"I don't know, but he's a boy so he should know," Amanda said.

Jasmine thought about it as Casey ran past them up to Nathan. Jasmine tried to stop her, but was too late. Casey fell in beside Nathan and looked up at him. "I don't like wiping her b.u.t.t either, but Momma told us we have to teach her. Momma made me quit because I would use most of the toilet paper on the roll every time," Casey said.

Nathan chuckled. "The only reason I didn't was because we don't have that much."

"That's why I didn't do it, Mr. Nathan. Since the stores are closed I don't want to waste it, but I'll do it from now on if you want me to," Casey said earnestly.

"Thank you, but your sister has only let me take her to the bathroom today," Nathan sneered.

"I'm sorry, but Emma really likes you and so do we," Casey said as she grabbed his pants leg in an attempt to help Nathan pull the wagon.

Nathan looked down at her and smiled, knowing what she was doing. "You don't have to help," he said. "I need you to be able to run or take care of Emma if something happens, and you can't do that if you're tired from helping me pull the wagon."

Casey let go of his pants leg and put her hands on her weapon. "Well, I'll help keep a look out then," she offered.

"Now you're talking," Nathan said, smiling proudly at the little girl.

Casey scanned the area in front of them as she walked beside Nathan. "I just have to tell you one thing though," she said meekly. "If someone jumps out at us I'll shoot at them, but will you tell me where my bullet goes? I can't keep my eyes open when I pull the trigger," she confessed.

Nathan started to giggle and it turned into a laugh. "Casey, I would be more than honored to do that for you if you're protecting me," Nathan finally got out. Hearing that, Casey smiled and let out a long breath. "Don't worry, I can teach you how to keep your eyes open when you pull the trigger," Nathan said.

"Really?" Casey asked and Nathan nodded.

Behind them Jasmine and Amanda were walking with their mouths open after watching the scene. "How did she do that?" Amanda asked.

"I have no idea, but I'm sure you could've done it too," Jasmine said. Amanda trotted up to join Nathan and Casey, leaving Jasmine following the wagon.

John, Natalie, and Tom walked up and joined her. "Casey is a sweetheart. She always tries to make people happy," Tom told Jasmine.

"Boy, do we need her. I thought for a minute Nathan was fixing to yell at me for waking up Emma," Jasmine confessed.

"Why did you yell?" Natalie asked.

"Because Nathan called himself an old man," Jasmine replied with tons of sarcasm.

"Well, he's older than all of us," Tom pointed out.

"He's not even forty," Jasmine replied.

"Well that is kind of old," Natalie said.

"Have you seen how he moves and how hard he pushes himself?" Jasmine asked.

"I didn't say he acted old, I just meant that forty was kind of old," Natalie defended herself.

John coughed. "Jasmine, he's double your age, so if he wants to say he's old, he can."

"So what. He's not old," Jasmine snapped.

John put a little more distance between them. "Jasmine, he's the boss so if he wants to say he's a midget, we just agree with him," John tried to explain.

Jasmine snorted, laughed, and coughed at the same time. "Now you have a point," she agreed.

John smiled, glad she wasn't mad at him, but she had to see that Nathan was the best thing ever and if Nathan said he was old, then he was old. Glancing up to Nathan, John saw Amanda and Casey had him laughing. That was good. John had been worried about him lately.

They walked till five, finally reaching an old quarry that was close to I-22. Although I-22 was an Interstate, it ran through a bunch of nothing all the way to Mississippi.

Nathan stopped under some trees next to the quarry and looked at the Interstate half a mile away. Pulling out his binoculars, he could see a few people traveling in small groups and a lot of people on bikes. Dropping his binoculars, he commanded, "Everyone get some sleep. We leave at dark. Two people up at all times. I'll be one. Everyone else draw straws." Nathan walked over to the wagon and picked Emma up.

"You did very well," Nathan said in a cheerful voice and she raised her lips, giving him that weird smile. Seeing her scrunched-up face and little teeth, a shiver ran down Nathan's spine. "You are such a cute kid till you do that," he said. Emma clapped upon hearing that. "Ares, come," Nathan called out and put Emma down.

