Free The Switch by John Sullins Page B

making camp early. David and
Cameron took a short walk to find firewood but came back empty handed.
     
    David announced, “No
firewood, no fire tonight.”
     
    John asked, “Did you see a
pond or creek?”
     
    “No, no bath tonight either.”
     
    John was not going to go to
bed sweaty and dirty so he waited until it was dark and swung the .22 rifle
over his shoulder. “There is an exit about a mile up the road. I am going to
find some water to clean up.” He put his flashlight into his pants pocket and pushed
his bike back up to the highway.
     
    The night air was cool and he
rode slowly along the dark roadway to the exit. He coasted down the exit ramp
and into a gas station and convenience store. He stopped at the edge of the lot
and sat still observing the store and surrounding area for several minutes. He laid
down his bike in the middle of the lot and sneaked his way to the side of the
building. He held the flashlight in his left hand and held the rifle in his
right, ready to shoot if he had to. He heard no noise nor saw any movement
around the building.
     
    The glass in one of the large
windows was broken out so he stepped through into the store. He walked between
the aisles and found that there was only a few food items still on the racks.
He ignored the food and went to the men’s room. The smell nearly knocked him
down but he went into the stall and sat down to take care of business as fast
as he could.
     
    He went back outside and took
several deep breaths trying to wash the stench from his nostrils and lungs. He
walked around the far corner of the building and found an outside faucet and
water hose. He took off his shirt and was unzipping his pants when he caught a
glimpse of someone walking towards the building from the street. He could not
see well enough to tell if the person was a man or woman, but the person had
not seemed to notice him. He stood motionless against the building and watched
the person get closer.
     
    When the person went into the
building he zipped up his pants and walked to the corner of the building. He
stood motionless with just his head peeking around the corner of the building
so he could see when the person left. He was only fifteen feet from the broken window
and could hear the person moving things around inside. After about ten minutes
the person came out carrying a bag or sack. He could see the person was fairly
small, maybe only five four, so he figured the person was a woman.
     
    He took a half step forward
trying to see better and his foot bumped a discarded soda can.
     
    At the sound of the can
scraping the parking lot, the person turned quickly and screamed.
     
    John said, “Don’t be afraid,
I won’t hurt you. I am just here cleaning up and looking for food”.
     
    The woman dropped the bag and
ran directly at him.
     
    He ducked and tried to spin
away but the person leaped on his back. He bent at the waist and tried flip the
person over his shoulder as he twisted and pulled on the person’s right arm but
he felt a sharp pain on the left side of his face. He grabbed his face and felt
blood.
     
    He spun harder knocking her from
his back onto the ground. She jumped up and swung to cut him again, but he was
able to jump back and she missed. When she lunged at him the third time, he
threw a punch with his right hand and hit her directly in the middle of the
face. She dropped to the ground like a wet dishrag.
     
    He leaned back against the
side of the building and felt his cut again. Blood was flowing, but as best he
could tell it did not seem to be a deep cut. He stepped slowly towards the
woman and looked at the knife on the ground beside her right hand. He put his
foot onto her wrist and picked up the knife. He bent down and looked into her
face. Her nose and lips were bleeding and he could see her chest expanding
slightly as she breathed.
     
    He kept an eye on her as he
walked to the side of the building and the water hose. He washed his face as
best he could