Part 57 (2/2)
Annja glanced at her. ”I thought you were going to wait for him to grow up?”
”Not anymore. I hate guys who make everything look easy.”
Joey turned back. ”Will you two stop talking? I'm trying to listen up ahead so we don't have any unpleasant encounters.”
Annja nodded. ”Sorry.”
Joey led them down the side of one of the mountains and then stopped by a cl.u.s.ter of pines. Something about the area felt familiar to Annja. ”Have we been here before?” she whispered.
Joey nodded. ”Yep. Last night. It was dark, though, so I didn't think you'd remember. But good for you for doing so.” He glanced around. ”Here's the plan. We're close to the main road, probably not far from where you guys ran into Dave. There's a trail that runs alongside part of the main road.”
Jenny nodded. ”We took that into town after the truck exploded.”
”Good,” Joey said. ”So you know it runs right into town. We're going to stay on that until we reach the bridge and then peel off on a side trail that very few people know about. It's one I use to skirt the street and avoid being seen.”
”You do that often?” Annja asked.
Joey shrugged. ”Sometimes it's better not being seen. The less people know, the better.”
”And you can get us to the hotel that way?” Annja asked.
”Right up to the back of the building. At that point, we can choose our next move.”
”Sounds good,” Annja said.
Joey held up his hand. ”Wait here while I see if it's all clear. We'll need to move across the road fast and get down to the trail on the other side. The quicker we do so, the less risk of being seen. Agreed?”
Jenny and Annja nodded.
Joey crawled out through the trees and was back in thirty seconds. ”We're good. Let's go.”
Annja and Jenny followed him back through the woods. As soon as Annja felt asphalt under her hands, she got to her feet and sprinted across the road. Her lungs heaved as she did so and she wondered if she really needed more than just a few hours of sleep to overcome the energy deficiency she was suffering.
Jenny and Joey scampered down the hill in front of her to reach the trail. Annja followed them down and then bent over, sucking some air into her lungs.
”You okay?”
Annja looked up at Joey. ”Keep going.”
Joey's face looked tight but he nodded. ”People know about this trail. If at any time I think we're going to run into someone, I'll take us off the trail until it's safe. Okay?”
”Let's go,” Jenny said. ”I think Annja needs a long rest.”
”It won't be long now, Annja,” Joey said. ”Maybe a mile. Not much more.”
”I'm fine. Just do it.”
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