They watched Lucy leave, and then Sam spoke. “I know Carlos is a scumbag. I was fourteen when I joined a gang in San Francisco because my boyfriend made me. It was exciting for a while, but then I saw the drug dealing, killing, and extortion of old people in our neighborhood. I ran away but was caught by the gang that operated for Mendoza in our part of the city. I was passed around the gang for a month until Carlos showed up one day. He had to have me, and I needed to stop being raped every night. I didn’t know that Carlos had a dozen captive women like me at his compounds worldwide. So, yes, I knew what he was, but couldn’t escape with Lucy. He thinks that she’s his child. He would have tracked us down and killed me. I took advantage of the disaster to make my escape.”
Tom had guessed she’d had a bad life, but her story shook him to the bone. Tom pulled her close. “You’re safe with us, and I’ll keep my mouth shut about Carlos.”
Sam felt safe in Tom’s arms but knew no man could love a tramp like her who’d been with dozens of gang members. She pushed him away. “Thanks, and don’t worry about that. I want to tag along with you until we part in Ashland. I hope I can find some decent people to travel with on up to Seattle.”
“I thought you were raised in Frisco.”
“I was, but my parents moved to a little coastal city to get the rest of my brothers and sisters away from the gangs. Carlos paid for their move.”
“Please come back to the fire and forgive me. Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my brain.”
“You’re forgiven.”
*
Chapter 12
Redding, California – Twin Valley BVD.
They doubled the guard that night but were still able to get an early start before dawn the next morning. Tom wanted to be out of Redding before the sun rose. They’d even decided the night before to skip scavenging any more sporting goods stores to avoid contact with the people who slaughtered the men in the parking lot.
Four hours later, they were hiding behind an auto part’s store six miles north of where they’d camped. They rested from covering the six miles in a little over two hours. Tom had noticed there were fewer people and more burned or abandoned homes and businesses. “This business looks abandoned, and that old dodge truck is pre-electronic ignition. I’m tired of walking. Sam and Brenda, please watch for people while Jackie, Betty, and Granny B search the store for anything useful. Bill will help me see if the truck will run.”
Tom raised the hood and was pleased to see everything in order. The truck had the original engine and ignition. He found the key above the visor and tried cranking the engine. Nothing happened. Tom saw the truck had a manual transmission and said, “Gang, help push start this truck.”
They pushed the truck back from the store and then began pushing the truck across the parking lot. Tom popped the clutch several times, but it didn’t start. It would pop and hit a couple of times but wouldn’t run. He looked at the dash and slapped himself on the head. “Hey, can you push me one more time? This beast has a choke. My oops. Cars have had electronic fuel injection for decades.”
Tom pulled the choke out, and they pushed him again. When he let the clutch out, the truck backfired, dark smoke rolled out of the tailpipe, and then the engine roared to life. Tom had to pump the gas pedal a couple of times, but the engine finally warmed up and the idle smoothed out. Everyone cheered while Tom drove the vehicle back to its parking spot. When the others calmed down, Tom said, “We still need a battery because this one is dead. Let’s find one in the store.”
There was a display of batteries, but all of the ones prepared for sale were gone. Someone had taken them. Tom looked around and saw evidence that the store had been searched, but it wasn’t ransacked. “Bill, let’s look up and down the road for an abandoned car or truck with a good battery.”
The homes along the highway had been abandoned, and Tom began to understand what had happened. He saw a steady stream of families and groups of men walking both ways. Most of them stopped at one of the houses or businesses to scavenge. Many of the homes had bullet holes in the doors and around the windows. Looters were breaking into occupied homes to get food and other supplies. “Granny B, watch carefully for looters trying to enter the parts store.”
“This ain’t my first rodeo, son. Go and get us a battery. We’ll be safe. I’ll remove all the light bulbs from the taillights and marker lights while you find a battery.”
Tom gave her a thumbs up. “Don’t forget the light inside the cab.”
They stopped at the first home across the street but had to back away when a man and woman came out the front door and pointed guns at them. “Getaway. We found this abandoned home first.”
Tom kept one hand behind him on the butt of his 9mm as usual. “We didn’t see anyone here. We’ll move on now.”
Tom and Bill slowly backed away and then walked on down to the next home, which also had people inside. Tom saw a business up ahead with a sign that read, ‘A1 Certified Auto mechanics.’
“Tom pointed at the sign, and Bill followed him across the street to a row of cars. “These must be here
