600 Miles: A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure by G.P. Grewal Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: G.P. Grewal
and though I wondered if it were a good idea I couldn't help but move a little closer, acting like I were walking along minding my own business and by chance was going to pass him by
As I passed, I looked up and saw him looking right at me. Not mean or anything, just calm.
"Evening," I said.
He didn't say nothing, just nodded, and even that didn't come right away.
"Say, I don't mean to bother you none, but you made me curious."
"Is that so?" he said.
"Yeah, well, not to be nosy, but I just seen you and your fancy pistol and you don't seem like the kind of man I'm used to seeing too often. Not that I'm wanting to disturb you, like I said, but I just had to find out what you was all about."
All that talking, yet he ain't said nothing at all.
"Name's Elgin."
I gave him my hand and surprisingly he shook it, though he still ain't say nothing back.
"Where you come from?" I said.
"Here and there," he finally spoke. "Not many places I haven't been actually, at least from here to Texas to up north as far as Montana before turning back."
"Montana? What's it like up there?"
"Hell. Just a bunch of savages, really. I wouldn't think of going up there if I was you. Most strangers are shot on sight, especially ones that look like they don't belong, if you get my meaning."
"I see. I'll keep it in mind then. That sure is a lot wandering though, especially for one walking it all alone. Me, I've traveled quite a bit too, though maybe not as far as you have. Did a lot of it by myself too, and thought I'd be doing a lot more like that before I met Gitty. Oh, that's my woman over there."
He looked over to where I was pointing, nodding as he gave her a good look.
"Looks like a fine woman," he said.
"Thank you kindly. She sure is. Might just get me into settling down. So, how about you? Are you out here all alone? Ain't you got no friends with you?"
"No. I've had some, here and there, but not anymore."
"Sorry to hear it. I know how it goes though, if it means something."
Again he ain't say nothing, just quietly nodded like he understood that too. And I ain't wanting to sound funny about it, but though he weren't paying much attention to me as he puffed on that little cigar, I couldn't help but stare, wondering just who he was and what him and his fancy shooter was all about, though I knew I was outstaying my welcome, seeing as he weren't one for small-talking and such.
"Well, I don't mean to disturb you, mister. I was just curious about you is all. Say, you never said where you was headed. Not that it's my business or nothing, but it seems the question everyone around here asks, so— So I thought I might just ask."
"Los Angeles," he said.
With that I nearly jumped out of my pants, so to speak, meaning I couldn't believe I'd heard it and couldn't help but move closer to the stranger who had uttered them words.
"Lost Angeles? No fooling? Lost Angeles, California?"
"There's not another one, is there?"
"Ha! Well, no, stupid me. I'm just surprised. Astonished, really. It ain't often I've ever come across one looking to go that far. It's funny, because just a little while ago I was fixing to go there too—back before I met Gitty, that is. I hear it's real dangerous, and though I've met a few people who was going, I've never once met someone who were coming back, if that's saying anything."
"I've heard the same, though I guess I'll find out soon enough, if I make it that far."
I threw a look back at Gitty without thinking about it, talking lower so that there weren't no chance she might hear.
"Listen," I said, "I ain't wanting to ask you so much, but have you thought about taking on some company?"
"You?"
"Yeah, well, me and my woman, actually. I know we ain't look like much, but I'm damn good with this revolver here and Gitty is a pretty good shot too."
"I usually travel alone."
"Me too, like I told you. At least before my woman there. I understand if you ain't looking for friends of course, but I think that with all of
As I passed, I looked up and saw him looking right at me. Not mean or anything, just calm.
"Evening," I said.
He didn't say nothing, just nodded, and even that didn't come right away.
"Say, I don't mean to bother you none, but you made me curious."
"Is that so?" he said.
"Yeah, well, not to be nosy, but I just seen you and your fancy pistol and you don't seem like the kind of man I'm used to seeing too often. Not that I'm wanting to disturb you, like I said, but I just had to find out what you was all about."
All that talking, yet he ain't said nothing at all.
"Name's Elgin."
I gave him my hand and surprisingly he shook it, though he still ain't say nothing back.
"Where you come from?" I said.
"Here and there," he finally spoke. "Not many places I haven't been actually, at least from here to Texas to up north as far as Montana before turning back."
"Montana? What's it like up there?"
"Hell. Just a bunch of savages, really. I wouldn't think of going up there if I was you. Most strangers are shot on sight, especially ones that look like they don't belong, if you get my meaning."
"I see. I'll keep it in mind then. That sure is a lot wandering though, especially for one walking it all alone. Me, I've traveled quite a bit too, though maybe not as far as you have. Did a lot of it by myself too, and thought I'd be doing a lot more like that before I met Gitty. Oh, that's my woman over there."
He looked over to where I was pointing, nodding as he gave her a good look.
"Looks like a fine woman," he said.
"Thank you kindly. She sure is. Might just get me into settling down. So, how about you? Are you out here all alone? Ain't you got no friends with you?"
"No. I've had some, here and there, but not anymore."
"Sorry to hear it. I know how it goes though, if it means something."
Again he ain't say nothing, just quietly nodded like he understood that too. And I ain't wanting to sound funny about it, but though he weren't paying much attention to me as he puffed on that little cigar, I couldn't help but stare, wondering just who he was and what him and his fancy shooter was all about, though I knew I was outstaying my welcome, seeing as he weren't one for small-talking and such.
"Well, I don't mean to disturb you, mister. I was just curious about you is all. Say, you never said where you was headed. Not that it's my business or nothing, but it seems the question everyone around here asks, so— So I thought I might just ask."
"Los Angeles," he said.
With that I nearly jumped out of my pants, so to speak, meaning I couldn't believe I'd heard it and couldn't help but move closer to the stranger who had uttered them words.
"Lost Angeles? No fooling? Lost Angeles, California?"
"There's not another one, is there?"
"Ha! Well, no, stupid me. I'm just surprised. Astonished, really. It ain't often I've ever come across one looking to go that far. It's funny, because just a little while ago I was fixing to go there too—back before I met Gitty, that is. I hear it's real dangerous, and though I've met a few people who was going, I've never once met someone who were coming back, if that's saying anything."
"I've heard the same, though I guess I'll find out soon enough, if I make it that far."
I threw a look back at Gitty without thinking about it, talking lower so that there weren't no chance she might hear.
"Listen," I said, "I ain't wanting to ask you so much, but have you thought about taking on some company?"
"You?"
"Yeah, well, me and my woman, actually. I know we ain't look like much, but I'm damn good with this revolver here and Gitty is a pretty good shot too."
"I usually travel alone."
"Me too, like I told you. At least before my woman there. I understand if you ain't looking for friends of course, but I think that with all of
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