"Brrr cold," Jed trembled to himself underneath the noisy wind.

He and Mule drove exposed and strapped to the front of the tanker. Mule drove the damaged big rig truck without a cab at high speed. A few bits of the vehicle had been ripped off by a charging mutant moose previously on the attack. Despite the damages the vehicle continued smoking forward for now hauling the precious cargo that would make them wealthy upon delivery.

Two full moons hung overhead filling the desert with light. The truck descended into a canyon lined with orange iron rich rocks. The tires kicked clouds off the dusty roads barreling past cactuses, and shrubs. A wolf stood somewhere on the overhead cliffs, howling echoed throughout the night.

"You reckon we ought to stop for a while?" yelled Jed.

Mule shivered from the wind getting into his special donkey costume. He was using his mouth to steer and thus couldn’t respond. He never took his eyes off the road because he was paranoid. The vehicle slowed to a crawl so the driver could speak.

"I'm hoping to get to higher ground before taking any naps unless you are frostbitten," said Mule.

"That's a good plan. We get out of this gravel pit, let's build a fire with you getting the first round of shut eye, or would you rather me taking over the driving? Asked Jed.

“I'll take my chances closing my eyes while you drive to keep time as long as you don’t freeze. I'm a high risk animal,” barked Mule.

“I’ve already told you tortoise over hare," reminded Jed, scratching flakes from his wind wrecked hair. “Everything has its physical limits before things break down to a complete stoppage even you Mule that’s the laws of nature,”

“True, but still better to have a soul than to be synthetic. Well let's adjust to the situation as we go and remember the two of us are tough animals,” said Mule.

The big rig began to accelerate again until a sharp corner revealed ahead, slowing travel. A bumpy road was becoming increasingly narrow to traverse. They rumbled intensely, scraping paint past barbs with little toothpick wood stakes strung with wire flossing. The far drop into the dark below looked particularly deadly should anything slip.

A large shadow swooped over blocking out the lights momentarily. Jed immediately spotted the culprit as a vulture flying through the sky. It nested on a platform of bones in a haggard tree over top eggs as big as tires. The wind howled and rattled the truck with a large gust threatening to blow it over.

The road somehow managed to get bumper straining the metal to continue. An incoming reflective construction sign flashed in the center of the road, ignored until it was too late. The sign was crunched up compacting underneath them. The truck continued to thrash, and smack them across a rubble filled road. Another obstacle in the way caused Mule to slam on the brakes skidding forward. They skidded to a stop with the sign crammed directly into their faces. A metal painted plate dangerously close reading: “construction in progress: BRIDGE OUT!”.

“Another close call,” sighed Jed, dusting off his armor.

“Yeah, I guess we might as well take a break here, but first let's get out and scout out where the bridge is gone,” added Mule.

“I know the government lies about everything but unfortunately I suspect this might be the only time they tell the truth about a situation,” theorized Jed.

"Well there's always a chance to find out something interesting," finished Mule, unfastening his seat belt.

They equipped their weapons. The man with a sword, and rifle while the donkey had a shotgun strapped to the saddle.

"Let's rock N roll," said Jed, after his metal boots hit gravel.

Mule continued forward leading the way into the night holding a lantern in his mouth. They climbed a slight hill lined with wilted desert flowers. The rough incline of gravel was slippery underfoot. Travel was tough under full lights. It took the pair a long hard effort to reach the top where the winds became intense rage blowing into the canyon sea level. Without warning a tumbleweed shot forward rolling. Mule easily cleared the object with his hoofs while Jed tripped on the jump falling on his face.

“There must have been civilization here at some point,” advised Mule, pointing a hoof to a toppled fence half collapsed off the cliff. “It hasn’t been maintained in a long long while though,”.

Jed grumbled in agreement, spitting dirt.

They advanced again soon coming to a fork in the road split with a tall palm tree. The first path they almost missed. A steep goat trail leading straight to the top of the canyon. The second option the road stayed truck accessible, and looked relatively even. That way vanished out of sight winding around a nearby bend lined with placed plastic cones. They continued around the corner as the sounds of roaring waters grew louder. Both had stayed focused on the way they hoped to drive the big rig later.

