"Bulls.h.i.t," Casey said and Nathan glared at her. Amanda stepped over and wrapped an arm around Casey, putting her hand over Casey's mouth.

"She just meant to say we shouldn't take the chance, we should make tracks," Amanda offered seeing Nathan getting mad.

"We leave at dark," Nathan grumbled.

Jasmine stepped between Nathan and the girls. "How about we pack up and follow this creek till dark, then head to the road?" she offered.

"By the time we are packed and saddled up it will be dark," Nathan said.

Jasmine pointed to the horses. They were saddled and the pack animals loaded. Nathan turned around to see the other tent was down and only the tent he and Emma were sleeping in wasn't packed. But John and Tom already had it down. "Emma better not be in that tent," Nathan warned.

"Natalie has her," Jasmine told him as Natalie walked over carrying Emma. Emma was sticking out her tongue trying to catch rain drops.

Afraid to say anything in reply, Nathan pulled out his map and studied the area. "Change in plans," he said. Tom and John stopped packing the tent to listen. Nathan pointed an area a mile east of the Mississippi River. "This is the rally point on this side," he said. He pointed out another on the west side. "This is for the other side. If we cross and get separated, go there. Don't cross the river to come back." Nathan rolled the map up.

"So we are getting the h.e.l.l out of here, now?" Jasmine asked hopefully.

"Pack the tent. I'll make a walk around. Everyone pull out your dusters with your rain gear. Make sure you can get to your weapons," Nathan said and started walking around making sure everything was packed.

Jasmine walked over carrying a cup of coffee, "Here I made you this; already put your stuff in."

"Thank you," he said, taking the cup. Jasmine pulled the Emma sling off her shoulder and tied it around Nathan. "So I get relegated to Emma duty right off the bat?" he asked, taking a long sip.

"Nathan, let's face it. If she had been riding with anyone else last night...I don't want to think about it," Jasmine said walking away checking to make sure they had everything.

"I didn't think about that, you're right," Nathan called out after her.

When they were packed Nathan noticed Casey and Amanda putting new batteries in their NVGs. d.a.m.n, we couldn't recharge today, Nathan thought as he put new ones in his. Since the thermal was not on for long he left those. "Change the batteries in your radios, too," Nathan told everyone. He smiled at everyone in full length black dusters, thinking they looked like a group of time-traveling cowboy warriors.

After everyone was done they mounted up. Nathan had to adjust the Emma sling' so she could see in front of them. They rode slowly through the trees as the rain soaked them even with rain gear on. At dark Nathan stopped them and had Jasmine make another sling for Emma while Nathan stripped her and wrapped her in his woobie. He put the new sling under his Gore-Tex jacket and duster then put Emma in, zipped up his jacket, and b.u.t.toned his duster, feeling like a kangaroo he looked down. Emma looked up at him grinning with quivering lips.

When he saw Emma quit shivering he led them to the road. Reaching the road they came out on a dead body lying in the middle of the road. It was the body of a woman stripped naked and very thin. No one could see any sign of violence. Nathan kicked Smoke in the sides and moved past the dead woman.

Amanda and Casey trotted up beside him. "Did she starve to death?" Amanda asked.

"That would be my guess," Nathan said.

"Then why was she naked?" Casey asked, pulling her poncho hood back so she could see Nathan.

"I'm sure someone took her clothes," Nathan answered.

"That's wrong," Casey said.

Nathan shook his head. "She didn't need them anymore."

Both girls thought about it and sighed, pulling their horses back in line. Nathan stopped everyone a mile from the river. "Get off your horses, we missed the morning workout," he told them climbing down.

"You're kidding right?" Amanda asked.

Nathan saw her quivering lips. "We are freezing to death. We have to heat up in case of trouble." With Emma asleep in her sling under his jacket and duster, Nathan did different exercises to warm up. In an hour they were all breathing hard and Nathan made them eat. When they climbed back in the saddles they all felt better, although they were still wet.

