by Bruno Miller
“Probably not even that long. We’re really close. I could use the time to study the map for tomorrow,” Ben added.
“You both know I can drive, right?” Allie joked.
Ben looked at her and started nodding his head. “All right then. Maybe tomorrow. Let’s see how the day goes.”
Chapter Nineteen
Once the truck was filled with fuel, Joel and Allie stowed the hose and pump and they all loaded up in the Blazer.
Ben stowed the AR in what had become its normal spot, between the passenger seat and the center console. The soft case that held the AR-15 remained in place and was loose enough to allow the short black rifle to easily slide in and out, more like a sheath or a holster. It was actually working out pretty well in that spot and made the gun available in a hurry, if need be.
Everything was starting to find a home in the truck through trial and error. They had been on the road for eight days now and it was beginning to feel like home.
Ben had always been a stickler for organization, and the four of them living out of the Blazer was no excuse to deviate from that practice.
He was particularly impressed that Allie had organized a small area in the back. She had brought a book to read and what looked like a small, well-used leather-bound journal.
She’d wedged them, along with her box of ammo and a few other personal items, between the seat and part of the wheel well. She had also constructed a spot for the sawed-off shotgun out of a rolled-up towel. The barrel pointed down and the pistol grip stuck up for easy retrieval from her side of the seat behind Joel.
The floor in front of Gunner was piled up level with the top of the rear bench seat on his side. It was mostly dehydrated food they hadn’t even touched yet. Gunner had settled into his new seating assignment and had given up his attempts to occupy the front passenger seat.
Ben thought that had more to do with getting to sit with Allie than Gunner’s good behavior. With the amount of attention Allie gave that dog, it was no wonder. Ben didn’t mind, though. As far as he was concerned, Gunner could do anything he wanted. After all, he had most likely saved the kids’ lives back in Kansas. And Ben had no doubt that Gunner would fight to his dying breath for that girl at this point.
They would definitely have to move some things around if they added another person. Of course, that was going to be the case sooner or later, regardless of Allie’s dad joining them. They’d have to put some stuff on the roof. At least they had the other side of the roof rack open.
Ben now wished he hadn’t talked Joel out of getting an old Suburban when he first started looking at trucks. That was originally what Joel had his heart set on, but Ben had convinced him otherwise.
He’d told Joel he thought it would be too big and long on the four-wheel-drive trails around Durango and that a shorter wheelbase Blazer was the way to go. Also, more importantly, he would need a second job to keep gas in a suburban.
That was one big advantage of the Blazer. Compared to a larger truck, the Blazer got decent mileage out of a tank, better than what Ben’s conservative estimate had been. The whole routine of pumping fuel had become familiar at this point, and they had it down to a fairly efficient process.
The interstate remained littered with the occasional accident or abandoned vehicle to avoid, but they made good time and soon saw a sign for Vandalia, Illinois. According to the map, the Kaskaskia River was just beyond the town. The sign also listed Effingham, Terra Haute, and Indianapolis. Indianapolis was the farthest distance at 173 miles.
“If we get a good start tomorrow, we should be in Ohio by lunchtime or sooner,” Ben said.
Of course, that depended on how long it took them to get around Indianapolis. Ben planned on giving the city a wide berth tomorrow. As tempting as it was to remain on the interstate, he knew better. They would stay on I-70 until just before Indianapolis, where they would head north, eventually picking up Route 30.
If they followed 30, it would more or less take them straight into Pittsburgh and allow them to miss a couple big cities in the process. Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, were the two big ones he wanted to steer clear of. After what they’d seen and heard, there was no second-guessing the decision to go around those areas. They had to make their way north eventually to get to Pittsburgh, so they might as well make it work to their advantage.
No point in bouncing back and forth between roads. They could get back on the interstate after Pittsburgh.
Ben knew if things went well they could get to the kids in Maryland within two or three days’ time if they pushed it. For the first time since they started, he truly felt like they were making progress, and he was encouraged for a change.
“Here we are.” Joel leaned forward in his seat and looked over the steering wheel at the empty shops that lined the streets. He slowed down a little as they passed through what was left of the town.
Ben was glad nobody was around. He didn’t have the energy or the patience to deal with any more trouble today.
“No need to slow down,” he reminded Joel, who seemed to be preoccupied with something out the side window. “Let’s get to the river.”
“Oh, sorry.” He accelerated quickly, and they sped through without seeing so much as a single person.
The bridge was only a few miles outside of town and was two lanes wide on each side. The river itself was unremarkable and looked more like a giant ditch. It sat a good 50 feet below the interstate, so the bridge stayed at the same height as the road where it crossed. It was about 100 yards across the greenish-brown water.
Ben watched the slow current carry a stick downstream as they crossed.
“It’s a little cleaner than the Mississippi. Maybe even fishable,” Joel noted.
“It’s worth a try,” Ben agreed.
Once across the small bridge, they entered an area that was divided up with orange construction barrels that reduced the eastbound lanes into one single lane that funneled onto the westbound side of the road. They were in the middle of repairing a section of road, by the looks of it, and there was a break in the guardrail.
