“What . . . what.” When he finally noticed the gun in Sam’s hand, he complied grudgingly. But his muttered objections were clearly heard.
JR slid to the center of the seat and pushed Smokey to sit on the floor with his front paws between her legs. Sam helped Mike Borelli into the truck, then assisted Marlene to sit on Mike’s lap. She hesitated and stared harshly as if considering not going before moving into the cab. The tension between the two was palpable.
Only one fully loaded SUV flew by them headed east toward Mosby before they were underway again. They passed the place where the motorhome’s path into and out of the roadside ditch and through the fence wire was apparent. The destructive path as it tumbled and disintegrated was clear. Upon close observation cuts and bruises were plainly evident on both strangers. Sam thought it a miracle neither was in worse condition.
“So,” Sam asked in a flat, measured tone, “how fast were you driving before the wreck?”
Mike stammered, then said, “Just the speed limit, why?”
Marlene’s anger exploded. “Dad! Don’t lie! You were going way too fast. Mom begged you to slow down. But no, you had to go eighty-five and ninety and we were swaying from side to side and couldn’t even stand up. Now she and Troy are dead because you wouldn’t listen to her. It’s your fault and I hate you. If you had driven like this man Mom and Troy would still be alive”
Mike was red-faced and Marlene cried uncontrollably. She squirmed to the edge of Mike’s knees as close to the dash and as far from him as the confined space allowed. He said, “I was trying to get to Minnesota to my brother’s place. Then we were all going to Canada. That’s why I was hurrying. I didn’t want to delay them.” Tears streamed down his face.
JR turned to Mike with a stern look. In a low contemptuous voice, she addressed him, “The border crossings are all closed and guarded. You’ll be shot if you attempt to sneak across. You endangered your family for nothing.”
No one spoke until they were approaching Lewistown thirty minutes later. Sam stopped beside a police car and asked directions to the police station. When apprised of the situation, the officer volunteered to transport their passengers to the local clinic first. Both needed medical attention and that would provide the fastest means. JR took Marlene aside while Mike spoke to the police officer. “I know you’re hurting, but your dad had the best intensions for his family. It’s hard to just poke along when everyone else is whizzing by to get ahead of you. The two of you are going to need each other to survive. Goodbye, and good luck.” She hugged the girl and kissed her forehead, then turned and walked away.
They took the bypass around Lewistown which had a population of almost six thousand just two months ago. There was little traffic to be seen. They stayed on it until it connected back to Highway 200. A mile later they crested a rise before a slight valley where a massive wreck had occurred with at least six tractor trailers and dozens of cars and trucks with and without trailers blocking both lanes. Campers and motorhomes mingled with crushed eighteen wheel tractors and trailers in a huge pile of scrap. A State Highway Patrol Trooper blocked the road several hundred feet from the wrecks. He said the fog was thick until almost noon. People were driving too fast for conditions and over several hours continually plowed into the original two vehicle wreck. He added traffic would be tied up for at least twelve hours while they finished moving the dead and injured and cleared the wreckage. Traffic was being rerouted to the east bound lane back to Lewistown. As they turned around JR observed, “Once again people have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Who but frightened fools would drive full bore into a fog bank?”
The two story Super 8 was the only motel willing to take US dollars. Sam didn’t complain about the inflated price of two hundred dollars even though it was more than double the pre-zombie rate. Since it was available, Sam paid three hundred fifty for the motel’s only suite. After sleeping, then rising early, J.R. washed their dirty clothing and bedding from the camper while Sam fueled the truck and changed the engine oil and filter. They ate a late breakfast, exercised with Smokey, then returned to the motel room. No restaurants were open, but the desk attendant said they could use a bar-b-que grill out back. They cooked, played with Smokey, ate, bathed, and then slept again. The two queen sized beds had firm mattresses and were far more comfortable than the camper. JR again used the close quarters to innocently parade in front of Sam in her bra and panties.
Eighteen hours after they checked in, the desk clerk knocked on the door and woke them; The Highway Patrolman notified him the road was cleared, and they could proceed west. They were ready to leave in fifteen minutes. Several other vehicles were preparing to leave as they pulled out.
Passing the wreck site, JR said, “We’ve lost another day because of the pileup. Other than the dirt plowed at both sides of the road there’re no signs remaining of a major wreck. When I checked out, the clerk said several people were seriously injured in that pileup and were transported to Great Falls.” She added, “Shortly after we left the motel, a pickup pulling a trailer passed us going like hell. Those people were getting ready to leave when we did.”
“Time doesn’t mean much now,” Sam threw out. “Since crossing the border is no longer an option.
