Page 169

But the world between them had changed.

Smoke boiled across the track in thick, gray clouds. Beyond it, orange flame ran through the dry grass, saltbush, and sage, disappearing and reappearing as the wind flattened it toward the ground. Embers lifted above the brush and scattered ahead of the fire.

How did it get here so fast? How long have I been out?

“Oh, God.” Fear finally broke through everything else.

Another coughing fit took her. Goblin pressed against her leg.

“Hang on, buddy. Think I have another bandana. You won’t like it, but you need it.” She reached into her front pocket and pulled one out, thank goodness. Then she looked toward the trough.

Maybe there’s some water left in it.

The crawl to the trough was a slog, and when she got there and looked over the edge, there was barely an inch of filthy water at the bottom. But she was desperate. She dipped both bandanas into the cloudy, smelly water and squeezed out the excess.

“Come here, baby.” Jodie tied the wet bandana loosely around Goblin’s neck, then pulled it up over his muzzle, hoping he wouldn’t freak out or try to tear it off. But he was a good boy and let it stay put. It wasn’t ideal by any stretch and was loose enough so he could still breathe. She thought it would probably slip down anyway, but it was the best she could do. Then she tied hers back on. She wrapped her arm around him as she stared at the truck, now even farther away, and with her water bottle in the driver’s seat cup holder. As she watched, flames licked up the side of the frame and tires.

I can’t get to it. I’ll be lucky if the gas tank doesn’t blow.

Her heart raced. The world doubled.

Think. You need to get the hell out of here and find shelter.

The road back to staging was east. The fire was between her and the road. She looked uphill. Higher ground might give her a chance to be seen, might even give her enough elevation for a radio signal⁠—

If she’d still had a fucking radio.

Shit.

And climbing into open country with fire moving this fast was insane. Jodie coughed into her elbow and turned the other way.

Stone chimney.

Broken wall.

That strange low square she’d noticed on the drive in.

A cellar.

She knew exactly where she needed to go. If she could get to the cellar, she might have a chance.

Then another thought came with it, cold and absolute.

Does Mac even know where I am?

Wait. She’d written her destination on her board, hadn’t she?

“Maybe people do know where I am.” Except she needed to leave, quickly.

“Here goes nothing.”

Jodie braced herself against the trough as she got to her feet. The world wobbled and bile crept up her throat. But she made it without puking.

“Okay, Goblin. We need to get back to the cellar. Not that you have any idea what I’m telling you.”

Goblin trotted ahead a few feet, then stopped and looked back at her.

“I’m coming.”