“How about down there?” Ben pointed to an opening in the barrels that led off the side of the road and back toward the river.
“Okay.” Joel slowed down and made his way through the maze of construction barrels.
The grassy shoulder dropped off steeply toward the river, and they followed it down alongside the bridge until it reached the water’s edge.
There was a clearing under the bridge in the shade and out of sight from the road above. Ben decided this would be a good spot, as the surrounding forest was too thick to navigate with the Blazer.
From here, they’d have a better chance of hearing someone coming on the bridge overhead, and after their last experience, he wanted to keep an eye on things tonight.
“Here?” Joel asked.
“How about under the bridge, over there?” Ben nodded at a place between two concrete support columns. The truck fit between the bridge supports with room to spare on either side.
Joel moved the Blazer to the spot, put it in park, and shut it down. They all unloaded quickly and gravitated to the water’s edge to stretch their legs. Even though they had just been out of the truck not long ago, it somehow felt better this time.
Maybe it was the fact they all knew the driving was done for the day. Maybe it was the way the sunset was lighting up the evening sky. Whatever the reason, Ben felt the mood mimicked the relaxed rhythm of the lazy current. This would be a better spot than he had hoped to find tonight.
Gunner’s loud lapping of water interrupted the still of the evening. Never one to let an opportunity go to waste, he then waded into the water and swam in a short little circle a few yards off the riverbank before returning to shake off and roll in the grass.
“Look at that. Do you see it?” Joel pointed to a ripple on the surface of the water. “There’s another one.” He pointed farther upstream.
Fish were rising to a fresh hatch of mayflies.
Ben hadn’t noticed the insects at first but now he could see them skating across the water by the hundreds in their death throes. Some type of fish was taking the opportunity to gorge itself on the spent mayflies as they gathered in groups on the surface.
Ben grinned at Joel. “Well, what are you waiting for?”
Chapter Twenty
Joel ran back to the truck without saying a word and returned a few minutes later with his fly rod and a small box of flies. He carefully selected a fly out of the box and held it up. “What do you think?”
“Looks like a good match.” Ben noticed Joel had selected a dark-colored elk hair caddis. That’s what he would have gone for, too. It was a close match to the mayflies.
Joel stuffed the fly box into his pocket and tied on the caddis fly before he waded out into the water a few feet.
Ben and Allie stood on the bank, watching as Joel began to cast to the rising fish.
“Gunner, stay,” Allie said firmly, trying to keep Gunner from joining Joel.
The dog stood next to her, wagging his tail and whining as Joel waded farther out into the river.
“You’ll scare all the fish.” She held on to Gunner’s collar as he leaned toward the river.
It wasn’t long before Joel had a bite and brought the fish into his hand. He scooped it up by its mouth and unhooked the fly before turning to face Ben and Allie.
“It’s pretty big, but I have no idea what it is.” Joel grinned, holding the fish out for them to see.
“Maybe some type of carp. I really don’t know, either, but it is a nice size,” Ben said.
Allie laughed. “Well, don’t look at me.”
“Oh, wait,” Joel said. “I know what kind it is. The kind that will go nicely with beans and rice.” He laughed as he tucked his fly rod under his arm and pulled out his pocket knife. He quickly dispatched the fish using the knife and then threw it up onto the bank. “I’ll see if I can catch a couple more.”
When Gunner saw the fish land on the muddy bank, Allie could no longer control him and he broke free from her grasp.
“Hey, you!” Allie blurted out, but it was no use. Gunner was determined to investigate the new weird, slimy thing on the bank.
Ben snorted. “I guess that leaves me with fire duty. I’ll get it started.” He turned to walk back toward the truck.
“I’ll help you unpack,” Allie offered.
“Good,” Ben said. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.”
“Oh, okay.” She joined him on his way to the truck.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I would like you and your dad to continue on with us to Maryland.”
“Really?” She smiled.
“I mean, you don’t have to, and I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but the city isn’t the place to be right now. I’m sure I can speak for Joel as well on this, and we just wouldn’t feel right leaving you there. We want you to stay with us, Allie.” Ben looked her in the eye.
Allie was all smiles and began to tear up as she ran to Ben and hugged him. “Thank you.”
They stood there for a few seconds before she let go and stepped back. “I don’t want to be a burden on you guys. I’m afraid my dad and I will just slow you down. I mean, my dad… Well, let’s just say he’s not like you and Joel and—”
Ben cut her off. “It’s okay. It’ll be fine. You can’t stay in Pittsburgh if it’s anything like what we’ve been seeing in the more populated areas.” He climbed up to the roof rack on the truck and handed Allie the sleeping bags and tents from the top cargo box.
“Do you think we’ll find my dad?” Allie bit her lip.
Ben handed her the last sleeping bag and closed the lid on the cargo box. He was stalling while he tried to think of something to say that didn’t sound like he was pandering to her, but he also didn’t want to sound too bleak. As he climbed down from the truck, he decided to tell her the truth. “I don’t know, Allie.”
She broke eye contact with him and glanced down at the ground for a moment before looking back up and nodding. “I know.”
