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

cell coverage, and we can’t always see the westbound lanes from here. We’re liable to pass each other by.”
    “Damn good idea, Earl. Let’s do that.”
    “Where are you guys now?”
    “We’re still in Kansas, but we’ll be getting to the border pretty soon.”
    “Maybe we can meet in Salida. That’s about half way between us.”
    “Okay, Earl, I’ll keep that in mind if we get disconnected.”
    “Sounds great.”
    “Later, Jackson.”
    “Yeah, later.”
    Earl put his phone back in his pocket and noted the time.
    “He good with it?” Gabe asked.
    “Yeah,” Earl said. “A few more lights coming behind us.”
    “I see them,” Hilda said. “None of them look like the van.”
    “Good,” Gabe said.
    “You think it was a good idea sending seven men after us?” Hilda said. “What if the park gets hit?”
    “We’ve still got a lot of people there,” Earl said. “Kurt, Terry, Frank, Jerry, and the Sheriff.”
    “Don’t forget George and Malcolm,” Gabe said.
    “Heidi, Jane, and Jasmine, too,” Hilda said. “All of them have proved themselves. I guess we’re all right.”
    “More semi-trucks,” Earl said. “Lots of commerce on this road.”
    “Well, like you said, it’s the only good way to avoid Denver,” Gabe said.
    “Oh, no, look,” Hilda said, a tremor in her voice. “The van. Coming quickly.”
    “Crap,” Earl said. “Looks like them alright. Gabe, call Jackson, while I get the rifle ready.”
    “Think they’d try anything with all this other traffic around?” Hilda asked.
    “Are we really sure it’s them?” Gabe asked. “They sold a million of those old Ford vans.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
    “It’s hanging back now, about the same distance as it was before,” Hilda said. “This isn’t good.”
    “Son of a bitch, I got no bars,” Gabe said.

Chapter 3 – Open Road
    Charlie was behind the wheel of the SUV. Jackson was in the passenger seat, and Dobie was in the back seat, petting Duchess, who was sitting up in the back, scanning the road in all directions.
    “Here comes the border,” Charlie said.
    “Already?” Dobie asked.
    “I’ve been doing about 90,” Charlie said, chuckling. “Needed to blow the carbon out of this thing anyway.”
    “Welcome to Colorado,” Jackson said as they flew by the border marker.
    “Uh oh,” Charlie said.
    “What?” Dobie asked.
    “Something missing over on the right.”
    “Crap, there’s no eastbound roadblock,” Jackson said. “Wonder when that came down?”
    “Probably when the bulk of the enemy in Denver got captured or killed,” Dobie said.
    “I should call home,” Jackson said.
    “Yeah, you do that,” Charlie said. Jackson pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped a contact.
    “Frank?”
    “Yeah, this Jackson?”
    “Yeah. We saw something you guys need to know about. Might want to talk to the general about it.”
    “What’s that?”
    “The roadblock on the eastbound side of route 40 is gone.”
    “Shit, really?”
    “Yep.”
    “Okay, I’ll go chat with him.”
    “Thanks, Frank.” Jackson took his phone away from his ear.
    “He sound surprised?” Charlie asked.
    “Surprised and worried,” Jackson said. “He’s gonna talk to General Hogan.”
    “I’ll try Earl again,” Jackson said. He tapped his contact and held the phone to his ear for a few moments. “Earl, we just passed the border. Be advised that there is no longer a border stop on the eastbound side of route 40. Talk to you soon.”
    “That sounded like a message,” Charlie said.
    “They’re in a dark zone,” Jackson said. “Went straight to voice mail.”
    “How come you didn’t leave the time?” he asked.
    “I know why,” Dobie said. “When Earl gets the message, he’ll get the timestamp info.”
    “Ah, that’s right,” Charlie said. “Chalk that up to being the old guy.”
    “Looks pretty flat and straight ahead,” Jackson said.
    “Yeah, I’ll keep it up at 90 as long as I can,”