A waterfall presented in the distance as a little trickle off the cliff. The road was paved past the falls and angled towards the shadow of a bridge never completed. It was out to reach the small pond waters still being sucked dry from the basin. A drought area where a large lake once flowed was replaced with a small dinosaur skeleton, and a rowboat beached on the cracked mud tiles.

“Well well ha that good. I would say we can drive right over the riverbed instead of resorting to entertaining crazy ideas like jumping over the bridge on ramps,” laughed Jed, slapping his leg.

“I would have entertained it if I thought I could make it. Now come on buddy let’s get back to the truck,” Mule bellowed, while excitedly retreating backwards retracing their steps to the vehicle

“Wait for me,” said Jed jogging after.

The rocks scattered above the cliffs locked away some of the light. A familiar palm tree held a skeleton bird perched by the goat trail. They had missed the eagle watching them dead eyed from the rear. The undead creature squawked as it leapt at them. Jed unsheathed his sword, and swung on reflex to cut off the creature's head. He scanned for further threats. A watching mole made eye contact before sticking its head underground.

The vehicle a deserted shadow below while they descended the hill. They reached the front, and Jed exposed the grill by toppling the sign. Mule had already jumped aboard.

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“Alright let's get this show on the road,” said Mule, revving to get a head start on the hill.

The truck groaned under pressure steaming ahead. It was half way climbed now, but getting slower. Mule briefly glared at a distant object lost in thought, before he shifted into first gear easily gunning to the top. A whole lotta flames, and smoke blew from the 8 smoke stacks attached.

“I don’t wanna curse us before the suns rises, but our day already has a lot of light in it," said Jed.

The tires interrupted, splattering something underneath. He stuck his neck out to look in the rear. The zombie bird carcass separated earlier had been flattened preventing further movement. They flew by deserted objects under tarps. Jed turned to see they had entered an abandoned construction site. A post had been hammered into the ground, but was absent of any signs. The tumbleweeds blew particularly hot and heavily. The truck bumped further off road driving besides a bridge that led to nothing. The area was lined with piles of building material, and dirt. A section of high stacked wood was so dried it only needed to be blown a short distance to create driftwood without water. A tumbleweed pelted Jed in the helmet disintegrating on contact. Mule shook his head, and Jed chuckled.

The big rig rumbled down a ramp formerly a boat launch, and sped across the dried bed. It was a remarkably smooth road. This was further reinforced when they went bumping over the bank and peeling onto the gravel.

“Maybe it really is our lucky day for once,” laughed Mule.

They had reached the other side, and drove by the other side of a bridge not linked in the center. The truck slammed to a hissing stop. Jed was looking all around for threats. Mule unstrapped a small container from the glove box, and unrolled some maps from within.

"Hold the binoculars for me. Can you see the lights ahead, if it's civilization?" said Mule.

Jed looked to where he was guided. In the distance it. The village lights twinkled underneath the stars. This area was becoming more mountainous, but the town was at a higher altitude. He shoved the device in Mule’s face.

“It’s civilization of some sort alright. Wanna take a gander for yourself?” he asked.

“No. I believe you, I'm tired. I can only look at the maps while we aren’t moving because they will blow away,” he said before yawning. “There might not be any bathing with the water shortage, but perhaps sleeping on a proper mattress would be enough to recharge us to full strength,” said Mule.

“I’m sorry,” said Jed, depositing the binoculars in the glove box. “Let’s check it out. I just hope it ain’t no ghost town going to haunt us. No, I insist you get a break from driving,”.

“It’s all good man, let's just stay alive,” said Mule, shaking his head. .

The truck revved loudly whacking away small bushes cluttering the road somewhat alive. The truck roared past a sign post that read: “Ahead the town of Melodd: food, lodging, on good occasions water”.

After finally switching drivers hours later they continued along a mountain pass of eroded cobblestone. A boulder had long ago rolled from somewhere stopping in the center. The truck scraped against the rocks on either side as its largest part made it past the gap. A winding road along each side now rusted metal railing to a drop, on the other few leafless trees grew with roots exposed. The potholes banged the tires heavily, slowing travel. The scenery kept repeating itself. A few trees here, or rocks there that looked identical. Mule had enough real life nightmares with how injured the truck had become to sleep. He kept watchful eyes on the journey for mechanical difficulties until the morning suns began to show. At some point the path had become smoother, and better maintained with pavement that looked relatively kept.

