Bug Out! Part 11: Motorhomes on the Dark Road by Robert Boren Read Free Book Online Page B

Did we win?”
    “Yeah, barely,” Jackson said. “Where are you guys?”
    “Just heading into Monarch.”
    “Hell, you’re only about thirty miles from us. We’re just going through Poncha Springs.”
    “Good, Jackson, that’s a relief.”
    “You guys seen that van?”
    “No, not since we got off in Cimarron,” Earl said.
    “Well, we should see you guys within the hour,” Jackson said. “Take care, and keep your eyes peeled.”
    “You too.” Earl put his phone back in his pocket.
    “We got attacked at the park?” Hilda asked.
    “Yeah, lead-shielded semi-truck,” Earl said. “Thirty guys.”
    “But they didn’t overrun the park?” Gabe asked.
    “No, we won,” Earl said. “Wish I had details. The good news is that we’re only about thirty miles away from Charlie’s SUV and the Humvee.”
    “Thank God,” Hilda said. “Glad you’re driving now. These switchbacks are pretty tough.”
    “Yeah, but the road is nice and wide,” Gabe said, “and it’s almost light now.”
    “How are you holding up?” Earl asked. “Getting sleepy?”
    Gabe laughed. “Are you kidding? I’m so full of adrenalin that I’ll be going for days.”
    “Slow down, this one is tight,” Hilda said.
    “Yeah, sorry,” Gabe said, slowing the Suburban. “Got excited to meet with our friends, I guess.”
    “Every time we go around one of these curves, I expect to see that van in the middle of the road,” Hilda said. “Or worse.”
    “Yeah, me too,” Earl said. “Wish you had a sunroof in this sucker, so I could shoot in any direction.”
    “Maybe you should have gotten into the front,” Hilda said.
    “The bad guys have wanted to follow us, so far anyway,” Earl said. “I can shoot right out the back window from here.”
    “Damn, this
is
a big sweeping turn,” Gabe said, trying to slow down, hitting the gravel on the side of the road for a second.
    “Look out!” Hilda yelled, looking ahead. The van was in a turnout on the left side of the road. They started rolling into the lanes, trying to make Gabe stop. He gripped the wheel harder and sped up. Earl got his rifle out the back driver’s side window, firing a shot, hitting the passenger side door. The van kept coming, and Gabe sped up more, just barely squeezing between the front of the van and the guard rail, touching briefly on the passenger side. Earl fired again, hitting the person in the passenger seat, blood flying around the front of the van.
    “Got the son of a bitch,” Earl shouted, as Gabe tried to keep the big SUV under control. He hit the next turn a little too fast, and was against the guard rail again, sparks flying, but he kept control as they careened forward.
    “Here they come,” Gabe said, checking his mirror. He rolled down the back window from his side console. “There you go, Earl. The window’s down.”
    “Thanks,” Earl said, taking aim, trying to hold steady as the car raced around the curve.
    “There’s another van in front of us,” Hilda yelled. “It’s slowing down.”
    “I can’t get a bead on this guy,” Earl said. “Every time I do, they get hidden by turn.”
    “Time to play chicken,” Gabe shouted. “No guts, no glory.” He raced towards the van, which was attempting to block the lanes like the first one did. Hilda’s eyes got wide as they closed in.
    Earl’s gun went off twice. “Take that, cretins!”
    “Holy crap!” shouted Gabe as he headed for the small crack between the van and the guard rail. “This is gonna be tight!”

Chapter 5 – Over the Cliff
    Gabe’s SUV hit the front corner of the van and the guard rail, slowing him down but not stopping him. The van spun around and slammed into the ditch on the left side of the road. Earl pointed his rifle out the driver’s side back window again, firing until he ran out of bullets, as Gabe kept driving, a little too fast for the turns.
    “You get that other van?” Hilda shouted.
    “The one behind us?” Earl asked as he reloaded the rifle.