Free ISS by Laurie Mains, L Valder Mains Page A

was late by the time they got going again and his head was aching from gas fumes. That was when he glanced in the rear view mirror and noticed headlights on the road far behind them. He was afraid to tell Sara about the lights because she might insist that they stop and talk to whoever was coming. After finding her sitting with the front door open and the gun on her lap he was concerned that she did not really understand the seriousness of their situation and what kind of danger they might face from people.
    “We’d better find a place to sleep I don’t want to drive at night. We are way too visible with our headlights on and I don’t really want to run into anything in the dark,” he said.
    She studied the road map unfolded on her lap.
    “There is a lake with a campground about five miles from here. There might be cabins and we can get more gas if there are any cars,” she said.
    That sounded good to him, he knew the lake, and he wanted to get away from whoever was on the road behind them. They were driving fifty miles an hour when he said, “I know a short cut,” and veered off the road into the open desert shifting the Outback into four-wheel drive on the fly. He was fatigued from a full day and the amount of driving he’d done and it took all his concentration to not kill them as he sped along in the overloaded car. He was relieved when he heard Sara whoop with excitement when they caught a bit of air as they barreled through the sand dunes.
    “This is fun,” she shouted.
    They came to a rutted track that Jack knew led to the lake and they followed it until they intersected the tree lined gravel road leading to the camp ground on the south shore of Lake George. It was a small cold water lake fed by snowmelt from the petering out Southern end of Casa Grande mountain range. The sign advertised twenty five serviced camp sites for $30 per night with free Wi-Fi; most of the sites were empty. There were a few cars and a tent and one large recreational vehicle with a satellite dish on the roof. It had California plates.
    “I don’t know about you but I vote for the big guy there,” she said nodding to the RV, “maybe we can watch TV,” she added hopefully.
    The RV was huge inside and spotless. It reminded Jack of the hotel room his family had stayed in while on vacation in Las Vegas. There was lots of chrome and mirrored surfaces and two fat white leather seats that swivelled on their bases. The RV smelled like old people he thought as he flopped down onto the overstuffed couch. He leaned back and got comfortable and shut his eyes.
    “It suites you gramps,” Sara said laughing as she walked past him to explore the rest of the vehicle.
    He heard the taunt but he was so weary he drifted, off to sleep before he could think of a comeback. He was well on his way to deep sleep when she screamed. He jumped straight up off the couch and whacked his head on the overhead storage locker.
    “What’s wrong?” he yelled struggling to pull the gun free of his coat pocket.
    “Oh my God,” she yelled from the back of the RV,” it’s got hot water.”
    He sat down trembling from the scare she gave him and laughed. He laughed so hard tears streamed down his face.
    “What’s so funny?” she said when she came back but he could not answer he was laughing too hard and holding his stomach.
    “Why do you have that out?” she said.
    He looked at the gun in his hand and laughed harder, it took a while but when he got control of himself he said.
    “When you screamed I thought you were in trouble but you were only in hot water.”
    “Very funny,” she said giving him a look, “give me the keys I’ll get our stuff and by the way you need a shower.”
    He handed her the keys and after she went outside he said to the air behind her.
    “I think I’ll have a shower.”
    When she came back inside he was in the tiny bathroom and she heard him killing an old Beatles song. After the second chorus she banged on the bathroom