Ares trotted over to him, "Emma, chase Ares," Nathan said, and Ares looked at Nathan and whined. "Hey, don't start. You didn't have to carry your stupid pack," Nathan said as Emma let out a squeal and ran toward Ares. Just before she reached him, Ares bounced back. Emma gave chase, laughing the entire time. Ares kept right out of her reach, moving in and around the group.

Nathan took off his rifle and set it on the wagon then took off his vest and dropped it. He was soaked in sweat. Grabbing a bottle of water, Nathan drained it. Next, he took off his shirt, t-shirt, boots and socks, and laid them out to dry. Grabbing a pair of shorts from his pack, Nathan stepped behind a tree and took his pants off, putting the shorts on. Then he hung up his pants to dry out as well.

Jasmine was taking a drink when Nathan stepped back out in his shorts and coughed. Nathan's muscles ripped out across his body and glistened in the sunlight. Jasmine caught her breath, staring at Nathan. Realizing what she was doing, she looked around surrept.i.tiously at everyone only to find them staring at Nathan also. "Well, if they are, I am," Jasmine muttered before turning back to Nathan.

"Nathan, you're almost naked," Amanda said from behind Jasmine. Jasmine fought the urge to tell Amanda to shut up.

"I have shorts on," Nathan popped off, pulling out some food, more water and his woobie from his pack. He walked over to Amanda and Casey and sat down on his woobie. "I'm a boy so I can go without a shirt," Nathan told Amanda.

Amanda whined, "Nathan, it's hotter than-"

"Don't say it," Nathan warned. "Yes it's hot, and you need to take your boots and socks off to let them dry." Hearing that everyone took off their boots and socks, the air suddenly had a not so kind fragrance.

"I'm soaking wet," Amanda whined.

"Keep your t-shirt on," Nathan said, turning to watch Emma chase Ares. Athena had joined the game now and Emma was having trouble deciding which one to chase.

Jasmine turned around and scooted over to Nathan's woobie as she took off her boots. "You think the risk will be acceptable traveling at night?" she asked, staring at Nathan's body, thankful she had on sungla.s.ses so he didn't notice. Everyone heard the question and moved over to listen, except Emma who was still chasing after the dogs.

Thinking for a minute as he ate, Nathan took a long drink of water then looked at Jasmine. "Don't know yet, but we should be okay. It's hard to move at night without making noise, but we should be better off than others since we have the NVGs. I'm worried about ambushes mostly, because most people stop at night and we will be walking past them. It will be tempting for some, I believe," Nathan said.

Everyone sat in silence till Emma let out a squeal as Ares let her catch him. Then Ares jumped away, making her laugh and she chased after him once again. John sat down on the ground beside Nathan. Amanda and Casey had scooted over onto his woobie with Jasmine and there was no more room.

"Nathan, how about letting me and Tom pull the wagon? We talked about it and really want you to be ready to shoot and move. Let's face it, tied to a wagon you won't be able to do that very well," John said.

Nathan looked at John then at Tom. "Gentleman, let me tell you that son of a B is heavy."

"Yeah, but you have two harness for it so both of us can pull it at the same time. We really want you to be able to shoot," John said, and Tom nodded in agreement.

"h.e.l.l, we'll help too," Howard offered. "I have to agree with John, it would be nice to have you free to deal with any rowdy friends."

Jackie leaned over. "I'll pull the thing if you mow down people that try to hurt us," she told everyone.

"Oh I'll do that, attached to the wagon or not," Nathan replied.

"Well, let me and Tom pull it tonight and see how we do?" John asked.

Reaching over, Nathan patted John's leg. "Hey, if you two want to, be d.a.m.ned if I stop you. Howard, I want you at the very back of the group with one of your boys. We will have our radios tonight. If you see something, call me in the front. Jasmine and Jackie, you two will be in the middle with radios on to keep us posted on the condition of the group. I want us to spread out over twenty yards, from me at the front to Howard at the back." Nathan lay back and crossed his arms behind his head.

"What about us?" Amanda asked, motioning to Casey and Natalie.

