Part 10 (1/2)
Nathan pulled her into a group hug, holding them tight. After several seconds, he eased up and asked Owen how he was feeling.
”Tired.”
”Me, too,” said Nathan. ”I feel like I've been run over.”
”A Javelin missile will do that to you,” said his son, eliciting a brief round of laughter.
Keira wasn't sure why she laughed. Probably because their situation defied any sort of logic she could muster-and because she'd never heard of a Javelin missile before one hit them.
”So?” she said. ”What's the plan?”
”We're leaving after dark. Sounds like Jose will arrange a way to get out of Mexicali.”
”Then what?”
”We head for Nogales. Cross into Arizona and make our way north.”
”Alone?” she said, c.o.c.king her head.
”No. David's coming along.”
”That's not what I meant. Are they going to provide us with an escort?”
”David didn't seem too keen on dragging the CLM along with us. He said we might attract too much attention from Border Patrol drones.”
”What does that mean?”
”I'm not totally sure, but he made it sound like the drones might fire on a group of vehicles inside Mexico. Probably drug war related.”
”I guess,” she said, shaking her head. ”Do you think we'll be safe on our own?”
”Jose seemed to think so. He said our biggest problem would be Tucson.”
”Tucson? I know it's. .h.i.t rough times, but how bad can it be?”
”I wish I knew. I haven't talked to anyone there for a few years.”
”Everyone we knew left,” she said. ”Well, at least we know our way around that area. We can avoid the trouble spots.”
”Jose made it sound like the whole place was trouble.”
”We should try to get in touch with the Marines in Yuma,” said Owen. ”I bet they'd take care of us.”
”I wish we could, Owen,” said Nathan, ”but the situation is too complicated right now. Our best bet is to disappear until everything gets sorted out.”
”Is Mr. Quinn ever going back to the Marines?” said Owen.
”I imagine he will, but for now he's going with us. We're headed north to find Grandma and Grandpa. David's dad is probably with them already. Everybody is hiding for now.”
”He doesn't have a mom?”
”If I remember correctly, she pa.s.sed away a few years ago.”
”And now Miss Alison,” said Owen, lowering his head.
Keira held her son close, pressing his head into her shoulder. ”We're all very sad about what happened,” she whispered, squeezing him tighter. ”Nothing is going to happen to either of us. We're going to do exactly like your dad said-hide somewhere far away until it's safe. Somewhere with swimming pools.”
”Really?” said Owen, pulling his head back a few inches.
”Do you even remember what a swimming pool is like?”
”Not really. Like the ocean?”
”A lot warmer,” she said.
”And cleaner,” added Nathan. ”No trash was.h.i.+ng up everywhere.”
They hadn't been to the beach for so long, she'd almost forgotten about the continuous flow of plastic refuse a.s.saulting the West Coast. Twice the size of Texas, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating between Hawaii and California provided a ceaseless barrage against California's sh.o.r.es, literally covering the beaches after a strong easterly wind or an offsh.o.r.e weather system. Even on a good day, floating debris was visible in small patches beyond the breaking waves of the surf zone, keeping a small army of volunteer beachcombers busy from dawn to dusk.
”Even better,” she said. ”We'll take you to a lake.”
”Have I been to a lake before?” said Owen.
”You have. In Idaho-at Grandma and Grandpa's. You were really little.”
”I think I remember that.”
She hugged him again, not sure what to say, or if she could say anything without her voice cracking. Her eyes moistened, but they needed to keep Owen as calm and self-confident in this situation as possible. Seeing your parents break down in front of you was not a confidence booster. Nathan looked the same way, rubbing his eyes while Owen's back was to him. The feeling pa.s.sed a few moments later, and she let her son go.
”So,” she said. ”What do we do between now and then? We have close to three hours to kill.”
”I don't know about you,” said Nathan, ”but I could eat another MRE and take a nap.”
”He's not serious,” said Keira to their son.
”He looks serious,” he replied.
Nathan had started riffling through the pile of sealed meals, holding one up. ”Chili mac. I'm judging by its frequent appearance that it's not a big hit.”
Keira s.n.a.t.c.hed the MRE away from him. ”Hands off my jalapeo cheese.”
A knock on the door froze them all in place. Her eye went to the shovel next to the mattress.
”Come in,” said Nathan.
The door opened, revealing the woman she'd seen standing guard the night before and a man she didn't recognize. The woman nodded at them without smiling.
”We brought your weapons and gear, plus some general supplies. Fill your hydration bladders from the water jugs we gave you earlier. I set a few more jugs outside the door if you need them. Stuff any remaining MREs in your backpacks, though I highly suggest you finish those off here. You'll be hungry again in an hour or two, and there's no sense carrying extra weight around town. You have a walk ahead of you tonight.”
”How far?” said Keira.