Free Our End Of The Lake: Surviving After The 2012 Solar Storm (Prepper Trilogy) by Ron Foster Page B

just miss Stewart entirely over in that far lane. Did you really see a Perrier Truck over there?’ Dump inquired
    “Thought I did...“ I said grinning and turning to resume our trek once more.
    “That looks like a good place to crossover” Dump said gesturing towards a break in the median barrier ahead.
    “Yea it does. You know I found 500 bucks under the mattress of the truck I was in yesterday. You need some?” I asked.
    “That was a lucky find. Not much to spend it on out here but it might be useful later on. If I need some Ill holler at you” he said while already starting to sweat profusely as the day was warming up. We trudged along occasionally making small talk for the next couple miles and then took the exit ramp to the county road Dump directed me to take.
    “You know you might be able to buy a gun of some sort off my cousin, she inherited a bunch of them from her uncle and father awhile back and I don’t think she ever did much of anything with them.” he advised me.
    “Damn, that would be great Dump!” I said looking down the mostly desolate two lane road we had begun traveling on.
    “How far do you think we have to go now?” I asked while thinking it was time for another break.
    “Maybe 5 or 6 miles as the crow flies.” he replied.
    “Let’s take a break under that billboard and rest for a bit.” I said heading off the road and into the weeds.
    “We’re making better time than I thought today. What’s your watch say David?” Dump asked.
    “I got 2.30. So maybe we’ll get there about 5.30 or 6.” I guessed.
    “How far is your place from your cousins”? I said while retrieving a bottle of water from my pack and some cheese crackers.
    “About 18 miles but it’s in the opposite direction from the way you want to go.” he replied while cracking open a can of Vienna sausages.
    “You want to hang around my cousin’s a day or two?” he said between mouthfuls.
    “I could use a day to rest up, my feet are pretty sore from these dress shoes” I said dreading the next 5 miles.
    “I will hangout with you; I don’t have to be right back for any particular reason.”
    “Good maybe we’ll see another beer truck on the way.” I joked.
    “I imagine my Cousin’s got some if my relatives haven’t been visiting and drank it all up.” Dump said with a sigh as he retied his horseshoe pack.
    “Well, let’s get ‘er done” he said resuming our march under the broiling sun.

11
    HOMECOMING
     
     
    “Come on and cut across this field Dave, might save us a mile or two” he said while looking for a good place to hop the barb wire.” This acreage borders the cross roads and runs almost up to my cousin’s property.” Dump said gingerly stepping over a low spot in the rusty barbed-wire fence.
    “Looks like who ever own this sold off most of their cattle or changed pastures.” I remarked while picking my way across the field.
    “Yea appears so, if he sold them, I bet he regrets it now.” Dump said avoiding another cow pie in his path.
    “There’s a fish pond we can visit back in here tomorrow if you want, but I think probably we’d rather just lay around the house recovering.” he said navigating our way cross country.
    “I like that second option better. Any hope of scrounging up a bicycle from one of your relatives, Dump?” I said wishfully thinking.
    “Might be one in my cousin’s garage, I’ll remember to ask her later.” he added.
    “We will get back on the road up here; her house is only a few hundred yards away.” Dump said gesturing towards a mail box up the road.
    We were following the driveway towards a big wooden house with a wrap around porch, when we heard the screen door slam and a stout pudgy women appeared and hollered “Bill, so nice to see ya!” and sort of waddled down hurriedly towards us.
    Dump speed up and met her half way and they hugged one another.
    “Martha, how are you doing” Dump now called Bill said all smiles and holding her out to arms