Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 150878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 754(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 754(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Tuck began walking slowly, and I all but halted, watching as he carefully removed his backpack and then leaned through the break in the trees where the house was visible.
I went to join Tuck but halted when I heard a click and saw Tuck freeze and then raise both hands as he stepped back. I sucked in a breath as my pulse rate jumped.
Tuck took another few steps backward, a…child appearing in front of him, holding a raised shotgun. The kid—who looked to be no older than twelve—stepped forward, one eye squinted as he gestured with the shotgun for Tuck to step back. Tuck did and the kid’s gaze swung to me and then back to Tuck. “What do you want?”
“We’d like to speak to your mom and dad if they’re available,” Tuck said. “We’re not here to hurt anyone.”
“What do you want with my mom and dad?” the kid demanded.
“Just to—”
“Kyler?”
“Over here, Dad!” Kyler called. “I caught some trespassers!”
The sound of footsteps over soft ground quickly approached and a moment later, a man wearing a dark green beanie and a brown jacket, appeared. His eyes swept the two of us as he took the shotgun from his son and took over pointing it in our direction. “Who are you?”
“Sir, I’m Tucker Mattice, and that’s Emily Swanson. We’re walking to California, and we were hoping you could spare a couple of eggs, or…well, anything really.”
“Sorry. But we have a full house here and won’t be giving away any of our food.” He used the gun to gesture behind us. “Now move on.”
“Okay, have a nice day.” Tuck began to turn. To give up. My mouth dropped open. What were we going to do now? Catch a squirrel with our bare hands? He probably could. But I didn’t want squirrel. I wanted those eggs.
I used my arm to nudge Tuck aside as I stepped forward. I plastered a big smile on my face. Nova’s smile—the smile of the girl who knew how to get anything she wanted. Not the wavering concession speech of a man who was trying so hard to live his life on the straight and narrow that he couldn’t bear the thought of stealing a couple of eggs or talking his way into a warm house. But I had no such compunctions. I was starving and tired. “We’re here to trade,” I said. “Nothing comes for free in this world, not anymore. At least for now. We’re well aware.”
The farmer’s eyes did a brief sweep of the two of us before he let out a short laugh and nudged his son. “Go on back inside.” Kyler looked briefly indignant but then turned toward the house. His father sized me up again. “No offense but doesn’t look like you have much to offer.”
Tuck went to step back in the position where he’d been, and I quickly put my arm out again, holding him back. “Information,” I said.
The man paused, and he turned his head slightly. I saw the spark of interest in his eyes and jumped in to take advantage of the opportunity. “Sir, we’ve been walking for over a week now. We first spent the day with Sheriff Goodfellow in Silver Creek, Missouri, and then we spent some time with a man who walked from St. Louis. Yesterday we were in Topeka where some military members have set up a camp for…refugees. We’ve gained information about what’s going on from there to here, and also specifics about one of the big cities. I imagine you’ve been chomping at the bit, so to speak, as you’ve waited for information that hasn’t come. No mail. No garbage pickup. No aircraft overhead. If you have an older vehicle, maybe you drove to a store nearby, or maybe a neighbor did and reported to you that no one knew anything there either. If it wasn’t emptied out then, I can almost guarantee it is by now.”
I could feel Tuck’s gaze on me, and he’d leaned back slightly as though to give me more room to talk.
“The most important thing to know is that we have news you’re going to want to hear, and quickly. It pertains to your safety and that of your neighbors as well.” I wasn’t lying on that front. If Isaac was right, in short order, there were going to be a lot more people on the road. And that even meant backroads. I hadn’t really let myself consider the details of that too much because it was frankly terrifying, but in that moment, I realized that, so far, we’d walked in relative safety, but that might no longer be the case.
The farmer’s eyes had narrowed as I’d spoken, though the level of the firearm had lowered so that it was now aimed at the ground. I could only hope that was a good sign that meant he was at least considering my offer. “What is it you want to trade for this so-called vital information?”