They turned off the small blacktop onto a highway. After so long traveling on small roads it felt weird to be on a road with lines painted on it. Up ahead they saw a sign: Helena, Arkansas-2 mi. Unconsciously, everyone tightened their grips on their weapons in one hand and reins in another. Dennis had told Nathan the Helena Bridge was one of the few bridges across the Mississippi that wasn't locked down yet.

Pulling Smoke to a stop and turning on his thermal, Nathan could just make out the bridge in his NVGs. Bringing his rifle up, he noticed a camper parked on the side of the road that was warmer than the cars around it. "There's a camper parked up there and it looks like someone's inside it. I don't see anyone around the bridge though," he said, lowering his rifle.

"What do we do?" Jasmine asked.

"We cross the bridge. Swimming isn't an option."

"What if they stop us?" she asked.

"I'll try to lie. If that doesn't work, we kill them. People aren't going to stop me from moving around. I don't care who they are. Get in your positions." Nathan kicked Smoke and stayed on the shoulder of the road.

As they got closer they could see two state trooper cars parked by the camper. When they were less than a hundred yards from the bridge a smell hit them. Nathan knew what it was as the others fought not to puke. Looking down in the ditch ahead, Nathan saw a pile of bodies as the rain-swollen ditch flowed over and around the bodies.

If it smells like this in the rain, I'd hate to be here in the bright, sunny daytime, Nathan thought, keeping his eye on the trailer. When they were almost to the bridge, Nathan led Smoke up to the roadway. Smoke's hooves sounded loud, clacking on the asphalt. Nathan didn't see any movement from the camper.

Nathan took his eyes off the trailer and lifted his rifle to look at the other side. He only spotted abandoned cars and trucks. Once they were off the bridge they moved back to the shoulder as Nathan led them to Helena. Even though he should've been used to it, Nathan fought off the heebie-jeebies seeing a town with no lights whatsoever.

They entered the city proper, and Nathan led them to the center of the road as they moved through the town. Rounding a corner, Nathan spotted several burning barrels set way off the road. Lifting up his rifle and looking through the thermal, Nathan saw a group of men setting under a porch around burning barrels. They were sixty yards away and he could see the bottles being pa.s.sed around.

"Trouble? Over," he heard Jasmine ask in his earpiece.

"Not unless we take their booze, over," Nathan said, continuing on. They pa.s.sed another house with a group sitting on the porch, but they didn't have a fire. Those on the porch just watched them pa.s.s.

When they pa.s.sed through the last subdivision everyone gave a sigh seeing at the trees formed up on their right and open fields to their left. They were three miles outside of town when Nathan turned down a small county road.

"Hey this is our camping spot? Over," Amanda called out over the radio.

"We can't stop, we have guest, over," Nathan called back.

Amanda casually turned around to look behind them but couldn't see anything. "Are you sure? I don't see c.r.a.p, over," she called back.

"Where's Ares? Over," Nathan called out.

Amanda looked in front of the group and didn't see either of the dogs. Looking back behind John she saw them following John's horse. As she watched, Ares turned and looked back toward town. "Ares and Athena are behind John, over," she said.

"Exactly. Ares smells something he doesn't like. If they're on foot we will leave them behind, over," Nathan told her.

"The dogs run around everywhere, over," Amanda said.

"They've been there since we left town, over," Nathan called back.

Casey chimed in, "You mean Ares knows someone is following us but we can't see them?" then the added, "Sorry, over."

"Dogs are smart and Ares is the smartest I've ever seen, over," Nathan told her loving this conversation over the radio.

"How can something be that smart but lick its own b.u.t.t? Over," Casey asked.

John keyed his microphone. "Maybe Ares is so smart because he licks his b.u.t.t."

Nathan coughed, blowing snot out his nose. "Then I'm staying stupid, over," Casey answered.

