“Where are we?” Jessica said, leaning forward to look at the map.
“Up ahead lies Tacoma,” Bear said.
“Tacoma? That’s just over a hundred miles from Kalama,” Jessica said.
“That’s right,” Seth said.
“It took us the entire day to travel a hundred miles?” she said with a frown.
“Considering the terrain, I feel we made good time,” Seth said.
Bear nodded. “He’s right. The roads are terrible.”
Jessica fell back in her seat. “I suppose. I was hoping for more, though.”
“We all were, but we’re done for the day. Keep your eyes peeled for a suitable place to overnight. Somewhere secure,” Seth said.
“You should tell the others,” Jessica said, pointing at the van. “Who knows what lies ahead in Tacoma?”
“Good idea,” Seth said. Bear pulled over and he jumped out. After a quick discussion with Tony, Imogen, and David, he returned. “Let’s go.”
They entered the streets of Tacoma with caution, driving slowly. To Rogue’s eyes, it didn’t look all that different from Portland or Kalama. It had the same derelict feel to it, and she fought against the wave of disappointment that threatened to overwhelm her. Is it all going to be like this?
Rogue shook off her misgivings with a determined effort. She’d promised Brittany she’d live her life to the fullest, and she was. One more ghost town wouldn’t change that. She knew there was wonder out there. She just had to find it.
Chapter 16
Rogue leaned over the side of the Jeep, studying the buildings as they flashed by. None of them looked either safe or secure. Not even close. The doors and windows yawned open, and many had collapsed in on themselves.
“See anything?” Seth asked.
“Not yet,” she said, shaking her head.
“We’d better hurry. It’s getting late,” Seth said.
The gathering dusk was rapidly giving way to night. The sun had dropped below the skyline, and a hushed quiet reigned over the land.
“What about that?” Jessica said, pointing at a sturdy structure made from red brick with a tiled roof that curved into a high peak. Broad steps led to a terrace that circled the entire property. “It looks like an old Asian restaurant.”
Rogue studied the ornate front entrance with interest. A faded sign read: The Golden Dragon, and two dragon statues stood on either side of the heavy wooden door. Besides its looks, she could see why it had grabbed Jessica’s interest. The restaurant’s windows were small and barred, and the front door was solid. Undercover parking provided shelter for their vehicles, and the building was still intact.
“It looks good to me,” Rogue said.
“Let’s check it out,” Seth agreed.
They pulled into the parking area, and Rogue climbed out, stretching her stiff muscles. She grabbed her spear, preferring it over the gun Jessica offered her. “No, thanks. I’m not used to guns. I’ll probably just end up shooting myself in the foot.”
“Fair enough,” Jessica said, “but remind me to teach you how to use one. It might save your life one day.”
“Alright,” Rogue agreed.
The rest of the group gathered around, and they approached the entrance to the Golden Dragon with caution. The door was unlocked, and Seth shoved it open with one hand. When nothing jumped out at them, they stepped inside.
It didn’t take long to determine that the place was abandoned. A thick layer of dust covered the interior. It coated the furniture and permeated the carpets and curtains. Every step caused a puff of dust to rise into the air, teasing their nostrils.
Rogue wrinkled her nose. Though not allergic, the stuff had her eyes watering, and she fought against the urge to sneeze. It was a lost cause. Within seconds, all of them were wheezing nonstop.
“I guess this will have to do,” Seth said, his eyes rimmed with red.
“Yeah, but I propose we set ourselves up in the bar area,” Jessica said. “No carpets.”
“Good idea,” Seth said, smothering another sneeze.
With the decision made, they closed the front door. Bear barricaded it with an ornate chest meant for decoration, and they retired to the bar area. Jessica appeared from the janitor’s closet with a couple of brooms and feather dusters. Together, they cleared the worst of the dust away and settled in for the night. They left most of their supplies in the van, taking only their backpacks along with some food and water.
Rogue chose a corner bench for her and Seth. The leather was cracked and the sponge interior moldy, but it was comfortable. In the back, she found a cupboard filled with moth-eaten tablecloths. She draped a couple over the bench, topping it off with their blankets. The rest she handed out to the group.
Tony scouted around the bar and found a bottle of scotch, much to everyone’s surprise. It had rolled underneath one of the bar fridges, waiting for someone to find it. He waved it around with a grin. “Looks like we’re celebrating tonight, folks.”
“Celebrating what exactly?” Jessica asked.
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
Later that night, he commandeered the kitchen and prepared a big pot of stew. The smell of pungent herbs, salted meat, and beans filled the air. Dozens of candles flickered around the room, chasing away the gloom, and it felt almost festive.
After a hearty meal, Rogue joined the others at the bar. She perched on a stool and accepted a glass of scotch from Tony. “What’s it like?”
“Like the nectar of the Gods,” Tony said. “A bottle of fine single-malt whiskey like this is a treasure.”
“And after more than twenty years, it’s been aged to perfection,” Bear added, swallowing his glass in a single gulp.
“I don’t know,” Rogue said. If the stuff was anything like the liquor the Prime taverns brewed up in their basins, it was vile. She’d seen the after-effects too and avoided alcohol like the plague.
“Go on,” Tony said, cocking his head. “Or are you scared?”
“I’m not scared,” Rogue protested. She glanced at Seth, but he avoided her look.
