For once, Mama and I are alone. She's up where it's cozy. She bangs on the floor and I put my ear up to the hole in the truck bed. We hit a bump in the road and I hold on for dear life, "Diesel." I hug the underbelly of the truck, hoping I don't get pulled off it by debris on the ground. "I know what-" "You lost your cool." "I know-"

She taps hard and grabs at her ears, "Damn it!" I look up at her and she shakes her head, "It's great you escorted us all out. Hell, even armored up the cars we have left." I mumble, "Get to the point." "You're putting us all in danger." I shrug, "How?" "By association. My son, Rose, Jack. They won't die cuz' of you. Think about it." I groan, "But you said it was clear ahead!" She rubs her ears, "I didn't know there'd be a murder of crows coming back from a hunt!" I squint, "What?" "I can only see what touches the ground. Vibrations." I growl still, "Now how are going to survive this?" She grabs her head, "I-I don't know. The soldiers are ready to kill you at any moment, especially if they find you."

Stolen novel; please report.

She takes a second, "Why come with us still?" "Huh?" She sighs and I answer, "To protect y'all." She blows air out her nose, "It's almost how easy it was to sneak you under there." I chuckle, "Norbert distracted them with ease. But that guy with the briefcase, he saw us." She smiles, then I put my ear to the floor, "I think he just turned a blind eye. But Norbert says he's malicious."

Someone bangs on the back window, "Ma'am! Check your radio!" "Why?" I turn it on, all static. "Thank you." I smile at his eye poking through the floor, "Nothing's ahead. Once, it's odd. But twice and the radios are screwin' up-" "Something's ahead, then." "But what?"