Making a snap decision, Cam pivoted toward the Watch headquarters to arrange his leave. Not for permission, but more notification so they didn’t schedule him for shifts while he was absent. Once done, he grabbed his solar-charged electric Polaris cart and drove to Sector 2 and his bunker. He parked in the aboveground storage shed with solar panels on the roof, punched in his security code, and opened the thick metal door to descend into his underground home.
He’d claimed one of the empty bunkers in the early days when many of the owners who lived in California, or almost anywhere on the West Coast, would never arrive after the devastating asteroid impact. He’d chosen one that was simple and functional. The three-bedroom bunker was furnished but didn’t have artwork on the walls or personal items left by a previous owner. He needed little from the outside world to make him happy when that had never been part of his life.
Cam packed his hunting gear, enough dehydrated food for several weeks, and clean water for a couple of days. He added a tent, his sleeping bag, a couple of changes of clothes, and a hefty supply of water purification tablets. He packed an assortment of other outdoor gear, including his fishing rod, not sure how long he’d be gone or where he’d go. Perhaps he should keep himself scarce, at least until after the election.
At first light the next morning, he slipped out the front gate with a nod to those on watch and walked down the gravel road until he reached the solid barrier across the road with the outer gate. Captain Wilson emerged from the guardhouse to meet him.
“Do you have specific plans for your trip?” said the captain. His blue eyes seemed to see inside Cam and recognize his need to get away.
“South,” said Cam. “Southeast, maybe.”
The captain nodded. “Less chance of running into the Slains that way. Usually.”
“That’s my thinking.” Cam adjusted his cap, angling the brim to block the sun’s glare.
Captain Wilson said. “How long are you planning to be gone? We could use your vote on election day.”
Cam shrugged. “Winters should win by a landslide.” If he had doubts, he’d stay to vote. He stared at the captain. “You probably guessed I’m not voting for my mother.”
The captain nodded. “You were brave yesterday. I was prepared to overrule your decision if you sent the Clarks away, so I appreciate your decision. They aren’t the kind of people we should ever turn away. They also won’t be the last people at our gate pleading for sanctuary.”
Cam rubbed the back of his neck. “My family forgets I have my own ideas. I’ve lived on my own for years. Even though I grew up in xTerra, I often camped with my old friend, Lewis. I’ve seen what it’s like out there. Then and now.”
“The mayor over-reacted yesterday.” The captain must have overheard when his mother had called him a traitor.
“Maybe.” Cam kept his face neutral. “That’s been a long time coming. My absence might give her time to cool off.”
From the set of Wilson’s jaw, he didn’t agree. “We’ll look for you in a few weeks. I have a feeling before too long we’re going to need every able-bodied person we have. Best of luck out there, Montgomery. Safe travels.” They shook hands, and the captain unlocked the door in the stone wall beside the main gate, letting Cam through. The iron gate clanged behind him, and the lock turned with a click.
“Thanks.” He adjusted his loaded backpack and headed south, cutting away from the gravel road and into the flat grasslands. Grasshoppers leaped away from his steps through the knee-high grass, and the occasional bird caught his attention as he walked. A gentle breeze flowed, carrying the scents ofwarm earth and growing things while the quiet became that of ordinary open spaces without people.
It wasn’t true silence if you listened, just nature going about its business of living. He took a deep breath, inhaling the peace and calm. Out here, a burden lifted from his shoulders, and expectations ceased to matter.
Cam hiked for several hours, checking his compass occasionally to maintain his southern trajectory, angling east through the afternoon until he ran across the crumbled and pitted remains of Highway 71. Turning onto the road, he walked another couple of hours without seeing a soul. There weren’t many landmarks, so the odd rolling hill or bank of trees acted as visual markers to break the monotony of the landscape.
He’d forgotten how much he enjoyed being beyond the walls. Alert for other travelers, including the Slains, other sounds crept into his awareness once more. He listened to the insect orchestra of whirring and clicking, which, though not as abundant as in high summer, still showed a flurry of activity. Birds swooped through the air, catching bugs, while others hid in the trees, trilling, their sound carrying on the breeze. Higher overhead, faint honks accompanied the Vs of geese heading south.
While walking this flat terrain, his pace remained steady. Cam ate a sandwich on the move and took the odd pull from his canteen as needed. When the sun grew low on the western horizon, the sky a brilliant blaze of color, at last he stopped. With everything appearing much the same in every direction on the grasslands, he chose a likely-looking place to camp overnight.
Near a rolling series of low ridges, he set up his two-person tent, using a convenient stone to pound the pegs into the sun-baked earth. With the persistent breeze, he stretched out the guidelines and staked them. He threw his self-inflating mattress and sleeping bag inside the low structure before making dinner. While he still had daylight, he readied his candle lantern forlater, leaving it beside the tent, stowed his matches in his pocket and continued.
Cam ambled along the treed ridge, collecting firewood. With the sun going down, the temperature dropped. This time of year, a hot meal for dinner would be welcome. When he returned to his camp in the fading daylight, he dug a hole, built a compact fire at the bottom, and boiled water for his dinner. After a quick meal of pasta with rehydrated tomato sauce, he stretched out on the ground, his pack as a pillow.
He wasn’t quite ready to sleep, so he listened to the crackling fire as it burnt down to a glowing pile of embers. For probably more than an hour, he watched the sky fade from navy blue, to charcoal, and at last to deep velvety black filled with a blanket of brilliant stars. The peace of the day continued as he stared up at the heavens and the last of his worries dissipated. Out here, a man could breathe.
When at last Cam grew chilled and his eyes heavy, he doused his coals before climbing into his tent. From a distance came faint howls and yips of wolves and coyotes who roamed the plains. He faded off to sleep to their symphony.
If the canines came closer in the night to investigate his presence, they left him alone.
Chapter 4: Lissa
Shots rang out, breaking the near silence of the Nebraskan afternoon. Lissa dropped to the hard-packed ground, flattening the sparse golden grass with a quiet crackle. Her heart thumped like a jackrabbit’s warning as the shocking echo faded. Everything around her froze, like the world holding its breath. Before long, two additional shots came in quick succession, further shattering the peace. She cocked her head, pinpointing the direction from which they’d originated. South.
Gunshots were uncommon in her abandoned corner of the country, so she needed to determine who was in her neighborhood. All the better for avoidance.
From her prone position, Lissa slither-crawled to the edge of the nearby bluff where she’d have an excellent vantage point overlooking the old Fort Robinson site. When she reached the brink, she peered downward, toward the meadow by the river and the former Nebraska tourist stop. She stifled a curse. Below the cliff face, on the open plain by the river, a large group had set up camp.
Gruff laughter and low voices carried on the wind. She leaned further forward, as far as she could without exposing herself. She’d hate for anyone to look up and notice her. One of the two men with rifles shot toward the cliff—aiming parallel to the ground at a target several dozen yards below her position. Theymust be sighting their rifles. She took a deep breath, forcing her heart rate to slow and her breathing to return to normal.