"Two of you will be beside the wagon making sure Emma is okay and not making noise. The others will be walking with me and you guys will trade out. If John and Tom get too tired to pull the wagon, we'll make some changes," Nathan answered.

"I'm going to fill the water jug," John said, standing up, and Tom followed. Nathan was very proud of them as they picked up their rifles as they walked over to the creek with the jug and water filter. Emma ran over and jumped on top of Nathan.

"Emma," Nathan whined, lifting the sweat-soaked kid off his chest. "Drink," Nathan said, holding out his bottle, and Emma just looked at him like he was stupid. Jasmine ran over to the wagon and dug out a sippy cup from Emma's pack and brought it over.

"She can't drink out of an open bottle yet," she said, handing the cup to Nathan.

"We are fixing to work on some stuff, girlfriend," Nathan told Emma as he filled the cup and handed it to her.

Emma turned the cup up, draining it. "No," she said, handing the cup back to Nathan.

"You are one confused child," Nathan said, taking the cup and filling it back up. "Say more,' Emma. More,'" Nathan said, holding the cup but not giving it to her.

Emma reached out, opening and closing her hands. "No," she snapped.

"More," Nathan said, holding the cup over her head.

"Ahh," Emma grunted, trying to reach it.

"More," Nathan repeated.

"Moor," Emma groaned, reaching for the cup.

"I'll take that," Nathan said, handing her the cup and picking her up. Wiping the sweat off her face, Nathan hugged her. "That was very good," he said and kissed her forehead then started to wipe the salty sweat off his lips.

"Mooor," Emma grinned.

"Finish that, then we'll talk," Nathan said, lying back down.

Ares walked over behind Emma and licked the side of her face. Emma let out a squeal and took off after him. Amanda laughed and lay down, putting her head on Nathan's belly and looking up at the tree branches overhead. "Nathan, you're the best," she said and patted his chest.

"Well thank you little lady," Nathan chuckled.

Casey spun around and laid back, putting her head on Nathan's chest as well. "Yep, Nathan, you are cool, but I want to know how long it took you to get these b.u.mpy muscles?" she asked.

"Had to earn them." Nathan reached down and rubbed both girls' heads. Jasmine felt a little envious of them as the two just casually lay back on Nathan. She really wanted to join them. All of a sudden, Nathan started calling out multiplication tables and the girls started answering.

After fifteen minutes, Nathan asked, "Twenty-three times eighteen?"

Both the girls paused while working the problem out in their heads. "Four hundred and fourteen," Jasmine said as John and Tom came up. When John heard Nathan teaching he dropped the water and ran over, sitting down next to the small group. Tom joined him, not knowing what was going on.

"Yep," Nathan said and Amanda and Casey groaned.

Jasmine spun around and laid her head on Nathan's legs. "Since I'm testing as well, I get to lay down with you two," she said, grinning.

"I almost had it," Amanda said.

Nathan started calling out bullet speeds and ranges then tested them on what he said. Whoever answered, Nathan would reach down and pat their head or give John and Tom a thumbs up. When Natalie answered a question Amanda and Casey scooted over and Natalie laid her head on Nathan's chest with them.

Emma dragged herself over and lay down on the other side of Nathan after chasing Ares for an hour. When Nathan sat up the four girls just moved down and lay back down on his legs. Smiling at them, Nathan pulled out the beef stew he had heated up with a fuel tab and slowly fed Emma as he kept teaching. When the sun touched the horizon Nathan told everyone to get up, which they did, reluctantly. When Nathan stood up he noticed little Emma sound asleep.

"Thank you, Ares," Nathan said, pulling his clothes down and dressing.

When he was dressed, Nathan grabbed his and Ares's packs off the wagon, laying them on the ground. Nathan picked up Emma, wrapping her in his woobie, and put her in the wagon. After putting his pack and Ares's pack on, Nathan checked his rifle, then put on his NVG monocular and lifted it out of the way. They had found seven good ones at the camp and several of the cheap ones. Nathan gave Howard's family two of the good PVS-14's and kept five, but Nathan kept both the thermal scopes. He had further to go than Howard did and felt justified.

