Meanwhile, the old woman took her time getting over to the cart. She moved like every joint in her body was made of rust.
Her cane wobbled.
Yoichi scowled. “Speed it up, grandma!”
“Yoichi.” I stared at him in shock. “That’s quite enough. Let’s be nice.”
Still, she’d barely moved a few inches.
Holy shit. This woman is the slowest woman alive though.
Time was bleeding away from us.
A third boom from the outer ridge rolled across the trees. Closer this time. The cart shook on its wheels.
Somewhere behind us, a baby started screaming.
I glanced up and saw the helicopters rising into the air.
Oh good. They followed my orders and are getting people off the island. I’ll be up there in time for the second trip.
I put my view on the older woman.
Her right knee buckled twice before she got her foot up onto the running board.
When she finally made it to my side, I extended my hand to help. Her hand shook so hard on my forearm that I had to brace her elbow with my other hand to keep her upright.
"Oh. Thank you so much," she whispered. "These old bones aren’t what they used to be."
Yoichi rolled his eyes.
I scowled at him again.
What is his problem?
She took her time sitting down, but right when her butt hit the seat, Yoichi sped off. The impact almost knocked the woman out of the cart.
I yelled at him, “Could you slow down?!”
We rolled out onto the main gravel road heading toward the helicopter pad.
Another boom went off.
The cart shook hard. The old woman pitched sideways into me and I caught her against my shoulder. One of the boys let out a short laugh.
At least he’s not scared.
The cart rolled on.
We passed a family running with two suitcases.
Shit. We need to get more carts going. I’ll see if one of the guards can check.
We passed a guard yelling into a radio and right when we were getting close to the fork in the road to make the right toward the helicopter pad. . .Yoichi turned the steering wheel hard and took the left.
Huh?
The cart swung off the gravel road and onto a narrow dirt track I had not even noticed was there.