The donkey slept with the seat back laying down in the wind. The truck drove over a dried stream via a tiny bridge of stone. All around them a graveyard of dry abandoned small farming plots surrounded the road. A rusted tractor sat outside a collapsed barn, while trash mixed with the tumbleweeds. Jed had the truck in high gear thudding over a railroad crossing. He had spotted another building standing in the distance. They soon slowed beside a rickety paint peeled farm house. The driver was blocked from peeping in the broken windows by boards. A covered porch wrapped the perimeter full of junk, and hung with wind chimes dotted through the thick cobwebs that played out of tune. The vehicle was back in motion without the donkey being awakened.

Jed drove past an extremely rusted line up. A lot of trailers were abandoned near a junkyard. A heaping pile of metal smashed together into perfect squares, stacked into a castle of sorts. Various rusted cranes, a bulldozer, and other heavy equipment littered the premise. A long chain link fence was stapled to various objects running along the road.

”Maybe we might be able to procure ourselves some auto parts if nobody is home,” said Jed thinking aloud .

“Zzz,” replied Mule.

The truck continued slowly past with the driver gawking from a cabin-less big rig. Jed shifted into neutral to slow roll, and got out his binoculars for further inspection. It was then that he noticed the junkyard dogs chained to the trailers. At some point they had stuck out their heads with ears on alert.

“Woof, woof, Woof,” they barked.

Mule was wide awake, and on alert looking scared.

“Drive,” he yelled.

Jed put the truck into gear and had the dirt flying behind them taking off. They rounded a corner too fast, knocking off a mailbox. The road ran besides a very oxidized grain silo looming above. A carved wood sign marked the town limits they had just entered. The next sign was a yellow yield, while a red was ahead. The main road was blocked by crushed metal blocks transported from the junkyard. They were diverted besides a large stump, outhouse, and separate toll booth the same size. “All traffic check in before entering town” it said. The way forward was blocked by two rotating metal beams chained together.

“Well let’s pretend we didn’t see that petty crime I just committed, or perhaps I should find somebody to pay in town,” said Jed, shifting into the dirt parking lot.

Mule nodded. "Yeah but I'd say we should be on our best behavior going forward,".

"I know we have almost fought, and dragged ourselves over this finish line. Time to play every card right and relax for a long while after," said Jed.

"Now you're talking, and by the way I'll drive us into town," said Mule.

The vehicle pulled into the station. The smell of fresh baked goods wafted from somewhere. They drooled walking to the window. The toll booth had no width to it but ran lengthwise into the trees. In front a tiny covered porch big enough for a single person to approach. Nobody could be seen through the window, but a light was on. Jed gripped the wooden lip where a bell sat on top of an empty clipboard. Bars blocked the window with a mail slot for doing business. The door beside the window rattled from the outside.

“Doors locked,” said Mule, going back to the front of the establishment.

“Ring, Ring, Ring,” replied Jed, pressing the bell.

His eyes scanned inside the structure waiting for an answer. In one corner there was a miniature round table set with two chairs. The steaming red hot pie on a place mat glistening with lard on the patchwork crust letting the cherry glaze show from within. The smell of sweet cherry swung forward like a chariot temping break ins.

On the other side of the room was lined with shelves for books, maps, brochures, old calendars and what looked to be legal forms. An empty basket was labeled with tourist pins of travel decorations and a cup of coffee steaming.

“I’d imagine they don’t get much traffic going into these parts, but somebody's home for certain,” said Mule.

“Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring,” replied the bell trying again for service.

“Excuse me man,” interrupted Mule, barging through.

Jed was pushed aside from where he was pressing the button. Mule took his spot resting his front hoofs on the counter in an effort to see into the building. The animal deeply sniffed the air and his eyes closed in nirvana. All was silent in the immediate except for crickets and the loud rumble of a stomach grumbling.

"That smells so good man the things I would do for some pie," sighed Mule, extending his snout through a hole in the guarding window bars.

“I'm going to use that outhouse, please don't be a child while I'm gone bud remember we got serious business to finish to get paid and can’t be getting in trouble over misdemeanors,” scolded Jed.

“You're always so serious,” said the talking animal, walking away on all four legs while its tail playfully cracked at bugs.