Free walkers the survivors by Zelda Davis-Lindsey Page A

determined so we'd get there, I just hoped it was before we had to leave to go back to Montana.
         Duke had raised his observation deck on the Dukemobile and was walking around with binoculars surveying the dessert.  I don't know what he was looking for and didn't care.  I needed a bath so I headed for Lacy's RV where she was just putting some clean towels on the bed for me to use when I got out.
         "Feeling better now?"  she asked, like me going nuts was just expressing my feelings.
         "Not much but it's my own damned fault.  I'm so aggravated I could just spit."
         "Well, if you could've heard Randy when that flood came by you would known you aren't the only one."
         "Yes, Sarah says Duke's developed a mouth on him and Mandy is learning quick but I couldn't help it, sis."
         "I know, JD.  Don't worry about it now.  We'll get through this, we always do."
         "Yes, I guess I'm just tired of all this crap.  Maybe it's time I grew up."
         "You're about the only grownup around here, well, except for Sarah, Mercy, Melody, Sam, George..."
         "OK," I laughed, "I get the picture."  I peeled the muddy clothes off, and stood in the shower for a very long time.  I wondered at the size of the hot water heater about the time the water turned cold.  When I came out of the bathroom the kitchen was full.  Now what?
         Mason looked up from the map he was studying.  "Duke saw a large military facility to the east of here but I can't find it on the map.  We thought while everyone rested and unwound, some of us would take a look see."
         "Yes," Flynn said, "we haven't picked up any supplies on our way down here, and it's no ones fault" he said quickly when he saw me bristle, "we've just had to do so much backtracking that we haven't had the time.  We're all tired and want to do something different so we're going to check out the place and see what we can find."
         I leaned against the fridge, crossed my arms and smiled, "Bring back a big mac, fries and strawberry shake."
         "Me too," Sandy said "only make mine onion rings."  That started the orders rolling in but I was only conscious of Mason smiling at me. Thanks, he thought.  I shrugged, no problem , and smiled back.  
         They took Lacy's RV and went on down the road.  We spent the better part of the afternoon turning the other outfits around, fixing Clint and Mercy's window and unwinding.  We were out in the middle of nowhere so our view was unobstructed and what a view it was.  I guess it's the color of the mud or something but this amazing color of purple, or violet or something with casts of orange, rust and blues all mixed up so one color blended into another color.  Colors changed continuously as the sun dropped  behind the mountains.  The sky lit up with the prettiest purples I've ever seen.  I heard a clicking noise and turned in time to see Lacy taking pictures left and right.
         "Randy will do wonders with these in oils.  Well, as soon as we get him some canvas and oils anyway."  she said, still taking pictures until the little card was full.  Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out another card, exchanged it for the full one and kept taking pictures.  I looked at Sarah, and she just shook her head and smiled. 
         We were watching Bubba trying to catch a butterfly when I noticed the dust flying.  New Mexico was like Montana.  You could have a downpour of rain and an hour later the dust is flying on the roads again.  The guys were heading back and they had an additional two outfits with them.  This should be good.
         It was good.  The military facility had a large Disaster Relief bus filled with water and food and behind it was a mobile Hospital Clinic.  Joe was beside himself.  It was getting dark ,while the new clinic was made into a home and clinic for Joe and Sandy.  They'd been sleeping in Lacy and Randy's RV but now