“I can promise you this. We’ll do our best to find your father. I give you my word on that. Now, let’s get this fire going.” Ben put his hand on Allie’s upper back as he moved past her and grabbed the shovel out of the back of the Blazer.
“I know you will. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Sure I do. I have a daughter, too, you know.” Ben smiled at Allie before he crouched down and started digging.
By the time Ben had the fire pit ready, Joel was walking up to the truck with a makeshift stringer of fish. The four large fish were still dripping wet as they hung from the small branch he had run through their gills.
“Here you go. All cleaned and ready to cook,” he said proudly.
“Great job, buddy. How about putting them on the tailgate for now while I get this fire started?”
“Sure thing.”
“Wow, that was fast. Four fish already?” Allie asked.
“Well, you know, when you’re as good as me…” Joel joked as he sauntered over and began setting up his tent.
“By the way, it looks like you’re stuck with me after all,” Allie teased.
“What do you mean?” Joel asked.
Allie didn’t say anything, smiling as she unrolled her sleeping bag.
Joel turned to his dad. “What’s going on?”
“I asked Allie to join us the rest of the way to Maryland. And her dad, of course,” Ben added.
Joel smiled and looked back at Allie, then quickly put his head down and got busy setting up his tent.
Ben could tell he was trying not to let on how happy he was to hear the news.
When the kids were done getting their tents and gear squared away, Ben sent them to pick up firewood. He got his tent up in a couple of minutes and turned his attention to starting a pot of water on the little gas stove.
The kids returned shortly, each with a good-sized pile of wood in their arms. Gunner was out in front, carrying a stick of his own as they walked back into the campsite.
Ben shook his head. “I see Gunner is helping out tonight.”
“I don’t think he’s going to give that one up,” Joel said.
Joel and Allie unloaded their piles of wood and twigs by the fire pit while Gunner found a spot nearby and lay down. He immediately began to chew the bark off the stick while holding it between his paws.
Ben got a small fire going in no time and spread the fish out on a small round metal grill across the top of the pit. If they were carp or some other type of bony fish, their best bet would be to pick the meat off after they were cooked and mix it in with the beans and rice.
The fish cooked rapidly over the open flame and were done in no time. The white flakey meat separated from the bone easily and nearly filled the pot of beans and rice the rest of the way to the top. He added in some dry seasoning from the bag of things Allie gathered from his kitchen and stirred it all together. That would help the flavor a bit.
Tired of eating out of the pouches that the dehydrated food came in, he grabbed a few plastic plates from the truck. He’d used these for times when he had all the kids and they went car camping back home. Using the plates now felt like an extravagant luxury and it was a nice change from eating out of a plastic bag.
“Oh, fancy tonight, huh?” Joel said as he and Allie returned from the river, where they were refilling water bottles.
“Yeah, I thought it would be a nice change. We’ll have to wash them, but I couldn’t deal with another dinner out of a bag. Besides, this looks pretty good. It would be shame not to enjoy it.” Ben held up a spoon full of the bean, rice, and fish mixture.
“It smells really good,” Allie said. She unrolled Gunner’s collapsible bowl and scooped a few handfuls of dry food into it. Gunner was already waiting at her feet as she worked.
He had abandoned the stick-chewing as soon as he’d seen the orange canvas bowl come out.
“Let’s
eat.” Ben dished out three equal portions and passed out the plates. They dug in with fervor and there was silence around the little fire pit for several minutes.
Gunner finished what was in his bowl and patiently waited for leftovers. He sat near the fire, licking his lips and watching them intently. Ben and Joel finished theirs completely, but Allie had a few spoonfuls left over, which she gave to Gunner.
After dinner, they all chipped in and got things cleaned up down by the water. Ben and Joel headed back to the truck to give Allie some privacy. She wanted to freshen up and change her clothes.
“Come on, Gunner. Allie can’t get washed up with you stirring up the water,” Joel stated.
Gunner reluctantly exited the water, where he had been wading along the bank and stirring up the muddy bottom.
Allie nodded at Joel and mouthed the words “thank you” as he and Ben walked away. Gunner slowly followed a few feet behind them.
“Thanks,” Joel said softly.
“For what?” Ben asked.
“For letting Allie and her dad travel with us. I know it’s a lot to take on.”
“We’ll make it work. It might get a little tight, but we’ll move some things around.”
“What are we going to do when we get to Maryland? There’s going to be too many of us to fit in the Blazer.”
“I know. I thought about that. We’re going to have to figure something out. Maybe we’ll find another vehicle, or I was even thinking a small camper. The Blazer could tow one without too much trouble.”
Joel nodded. “Yeah, that could work. It’s not like we’re going super fast on the roads anyway. That’s a good idea.” He paused for a moment and had a look on his face like he was about to ask something, but he changed his mind.
“What?” Ben asked.
“What’s the plan when we get to Maryland? Do you think Mom will come back to Colorado with us? What if she doesn’t want to leave and won’t let Bradley or Emma come with us?”
“I’m thinking your mom will see things a little differently now, in light of what’s going on in the world.” Ben hoped she would, anyway. “We need to put our differences aside and focus on survival, and I’m hoping she agrees.”
