Free The Fall of America: Fatal Encounters (Book 2) by W.R. Benton

thumb up and moved across the road, with the rest following her after a minute or so. John turned to Joshua and said, “Go across the road and try to cover all sign of their passing for fifty yards or so. It won't throw off a dog, but it might some lazy troopers.”
    As he left, John glanced at his watch, scanned the countryside, and then the sky. He knew eventually the dead Russians would be missed, but seriously suspected once the trucks were in flames, they'd respond. He took two grenades, pulled the pins, and held the spoons as he positioned one under the dead men by the wrecker and the other under one of the men near the trucks bumper.  
    When Joshua returned, he glanced at his watch again and saw it was time to start the fires. Gas covered the road and he double checked the grenades, so any explosions from the vehicles wouldn't trigger his surprises.  
    Turning to Joshua, he said, “Move across the road with me, in a minute. Once the flames are burning, let's move opposite of our group's heading fast.  After we cover a mile or so, we'll swing north and then finally west. I know it won't throw a good tracker off for long, but it's the best we can do.”
    He then pulled a lighter from his pocket, ignited a Russian map he'd found in the wrecker, and then asked, “Are you ready to move?”
    “Uh-huh, so have at it.”
    The burning map struck the pavement and a second later they heard a swoosh.  Already moving, John glanced over his shoulder to see the whole road engulfed in flames. Joshua was in front of him and moving at a fast jog.  They heard a loud explosion, quickly followed by two more, and glancing back, he saw a fireball rolling toward the sky. John knew once the tires and oils were burning well, thick black smoke would pinpoint the location.
    For over a mile they kept the jog up, but after turning west at a small stream, John said, “Stay in the water as long as the stream is moving west. Once we leave the water, I'll stay in the rear and try to cover our trail.”
    Right then, they heard a jet flying low, almost right over their heads, and he'd appeared out of nowhere. John suspected at his speed they'd be almost impossible to see, unless in an open field, and they'd cross no open spaces this day.  A few minutes later, they left the stream.
    Keep your wits and cover your trail , John thought as he straightened bent grasses and small sticks, from where they'd stepped from the water. He could do nothing about the water dripping from their boots, and hoped if anyone got on their trail they were far enough behind the water would dry before discovery of their tracks.
    After about three miles, they moved slightly south and soon came to a blacktop road.  
    “Jog about a mile or so down this road, crossover, and then enter the woods. Keep moving straight west. Stay under the trees and in the shadows as much as possible.”
    They'd covered about half the distance, when John heard a vehicle approaching from the rear. They were in a slight valley, so anyone coming from either direction would have to top a rise to see them below.
    “Off the road and into the brush, now!”
    Less than two minutes later a motorcycle passed, and when he glanced at Joshua, he knew not to move.   Rarely is a bike out alone and my partner knows this, too.  I suspect a convoy will be right behind him , he thought and then glanced the way the motorcycle had come.  
    Two motorcycles approached and behind them the two men saw a long line of big trucks.   Supplies , John thought, or men. As the vehicles passed, he started counting and when he was at ten, an empty bottle flew from the rear of one truck and landed six feet away. He saw it was an empty vodka bottle. At twenty, John ran out of trucks, and saw another motorcycle riding the bumper of the last truck.
    Joshua started to move when John whispered, “Wait, I'm sure they have a bike guarding their rear.”
    Five minutes later a couple of bikes passed and as soon as they went over