“What do you want us to do, fly the truck over?” Mitch asked her.
“What’s the deal? Are we trying for the long way, then?” Colby asked, moving into the circle.
“That’s what we’re debating,” Cavan told him.
“Athena’s closing in,” Charlie said dubiously. “Every tide is going to be higher than the last.”
“How far inland could the next one go?” Cavan asked, looking alarmed.
Charlie showed his hands in what could be the only honest answer. “How can I tell you? Maybe to Saucillo.” In which case, he didn’t have to add, there would be no point in spending maybe all day tomorrow looking for a long way around. It would achieve only the guarantee of their getting trapped also. Cynthia moved closer to Keene and squeezed his arm as if in a gesture of sympathy for how he must be feeling.
“You people talk much longer, and we’re gonna need that boat up there anyway,” the leader called over at them.
Mitch looked away, indicating that as far as he was concerned there was nothing more to be said. Cavan stood waiting for Keene to acknowledge the inevitable. Alicia shook her head protestingly but could add no words that would change anything. Even Colby was reduced to an awkward silence. Keene stared across past the bridge; unrealistic, romanticized images poured into his mind of Vicki, Robin, others, waiting somewhere. Everything in him rebelled at the obscenity that was being forced upon him. His gaze came back to the battered green truck, weighed down by its almost comical burden of accoutrements. And finally, the obvious dawned on him.
He stabbed a finger, pointing. “There’s your answer!” he threw at the rest of them. Their eyes followed, then came back to him disbelievingly.
“What are you talking about?” Mitch asked uncertainly. Keene was past debating; in any case, there was nothing in the way of reason or logic left for him to debate with. He turned and began shouldering his way back between the others.
“What are you asking us to do?” Alicia pleaded as he passed her.
“I’m not asking anyone to do anything. I just know what I’m doing.” Keene walked to the end of the truck, climbed up into the shelter, and began collecting a share of rations, water, and other oddments to fill his pack. They had brought spare rifles and magazines. He selected a standard Army pattern and a pouch filled with clips. Alicia and Colby arrived as he clambered back down off the tailboard, Cavan not far behind. Alicia gaped at him for a moment, then grabbed his jacket with both hands, pulled him close, and kissed his cheek.
“Have you gone completely mad, Landen?” Cavan called ahead.
“Why me? Wasn’t it you who was mad a short while ago?” Keene gestured the way ahead. “You said it yourself. There’s people depending on us. You change your mind if you want, Leo. I’m going on.”
“But . . . you heard Charlie.”
“All the more reason to get moving, then.”
Alicia started saying something to Cavan. Keene came back to the leader, who was watching, confused. “How far did you come in that?” Keene asked him.
The leader waved vaguely. “Was a long way from south, a place you never heard of.”
“It runs? It’s got gas?”
The leader made a face, shrugging. “Well, is like you expect, you know. We take some from a car we find here, a truck there. But is good for a few miles yet, sure.”
“Okay. Then I need the keys.” The leader seemed to hesitate reflexively. “Hell, come on! It’s not going to be any more use to you.” Keene said.
The leader stared at Keene for a moment longer as if confirming that he was dealing with someone crazy, then shrugged and looked away. “Augusto. Come here,” he called, and followed it with something in Spanish. One of the men came forward and produced a set of keys. He removed a couple carefully and presented them to Keene. God alone knew what he thought he’d need the rest for.
Keene looked quickly around the rest of his party, the troops, Buff and Luke still standing together. More than anything, he was conscious of time relentlessly passing. “I would have wanted a better way to do this, but it’s what we’ve got,” he told them. “You’re all great people. It’s been a privilege. Let’s consider the rest all said, eh?” Some of them managed a response; others just stood mutely, as if unable to believe it was happening. Keene glanced back at the leader and indicated the green truck with a wave. “And if you want any of that stuff off there you’d better get your people moving, because I’m dumping it.” Slinging the rifle around behind him to leave both hands free, he moved onto the bridge. Behind him, the leader’s voice launched into a tirade at the others.