The sky slowly started to lighten as they turned onto another farm road. When the group was all on the new road, Nathan grabbed his binoculars and looked behind them. Over a mile back he spotted four people riding bikes going the same way they were. "Let's pick up the pace, over," Nathan called out, kicking Smoke into a trot.

Emma opened her eyes from the increase in bouncing. "Ahh!" she shouted.

Nathan looked down to see a grumpy face looking at him. "Sorry doodle bug, but we have to go," Nathan said, digging out a blueberry breakfast bar.

The rain had stopped and the clouds slowly pa.s.sed over by the time they had to turn again. When Nathan looked back he didn't see the people on bikes. Sighing with relief, he dropped his binoculars and grabbed his map. He spotted a river up ahead less than a mile away and that usually meant trees. Pulling out this tablet he confirmed this by looking at the satellite images on his tablet. On one side of the road were two ponds, and no houses close.

When they got to the area, Nathan carefully led them into the woods, trying not to leave a highly visible trail. After they moved back into the trees they found a small clearing beside one of the ponds. Nathan climbed down and the others followed. Everyone tended horses first and dried them off using all the towels and two blankets. Lines were put up for the clothes and equipment. Amanda collected batteries and set up the solar charger.

Since his woobie was wet, Nathan hung it up and pulled out his sleeping bag instead. It was already getting hot but he wasn't lying on the wet ground unless he had to. He looked around the area at all the gear laid out to dry. It reminded him of a yard sale. Even the two tents had been unrolled and were lying in the sun.

Emma ran around Nathan in her little panties, babbling, as he sat on his sleeping bag. Nathan was cleaning his weapons when Jasmine dropped an armload of stuff and handed him a plate. "I fixed this for you and Emma," she said in a weary voice.

Nathan took the plate without looking up. "Thank you. Emma come here and eat." Nathan put his rifle back together and looked up. Jasmine was standing over him in her bra and thong. Nathan coughed as drool dripped down the back of his throat.

"Do we need to do anything else? I really need to sleep," Jasmine said, fighting to keep her eyes open. Unable to talk, Nathan just shook his head. He watched Jasmine unroll her sleeping bag beside his. "You are taking first watch, right?" she asked.

"Yes," Nathan told her in a scratchy voice, swallowing hard.

Dropping down on her sleeping bag with a thump, Jasmine was soon breathing in an even rhythm. John and Tom stood a few feet away with open mouths. Nathan chuckled, then heard stuff hitting the ground behind him. Turning around all three girls had dropped their sleeping bags and dropped down on them.

When he was finished feeding Emma, he looked up to find John and Tom still staring. Nathan waved at them and then laid his head down on his hands, motioning them to go to sleep. Reluctantly, they grabbed their sleeping bags and laid them beside Jasmine. Nathan was sure if they weren't so tired they would just stare at her all day. But both boys were soon snoring softly.

With his weapons cleaned, Nathan carried Emma to the pond. He bathed them both quickly in the cold water and noticed Ares sleeping on the bank. "Ares, come," Nathan called out, making Ares jump up. Knowing why Nathan wanted him in the water Ares slunk out. Nathan scrubbed him down. Emma just kissed Ares and babbled away. Nathan had no idea what she was telling Ares but it sounded important and Ares must have understood. Ares didn't like baths and he was standing still for this one.

Walking over to his sleeping bag, Nathan hung it up so Ares wouldn't crawl in it. Then Nathan dried everyone off with damp towels then washed the towels and blankets. Next Nathan washed his and Emma's clothes, then cleaned and polished their boots. It was noon when he finished and returned to the camp to see the hobbled horses grazing and two lying down.

He snuck a quick look at Jasmine's legs, then grabbed her shoulder. "Jasmine, wake Natalie, it's your watch."

Faster than he expected, Jasmine sat up, smiling, and woke Natalie. Nathan laid back and couldn't remember if he closed his eyes.

Chapter 22.

