Gone (Gone #1)(118)

Sport-utility vehicle. Four-wheel drive.

Jack peered at ihe roadside. A deep ditch all along the right side. A steep dirt and rock wall to his left.

The car was coming up with such speed. No more than a few hundred feet back.

There. A dirt road to the right. It might go nowhere. It might go twenty feet and stop. No choice. Jack yanked the wheel to his right and even at low speed, he felt he might tip over.

But the SUV righted itself and bounced onto the dirt road. Headlights illuminated a bright, featureless circle of dirt and scrub in the inky, moonless blackness. No way to see ... no way to know.... He was driving on faith, in the hope that the dirt road didn't suddenly end in a cliff.

It was hard to hold on to the steering wheel as it bounced violently. But he couldn't grip it too hard or the wheel would come apart in his powerful hands, and then he would really be finished.

Behind him the lights of the sedan were crazy, up and down, veering wildly. The dirt road was harder for the car. As bad as it was for the SUV, it was impossible for the car.

Slowly, Jack pulled away from ihe car. Finally, the headlights dwindled away behind him and it became clear that the car had stopped.

Jack slowed his own pace, making it easier for him to control the SUV.

He had left pursuit behind, But how would he get to Perdido Beach? The only way he knew was the main road. Would this dirt track lead somewhere?

The one thing he knew for sure was that he could not ever turn back.





FORTY-ONE


03 HOURS, 15 MINUTES

THE DAY LIGHT HOURS passed quietly.

Sam knew it would begin soon.

And in just a tew hours, it would end.

Sam kept people on watch al the outskirts of town but otherwise advised people to sleep, eat, try to relax. Caine would come in the night. Sam was sure of that

He had tried to take his own advice, but sleep had been impossible.

He was changing clothes and thinking about the need to eat something despite feeling sick to his stomach, when Taylor suddenly appeared in the firehouse. Sam was wearing boxers.

"They're coming," Taylor said without preamble. "Hey, nice abs"

"Talk to me."

"Six cars coming down the highway from the direction of Coates. They'll be at Ralph's in about a minute. The/re moving slowly."

"Did you see any laces? Caine or Drake?"

"No"

Sam went into the bunkroom, shook Edilio's bed, kicked Quinn's bed, and yelled, "Guys. Get up."

"What?" Quinn said, sounding bleary and confused. "I thought we were supposed to get some sleep"

"You got some. Taylor says they're on the move "

"I'm up" Edilio rolled out of bed hilly dressed. Heunslung the sinister-looking machine pistol from the bed railing.

Sam slipped into his jeans and hunted for his shoes.

"What do you want me to do now?" Taylor asked.

"Bounce back and see if they go into Ralph's or split off into groups" Sam said.

"You might want to keep your clothes on " Taylor warned-"I could be right back."

"When you bounce back, go to the plaza. I'm heading straight there," Sam said.

Taylor vanished.

"You ready?" Sam asked Edilio.

"No. You?"

Sam shook his head. "Let's make it work, anyway"

Quinn rolled out of his bunk. "Is it time?"

"Yeah. Evening. Like we figured." Sam said. "You know where you're going, right?"

"Straight to hell?" Quinn muttered.

Sam and Edilio dropped down the fireman's pole and landed in the garage. The walkie-talkie in Sam's belt crackled, very loud. Astrid's voice, staticky and strained.

"Sam. I see them"

Sam keyed the volume down * little and pressed the button. "Taylor just told me" Sam said. "You and L. R okay?"

Tm fine. I see six cars. They're past Ralph's. I think they may be turning toward the school."

"Why that direction?"

"I don't know."

Sam bit his lip and considered. "Keep your head down, Astrid."

"Sam ... " she began.

"I know," he said. "Me too"

He started walking fast, not running. Running would look like panic. To Edilio, he said, "I figured they'd come in ihe same way they did the first time. It's the clearest path into the center of town"

"I thought they might take over Ralph's and make us come after them," Edilio said.

"I don't get it," Sam admitted. They reached the plaza and Edilio ran ahead to the town hall to check on his troops.

Taylor appeared a dozen feet away, looking in the wrong direction.

"Taylor. Here"

"Oh. They're going toward the school. And Caine is definitely with them. Caine and Diana. I didn't see Drake. Maybe he's dead." She said that last part with unmistakable relish. Then, just in case Sam had missed it, she added,"I hope he's dead, that evil piece of—"

"Did they see you?"

"No. They can't touch me, anyway, I'm too good at this now. I could bounce right into the school, see what they're up to"

Sam pointed a linger at her/*Don't get cocky. I don't want lo lose you. Keep your distance. Go" Taylor winked and blinked out.