Nathan motioned everyone around him. When everyone was around him, Nathan pulled out the rolls of money he had made for everyone. As he pa.s.sed them out in the failing light he heard gasps. "Everyone keep this money close, it's five thousand dollars each. If you get separated from us use it to get to the farm. Don't show it to anyone other than this group or they'll probably kill you. Remember to not bunch up, and if someone stops us fan out slowly. Whoever is beside Emma get her and get behind cover. What is the difference between cover and concealment?" Nathan asked.

"Cover will stop bullets and concealment just keeps you from being seen," John answered.

"That's right John," Nathan said. He could see the whites of John's teeth as he smiled.

"Amanda, can a car stop rifle bullets?" Nathan asked.

"Only some, and only if you're behind the engine block or wheels, but don't trust it," Amanda replied.

"That's a good girl," Nathan said. Amanda walked over and hugged his waist. "Remember noise and light discipline. People will shoot at what they hear and light they see at night. Let's get this show on the road," Nathan said heading to the interstate.

By the time they coved the distance to the interstate it was dark. With clouds overhead they could make out the road but nothing else. Nathan lowered his monocular and turned down the road. John, Tom, Jasmine, Amanda and Natalie all had on NVGs like Nathan's. At that point Nathan was really glad he forked out the money for them before this c.r.a.p happened. Casey had one of the cheap ones, which she didn't mind. It was just bigger than and not as detailed in vision as the others, but she could see in the dark and that was all that mattered to her. Howard made his boys rotate the good one with the cheaper ones. Jackie just wore one of the cheaper ones.

Nathan kept track of time since the mile markers on the side of the road kept the distance for him. After the first hour of walking they made it over three miles and there was very little talking. Up ahead over a mile away Nathan noticed the highway split with trees growing in the median. Nathan's attention was drawn to campfires burning. In the green light of his monocular each campfire looked like a small sun.

They had pa.s.sed only one group of people on the side of road. Since the people were over a hundred yards away n.o.body was worried. As everyone in the group moved up they all looked at the campfires. "What is it, a Boy Scout camp out?" Tom asked.

"I wish," Nathan replied. "I count over twenty fires and the closer we get I'm sure the number will grow."

"Think we can make it past them without them knowing?" Jasmine asked.

"Doubt it, but their night vision is ruined. They won't be able to see much farther than the fire," Nathan answered.

"We are wasting time standing here," Amanda said.

Everyone chuckled at her, "Yes ma'am, we are wasting time," Nathan said. "When we get close I'm going stop you several hundred yards back. I'll ease forward and check it out." Nathan turned and started walking.

The fires turned out to be over two miles away. When the group was three hundred yards away Nathan pulled them to the side of the road and told them to eat and drink. Snapping his fingers, Ares moved over beside Nathan. "Time to work," Nathan said as Ares let out a low growl. Amanda ran over and took off Ares's pack.

"He can't fight very well in this," she said, carrying the pack to the wagon.

Nathan smiled and headed down the road toward the camps. Just like he thought, the closer he got the more he spotted. Oddly, there were only campfires in the median and none on the sides of the road. When Nathan was a hundred yards away he moved to the shoulder of the road and kneeled down. Reaching over his back he pulled the thermal scope off his pack.

For thermal scopes this one was in the upper-range in quality and wasn't bulky. This model was not an actual scope but mounted in front of a rifle scope or a monocular mount like the NVG Nathan had on, but it was longer and heavier than the NVG. The price tag on the box read $6,500 and Nathan thought that was a steal.

Nathan turned it on and waited for it to heat up. He lifted the NVG over his left eye scanned ahead with his left eye. His heart almost stopped when he saw all the people shapes in the woods in the median. The interstate curved half a mile ahead and Nathan could see people the entire length of it. Setting down the thermal, Nathan pulled out his map and saw that the median continued between the roads for four miles.

Picking up the scope, Nathan eased down the road and noticed everyone was inside the tree line and very few were asleep. To make matters worse, he could tell many were drunk. He adjusted the hunter's ear he picked up in the supplies. Every once in a while he could hear screams. Sometimes they sounded like a man and other times like a woman. The screams were coming from all over the median.