Day 29 Hearing Emma giggle, Nathan opened his eyes to see it was dusk. Jerking awake, he sat up to see the horses lined up and saddled up. Rubbing his face Nathan looked around to see everyone sitting in a circle with their packs set in a line. Fighting cramps, Nathan stood up and stretched, looking at his watch to see it was almost seven.

Turning around to get his clothes of the line he didn't see his clothes or the line they had hung on. Glancing beside his sleeping bag he noticed everything was laid out neatly beside his sleeping bag. He pulled on his clothes and approached to the group.

Amanda held out her little hand. "We wanted you to get some sleep." She spoke in an authoritative voice.

Nathan froze. "Just wanted to say thank you."

"Sure you did," Amanda said. "Let's do the routine."

They worked out and practiced martial arts, then grabbed a bite to eat. They gathered their gear at dark, then climbed on the horses, and Nathan led them back to the road. As they rode they spotted another dead body that was very thin lying on the side of the road. Nathan had a nagging feeling that was going to become common, like the cars and trucks everywhere.

As they got closer to the town of Brinkley they come up on a large group of bodies. They smelled them long before finding them on the road and in the ditch. Bullet wounds told of their demise. Looking at the bodies Nathan figured it happened, two maybe three days ago. What he couldn't figure out was why they were shot here? They were several miles from town with nothing but fields.

Not liking what he was seeing, he got off and walked around the bodies, then around the area. In ten minutes he got on his horse. Emma called out, "Wa-wa," as a small hand reached out of the sling, grasping in the air. Without thinking, Nathan pulled out her sippy cup and filled it up, giving it to her. Holding the reins, he beckoned the others. "Let's go," he said, kicking Smoke.

Nathan pulled out his map and changed their route. They circled around Brinkley and moved farther out into farm land. Finally at midnight they stopped at a small creek and watered the horses. They all stayed in their saddles. Everyone pulled out food, keeping a sharp eye about, although they could see for a long way so the odds of someone sneaking up were remote.

"Why the change in route?" John asked, shoving food in his mouth.

"Something wasn't right. Just like when we rode past that camper on the bridge. They should've heard us," Nathan said, thinking.

John smiled. "Have you been in a trailer here when it rains hard? You can't hear anything."

Nathan nodded his head. "That makes sense, I guess. But those people were not all killed at the same time. And everything of value was taken: rings, wallets, necklaces, and earrings. There was one couple that had a wagon and at least two that were riding bikes. They were robbed. So why did the others keep coming up on dead bodies?" Nathan asked.

"We did," Amanda pointed out.

"We have NVGs and two dogs. We moved in seeing no trouble," Nathan corrected.

"We moved up to a group of dead bodies on the road," Amanda snapped.

Nathan was about to unload but stopped. "Of course, that's the trap. You don't see anything, and you take chance to find something. Then they spring the trap," he said, more to himself that the others.

Jasmine shook her head as she took a bite. "You worry me sometimes with how weird you act."

"Hey, sis, you back off," Amanda popped off. Jasmine froze, not from the tone but the word "sis." She smiled at Amanda. "He may be weird but he's the leader and he knows more than anyone I ever knew," Amanda declared, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You guys are just following me," Nathan said, then drained a bottle of water. Amanda stuck her tongue out at him.

John put his stuff away. "Is this what you meant by getting worse?" he asked Nathan.

"This is the start," Nathan said, sliding Emma down so he was more comfortable.

"Start?!" Casey exclaimed.

"Shh," Jasmine shushed her before the others, but agreed with her reaction.

"Don't get me wrong, what happened after was bad," Nathan said. "That was the bad people in our society acting. Now we are starting to see what desperate people do. Why do you think I avoid people? If I were starving and didn't know how to survive, I would steal. Everyone will, you can say you wouldn't but when you know you're dying, self-preservation takes over. People will do what they have too to live."

"So we can't trust anybody?" Casey asked.

"Only those that know how to survive and have the means. A starving man isn't going to save your life, he's going to eat what you have as you die," Nathan said.

"That sucks," Casey said looking down and putting her food away not hungry anymore.