Part 14 (2/2)
”It was fine two days ago. The rain washed out the hill.” The nomad couldn't tell if it had anything to do with the content of the metal rain, or if it was just general erosion caused by the apocalypse, but mudslides had been commonplace in his wanderings. The sight of entire hillsides that had swallowed neighborhoods, while once a rampant danger on the west coast, was now a nightmare shared by survivors of the entire country.
”Or, better yet, who would drive a car that couldn't fit under a bridge? I'm looking at you, road warrior.” Erica added.
”I said it was the rain.”
”Whatever. Your big truck is stuck.” Erica laughed at her own comment and withdrew back into the coach.
”Is there another road we could take?” Alex asked.
”There's always another road. But there's no telling what we'd run into. This road is relatively safe. Everything else on the map looked risky.” Jerry had consulted the torn atlas page before getting out of the motor home. The truth was, there was no information regarding other paths. This route was the quickest, and the sooner he got back to New Hope, the sooner he could continue on without the constant criticism from Erica.
”It's too bad there's not a way to make the bridge taller,” said Trent.
”Or the truck shorter,” Austin added.
”That's stupid,” his older brother shot back.
”You're stupid!”
”I am not!”
Austin asked. ”How is making the truck shorter dumber than making a bridge taller?”
”It just is, okay. You can't make the truck shorter.”
”Stop it, both of you.” This silenced the bickering brothers. ”The little bear is right.”
Trent asked, ”About the truck being shorter, or me being stupid?”
”Probably both, but certainly about the truck.” The nomad walked under the bridge. The rubble had been isolated to the outside of the bridge; under and beyond was clear. There might be enough room.
He went to each tire and let out several pounds of pressure. The Silver Lining settled a few inches lower to the ground. Erica jumped as the balance of the coach s.h.i.+fted for the first time.
”What are you doing?” she screamed from the window.
”We're making the truck shorter,” Austin beamed as he answered.
Jerry pocketed the cap from the last tire, and walked back to the coach's door. ”You boys stay out here and watch for clearance.”
Austin and Trent took a few steps back. Alex crossed in front of the vehicle to watch the other side.
Jerry settled into the c.o.c.kpit and inched the Silver Lining forward. The ride was mushy and the wheel response was sluggish, but the ma.s.sive truck pulled itself through the mud.
”Do you really think this will work? d.i.c.k.” Erica peered up through the winds.h.i.+eld as the coach moved forward.
”It's always worked before.”
”You think you're so smart, don't you?”
”I'd never say that. I just read a lot.”
He listened for warnings from the boys, but they gave only shouts of excitement as the roofline cleared the overpa.s.s. Sharp squeals were heard as the luggage rack intermittently met with concrete. The younger boys gasped, but Alex waved him on.
A rough b.u.mp signaled that he had cleared the mound of mud and rock. The coach was back on the road.
Alex and his brothers cheered along as the coach rolled through the underpa.s.s and emerged on the other side.
Back in the sunlight, Jerry smiled at Erica.
”Okay, so you did it. Now you've got four flat tires, genius.”
He stood from his seat and climbed from the Silver Lining. Behind an exterior access panel was an emergency compressor. Ten minutes later the four tires we're filled and capped. The boys boarded the coach and he took his seat behind the wheel.
Erica noted his smirk. ”You're luckier than you are smart.”
”I'll take either one.”
”Shut up, d.i.c.k.”
”I'm so glad I rescued you.”
”You didn't rescue anybody, I was ...”
Chewy barked.
”You're in her seat. Chewy rides shotgun.”
Erica began to protest but decided to give in to the dog. She was about to step back into the cabin when her face lit up.
”Oh, my G.o.d. I just got it. She's your sidekick. Your copilot. You think she's your Chewbacca. You're a nerd.”
”No, I'm not. I ...”
”Yes you are, Chewy, Chewbacca,” she laughed, ”nerd!”
”That's not why I called her Chewy.”
”Sure it is. Why else?”
”She chews s.h.i.+t.”
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