre-Driven Vehicles”.

The Emporium wasn’t anything more than a gravel parking lot with a small brick building in the center. Multi-colored plastic flags, cracked and faded, were strung between two poles, and a sign proclaimed “Huge Sale This Week Only!” in peeling paint.

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