One Second After by William R. Forstchen Read Free Book Online Page A

had a hard time negotiating his footing. John slipped into the driver’s seat, slammed into reverse, and floored it.
    â€œSon of a bitch, all we want is a lift,” and as the drunk half-dangled from the fence he flipped John off.
    Flooring the gas, John continued to back up all the way to the turnoff to their road, threw the gear into forward, and roared up the dirt road.
    â€œJohn Matherson, I can’t believe you left that lady like that. Especially with those men around her.”
    â€œI have a family,” John said coldly, looking into the rearview mirror to where Elizabeth and Jennifer were in the backseat, both of them silent. He could sense their accusation, that Dad had chickened out. He shook his head and said nothing.
    He pulled into the driveway, the dogs started to bound around him but then, sensing his mood, shifted their attention to Jennifer and Elizabeth.
    â€œGirls, it’s getting dark. Remember the hurricane last year when we all piled into my bedroom? It’ll be like that tonight. Elizabeth, get out the Coleman lantern; you know how to light it. Jennifer, you help her.”
    â€œCome on, Dad; I think you’re being a little uptight.”
    â€œJust do it, Elizabeth,” he said slowly and forcefully.
    â€œAll right.”
    The two headed to the door, Jennifer pestered Elizabeth as to what her birthday present was.
    â€œAnd Elizabeth, after you get the lantern lit, help Jennifer with her injection. Don’t keep the medication out of the fridge any longer than you have to.”
    â€œOK, Dad.”
    â€œThen feed the dogs.”
    â€œSure, Dad.”
    The girls went in. John fished in his pocket for a cigarette, pulled it out, and lit it.
    â€œAre you going back to help that woman?”
    â€œNo.”
    Jen was silent for a moment.
    â€œI’m surprised at you, John.”
    â€œI know I’m right. I go down to that highway and those bastards might take this car.”
    â€œBut what about her? The woman? Does it bother you?”
    He looked at Jen sharply.
    â€œWhat the hell do you mean?”
    â€œThat woman. And there was another one with a small child. They could be raped.”
    He shook his head.
    â€œNo, not yet. Those guys weren’t all that bad. The drunk was out of hand; the loudmouth one was just trying to show off in front of his buddies and the woman. Sure, it’s strange, our car running, the others not, and if I went back down they’d be tempted to take it. Or worse yet, I’d be stuck all night running a shuttle service for everyone stalled on the highway, and running into yet more drunks with a bad attitude.
    â€œBut rape? No, too many others down there are OK. Everyone else is sober; the truck driver down there had a gun in his hand, though you might not of seen it. He’ll keep order. That woman and the others will be OK. I wouldn’t worry about that yet.”
    â€œYet?”
    He sighed, shook his head, let his finished cigarette fall, then fished out another one and began to smoke it.
    â€œI’d like you to stay here tonight, Jen. The girls would love it.”
    â€œYou worried about me?”
    â€œFrankly, yes. I don’t like the idea of you driving around alone at night in this monster,” and as he spoke he slapped the hood of the Edsel.
    â€œI’ll stay.”
    He looked down at her, surprised there was no argument, about the cat needing to be put out or some other excuse. It was dark enough now he couldn’t see her face, but he could sense her voice. She was afraid.
    â€œIt’s so dark,” she whispered.
    He looked around. It was dark. There wasn’t a single light down in the town, except for what appeared to be the flicker of a Coleman lamp, some candles. All the houses rimming the valley were dark as well. No reflected lights from the highway, none of the annoying high-intensity lithium glare from the service stations at the exit, not a light showing from