“Read the instructions on the side. If it says to add anything, I don’t care if it’s just water, put it back. If it says to reheat, it’s edible as is.”
When they reached an aisle with bottles of water, N8 was surprised like the others when she reached for a pallet. He pushed her to the side and grabbed it himself. She indicated for him to set it on the rungs underneath the cart.
“Why do we need to buy water?”
“To keep us hydrated.” She didn’t explain further, and he didn’t press her. He trusted her to know what she was doing.
K8 vanished for a couple of minutes. When she returned, she added seven toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste to their collection. They also loaded up on a couple of roasted chickens, several cakes, pies, and boxes of cookies, and a dozen donuts from the deli and bakery. By then, the basket was overloaded, forcing them to carry the last few items in their arms.
Cydney eyed the contents. “I think we’re good to go. You’re going to have to hold some of the groceries in your laps and between your feet on the floorboard to fit it all in.”
“We’ll be fine,” P8 assured her.
“All right. Let’s check out.”
“And then where do we go?” N8 asked.
“We’ll stop to gas up the car on our way out of town.”
“To where?” F8 questioned. “Where are we going?”
Cydney took a deep breath. N8 could tell she was starting to wilt, and placed a hand on her shoulder to help steady her. She reached up to squeeze his hand.
“All this time, I’ve been making a beeline toward my apartment over on the east side of town. I’m hoping when they don’t find us there, they’ll assume I went in the opposite direction and go west.” She managed a weak smile. “But we’re going north. Beringburg is about seventy-five miles from here. Carrollton is another forty or so miles, if we decide to keep going. I know at some point we’re going to have to stop and get some rest, but we need to keep going as long and as far as we can before we stop for the night.”
F8 walked over to give her a hug. “We appreciate everything you’re doing for us. You know that, right?”
“If there’s any way we can help, let us know,” G8 included. “We know we’re like babes out here in this brave new world. We’re ignorant of the simplest things we’re going to need in order to survive. But we don’t want to become totally dependent on you. We’ll do all we can to learn.”
“And we’re going to pay you back for all you’re doing for us,” K8 promised.
Giving a slight nod, she reached for the cart, but P8 gently pushed her aside and grabbed the handlebar.
N8 happened to catch sight of a clock located above the store’s main entrance as their food items were being bagged. It was just past eleven p.m., and they still had a long way to go.
12H8
The group noshedon apples as Cydney drove them north of the city. Once they exited the big lights, she opened the roof, and they got to stare at the stars and the moon. One at a time, they shoved their hands through the opening to feel the wind pass between their fingers, and smell the odors that were new to them. Every now and then someone would ask a question about what they were seeing or smelling. They were like kids, all laughing and exclaiming, despite the seriousness of their situation.
N8 kept an attentive eye on the young woman behind the wheel. He could tell she was flagging. Between already putting in a full day at work, then adding the stress of these past few hours, she was on the verge of falling apart.
He stared at the long road ahead of them. The car’s headlights only illuminated a short distance in front of them. Every so often, they met another car coming toward them, but those vehicles stayed to the left. The few vehicles that caught up with them went around them when the way was clear.
They passed a speed limit sign that read 65. He checked the speedometer. She was keeping it right on target.
Cydney yawned and ran a hand over her face. “Hey, guys? Someone in the back? Can you pass me a bottle of water, please?”
A bottle was sent forward, and she unscrewed the top to take several large gulps.
“How long will it take to reach the next town?” he asked.
“At least another hour or so. We’ll pass through a few smaller towns along the way before then.”
Leaning over the center console, he murmured, “I can tell you’re exhausted.”
“What do you suggest?” she queried with a touch of bitterness. “None of you know how to drive. And we damn sure can’t risk being pulled over when there could be an APB already out on us.”
“APB?”
