THE HIGHWAY WAS SCATTERED WITH THE SPREAD OUT of corroding and abandoned cars along its side — some broke down in their travel, others have crashed and overturned in probable pileups that happened in the past, during the Exodus' passage to the east. It was the long-forgotten evacuation trail where the survivors journeyed, during the first virus outbreak almost two decades ago.

Having a five-hour head start crossing the state of Nevada, the two bikes with Reeves and True Bob took the lead — with the Mustang driven by Troy tailed from behind.

Troy overheard Joe's stomach rumbling, even while he was in the middle of his nap in the passenger's seat. He realized that Joe had lost some weight too — since they left the lakes in California.

Lately, he had not been much of his gourmand craving-self nor did he talk much about food like he used to. The recent defeat of God's Army in New Orleans had a lot of effect on everyone's psychology — on their day-to-day personal lives and unknown futures of survival. Now with the team's escape plan for political immunity in Canada — in every moment, each of them used to ponder if they could successfully cross the fortified US border unharmed — or, would they die trying?

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Laura was in the back seat, and staring out with her dreamy eyes.

She then turned to look at the Mustang's rearview mirror — and she recalled her parents sitting in front — her mother was gently rubbing his back to ease the whooping cough of her father, who persevered in his three days of driving in the Exodus-convoy — but he died in that dreadful accident — and not the viral infection of the immune system like her younger brothers did. She felt too of her nine-year-old sister Roberta's sleeping head, resting on her shoulder in that journey...

Looking back outside the window — were the chimerical moving phantasm cars driving the opposite direction, where everyone was heading east — while Laura, her son and his friends, were now — heading north towards Canada.

Passing faces of people in those ethereal vehicles were staring back at Laura ineptly — the looks of why-are-you-going-back when we are escaping from the perils of the virus.

Among them was the small blonde girl, in the red dress.