Day 41
“Osceola, Missouri,” Barry said, nodding as he looked at the group. He had the weathered Rand McNally book on the picnic table and was tapping it with a dirty finger. “It makes sense.”
Darlene wasn’t so sure anyone else agreed, especially Phil and Herbert, who were staring at one another.
John frowned. “I don’t see it. Looks like just another small town in the ancient book you still carry, even though GPS…”
“GPS is gone,” Barry said. “Never coming back.” He looked annoyed and scooped up his book. “I’m going there. Anyone who wants to come is more than welcome to join us.”
“We should stick together,” Phil said.
“Osceola has a population of about nine hundred and fifty residents. Lots of open fields, not many roads in and out, still close enough to Kansas City, where the military is massing.”
Barry was a small man, bald with thick glasses. He was sweating, wiping his forehead constantly as he talked. He’d refused a ballcap from someone because it was a Cubs hat, and he was a diehard Cardinals fan.
“You know the military is massing how?” Phil asked.
Barry sighed, like he was talking to a child. “My radio works fine in the Peterbilt. I’m in touch with a dozen other truckers.”
Despite his small stature, Barry rode in the biggest eighteen wheeler Darlene had ever seen. At first she’d thought the man was a midget or dwarf, but he was just short. Maybe pushing five foot, although he’d sworn he was five foot two.
Maybe in stiletto heels, John had whispered.
Barry had driven to the rest area a couple of hours ago, hauling twenty people with food and water, all seated on brand new plastic chairs. It had been the run he was on when it all went to hell, running them from a warehouse in San Francisco to L.A. but he’d just kept going, turning east until he started to stop and pick up stragglers.
“Have you ever been to Osceola?” Herbert asked.
Barry smiled. “That’s where I’m originally from. Fished on the Osage River as a kid. There’s enough fish for all of us and more. Ever seen The Outlaw Josey Wales? Based on the history of Osceola. I’ll tell you more once we get closer…which we should be heading toward before it’s too late.”
Phil nodded slowly. “Let’s see the map again.”
“It’s seventeen hundred miles,” Barry said. “I know that seems far. It is. But it’ll be worth the ride. Trust me. Might take us a couple of days if there’s no problems.”
“Way too many problems,” Phil said.
Terri came up and put an arm around Phil, and Darlene thought it looked so natural. The two had gone off last night for a while to supposedly talk, but Darlene figured it had been more a physical meeting than anything else.
Not that it was any of Darlene’s business.
She caught John looking at her. He looked away when she gave him a nod. They hadn’t talked about what had transpired yesterday.
No one had asked where Jessie was, either. Darlene had the sense more than a few members of the group weren’t unhappy to see her gone, or they’d become so accustomed to death and those coming and going it wasn’t worth the questions.
Their group had fit right in with those at the rest area. Pheebz, Rosemary and the boys had been happy to see John was alive, but he didn’t seem like he wanted to talk about what he’d been through, and they didn’t offer to give their story, either.
Things better left unsaid. It had been an ordeal and horror for everyone.
Barry had a point only because he had a destination in mind, but not everyone agreed.
That night, while the last meat they had was grilled and a small piece given to anyone who wanted it, Phil stood on a bench and asked for a vote from the survivors.
It was split about whether or not people wanted to stay at the rest area and slowly recon in the area or hike to the middle of the country to a place no one except Barry had heard of. Darlene sensed it was even.
“What do you think, Herbert?” Darlene asked.
He’d shrugged. “My fear is the nuclear fallout will eventually sweep over the area, killing everyone.”
Phil had brought it up when he’d taken a vote, but most people shrugged it off. Everyone was getting numb to the constant threats being thrown at them.
“I think we need to move,” Darlene said. “Maybe go with the travelers and get further east. I’d like to head to Colorado. Maybe my family is there.”
Herbert shook his head. “There might not be a Colorado to go to. If what Barry says is true…a big chunk of the United States is wiped out. Unlivable. We might be walking into certain death.”
Darlene shrugged. “Better than waiting for it to come to us.”
“I doubt there will be a decision for a day or so,” Herbert said. “Until then…we take our own, private vote, see if we want to stay or go. I have a feeling the group is going to split into two.”
Darlene decided to relax, help however she could, and when the time came, do what needed to be done. There wasn’t much more to do.
John was seated on a picnic table. At first Darlene was going to ignore him, but she decided they needed to talk.
“Was she your girlfriend?” Darlene asked.
John shook his head. “No. I told you already. She was…this is going to sound awful, but I’m glad she’s dead. That makes me such an awful person.”
Darlene sat down next to John. “No. It makes you honest and human. Not everyone deserves to live, and it sounds like she was a complication in a few different ways.”
John shrugged. “Didn’t sleep well last night. Haven’t in a long time, it feels like. You get used to it eventually? I sure hope so.” He smiled at Darlene. “I’m glad you’re all good. I didn’t know, after the attack…”
“Tee pushed me off the tree and tried to kill me.”
“I hope you put a bullet between his eyes.”
Darlene shook her head. “He got away. I wish he were dead, though. I’d like the chance to put that bullet in his head. Does that make me a bad person, too?”
“Yes,” John said and laughed.
Darlene laughed and watched as a couple of vehicles pulled into the parking lot.
A woman and her son stepped out, greeted by a few people.
“Holy…I know her,” John said. “She gave me food. “That’s Samantha and Ernie.” He hopped off the table and ran over to the woman and child.
Darlene felt a pang of jealousy. It wasn’t like she and John were an item, but…who was this woman, strolling in and getting John excited?
Had he been this happy when he’d seen me? I don't think so, Darlene thought.
John and Samantha were laughing together. When they hugged, Darlene decided she needed to find something else to do.